"Not addicted to gluttony or drunkenness, this people who incur no expense in food or dress, and whose minds are always bent upon the defence of their country, and on the means of plunder, are wholly employed in the care of their horses and furniture"

Giraldus Cambrensis presents an observation of a people characterized by restraint and singularity of purpose. Their society distances itself notably from common vices such as gluttony and drunkenness, indicating both an individual and communal self-discipline. By stating that they “incur no expense in food or dress,” there is an implication of austerity or the prioritization of resources elsewhere. This frugality distinguishes them from societies where wealth is displayed through lavish meals or extravagant clothing.

Their ascetic lifestyle is accompanied by a collective focus on defense and acquisition through plunder. The “minds are always bent upon the defence of their country, and on the means of plunder,” suggesting a dual motivation: self-preservation and aggression. Their primary concerns revolve around safeguarding their territory and seeking additional resources or honor through raiding. These pursuits shape both individual lives and their communal ethos. The discipline in personal indulgence transfers into a fervor for readiness—physical, mental, and logistical—for conflict or opportunity.

Central to their existence is the care of “horses and furniture.” Horses, essential for both defense and plunder, are symbols of status, mobility, and power, critical for societies exposed to warfare or frequent movement. The attention given to “furniture,” likely referring to military equipment or possibly personal effects necessary for their way of life, highlights a further practical focus. Rather than being occupied with transient pleasure, their energies are directed toward maintaining the tools and animals essential for survival and dominance.

Giraldus thus draws a contrast between this group’s martial efficiency and the perceived decadence or softness of other societies. Their abstention from certain pleasures is not merely cultural but tied to a deeper sense of purpose and survival. Their values are shaped by the demands of their environment, forging a community adept at resisting excess in favor of discipline and readiness.