Men criminatust? optimest:  ego sum malus,
  ego sum sacer, scelestus. specta rem modo;
  ego verbum faciam nullum.

(affecting indignation) He’s accused me, me?  Very fine indeed!  I’m the one that’s bad, I’m the cursed criminal! (significantly) You just keep your eyes open; that’s all I have to say.

Nic.

  Etiam, carnufex,
  minitare?

      What?  Threatening, you hangdog?

Chrys.

  Nosces tu illum actutum qualis sit.
  nunc has tabellas ferre me iussit tibi.
  orabat, quod istic esset scriptum ut fieret.

      You’ll shortly know what sort he is.  He ordered me to bring
      this letter to you now.  Begged you to do what’s written
      there.

Nic.

  Cedo.

      Give it here.

Chrys.

  Nosce signum.

      (obeying) Take notice of the seal.

Nic.

  Novi. ubi ipse est?

      (seeing it is intact) Yes, yes.  Where is my son himself?

Chrys.

Nescio. nil iam me oportet scire. oblitus sum omnia. 790 scio me esse servom. nescio etiam id quod scio. nunc ab trasenna his turdus lumbricum petit; pendebit hodie pulcre, ita intendi tenus.

(surlily) Don’t know.  The proper thing for me now is to know nothing.  I’ve forgotten everything.  I know I’m a slave.  I don’t even know what I do know. (aside) Now our thrush here is after the worm in my trap; he’ll soon be hung up handsomely, the way I’ve set the noose.

Nic.

Mane dum parumper; iam exeo ad te, Chrysale.

(having read letter) Just wait a moment; (goes toward
house) I’ll soon be back with you, Chrysalus.
[EXIT INTO HOUSE.

Chrys.

Ut verba mihi dat, ut nescio quam rem gerat. servos arcessit intus qui me vinciant. bene navis agitatur, pulcre haec confertur ratis. sed conticiscam, nam audio aperiri fores.

(elated) Oh, isn’t he bluffing me!  Oh, isn’t it mysterious what he’s at!  He’s fetching servants from inside to tie me up.  A lovely shake-up the galleon there is getting:  the little bark here is putting up a fine fight! (listening) But not a word!  I hear the door opening.

IV. 7.

    Scene 7.

    ENTER Nicobulus BRINGING SLAVE OVERSEER AND OTHER SLAVES.

Nic.

  Constringe tu illi, Artamo, actutum manus.

      (to overseer) Quick, Artamo, fasten his hands there!

Chrys.

  Quid feci?

      (as Artamo obeys) What have I done?

Nic.

  Impinge pugnum, si muttiverit. 800
  quid hae locuntur litterae?