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. (_innocently_) Yes, for a man with poor eyes; they’re big enough, if your sight is good enough, though. _Nic._ Animum advortito igitur. Well then, pay attention. _Chrys._ Nolo inquam. I don’t want to, I tell you. _Nic._ At volo inquam. But I want you to, I tell you. _Chrys._ Quid opust? What’s the use? _Nic._ At enim id quod te iubeo facias. See here now, you do what I order. _Chrys._ Iustumst ut tuos tibi servos tuo arbitratu serviat. (_after reflection, impartially_) It’s right for your own servant to serve you as you see fit, sir. _Nic._ Hoc age sis nunciam. Now kindly attend to this at once. _Chrys._ Ubi lubet, recita: aurium operam tibi dico. Read when you like, sir: I promise you my ears. _Nic._ Cerae quidem haud parsit neque stilo; sed quidquid est, pellegere certumst. “Pater, ducentos Philippos quaeso Chrysalo da, si esse salvom vis me aut vitalem tibi.” malum quidem hercle magnum. (_looking tablets over with a sigh_) He hasn’t been sparing of wax or stylus, it seems. But whatever it is, I’m resolved to read it through, (_reading_) “Father, do for mercy’s sake give Chrysalus two hundred pounds, if you wish to have your son safe, or alive.” Give him a good sound thrashing, by heaven! _Chrys._ Tibi dico. I say. _Nic._ Quid est? Well? _Chrys._ Non prius salutem scripsit? Didn’t he write a word of greeting first? _Nic._ Nusquam sentio. 1000 (_looking_) Not a sign of it. _Chrys._ Non dabis, si sapies; verum si das maxume, ne ille alium gerulum quaerat, si sapiet, sibi: nam ego non laturus sum, si iubeas maxume. sat sic suspectus sum, cum careo noxia. (_indignant_) You won’t do it, if you’re wise; but no matter how much you do do it, let him look up another porter, if he’s wise: for I won’t carry it, no matter how much you order me. I am suspected enough as it is, when I’m perfectly blameless.