post cum magnifico milite, urbes verbis qui mermus capit, (966) conflixi atque hominem reppuli; dein pugnam conserui seni: eum ego adeo uno mendacio devici, uno ictu extempulo cepi spolia. is nunc ducentos nummos Philippos militi, quos dare se promisit, dabit, 970 nunc alteris etiam ducentis usus est, qui dispensentur Ilio capto, ut sit mulsum qui triumphent milites.[27] (972) Still later I closed with the noble Captain--who captures cities with no weapon save his mighty tongue--and hurled him back. Next I joined battle with the old man: aye, and him I struck down with a single lie; a single blow, and the spoils were mine. He now will give the Captain the two hundred pounds he promised him. And now there is need of another two hundred still, to be disbursed, on Ilium’s capture, that the soldiery may have wine and honey to celebrate their victory.[27] sed Priamum adstantem eccum ante portam video. adibo atque adloquar. (978) [ENTER _Nicobulus_ FROM HIS HOUSE.] Aha, though! I see Priam standing before the gate. I’ll up and address him. _Nic._ Quoianam vox prope me sonat? (_looking round_) Whose voice is that I hear near me? _Chrys._ O Nicobule. (_approaching_) Oh, sir! _Nic._ Quid fit? quid quod te misi, ecquid egisti? (_eagerly_) How goes it? What about your mission--have you accomplished anything? _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._