De Bello Gallico 2.18

2.18.1Locī nātūra erat haec, quem locum nostrī castrīs dēlēgerant.

The nature of the ground which our men had chosen for the camp was this.

Note. Locī nātūra erat haec: 'the nature of the place was as follows'. haec points forward to the description.

2.18.1Collis ab summō aequāliter dēclīvis ad flūmen Sabim, quod suprā nōmināvimus, vergēbat.

A hill sloped down evenly from the top to the river Sabis, which we mentioned above.

2.18.2Ab eō flūmine parī acclīvitāte collis nāscēbātur adversus huic et contrārius, passūs circiter CC īnfimus apertus, ab superiōre parte silvestris, ut nōn facile intrōrsus perspicī posset.

From that river a hill of equal slope rose opposite and facing it, open at the bottom for about two hundred paces, wooded in its upper part, so that it was not easy to see inside.

Note. passūs circiter CC: accusative of extent, 'for about two hundred paces'. ut … perspicī posset is a result clause.

2.18.3Intrā eās silvās hostēs in occultō sēsē continēbant;

Inside these woods the enemy kept themselves in hiding;

2.18.3in apertō locō secundum flūmen paucae statiōnēs equitum vidēbantur.

in the open ground along the river a few cavalry outposts could be seen.

2.18.3Flūminis erat altitūdō pedum circiter trium.

The depth of the river was about three feet.