Part 31 (2/2)
I said 'Let me perish myself from earth, and from my ... and that he loved me G.o.d knows, and he was loved' (and because of) these things we are cast down in our hearts.”
”... to me the eldest son of _Amenophis III_ by his wife _Teie_ ... was made, and I said 'Has not _Amenophis III_ died ... the eldest son of his chief wife _Teie_ (is) in his stead ... shall not we be sent news ... from her abode as of old.'
”... I say thus _Amenophis IV_ is my brother whom we shall love in our hearts ... the son of _Amenophis III_ more than his father, because of _Teie_ his mother, who was the wife ... as she desires a message to the presence of _Amenophis IV_ (_Abkhuriya_) the son of _Amenophis III_ her husband. I (rejoice) very exceeding much that we shall be friends
”(As they have sent me this message?) As they have ordered it, _Gilias_ is humbly (sent?) ... they have sent _Mani_ (as an envoy?), and treasures of woods (or trees) my brother has sent, and gold ... without gold and without...”
The next pa.s.sage is too broken to read, but refers to the continuance of friends.h.i.+p since the time of the ancestors of both kings, and for the future. The back of the tablet is very much broken, the whole of one paragraph, and the greater part of the next, which refers to _Teie_ as the mother of _Amenophis IV_ being destroyed. It continues:
”... the message of your mother which to _Gilias_ ... He has desired a message to be despatched and (as he desires) ... have not I sent my envoys, and have not I ... (and it is not my fault?) and the treasures ...
which he asked of him I have caused to be given, not being desired ... my envoys four years since you(393) ...”
Eight lines are here almost entirely destroyed, referring to some speedy message, and to the former king, with a reference to certain persons, including the ”father of _Teie_ (your elders?) with me,” with professions of friends.h.i.+p. The end of the paragraph (lines 40, 41) contains the words, ”as thus he set us up over all her many lands ... all the lands are all hers in his sight.”(394) The next paragraph continues:
”... the (treasures?) of gold (allowed to be despatched?) previously by _Amenophis III_ ... he has sent. Lo! very exceedingly my brother has desired that treasures ... to us; and much of his gold ... very exceedingly my brother ... as intending for me ... whatever among ... and your father; was not he given by me; and lo! now let my brother see that I was not at all ... to your father: the treasures that he desired were given, and lo! ... I am sending back my message: there shall be nothing done to cause the heart to turn away ... all the messages ... _Teie_ has been a witness, and _Teie_ your mother ... plenty. Lo! I asked your father, and did not your father grant me? and ... let this gold be given, and let not my brother's heart ... let him not turn from my ... when the (loan?) ... was not made, and what had ...
”... Let _Gilia_ know this day what my brother's heart desires. I have made Gilia travel ... thus I have made my brother's envoys to obey him, travelling with speed. If ever, my brother, my envoys ... if ever I send my envoys ... (the fault is not mine?) ... I have sent _Mani_ and _Gilia_ to my brother as before. If at all by my brother my envoys to him, and if by us they shall be received, I also shall so hasten him ... Lo! as regards messages from my brother, which he makes about anything as to my brother's intentions ... thence; and on the throne of his father he sits this day; and let me do my brother's will.
”I say thus, my brother, have not I sent my envoys, and much in their keeping which is for thee; and my brother let ... which is for thee.
_Mazipalali_(395) my envoy is the paternal uncle of _Gilia_ and for ... my brother I have sent him, and my brother am not I (the surer?) as _Gilia_ is not ... And the other envoy whom I shall send to my brother is the brother of _Gilia_ the son of his mother(396) ... I sent him. So my brother have not I despatched him speedily without stopping, and, my brother, as to my wishes that I wish (it is not my fault?) and because of these things did not I send _Gilia_ ... for security, and for all this am not I the surer.
