You could have heard the Britons shouting loudly, calling God as witness and swearing by his name that they were going to punish the messengers. Don't lay a hand on these men. No one shall do them the slightest harm. When the noise quieted down and the retainers recovered their composure, the king ordered his dukes and counts and his personal advisers to accompany him to a stone tower called the Giant Tower. There he wanted to seek advice on what to reply to the messengers.
Leisure diminishes prowess, leisure promotes lechery, leisure kindles clandestine love affairs.
Through prolonged repose and leisure youth gets preoccupied with entertainment and pleasure and backgammon and other games of diversion. By staying put and resting for a long time, we could lose our reputation. Should the Romans find it in themselves to carry out what they say in that letter, the Britons will still retain their reputation for valor and strength. Peace after war is a good thing. The land is better and more beautiful on account of it.