Chrys.

  Rogas? congredere.

      Do you ask that?  Come here, close.

Nic.

  Gradior. 980

      (doing so) I am.

Chrys.

  Optumus sum orator. ad lacrumas coegi hominem castigando
  maleque dictis, quae quidem quivi comminisci.

      (enthusiastic) I’m the orator for you!  I fairly brought
      our man to tears, by saying all the harsh, bitter things I
      could think of.

Nic.

  Quid ait?

      What did he say?

Chrys.

Verbum nullum fecit:  lacrumans tacitus auscultabat quae ego loquebar; tacitus conscripsit tabellas, obsignatas mi has dedit. tibi me iussit dare, sed metuo, ne idem cantent quod priores. nosce signum. estne eius?

Not a word; just wept in silence and paid attention to what I was telling him.  Still silent, he wrote a letter, sealed it, and gave it to me.  He ordered me to give it to you.  But I’m afraid it sings the same song as the other one (hands tablets to Nicobulus) Take notice of the seal.  Is it his?

Nic.

  Novi. libet perlegere has.

      (examining seal) Yes, yes; I’m anxious to read this over.

Chrys.

  Perlege.
  nunc superum limen scinditur, nunc adest exitium Ilio,
  turbat equos lepide ligneus.

      Do. (aside) Now the upper lintel is being torn away; now
      Ilium’s fall is nigh.  The wooden horse is making a beautiful
      mess of things.

Nic.

  Chrysale, ades, dum ego has perlego.

      Chrysalus, stay here while I read this over.

Chrys.

  Quid me tibi adesse opus est?

      What’s the use of my staying with you?

Nic.

  Volo,[28]
  ut scias quae his scripta sient.

      I wish it, so that you may know what is written here.

Chrys.

  Nil moror neque scire volo.

      Not for me—­I don’t wish to know.

Nic.

  Tamen ades.

      Never mind, stay here.

Chrys.

  Quid opust?

      What’s the use?

Nic.

  Taceas: 
  quod iubeo id facias.

      (angry) Silence! do what I tell you.

Chrys.

  Adero. 990A

      (apparently reluctant) Stay I will.

Nic.

  Euge litteras minutas.

      (opening tablets) Well, well!  What tiny letters.

Chrys.

  Qui quidem videat parum;
  verum, qui satis videat, grandes satis sunt.