Non in ripa. Not only (or not so much) on the border (the riverbank), but also within the bounds of the Roman Empire.
Splendidissima—colonia. This flourishing colony had no distinctive name in the age of T.; called afterwards Augusta Vindelicorum, now Augsburg.
Passim. Wherever they chose—Sine custode. Not so others. Cf. His. 4, 64: ut inermes ac prope nudi, sub custode et pretio coiremus.
Cum—ostendamus. Cum==while, although. Hence the subj.
Non concupiscentibus. Since they were not covetous, Gün. Gr renders: though they were not equally desirous of it.
Notum—auditur. The Elbe had been seen and crossed by Drusus Domitius, and Tiberius. But now it was known only by hearsay. See a like patriotic complaint at the close of 37.
XLII. Marcomanni==men of the marches. See Latham in loc—Sedes, sc.
Bohemia.—Pulsis olim Boiis, cf. 28.
Degenerant, sc. a reliquorum virtute, i.e. the Narisci and Quadi are not unworthy, do not fall short of the bravery of their neighbors. the Marcomanni.
Peragitur. Al. protegitur, porrigitur, &c. Different words are supplied as the subject of peragitur, e.g. Passow iter.; Rit. cursus; K. frons. The last is preferable. The meaning is: This country (sc. of these tribes) is the front, so to speak (i.e. the part facing the Romans) of Germany, so far as it is formed by the Danube, i.e. so far as the Danube forms the boundary between Germany and the Roman Empire.
Marobodui. Cf. Ann. 2, 62; Suet. Tib. 37.