The Roman king that bore great _Cæsar’s_ name, Twelue aged sires in senate did select, Men of renowne and all of noble fame, Who as graue legats his great will t’effect, Through Neptune’s wauie empire did direct Their course to our sea-bounded Britanie, To menace vs with their proud ambasie. 57. Where when they came, seeing our court abound, With honor’s sonnes emploi’d in deeds of fame, Not in still waues of court-deepe pleasures drown’d: For vse in deeds of armes and martiall game Exiling sloth the pride of lust doth tame: They thought their antique Romane emperie, Had been transferr’d from Rome to Britanie. 58. Yet getting audience one amongst the rest, With graue demeanor and great maiestie, Thinking with words our greatnesse t’haue represt, Began t’infold with high authoritie, The thundring threatnings of his ambasie: For he vnbidden boldly tooke his place, And thus did threaten me vnto my face. 59. “_Arthur_,” said he, “from ample-streeted Rome Where mightie _Cæsar_ thy liege lord doth reigne T’effect his will, to thee, loe, we are come, And in his name to claime our right againe, Which wrongfullie from vs thou dost detaine: For long time since ye Britaines well do know That Britanie to Rome did tribute owe. 60. He doth dislike thy farre commanding minde, Nor thy proud bold attempts will he allowe In any thing, by him not being design’d, By vs he bids thy haughtie stomack bowe Vnto the bending of his kinglie browe, And wils thy kingdom stoop, though so renown’d, To Rome, the mistris of the world’s wide round. 61. But if thy hart do harbor haughtie pride, And that thy people still stiffnecked bee, If that our words in scorne thou set aside, Then to thy face I here do threaten thee, That ere thine eyes one summer more shall see, More troopes of men gainst thee we will imploie Then erst did Greekes against the sonnes of Troy.” 62. This threatning speech did set my thoughts on fire, And made me to returne this sharpe replie: “Doting old wretch,” said I, “thou dost aspire In vaine by vanting words to terrifie The hart of him that scornes thy ambasie, Nor can our person patiently permit Those barbarous taunts, signes of thy doting wit. 63. Do Romaines harbor such a base conceit That Britain’s _Arthur_ is of lesse renowne Then is their king, in empire, though so great? Or that vsurping _Cæsar_ with a frowne Can make vs yeeld the title of our crowne? O sillie sots to thinke vs such a sort As your base speeches whilom did import.