1A practice adopted rarely among other German peoples, and through the private daring of individuals, has become a general rule among the Chatti: as soon as they have grown up, to let their hair and beard grow, and not to put off this appearance of the face, vowed and pledged to valour, until they have killed an enemy. 2Over the blood and spoils they lay bare their brow, and declare that only then have they repaid the price of their birth and are worthy of their country and their parents; 2the cowardly and unwarlike keep their squalor. 3The bravest of them also wear an iron ring (a mark of disgrace among that people) as a kind of fetter, until they release themselves by the slaughter of an enemy.
4Very many of the Chatti like this appearance, and they grow grey with these marks, pointed out to enemies and to their own people alike. 4With these men lies the beginning of every battle; 4theirs is always the front line, strange to behold: for not even in peace do they grow gentle with a milder look. 5None has a house or land or any care: to whomever they come, they are fed, lavish with what belongs to others, disdainful of their own, until bloodless old age makes them unequal to so hard a valour.