Res Gestae

Accordingly, when he held a council, with men present who knew the country, to decide what route should be chosen as a safe one, there was much interchange of opinion, some saying that they ought to go by Arbor[*](The name cannot be completed.) others by way of Saulieu[*](In the department Côte d’ Or.) and Cora.[*](A small place in the neighbourhood of Autun.)

But when some remarked that Silvanus, commander of the infantry, with 8000 reserve troops had shortly before passed (though with difficulty) by roads shorter but mistrusted because of the heavy shade of the branches, the Caesar with the greater confidence

And to avoid any delay, he took only the cuirassiers[*](The cataphractarii were mounted warriors; both horses and men were heavily clad in armour; see xvi. 10, 8.) and the crossbowmen,[*](The ballistarii had charge of the ballistae, which took the place of modern artillery; described in xxiii. 4, 1.) who were far from suitable to defend a general, and traversing the same road, he came to Auxerre.