Stupid dialog, free to a good home

[classicdrogn]

It's been a dog's age since I read any 2e spell descriptions, but I think if anything you might have gone overboard with the caveats and restrictions. Fifth level seems high as well, unless Comprehend Languages is up there too in the older material. Amanuensis only allows for copying existing text but was 3rd level in 2e/3e, dropped to a cantrip in 3.5e, and needs no special prepared components aside from a text to be copied and the materials to copy it to and with. Keeping the material and skill requirements you outlined is easily enough to drop it down to 3rd as well, and even allowing it to be used with any sample of the desired language on hand and not consuming it seems like it should only bump it to 4th, especially as bards only go to Lv6 magic before 5e IIRC.