Nay, not to punish you, or to blame you at all on account of this business. And with some difficulty I’ve prevailed. Now, Chrysalus, this must be your care. CHRYSALUS What do you wish should be my care? MNESILOCHUS That once again you should make a second inroad upon the old gentleman. Contrive, devise, invent whatever you please; frame your plans Frame your plans : Conglutina . Literally, glue the pieces together. , so that this day you may cleverly deceive the old man unawares, and carry off the gold. CHRYSALUS It scarcely seems possible to be done. MNESILOCHUS Set about it, and you’ll easily effect it. CHRYSALUS How the plague easily, for me, whom he has this moment caught out in a lie? Should I entreat him not to believe me at all, he would not venture even to believe me in that. MNESILOCHUS Aye, and if you were to hear what things he said about you in my presence. CHRYSALUS What did he say? MNESILOCHUS That if you were to say that this sun was the sun, he would believe it was the moon, and that that is the night which is now the day. CHRYSALUS By my troth, I’ll bamboozle the old chap right well this very day, so that he shan’t have said that for nothing. PISTOCLERUS Now, what would you have us do? CHRYSALUS Why, nothing, except that I beg you’ll still love on. As for the rest, ask of me as much gold as you please; I’ll find it you. Of what use is it for me to have the name of Chrysalus Name of Chrysalus : He alludes to his name as derived from the Greek χρυσὸς, gold. , unless I give proofs by fact? But now, tell me, Mnesilochus, how much gold is requisite for you. MNESILOCHUS There’s occasion for two hundred pieces at once, to pay the Captain for Bacchis. CHRYSALUS I’ll find it you. MNESILOCHUS Then we have need of some for current expenses. CHRYSALUS Aye, aye, I wish us to do each thing deliberately; when I’ve accomplished the one, then I’ll set about the other. First, for the two hundred pieces, I shall direct my engine of war against the old gentleman. If with that engine I batter down the tower and the outworks, straight at the gate that instant I’ll attack the old town and the new one; if I take it, then carry to your friends the gold in baskets, just as your heart wishes. PISTOCLERUS Our hearts are with you, Chrysalus. CHRYSALUS Now, do you go in-doors to Bacchis, Pistoclerus, and quickly bring out— PISTOCLERUS What? CHRYSALUS A pen, some wax Some wax : This wax was to be used—not to be placed on the surface of the tablets, but in the manner of our sealing-wax, upon the strings with which the tablets were fastened. , tablets, and some cord. PISTOCLERUS I’ll have them here this instant. (Goes into the house.) MNESILOCHUS What now are you about to do? Do tell me that. CHRYSALUS Let a breakfast be prepared; there will be you two, and your mistress will make a third with you. MNESILOCHUS Just as you say. CHRYSALUS Pistoclerus has no mistress? MNESILOCHUS O yes, she’s here; he’s in love with the one sister, I with the other, both of the name of Bacchis. CHRYSALUS What were you going to say?