56.
Caesar on being informed of these movements was of
opinion that he ought to make haste, even if he should run some risk in
completing the bridges, in order that he might engage before greater forces of
the enemy should be collected in that place. For no one even then considered it
an absolutely necessary act, that changing his design he should direct his march
into the Province, both because the infamy and disgrace of the thing, and the
intervening mount Cevennes
, and the difficulty of the roads prevented him; and especially because
he had serious apprehensions for the safety of Labienus
whom he had detached, and those legions whom he had sent with him. Therefore,
having made very long marches by day and night, he came to the river Loire
, contrary to the expectation of all; and having by means of the cavalry,
found out a ford, suitable enough considering the emergency, of such depth that
their arms and shoulders could be above water for supporting their
accoutrements, he dispersed his cavalry in such a manner as to break the force
of the current, and having confounded the enemy at the first sight, led his army
across the river in safety; and finding corn and cattle in the fields, after
refreshing his army with them, he determined to march into the country of the
Senones .
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