37. In the same quarter of Germany, adjacent to the ocean, dwell the Cimbri;  191 a small  192 state at present, but great in renown.  193 Of their past grandeur extensive vestiges still remain, in encampments and lines on either shore,  194 from the compass of which the strength and numbers of the nation may still be computed, and credit derived to the account of so prodigious an army. It was in the 640th year of Rome that the arms of the Cimbri were first heard of, under the consulate of Caecilius Metellus and Papirius Carbo; from which era to the second consulate of the emperor Trajan  195 is a period of nearly 210 years. So long has Germany withstood the arms of Rome. During this long interval many mutual wounds have been inflicted. Not the Samnite, the Carthaginian, Spain, Gaul, or Parthia, have given more frequent alarms; for the liberty of the Germans is more vigorous than the monarchy of the Arsacidae. What has the East, which has itself lost Pacorus, and suffered an overthrow from Ventidius,  196 to boast against us, but the slaughter of Crassus? But the Germans, by the defeat or capture of Carbo,  197 Cassius,  198 Scaurus Aurelius,  199 Servilius Caepio, and Cneius Manlius,  200 deprived the Roman people of five consular armies;  201 and afterwards took from Augustus himself Varus with three legions.  202 Nor did Caius Marius  203 in Italy, the deified Julius  204 in Gaul, or Drusus,  204 Nero,  204 or Germanicus  204 in their own country, defeat then without loss. The subsequent mighty threats of Caligula terminated in ridicule. Then succeeded tranquillity; till, seizing the occasion of our discords and civil wars, they forced the winter-quarters of the legions,  205 and even aimed at the possession of Gaul; and, again expelled thence, they have in latter times been rather triumphed over  206 than vanquished.