"The bards read the sacred books."

Translation: Vates libros sacros legunt.

[BryanWilli390596]

These seem like soothsayers, rather than bards.

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Agree. Soothsayers is a better definition.

[Aubs400]

A bard strictly speaking is a poet. In the context of Rome, bards would be a foreign Gaulish and Brythonic (or 'Celtic') phenomenon. Moreover, ancient bards did not read, valuing the power of memory. '

[PERCE_NEIGE]

It is often said that Gaulish couldn't read. (but I don't know to what extend it is true as the Gaulish alphabet did exist)
Bards are about oral traditions, like druids.

Some Gaulish here: http://www.antimoon.com/forum/t7315.htm