”_Mazipalali_ whom I shall send to my brother is the uncle of _Gilia_; and the treasures (allowed to be despatched?) ... and plenty of untold gold of the (loan?) which I desire from my brother let my brother give ... and let him not refuse; and with my brother gold in addition ... ten times more may it increase to me exceedingly ... let these things be ordered; and _Mani_ (with) my envoy my brother ... let be given of my brother; and let him send _Gilia_ to me; and ... and all the news about my brother's mother that they shall speak, and (especially?) let me (hear?) ... that they did.
And lo! as before I sent not to thee my brother, so let him ... me. Let not my brother ... and to my brother's pleasure ... and I meditate a message of consolation for my brother.
”Let both _Artessupa_(397) and ... thus relate in my brother's land this thing. I have been sent (under escort?) ... _Mani_ (brought?) before me all my wicked slaves, who have dwelt in _Egypt_, and I examined them(398) as to ... and they said ... and I said before them 'Why is your insolence so great?' ... So they put them in chains, and ... one of my ... one from my city who has angered the land ... and another ... did not I slay because of these things? My brother, did not he say ... was not I wroth?
Behold my brother they were wicked ... and ... my brother it was necessary and now let me (afflict them?).
”As to a present for my brother. My brother's presents (are)-a (weight?) of solid gold from the land _Ris Burkhis_, a weapon with a stone head(399) ... of precious stone ... (an ornament?) for the hands of precious stones, one part of gold: three cloths: three ... three ... (with fastenings?) of gold, ... of refined bronze (or copper) ... two ...
”As a present for _Teie_ your mother an (ornament?) for the hands of precious stones ... earrings ... two cloths.
”As a present for (_Tadukhipa_) my (daughter) an ornament for the hands ... earrings ... two cloths.”
23 B.-The salutation is the same as in the last, being addressed to _Amenophis IV_, to _Teie_ and to _Tadukhipa_.
”_Mani_ my brother's envoy (has come) to (me). I have heard. I liked much the gifts that my brother ... I saw, and I rejoiced very much. My brother utters this message and (says) 'As with my father _Amenophis III_ you were friends, now behold this day be friends with me thy brother. You will continue to be kind,' and I have not delayed ... with my brother. Lo! ten times more than to your father I will be a friend.
”And your father _Amenophis III_ spoke this message in his letter (by your ...) _Mani_, 'Continue thou the friends.h.i.+p,'(400) and when my brother _Amenophis III_ said this, lo! what I had sent was nothing at all, and my brother shall not consider it anything. And I do not send this present, which behold I have sent to thee, as desiring to cause you to send; but (humbly?) whatever my brother desires to be given to his wife, they shall be made to take away. They shall see her,(401) and I will send ten times as much.
”And the treasures of gold (allowed to be despatched?) one treasure for me, and another treasure as the treasure of _Tadukhipa_ my daughter, lo! I asked of Amenophis III your father. And your father said 'Send for the gold that (remains to be remitted?) let the (rest) be given, and the precious stones that are to be given thee, and the gold, because we have increased the gift, which is marvellous with treasure to be given to you.'
And the gold of the treasures all my envoys who were in the land of _Egypt_ beheld with their eyes; and your father lavishly increased the treasures in presence of my envoys. He welcomed them on their way; he maintained them! and lavishly expended the ... on my envoys. They gazed, and so truly they beheld with their eyes his favor poured out.
”And more gold beside, which was marvellous, which he sent to me, he piled up; and he said to my envoys 'Behold the treasures, and behold the gold in plenty, and the possessions which are marvellous,(402) which I shall send to my brother: behold them also with your eyes.' And my envoys beheld with their eyes.
”But now, my brother, the treasures remitted, which your father sent, you shall not send, but the woods (or trees) have been received.(403) You are sending the possessions that your father sent to me. You shall not send them, but shall store them up very much.
”And thinking of all that one has known, how I rejoiced because of my brother, none ever brought salutation from him at any time, my brother, but the same day return was made to him.
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