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.

  Dic modo.

      (after a moment) Yes, yes, go on.

Chrys.

  “Atque id pollicetur se daturum aurum mihi,
  quod dem scortis quodque in lustris comedim congraecem, pater,
  sed, pater, vide ne tibi hodie verba det:  quaeso cave.”

“And besides, he promises he will give it to me to spend on women and to squander in riotous living in low resorts, father.  But, father, do see that he doesn’t impose upon you to-day:  for mercy’s sake, take care.”

Mnes.

  Loquere porro.

      (finishing) All right, some more.