Part 26 (1/2)

22 B. M.-”To _Amanabba_(260) ... as a letter, thus says this _Ribadda_ thy servant. I bow at my Lord's feet. The G.o.d _Amen_ and _Baalath_ of _Gebal_ have established your power in the presence of the King my Lord. To what purpose is thy messenger with me to go to the King your Lord? And may I indeed expect horses and chariots to be ordered of thee? Will not you fortify the city? And this is heard by your message, and I am sincere, but the covenant is mocked and no soldiers are heard of with it. And they have routed the ... The city of _Batruna_ (_Batrun_) is his; and b.l.o.o.d.y soldiers and chariots have established themselves in the midst of the city, and I had lain in wait for them outside the great pa.s.s of the city of _Gebal_(261) ... to the King my Lord ... with thee the soldiers of the prefect ... chariots and ... here with ...”

45 B. begins with the usual salutation, and continues: ”The King my Lord will be sad. Why will you not send him to me? Behold I have no ruler over my fugitives. The city of _Simyra_ they have (shut up?); all have turned on me: and two chiefs of the land of Egypt, who travelled from the palace, went not forth. No man has travelled to the King who might carry my letter to the palace. Now these two chiefs brought us letters for the King, and the two have not gone forth, as being now afraid, and (refusing?) to my face ... I send to the palace (or capital), and _Azru_ (_Aziru?_) is laying snares, gathering soldiers: has not _Abdasherah_ marched with whatever he had? As I am told they will send friendly messages to my Lord, but thou wilt say 'Why do ye send friendly messages to me when you refuse my message?'(262)

”I have been afraid of the snare. _Azaru_ (is) like ... Lo! I am strong through the King ... The sons of _Abdasherah_-the slave dog-have pretended that the cities of the governments of the King are given to them-our cities. The fortress has not opened to _Aziru_ ... O King as to their cities are they not subject to them? From the city Simyra, to the city _Ullaza_, the city _Sapi_(263) ... chariots ... land of Egypt ... from their hands for me. So now I am despatching this chief: he has left: do I not send to the King? Now the two chiefs of the land of Egypt, they whom you sent us remain with me, and have not gone out, since no soldiers are (intended for?) me, and ... the lands for the men of blood. And since the King's heart altogether has forgotten my Egyptian soldiers (_bitati_) I send to _Yankhamu_ and to _Biri_. They have taken those that were with the governors. Lo! may the land of the _Amorites_ become (their) conquest. The corn which they have threshed for me has been stored up, a part of the whole with my ... and one part with me; and ... the King will order ... we ... all whatever breathes; (it is not right to shut them up?) for the King; he is not coming to him: the chief must help himself to what was ordered to be stored up for the King. The King shall order a memorial as to the innocence of his servant. And as to the produce of the city O King there is none at all with me; all is finished from being distributed for (my own subsistence?). But as to this chief, the King will order him as I trust, and will give us men of garrison for ... to guard his faithful servant and his chief city, and the men of _Nubia_ who are with us, as those who are your foes (exult?). Moreover behold (much to say?) ...

Thinking this, I shall send to the palace for a garrison-men of _Nubia_ ... The King will ... men of garrison ... of the land of _Nubia_ for its guarding, you will not ... this city to the men of blood.”

51 B.-The ordinary salutation: the letter goes on in an eloquent strain: ”The storm (or a tumult) has burst forth. Let the King behold the city of _Simyra_. Lo! the city of _Simyra_ has remained as a bird caught in the snare: so her ... is left to the city of _Simyra_. The sons of _Abdasherah_ by their devices, and the men of the city of _Arada_ (Arvad) by their hostility have made her wroth, and a fleet has sped ... in the sight of _Yankhamu_ ... men of the city ... they have seized, and ... Lo!

the men of the city _Arvad_ searched for the coming forth of the Egyptian soldiers (_bitati_); _Abdasherah_ is with them, has he not marched? and their s.h.i.+ps are set against the reinforcements from the Land of Egypt. So now there is no navigation. Let them make haste. Now they have seized the city _Ullaza_ (_Kefr Khullis_) and all whatsoever _Abdasherah_ has ... to the chiefs. And lo! we ... and the s.h.i.+ps of the men of _Misi_ (the Delta?)(264) have been broken, with whatsoever was theirs. And as for me they went not up to fight for the mastery of the city of _Simyra_.

_Yapaaddu_ has fought on my side, against whosoever was not faithful (or constant). They have trodden me down ... So now in sight of _Zabandi_(265) and of _Ibikhaza_ also, I have (joined?) myself to _Yankhamu_; and you will know their (good opinion?) of my faithfulness: as to what he thinks of my zeal make him confess, so he will (make it known?). He has fought for me and lo! they are wasting the city _Ullaza_ (to make an end thereof?).”

The back of this long letter is unfortunately quite destroyed. The final sentences are on the edge, the tablet being of considerable thickness:

”I have desired peace (like?) a faithful servant of the King. The men of Egypt, expelled from this city of our neighbor, are with me; and there is no ... for them to eat. _Yapaaddu_ has not granted my servants this ...

this poor country; but we have been swift to help the city _Simyra_ ...

they have gone up to fight the s.h.i.+ps (of the city) of _Arada_ (Arvad) ...

