De Bello Gallico 6.24

6.24.1Ac fuit anteā tempus, cum Germānōs Gallī virtūte superārent, ultrō bella īnferrent, propter hominum multitūdinem agrīque inopiam trāns Rhēnum colōniās mitterent.

There was a time once when the Gauls surpassed the Germans in courage, made war on them unprovoked, and because of their large population and lack of land sent settlers across the Rhine.

6.24.2Itaque ea quae fertilissima Germāniae sunt loca circum Hercyniam silvam, quam Eratosthenī et quibusdam Graecīs fāmā nōtam esse videō, quam illī Orcyniam appellant, Volcae Tectosagēs occupāvērunt atque ibi cōnsēdērunt;

So the most fertile parts of Germany, around the Hercynian forest, which I see was known by report to Eratosthenes and some other Greeks (they call it Orcynia), were seized by the Volcae Tectosages, who settled there;

Note. Eratosthenes (3rd century BC) was the librarian at Alexandria and a pioneer of geography. Caesar says videō: he has read it himself.

6.24.3quae gēns ad hoc tempus hīs sēdibus sēsē continet summamque habet iūstitiae et bellicae laudis opīniōnem.

this people lives in those homes to this day and has the highest reputation for justice and for glory in war.

6.24.4Nunc quod in eādem inopiā, egestāte, patientiā quā Germānī permanent, eōdem vīctū et cultū corporis ūtuntur;

Now, because the Germans remain in the same want, poverty and hardiness as before, they keep the same food and the same care of the body;

6.24.4Gallīs autem prōvinciārum propinquitās et trānsmarīnārum rērum nōtitia multa ad cōpiam atque ūsūs largītur, paulātim adsuēfactī superārī multīsque victī proeliīs nē sē quidem ipsī cum illīs virtūte comparant.

but the Gauls, to whom the nearness of the province and acquaintance with goods from overseas provide many things for comfort and use, have little by little grown used to being beaten, and after being defeated in many battles they no longer even compare themselves with the Germans in courage.