parari tu iussisti omnia.

Everything your mandate called for. (_showing writing
materials_)

_Chrys._

Cape stilum propere et tabellas tu has tibi.

(_to Mnesilochus_) Quick! Take the stylus and these tablets,
you.

_Mnes._

Quid postea?

(_obeying_) And then?

_Chrys._

Quod iubebo scribito istic. nam propterea te volo
scribere, ut pater cognoscat litteras quando legat. 730
scribe.

Write down there what I dictate. I want you to do the
writing, you see, so that your father will recognize your
hand when he reads it. Write.

_Mnes._

Quid scribam?

Write what?

_Chrys._

Salutem tuo patri verbis tuis.

Oh, some wish--use your own words--for your father's health.
(_Mnesilochus writes_)

_Pistoc._

Quid si potius morbum mortem scribat? id erit rectius.

Hadn't he better write sickness and death? That will be more
to the point.

_Chrys._

Ne interturba.

(_to Pistoclerus_) Don't muddle him.

_Mnes._

Iam imperatum in cera inest.

That's down now according to orders.

_Chrys._

Dic quem ad modum.

Let's hear how you've put it.

_Mnes._

"Mnesilochus salutem dicit suo patri."

(_reading_) "Mnesilochus sends best wishes to his father."

_Chrys._

Adscribe hoc cito:
"Chrysalus mihi usque quaque loquitur nec recte, pater,
quia tibi aurum reddidi et quia non te fraudaverim."

Hurry up, add this: "Chrysalus keeps talking away at me
everywhere, father, and talking harshly, because I handed
the gold over to you and did not defraud you."

_Pistoc._

Mane dum scribit.

Give him time to write.

_Chrys._

Celerem oportet esse amatoris manum.

A lover's hand ought to be nimble.

_Pistoc._

[21]At quidem hercle est ad perdundum magis quam ad scribundum cita.

Gad, yes! but it makes shorter work of cash than
correspondence.

_Mnes._

Loquere. hoc scriptumst.

Go on. That's written.

_Chrys._

"Nunc, pater mi, proin tu ab eo ut caveas tibi,
sycophantias componit, aurum ut abs ted auferat; 740
et profecto se ablaturum dixit." plane adscribito.

"Now then, father dear, do be on your guard against him--he
is laying a rascally scheme to take the gold from you; and
he vows he will take it." Write that down plain.

_Mnes._

D