[p. 41]and not for the sake of others; they court hazard and
go out to meet it, for they themselves bear off the rewards of victory,
and thus their institutions contribute not a little to their courage.
Such is the general character of Europe and Asia.
PART 24
And there are in Europe other tribes, differing from one another in
stature, shape, and courage: the differences are those I formerly
mentioned, and will now explain more clearly. Such as inhabit a country
which is mountainous, rugged, elevated, and well watered, and where
the changes of the seasons are very great, are likely to have great
variety of shapes among them, and to be naturally of an enterprising
and warlike disposition; and such persons are apt to have no little
of the savage and ferocious in their nature; but such as dwell in
places which are low-lying, abounding in meadows and ill ventilated,
and who have a larger proportion of hot than of cold winds, and who
make use of warm waters- these are not likely to be of large stature
nor well proportioned, but are of a broad make, fleshy, and have black
hair; and they are rather of a dark than of a light complexion, and
are less likely to be phlegmatic than bilious; courage and laborious
enterprise are not naturally in them, but may be engendered in them
by means of their institutions. And if there be rivers in the country
which carry off the stagnant and rain water from it, these may be
wholesome and clear; but if there be no rivers, but the inhabitants
drink the waters of fountains, and such as are stagnant and marshy,
they must necessarily have prominent bellies and enlarged spleens.
But such as inhabit a high country, and one that is level, windy,
and well-watered, will be large of stature, and like to one another;
but their minds will be rather unmanly and gentle. Those who live
on thin, ill-watered, and bare soils, and not well attempered in the
changes of the seasons, in such a country they are likely to be in
their persons rather hard and well braced, rather of a blond than
a dark complexion, and in disposition and passions haughty and self-willed.
For, where the changes of the seasons are most frequent, and where
they differ most from one another, there you will find their forms,
dispositions, and nature the most varied. These are the strongest
of the natural causes of difference, and next the country in which
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