1The same projection of Germany, nearest the Ocean, is held by the Cimbri, now a small state, but immense in glory. 1And broad traces of their ancient fame remain, camps and grounds on either bank, by whose circuit you may even now measure the mass and the manpower of the nation and the truth of so great an exodus. 2Our city was in its six hundred and fortieth year when the arms of the Cimbri were first heard of, in the consulship of Caecilius Metellus and Papirius Carbo. 2If we count from then to the second consulship of the emperor Trajan, about two hundred and ten years are reckoned: so long has Germany been in the conquering.
3In the course of so long an age there have been many losses on each side. 3Not the Samnite, not the Carthaginians, not Spain or Gaul, not even the Parthians have taught us more frequent lessons: for the freedom of the Germans is fiercer than the kingdom of Arsaces. 4For what else has the East to throw in our face but the slaughter of Crassus, the East which itself lost Pacorus and was laid low beneath a Ventidius? 5But the Germans, routing or capturing Carbo and Cassius and Scaurus Aurelius and Servilius Caepio and Maximus Mallius, took from the Roman people five consular armies together, and from Caesar too Varus and three legions with him; 5nor was it without cost that Gaius Marius struck them in Italy, the deified Julius in Gaul, and Drusus and Nero and Germanicus in their own homes: later the mighty threats of Gaius Caesar were turned into a mockery.
6Then came quiet, until, seizing the chance of our discord and civil war, they stormed the winter quarters of the legions and even aimed at the Gauls, and were driven back again; 6for in recent times they have been triumphed over rather than conquered.