(it was grievous?) ... _Riib_ ...”

55 B.-A much-broken letter appears to refer to a message from the King being seized, and that 300 men poured out and burned a city. It speaks of a _Paka_ and of Egyptian soldiers, and of the city _Beruti_ (_Beirut_) and of _Abdasherah's_ forces.

16 B. M.-”To the King my Lord thus says _Ribadda_ thy servant, the dust of thy feet. I bow seven times and seven times at the feet of my Lord. And will not my Lord hear the message of thy servant? Men of the city of _Gebal_, and my family; and a wife whom I loved, they have taken away after the son of _Abdasherah_; and we have made a gathering; we have searched; and I cannot hear a word spoken about them. I am sending to the King my Lord, and once more, despatch thou men of garrison, men of war, for thy servant; and will you not defend the city of the King my Lord? But news has not arrived from the King my Lord for his servant. But he will be generous; he will remember me; and the advice (I speak) comes from my heart. The region near (us) _Ammunira_(266) has traversed throughout, and I went to him, for he gave a.s.sistance. And I myself searched for my family, but it has been made to vanish from my sight; and the King my Lord shall counsel his servant. Lo! the ally is zealous; and he has decreed a gathering of the Egyptian soldiers (_bitati_) of the King my Lord; and the King my Lord will counsel his servant. If there is no wish to be kind on the part of the King my Lord, I myself am helpless; and the King has no servants. Moreover, my son and my wife have been subjected to a man who sins against the King.”(267)

15 B. M.-”To _Amanabba_ my father, thus _Ribadda_ thy son. I bow at my father's feet. Baalath of the city _Gebal_ strengthens your favor in the sight of the King your Lord. Why has it been asked, and no complaint (is made) to the King? and you hesitate about the Egyptian soldiers (_bitati_), and you are brought low before the land of the _Amorites_. If you had heard of us (that) the Egyptian soldiers (are) strong, and that they have deserted their towns, and gone away, you know not the land of the _Amorites_. Behold they have taken these places from us, and I am ill at ease. Behold now do not they support _Abdasherah_? behold they have deceived us about them, and you promise us, day and night to send the Egyptian soldiers, and we are made sad about it, and all the chiefs of the Government. Thou shalt promise us to do this thing to _Abdasherah_: lo! he sends to the chiefs of the city of _Ammiya_ (_Amyun_) to slay him who was established as Lord, and they submitted to the men of blood. So now thou shalt say for us-the Chiefs of the Government; so now they are doing to us, and thou shalt announce to him (that) all the lands are for men of blood, and speak thou this message in the presence of the King my Lord.

Lo! a father and a lord this thou art to me; and as for thee my face I bend, you know, to my master: behold what is done in the city of _Simyra_, lo! I am ... with thee. But complain to the King thy Lord, and you will send ... to me as I trust.”

20 B. M.-”_Ribadda_ sends to his Lord the Great King, the King of many lands to the prosperous King. Baalath of Gebal has confirmed the power of the King my Lord. At the feet of my Lord the Sun seven times seven times he bows him. A pet.i.tion has been made long ago, made for the city of _Gebal_, to despatch _Bikuru_ (to the) chiefs of the Land of _Egada_(268) ... served me, which ... I ... three of the chiefs ... they strove ... the Land of Egypt ... and ... then the King my Lord ... a sin against....

”If the King my Lord supports his faithful servant; and despatch thou ...

this her chief (speedily?); and we two watch the city for the King. The King shall send the choicest of thy great men, from among those who guard him. The three chiefs whom _Bikhuru_ strove to despatch, but who have fled, (are) _Abdirama_, _Iddinaddu_, _Abdmelec_, these are sons of _Abdasherah_;(269) and they have taken the King's land for themselves. He shall send the _bitati_...”

21 B. M.-”To _Amanabba_ ... (by letter) thus (says) this _Ribadda_ thy servant. I bow (at my Lord's feet). The G.o.d _Amen_ ... of thy Lord, builds up thy favor (with) the King thy Lord. Hear ... (they have fought) mightily, and over the Egyptian soldiers are victorious, and ... to the Land of the _Amorites_.” The letter becomes too broken to read consecutively, but refers to the Land of _Mitana_, and apparently to a defeat of _Yankhamu_. He asks for corn, and speaks of having nothing to eat, in connection with the city of _Gebal_; and refers to three years of (dearth?), and to the corn failing.

19 B. M.-After the usual salutation to the King, this letter reads: ”The King my Lord will say that the choicest of thy great men, and the choicest of thy city that thou hast are among those who guard us. My great men and (those of?) the city, were formerly men of garrison with me; and the King asked of us corn for them to eat, from my poor country. But now behold _Aziru_ is destroying me, and I repeat there (are) no oxen, nor ... for me; _Aziru_ has taken all. And there is no corn for my eating. And the chiefs-the _Pakas_-also have been nourished by the cities, exhausting the corn for their eating. Again: (being faithful), the King shall establish for me, as men of government, the men of government of their own cities, the men who at first were with their subjects. But as for me my cities are Aziru's, and they long for me, to whom destruction is made by him, who is a dog of the sons of _Abdasherah_, and either you shall do for us as they wish, or you shall give orders for us to the King's cities in these matters.”

