bardi

A celebrated poetico-sacerdotal order among the ancient Gauls, who roused their countrymen to martial fury by their strains, and for this purpose were accustomed to follow the camp. From the language of Tacitus (Germ. 3), some have supposed that a similar order existed among the ancient Germans. The passage in question, however, involves a doubtful reading. They who adopt barditus as the true lection make it signify “a bard's song.” The reading frequently adopted, however, is barritus, “a war-cry.” Probability, nevertheless, is somewhat in favour of the Germans having also had their bards.