the death of Herrman, or Arminius, the national hero, which took place here in the time of Tiberius (A. D. 28–31); while a third party attribute it to the erection of a castle on the site of the old Roman structure, by Herrman, archbishop of Treves. Of these, the first appears the most probable; but the second is by far the most romantic. The third can have no foundation in fact; for, notwithstanding the statement of Merian (Top. Archip. Mogunt. Trevir. Colon, 1646), no prelate of that name ever filled that see from the days of Eucharis (A. D. 100) to those of Clemens Wenceslaus, prince of Saxony (A D. 1812). It is the second, therefore, that these pages adopt, less for its truth, than for the opportunity it offers of relating the history of the saviour of his country; of telling the tale of the first great struggle for independence undertaken by the German people.

LIFE OF HERRMANN.

Herrmann lived in the time of Augustus Cæsar; he must, therefore, have almost been contemporary with Christ. He and Segest were chiefs of the Heruscii, or inhabitants of the Harz forest. An idolater of national independence; he was, consequently, a bitter enemy of the Roman domination. Herrmann had been some time in the camp of Drusus Germanicus, the conqueror of Germany; and he had there succeeded in making himself master of the Roman military system. In subsequent times he turned this knowledge to such terrible account against them, that his name became word of

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fear to the oldest veterans in the army of the invaders.

It was shortly after the accesssion of Herrmann to the leadership of his people, that Quinctilius Varus, the Roman proconsul of Gaul, then resident at Treves, a bold, bad man, commenced a series of oppressive proceedings towards the Germans on both sides of the Rhine, which completely alienated their allegiance from the empire, and ended in their virtual independence of it. Among the first to stand forth in the defence of his country was Herrmann. Aware, however, that open resistance to the power of the Romans would be useless, he resolved also to call in the aid of stratagem to effect his purposes. With this view, he excited an insurrection among his subjects, the Heruscii, and then applied to the proconsul for assistance to quell it. The politic Roman was not slow to grant the assistance required; he calculated on effectually weakening this spirited people by setting them one against the other; which done, he resolved to step in quietly and overpower the victor. Herrmann was aware of his intention, however, and he set about counteracting it.

The insurrection, as it is seen, was but simulated, to draw the Roman forces into the impassable forests of the interior, and inextricably to involve them in the impregnable defiles of that rugged country.

Notwithstanding the information to this effect which the proconsul privately received from Segest, the contemporary and collateral sovereign with Herrmann, he still persisted in his design. The Roman cohorts crossed the Rhine,

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over the bridge built by Julius Cæsar, * and advanced through the country of the Hasuarii, or Hessians, into the Harz forest, which then covered the greater part of central Germany, and stretched almost down to the shores of that river. Allured onwards by false reports, they advanced further and further into the interior; nor did they perceive the perilous nature their position, until it was too late to retrieve it. In that part of the forest, known as the Teutoburger Wald, they were surrounded on all sides by the Germans under the command of Herrmann, and attacked with an inconceivable fury. The disadvantages of the ground, the suddenness of the surprise, the violence of the assault, were insufficient to dispirit the conquerors of the world, though they had the effect of ensuring their destruction: they fought in close phalanx like the heroes they were; and only a scant remnant of their formidable force sought safety in retreat. Three entire legions were cut off in this sanguinary encounter; and the Roman power on the Rhine received a shock on that day which it never afterwards recovered. It was on hearing the fatal intelligence of this fight, that Augustus Caesar is said to have exclaimed, in the deepest agony of grief, 66 Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions.

The consequences of this victory were of the last importance to the Germans: it shewed them the advantages of combination, and taught them the strength that lay in union. Their foes, the

* The best-informed antiquaries place the site of this bridge at Weissethurm; the part of the river subsequently crossed by Hoche, in 1797.

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Romans, too, were schooled by it not to despise any means for the destruction of such a formidable enemy. "Fearful are the Alemanni, Tacitus, "when they fight together; but, combating singly, are they ever defeated. The Romans acted on this knowledge; and they, accordingly, set on foot intrigues of all kinds to foment discord and sow dissensions among them. This insidious policy was but to successful. The rulers, or chiefs, or dukes of the Heruscii, or Harz-folk, at this period were Herrmann and Segest; those of the Hasuarii, or Hessians, who lay between the former and the Rhine, Theutrich and Chattmer. The latter princes had two daughters, who were respectively betrothed to Gelhaar, or Flavius, the brother of Herrmann, and Sesistack, the son of Segest, his heir in the government of the Heruscii. The interests of both people appeared to be indissolubly bound together by this auspicious alliance; but a disseverance of it arose in a quarter from whence it could be least expected. Whether from caprice, which is not impossible, or political considerations, which is very probable, or love for the fair dame, which, after all, is the most likely, Herrmann brought down on himself the vengeance of Segest, by forcibly carrying off the beautiful Thusnelda, his daughter, against his consent, and excited divisions in the German camp by ravishing her from the arms of a neigbouring prince to whom she was on the point of being united.

The Romans had intelligence of those things, and they availed themselves of them to further their views of subjugation of the Germans. Το

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the application of Segest, for aid to recover his daughter, Drusus Germanicus, who now manded on the Rhine, lent a favourable ear; and, not content even with this, he despatched Cæeinna, his lieutenant, at the head of four legions, and five thousand auxiliary troops, into the Harz country. This formidable force crossed the Rhine at Mentz, and, marching through the defiles of the Taunus, threw themselves between the Hessians and the Harz-folk, so as to cut off any possibility of communication between them. They then laid waste all around them; among other acts of violence, destroying the ancient Matzen, the capital of the former people; and finally retired to Treves, but without effecting any great result.

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On the first intelligence of the retreat of the Romans across the river, the Hessians fell upon the territories of Segest-the author of all this evil-like a furious whirlwind. They ravaged his lands; they destroyed or dispersed his people; they pillaged and burnt his towns; they spread desolation far and wide in the country of the Heruscii; and, finally, they besieged himself in his chief city, to which, in the extremity of his distress, he had fled as a last resource, final refuge. In this, his dire extremity, again had recourse to the Romans; and again they despatched a force to his assistance. After many severe encounters, the Hessians were defeated, and the beleaguered prince set free from his enemies. This victory gave the invaders a large portion of the right bank of the Rhine. Among those who were liberated by this movement, was Thusnelda, the daughter of Segest,

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