[15] Caesar honoris Diviciaci atque Haeduorum causa sese eos in fidem recepturum et conservaturum dixit, et quod erat civitas magna inter Belgas auctoritate atque hominum multitudine praestabat, DC obsides poposcit. His traditis omnibusque armis ex oppido conlatis, ab eo loco in fines Ambianorum pervenit; qui se suaque omnia sine mora dediderunt.

Eng: Caesar, in recognition of the honor and the cause of Diviciacus and the Haedui, declared that he would receive them into his protection and ensure their safety. As the Haedui held significant influence and boasted a large population among the Belgae, he demanded 600 hostages. Once these hostages were handed over, along with all their weapons gathered from the town, Caesar proceeded to the territory of the Ambiani, who promptly surrendered themselves and all their possessions without delay.

华文: 凯撒为了对迪维奇亚克和哈埃杜人的尊敬，表示将接纳并保护他们，并且由于他们在比利时人中享有重要地位和众多的人数优势，他要求交出600名人质。在这些人质被交出并所有武器被收集起来后，他从那个地方进入了安比亚诺人的领土；他们立即无条件投降，献出了所有的领土和财产。

Commentary: The utilization of hostages was a frequent strategy employed by conquerors to secure the allegiance and cooperation of subdued tribes. In demanding hostages from the Haedui and Ambiani, Caesar aimed to ensure their obedience and peaceful conduct. This practice was customary among the Romans as a means of exerting control over recently acquired territories.

Moreover, the passage illuminates the swift tempo of Caesar's military campaign. Having successfully dealt with the Bellovaci and suppressed their uprising, Caesar exhibits no delay in promptly turning his attention to subjugating the Ambiani. This demonstrates his strategic brilliance and his ability to sustain the impetus of his Gallic conquest.

Eorum fines Nervii attingebant. Quorum de natura moribusque Caesar cum quaereret, sic reperiebat: nullum esse aditum ad eos mercatoribus; nihil pati vini reliquarumque rerum ad luxuriam pertinentium inferri, quod his rebus relanguescere animos eorum et remitti virtutem existimarent; esse homines feros magnaeque virtutis; increpitare atque incusare reliquos Belgas, qui se populo Romano dedidissent patriamque virtutem proiecissent; confirmare sese neque legatos missuros neque ullam condicionem pacis accepturos. 

Eng: Caesar inquired about the nature and customs of the Nervii and discovered the following: they did not allow access to their territory for merchants; they forbade the importation of wine and other luxury goods, believing that such indulgences would weaken their spirits and diminish their bravery; they were fierce and possessed great valor; they criticized and reproached the other Belgae who had surrendered to the Roman people and abandoned their ancestral virtues; they affirmed that they would neither send envoys nor accept any terms of peace.

华文: 凯撒对内尔维人的性质和风俗进行了调查，他发现：商人无法接近他们；他们不允许引入任何与奢侈有关的物品，如葡萄酒等，因为他们认为这些物品会削弱他们的意志和减少他们的勇气；他们是野蛮而勇猛的人；他们谴责并指责其他的比利时人，那些向罗马人投降并放弃了自己的民族勇气的人；他们坚决表示不会派遣使者，也不会接受任何和平条件。

Commentary:The Nervii staunchly opposed the presence of merchants and the influx of opulent commodities, deeming them as threats to their warrior ethos. This resolute stance exemplifies their deeply ingrained cultural principles and unwavering commitment to preserving their ancestral customs.

Moreover, the Nervii's outright rejection of diplomatic talks and refusal to entertain any peace agreements with the Romans reveals their unwavering spirit of independence and their unwavering determination to defy foreign dominion. Their unyielding pride in their own valor and their condemnation of neighboring Belgae tribes who had submitted to Rome reflect the intricate web of tribal rivalries and the paramount importance bestowed upon martial prowess within Gallic society.

[16] Cum per eorum fines triduum iter fecisset, inveniebat ex captivis Sabim flumen a castris suis non amplius milibus passuum X abesse; trans id flumen omnes Nervios consedisse adventumque ibi Romanorum expectare una cum Atrebatibus et Viromanduis, finitimis suis (nam his utrisque persuaserant uti eandem belli fortunam experirentur); expectari etiam ab iis Atuatucorum copias atque esse in itinere; mulieres quique per aetatem ad pugnam inutiles viderentur in eum locum coniecisse quo propter paludes exercitui aditus non esset.

Eng: After marching through their territory for three days, Caesar discovered from captives that the River Sabis was no more than ten miles away from his camp. He learned that all the Nervii, along with their neighbors the Atrebates and Viromandui, had gathered there and were awaiting the arrival of the Romans. They had also sent for reinforcements from the Atuatuci. Furthermore, they had positioned women and those who were deemed unfit for battle in a place where the marshes made access difficult for the Roman army.

