§2.17.1His rebus cognitis, exploratores centurionesque praemittit qui locum castris idoneum deligant.
Having learned these things, he sent forward scouts and centurions to choose a place suitable for a camp.
§2.17.2Cum 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; §2.17.3qua pulsa impedimentisque direptis, futurum ut reliquae contra consistere non auderent.
Since many of the surrendered Belgae and other Gauls had followed Caesar and were marching with him, certain of these, as was afterwards learned from the prisoners, having observed our army's custom of marching during those days, came by night to the Nervii and demonstrated to them that between the individual legions a great quantity of baggage intervened, and that it would be no trouble at all, when the first legion had reached the camp and the remaining legions were a great distance away, to attack this legion while still under their packs; that if this was routed and its baggage plundered, it would happen that the remaining legions would not dare to stand against them.
§2.17.4Adiuvabat 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.
The advice of those who brought the information was also assisted by the fact that the Nervii from ancient times, since they could do nothing with cavalry (for even up to this time they do not attend to this matter, but whatever power they have, they rely on infantry forces), in order to impede more easily the cavalry of their neighbors if they should come to them for the sake of plundering, had cut into young trees and bent them over, and by letting numerous branches grow out sideways and interweaving brambles and thorns, had made it so that these hedges provided a defense like a wall, into which it was not only impossible to enter but even to see through.
§2.17.5His rebus cum iter agminis nostri impediretur, non omittendum sibi consilium Nervii existimaverunt.
Since the march of our column would be impeded by these things, the Nervii thought that they should not neglect the advice.