Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 42
Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. and Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D., Ed.

25. About the same time there returned Gnaeus Servilius Caepio, Appius Claudius Cento and Titus Annius Luscus, the envoys sent to Macedonia to [p. 361]demand reparations¹ and denounce the treaty of² friendship with King Perseus. [2] These envoys inflamed the hostility which the senate had felt of its own accord toward Perseus by telling, one after another, the things which they had seen and heard; they had seen, they said, preparations for war going forward with the utmost vigour through all Macedonian cities. [3] When they had come to the court, for many days an opportunity of meeting the king was denied them; finally, when, having actually despaired of a conference, they had departed, then at last they had been recalled from their journey and brought before him. [4] The gist of their speech had been as follows: a treaty had been made with Philip, and renewed with Perseus himself after his father's death, in which he was explicitly forbidden to lead his army beyond his own territory, and also forbidden to assail in war the allies of the Roman people. [5] Next the envoys had explained in detail the whole series of ascertained facts which the Fathers had recently heard Eumenes recount in the senate. Moreover, the king had held at Samothrace for many days a secret conference with embassies from the states of Asia. [6] For these violations, the envoys informed the king, the senate thought it right that reparation be made, and [7??] that possessions which the king held contrary to the regulations of the treaty be returned to the Romans and their allies. [8] The king³ had at first replied to these statements ungraciously, being inflamed with anger, had charged the Romans with greed and arrogance, and had yelled that [p. 363]embassies kept coming one after another to spy upon⁴ his words and actions, because they thought it right that he should do and say everything at their beck and call; [9] finally, after shouting a long wordy harangue, he had ordered them to return the next day, since he wished to give them a reply in writing. [10] Then the following written statement had been given them: the treaty made with Perseus' father was in no way binding on him; he had endured its renewal, not because he approved of it, but because immediately on assuming the kingship he had had to endure anything. [11] If the Romans wished to make a new treaty with him, some agreement as to terms should first be reached; if they could bring themselves to make a treaty on terms of equality, he for his part would see what he should do and they for theirs, he supposed, would take care of the interests of their state. After delivering this message, Perseus had begun to hurry out, and the dismissal of everyone from the palace had begun. [12] Thereupon the envoys had denounced the friendship and alliance. Angered at this utterance, Perseus had stopped and in a loud voice had enjoined upon them to leave the borders of his realm within three days. Accordingly they had set out; no sign of hospitality or courtesy had been shown them during their stay or as they departed.

[13] Next the envoys of the Thessalians and Aetolians were heard. In order that the senate might know as soon as possible what military commanders the state was to use, it [14??] was voted that dispatches be sent to the consuls to request that whichever of them could do so should come to Rome for the election of magistrates.