华文: 凯撒通过俘虏得知，在他们的领土上行军三天后，发现他们的营地离塞比姆河不到10英里远；在河对岸，所有的内尔维人与阿特雷巴特人和维罗曼杜人，他们的邻居，一起等待着罗马人的到来（因为他们劝说这两个部族与他们一同面对战争的命运）；他们还被告知阿图阿图库人的军队正在途中等待他们；他们还将妇女和那些在战斗中无用的男子驱赶到了一个沼泽地区，以阻止罗马军队进攻。

Commentary: Caesar's astute perception of the Nervii's strategic positioning and their alliance with neighboring tribes bestowed upon him invaluable intelligence crucial for his strategic choices on the battlefield. It exemplifies his meticulous scrutiny and adeptness in extracting vital information from captives, enabling him to glean profound insights into the adversary's maneuvers and objectives. Moreover, this passage accentuates the formidable hurdles confronted by Caesar as he grappled with unfamiliar landscapes and confronted united tribal coalitions during his arduous conquests in Gaul.

[17] His rebus cognitis, exploratores centurionesque praemittit qui locum castris idoneum deligant. Cum ex dediticiis Belgis reliquisque Gallis complures Caesarem secuti una iter facerent, quidam ex his, ut postea ex captivis cognitum est, eorum dierum consuetudine itineris nostri exercitus perspecta, nocte ad Nervios pervenerunt atque his demonstrarunt inter singulas legiones impedimentorum magnum numerum intercedere, neque esse quicquam negotii, cum prima legio in castra venisset reliquaeque legiones magnum spatium abessent, hanc sub sarcinis adoriri; qua pulsa impedimentisque direptis, futurum ut reliquae contra consistere non auderent.

Eng: After obtaining this information, Caesar sent scouts and centurions ahead to choose a suitable campsite. As they traveled together with many of the surrendered Belgians and other Gauls, it was later discovered from captives that some of them, familiar with the daily routine of our army's march, secretly reached the Nervii at night and informed them that a large number of baggage trains were interspersed among each legion. They suggested that there would be no difficulty in attacking the first legion while the other legions were still a considerable distance away. If they could rout this legion and seize its baggage, the rest would be too afraid to stand their ground.

华文: 凯撒在了解这些情况后，派遣侦察兵和百夫长去选择适合扎营的地点。在许多彼得西人和其他加利人的陪同下，一同前行的他们中的一些人，后来从俘虏那里得知，根据我们军队行军的惯例，夜间抵达了内尔维人的领土，并向他们展示了在每个军团之间有大量的辎重车，当第一军团到达营地，而其他军团还远未到达时，攻击辎重车将会轻而易举，一旦辎重被抢夺，其他军团将不敢反抗。

Commentary: The Nervii, astute and cunning, devised a strategy to strike at the heart of the Roman army's vulnerability—their baggage train. Recognizing the logistical fragility of an army on the move, they saw an opportunity to disrupt the Romans' supply lines, sow disarray, and undermine their morale.

In this tactical maneuver, the Nervii showcased their profound understanding of warfare. They grasped the significance of the baggage train as a lifeline for the Romans and sought to sever it, plunging their adversaries into chaos. The implications were twofold: not only would it debilitate the Romans' ability to sustain their campaign, but it would also sow seeds of doubt and unease within their ranks.

This account underscores the critical role of intelligence gathering and the perils that arise when former foes are embedded among one's own forces. The Belgic Gauls, once allies, inadvertently provided the Nervii with a strategic advantage, illuminating the intricate complexities of managing diverse alliances in the crucible of war.

Adiuvabat etiam eorum consilium qui rem deferebant quod Nervii antiquitus, cum equitatu nihil possent (neque enim ad hoc tempus ei rei student, sed quicquid possunt, pedestribus valent copiis), quo facilius finitimorum equitatum, si praedandi causa ad eos venissent, impedirent, teneris arboribus incisis atque inflexis crebrisque in latitudinem ramis enatis [et] rubis sentibusque interiectis effecerant ut instar muri hae saepes munimentum praeberent, quo non modo non intrari sed ne perspici quidem posset. His rebus cum iter agminis nostri impediretur, non omittendum sibi consilium Nervii existimaverunt.

Eng: The Nervii's plan was further supported by their custom of rendering aid in battle with their infantry rather than relying on cavalry (as they were not accustomed to using cavalry at all, but rather relied on their infantry for all purposes). This made it easier for them to hinder the neighboring tribes' cavalry if they were to come for plunder, by cutting down young trees and bending them with frequent branches spreading out in width, and by interweaving them with brambles and thorns. These defenses formed a barrier resembling a wall, which not only prevented entry but also made it impossible to see through. As our army's advance was hindered by these obstacles, the Nervii believed that their plan should not be overlooked.

华文: 内尔维人受到这些人的建议，因为他们古代就用这种方法阻碍邻国的骑兵进攻。虽然他们自己没有骑兵（因为他们不重视这个军事部门，而是专注于步兵力量），但他们砍断年轻树木并弯曲它们，密集地生长出宽大的枝叶，在其间插入荆棘和荆棘，形成了一道像墙壁一样的障碍，不仅不能进入，甚至连看都看不见里面的情况。当我们行军的队伍受到这些障碍物的阻碍时，Nervii认为他们不应忽视这一点，他们认为这是他们的计划。

Commentary: The Nervii, lacking a strong cavalry force, resorted to a unique tactic of creating dense barriers using cut and bent young trees with frequent branches grown sideways, along with brambles and thorns interwoven. While cavalry was not their focus, the Nervii excelled in infantry warfare and prioritized their ground forces. This distinction sheds light on the diverse military capabilities and strategic approaches among the Gaulish tribes during the Gallic Wars.