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.