Insuper, i.e. besides the long hair and beard. The proper position of insuper is, as here, between the adj. and subs., cf. 34: immensos insuper lacus; see also insuper, 12.
Absolvat. Subj. after donec. So faciat below. See note, 1.
Hic—habitus, sc. ferreum annulum, cf. 17. Plurimis==permultis, Rit.
Placet. Antithetic to ignominiosum genti. Very many of the Chatti are pleased with that which is esteemed a disgrace by most Germans, and so pleased with it as to retain it to old age, and wear it as a badge of distinction (canent insignes).
Nova. Al. torva. Strange, unusual. Placed in the van (prima acies), because as the author says, § 43: primi in omnibus proeliis oculi vincuntur.
Mansuescunt. Primarily said of wild beasts, accustomed to the hand of man or tamed. So immanis, not handled, wild, savage. The clause introduced by nam illustrates or enforces visu nova, and may be rendered thus: for not even in time of peace do they grow gentle and put on a milder aspect.
Exsanguis. Usually lifeless or pale. Here languid, feeble.
XXXII. Alveo==quoad alveum. Abl. of respect, H. 429; Z. 429.
Certum. Fixed, well defined, i.e. not divided and diffused, (so as to form of itself no sufficient border or boundary to the Roman Empire) as it was nearer its source among the Chatti. So this disputed word seems to be explained by the author himself in the following clause; quique terminus esse sufficiat==and such that it suffices to be a boundary. Qui==talis ut; hence followed by the subj. H. 500, I.; Z. 558. So Mela (3, 2) contrasts solidus et certo alveo lapsus with huc et illuc dispergitur.
Tencteris==apud Tencteros, by enallage, cf. note on ad patrem, 20, and other references there. The Tencteri and Usipii seem to have been at length absorbed into the mass of people, who appear under the later name of Alemanni. Cf. Prichard.