§5.31.1αὐτοὶ δʼ εἰσὶ τὴν πρόσοψιν καταπληκτικοὶ καὶ ταῖς φωναῖς βαρυηχεῖς καὶ παντελῶς τραχύφωνοι, κατὰ δὲ τὰς ὁμιλίας βραχυλόγοι καὶ αἰνιγματίαι·
They are terrifying in appearance and have deep-sounding and completely harsh voices, but in conversation they are brief and enigmatic.
πολλὰ δὲ λέγοντες ἐν ὑπερβολαῖς ἐπʼ αὐξήσει μὲν ἑαυτῶν, μειώσει δὲ τῶν ἄλλων, ἀπειληταί τε καὶ ἀνατατικοὶ καὶ τετραγῳδημένοι ὑπάρχουσι, ταῖς δὲ διανοίαις ὀξεῖς καὶ πρὸς μάθησιν οὐκ ἀφυεῖς.
Speaking much in exaggeration to exalt themselves and belittle others, they are threatening, haughty, and tragically dramatic, yet they are sharp in intellect and not without aptitude for learning.
§5.31.2εἰσὶ δὲ παρʼ αὐτοῖς καὶ ποιηταὶ μελῶν, οὓς βάρδους ὀνομάζουσιν.
Among them there are also poets of songs whom they call bards.
οὗτοι δὲ μετʼ ὀργάνων ταῖς λύραις ὁμοίων ᾅδοντες οὓς μὲν ὑμνοῦσιν, οὓς δὲ βλασφημοῦσι.
These sing to the accompaniment of instruments like lyres, praising some and vilifying others.
φιλόσοφοί τέ τινές εἰσι καὶ θεολόγοι περιττῶς τιμώμενοι, οὓς δρουίδας ὀνομάζουσι.
There are also certain philosophers and theologians who are extraordinarily honored, whom they call druids.
§5.31.3χρῶνται δὲ καὶ μάντεσιν, ἀποδοχῆς μεγάλης ἀξιοῦντες αὐτούς· οὗτοι δὲ διά τε τῆς οἰωνοσκοπίας καὶ διὰ τῆς τῶν ἱερείων θυσίας τὰ μέλλοντα προλέγουσι, καὶ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος ἔχουσιν ὑπήκοον.
They also make use of diviners, holding them in high esteem; these foretell the future through both the flight of birds and the sacrifice of victims, and they keep the entire multitude subject to them.
μάλιστα δʼ ὅταν περί τινων μεγάλων ἐπισκέπτωνται, παράδοξον καὶ ἄπιστον ἔχουσι νόμιμον· ἄνθρωπον γὰρ κατασπείσαντες τύπτουσι μαχαίρᾳ κατὰ τὸν ὑπὲρ τὸ διάφραγμα τόπον, καὶ πεσόντος τοῦ πληγέντος ἐκ τῆς πτώσεως καὶ τοῦ σπαραγμοῦ τῶν μελῶν, ἔτι δὲ τῆς τοῦ αἵματος ῥύσεως τὸ μέλλον νοοῦσι, παλαιᾷ τινι καὶ πολυχρονίῳ παρατηρήσει περὶ τούτων πεπιστευκότες.
Especially when they are investigating major matters, they have a strange and incredible custom: for they consecrate a human being and strike him with a dagger in the region above the diaphragm, and when the struck man falls, they discern the future from his fall, the convulsion of his limbs, and moreover, the flow of his blood, believing in these things because of an ancient and long-standing observation.
§5.31.4ἔθος δʼ αὐτοῖς ἐστι μηδένα θυσίαν ποιεῖν ἄνευ φιλοσόφου· διὰ γὰρ τῶν ἐμπείρων τῆς θείας φύσεως ὡσπερεί τινων ὁμοφώνων τὰ χαριστήρια τοῖς θεοῖς φασι δεῖν προσφέρειν, καὶ διὰ τούτων οἴονται δεῖν τἀγαθὰ αἰτεῖσθαι.
It is their custom that no one perform a sacrifice without a philosopher; for they say that through those who are experienced in the divine nature, as if they were speakers of the same tongue, thank-offerings must be brought to the gods, and they believe that through these men good things must be asked.
§5.31.5οὐ μόνον δʼ ἐν ταῖς εἰρηνικαῖς χρείαις, ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ τοὺς πολέμους τούτοις μάλιστα πείθονται καὶ τοῖς μελῳδοῦσι ποιηταῖς, οὐ μόνον οἱ φίλοι, ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ πολέμιοι· πολλάκις δʼ ἐν ταῖς παρατάξεσι πλησιαζόντων ἀλλήλοις τῶν στρατοπέδων καὶ τοῖς ξίφεσιν ἀνατεταμένοις καὶ ταῖς λόγχαις προβεβλημέναις, εἰς τὸ μέσον οὗτοι προελθόντες παύουσιν αὐτούς, ὥσπερ τινὰ θηρία κατεπᾴσαντες.
Not only in times of peace, but also in wars, they obey these men and the singing poets most of all, not only friends but also enemies; and often when the armies are approaching one another in battle array, with swords raised and spears thrust forward, these men step into the midst and stop them, just as if they had charmed some wild beasts.
οὕτω καὶ παρὰ τοῖς ἀγριωτάτοις βαρβάροις ὁ θυμὸς εἴκει τῇ σοφίᾳ καὶ ὁ Ἄρης αἰδεῖται τὰς Μούσας.
Thus, even among the most savage barbarians, anger yields to wisdom and Ares respects the Muses.