§2.15.1Caesar 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.
Caesar, for the sake of the honor of Diviciacus and the Haedui, said that he would receive them into his protection and preserve them; and because it was a state of great influence among the Belgae and excelled in the multitude of its men, he demanded six hundred hostages.
§2.15.2His traditis omnibusque armis ex oppido conlatis, ab eo loco in fines Ambianorum pervenit; qui se suaque omnia sine mora dediderunt.
When these were handed over and all the arms collected from the town, he arrived from that place in the territory of the Ambiani, who surrendered themselves and all their possessions without delay.
§2.15.3Eorum fines Nervii attingebant.
The Nervii bordered on their territory.
Quorum de natura moribusque Caesar cum quaereret, sic reperiebat: §2.15.4nullum esse aditum ad eos mercatoribus; nihil pati vini reliquarumque rerum ad luxuriam pertinentium inferri, quod his rebus relanguescere animos eorum et remitti virtutem existimarent; §2.15.5esse homines feros magnaeque virtutis; increpitare atque incusare reliquos Belgas, qui se populo Romano dedidissent patriamque virtutem proiecissent; §2.15.6confirmare sese neque legatos missuros neque ullam condicionem pacis accepturos.
When Caesar inquired about their character and customs, he found out as follows: that there was no access for merchants to them; that they allowed no wine or other things tending to luxury to be imported, because they thought that by these things their minds were enervated and their courage impaired; that they were fierce men and of great courage; that they upbraided and accused the rest of the Belgae, who had surrendered themselves to the Roman people and cast aside their ancestral courage; that they asserted that they would neither send ambassadors nor accept any condition of peace.