.. to the sons of _Abdasherah_,
for he hastens to despatch soldiers of the royal ... and the neighboring
places have joined: the lands of the King my Lord are made a desert, which
the dogs bring to naught: they have mourned. If _Neboyapiza_ fears the
King my Lord will he not march on them, if the King my Lord will speak to
the great man of the chief city--to the great man of the chief city of
_Cumidi_(258) (_Kamid_) ... to march to join ... to me..."

41 B. begins with the usual salutation from _Ribadda_. "Behold I am a
faithful servant of the Sun-King, and I confess that my messages have been
sad for the King, as you own. The King my Lord shall hear the messages of
his faithful servant, and _Buri_ is sending out in the direction of the
city _Simyra_ and _Hadar_ ... has marched against you, and they have
beaten us, and they have brought us low. (These foes?) are destroying in
my sight, and I was ready (to go out?) with the _Paka_ to keep watch in
the presence of the chiefs of the governments. And my Lord shall hear the
news. Now _Aziru_ the son of _Abdasherah_ is marching with his brethren
from(259) the city _Gebal_: and despatch Egyptian soldiers (_bitati_), and
thou shalt march against him and smite him--the land is the King's land;
and since one has talked thus and you have not moved, the city of _Simyra_
has been lost. The King my Lord shall hear the news of his faithful
servant. There is no money to buy me horses, all is finished, we have been
spoiled. Give me thirty (companies--_tapal?_) of horse with chariots ...
men ... there is none of this with me ... not a horse ..."

22 B. M.--"To _Amanabba_(260) ... as a letter, thus says this _Ribadda_ thy
servant. I bow at my Lord's feet. The God _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 bloody
soldiers and chariots have established themselves in the midst of the
city, and I had lain in wait for them outside the great pass 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