48 B.-This begins with the usual salutation, and then continues: ”If perchance I send a message to the King my Lord, do not thou refuse the request of my memorial. Lo! thrice has come upon me a year of storms (or tumults), and again a year of storms begins. My wheat is naught; the wheat for us to eat: that which was for sowing for my freemen is finished; their beasts, their herbs, the trees of their gardens, are wretched, in my unhappy land. Our corn has failed. Once more the King will hear the message of his faithful servant, and will order wheat in s.h.i.+ps, and his servant shall live; and be thou moved and send us com. The chiefs (will send?) horses, as commanded, to _Zu_ ... And thou shalt defend the city (by so doing?) ... behold _Yankhamu_ says (or asks) ... that wheat be given to _Ribadda_ ... to him ... corn (the bread of men?) ... and now with _Yapaaddu_ ... their money henceforth ... ask him, he will tell all in your presence. Mayest thou know when it is spoken in the presence of the King my Lord. And this year of storms makes the wheat scarce (in) my unhappy land ... there was scarcity before in the city _Simyra_, and now behold in the city _Gebal_.”

The text is here too broken to be read. It seems, perhaps, to refer to the enemy having possession of the sea, and to the entreaties of _Yankhamu_, and to certain waters, and the general wretchedness. A paragraph then begins:(270)

”The King of the Land _Taratzi_(271) has coveted the city of _Simyra_; and they desired to march to the city of _Gebal_; and none now has urged him, and he has stayed in his land. Now as he is strong he will send to the great ... by my wish ... they have returned to us.” The letter is again much broken; it refers to a ruler, saying: ”His heart is with my heart; but _Abdasherah_ has conquered beyond the land of the _Amorites_, also since the time of your father the city of _Sidon_ has submitted to the occupation by his allies: the lands are for the men of blood, so now there is none who is a friend (or kin) to me. Let the King regard the message of his servant. Let him give men to guard his city. Is not she insulted by all the men of blood?”

The latter part, referring to allies, is much broken.

54 B.-This is broken at the top, and considerably injured. It demands soldiers, and the restoration of the rulers. ”The city of (_Sidon?_), and the city of _Beirut_, the sons of _Abdasherah_ have silenced: they fought for the King, but the city of _Sidon_ and the city of _Beirut_ are not the King's. We sent a _Paka_: he did not desert his duty to you, but she has rebelled to your face: for it was permitted by the freemen. The men of blood have seized the city.(272) Behold as for me this is my repet.i.tion ... city _Atsar_ ... restraint ...”

49 B.-This letter is much damaged; it begins with the usual salutation, and continues: ”Lo! he makes the chiefs of (_Ukri?_) to dwell in fear of making an end. Lo! the King asked from his rulers as to my brethren. O King, is it not right to approach them, when the King shall ask? and we have set our faces fast toward thy servants. I desire this to strengthen my neighbor ... the city of (_Ukri?_).(273) Their ruler will go out then from my presence. They have interfered with my sister (town), and the waters of my brother's growing corn. I am despatching to the city _Ukri_ ... from the presence of Abdasherah ... The King ... all the lands ... if as to my brethren ... the King will ask ... a neighbor ... I shall send to the King this ... Blame us not for his weakness (or affliction), and in time past we have ruled over him, and if you will ask as to my brethren, and shall be grieved, this city (has) no (government that the King should ask after it?). Do not we know this day (what) he did to all? and trust me, if the King will not ask of the rulers. Lo! if he ceases oppression as an enemy I am well pleased. Behold the land of the city of _Ukri_: there are no lands (or towns) of rulers ... his ... spoiled the land for us.”

The next pa.s.sage about servants, governors, and the _Paka_ is too broken to read. The letter concludes by asking support, and asks excuse on account of the enemy's success.

75 B.-The usual salutation is here damaged, and the middle of the text.

”Behold since the arrival of _Amanappa_ in my presence all the men of blood have set their faces to me; they have fulfilled the wishes of _Abdasherah_; and my Lord shall hear the messages of his servant; and ...

men of garrison, for the defence of the royal city. Send the Egyptian soldiers (_bitati_) ... as there are no Egyptian soldiers it befalls thee, that the lands ... to the men of blood; since the seizing of the city _Maar_ ... (274) at the command of _Abdasherah_; and so our limits are the city of _Gebal_ and the city of _Batruna_;(275) but so not all the lands are to the men of blood-two chief cities which are (still) to be wrecked for (us). And they have turned back(276) to take from us ... She has remained peaceful to the King, and my Lord shall order men of garrison for his two cities, till the Egyptian soldiers march forth. But everything fails me, of the food of the land (our teeth have gnawed nothing at all?).

As the heart of a bird fails, seeing the snare, this city has remained.

She is helpless before them ... lamenting. Once more ... they have shut up my ... it has come to pa.s.s ... the lands ... _Abdasherah_, the slave dog ... the lands of the King to himself.”