I struck the blow without an effort.ARTOTROGUS Troth, if, indeed, you had put forth your strength, your arm would have passed right through the hide, the entrails, and the frontispiece of the elephant.PYRGOPOLINICES I don’t care for these things just now.ARTOTROGUS I’ faith, ’tis really not worth the while for you to tell me of it, who know right well your prowess. (Aside) ’Tis my appetite createsMy appetite creates: He now addresses the Spectators, and honestly confesses why he is a Parasite. all these plagues. I must hear him right out with my ears, that my teeth mayn’t have timeMayn’t have time: Dentes dentire is that which we call teething. He says that he acts the flatterer that his teeth may not have time to grow through want of employment. to grow, and whatever lie he shall tell, to it I must agree.PYRGOPOLINICES What was it I was saying?ARTOTROGUS O, I know what you were going to say just now. I’ faith ’twas bravely done; I remember its being done.PYRGOPOLINICES What was that? ARTOTROGUS Whatever it was you were going to say.PYRGOPOLINICES Have you got your tabletsGot your tablets: The tabulae, or tabellae, used by the ancients for the purpose of writing, were pieces of wood, mostly of an oblong shape, covered with wax, on which an impression was made with the stylus, or iron pen. They were sometimes made of ivory, but more frequently of citron-wood, beech, or fir The inside only of the tablet was covered with wax, the outer consisting of wood. The leaves were fastened at the back with wires, and opened and shut like the books of the present day. There was a raised margin to each leaf of the tablet, for the purpose of preventing the wax of the one from rubbing against the other. From two to five, six, or even more of these leaves were joined together, which were accordingly called diptycha, triptycha, and so on. Those tablets which contained legal documents were pierced through the outer edges with holes, through which a triple thread or string was passed, on which a seal was placed, in order to prevent forgery and to show that the deed was duly executed.? ARTOTROGUS Are you intending to enlistIntending to enlist: Rogare. Soldiers, when enlisted, were asked (regabantur) whether they would take the oath. Hence the word rogaremeans something tantamount to our word enlist, or recruit.The Parasite asks him if he is going to enlist, as the tablets would be wanted in the Forum, or Court of justice, for the purpose of taking down the oaths, and entering the names as the parties were sworn.? I have them, and a pen as well. PYRGOPOLINICES How cleverly you do suit your mind to my own mind.ARTOTROGUS ’Tis fit that I should know your inclinations studiously, so that whatever you wish should first occurShould first occur: Praevolat mihi.Literally, should fly to me beforehand. to me.PYRGOPOLINICES What do you remember? ARTOTROGUS I do remember this. In Cilicia there were a hundred and fifty men, a hundred in Cryphiolathronia Cryphiolathronia: This word is mere gibberish: it is compounded of Greek words, which would make it to mean the place of hidden secrecy. The part of the flatterer seems to be a little overdone here., thirty at Sardis, sixty men of Macedon, whom you slaughtered altogether in one day.PYRGOPOLINICES What is the sum total of those men?ARTOTROGUS Seven thousand. PYRGOPOLINICES It must be as much: you keep the reckoning well.ARTOTROGUS Yet I have none of them written down; still, so I remember it was.PYRGOPOLINICES By my troth, you have a right good memory.