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