But the Misi men (Egyptians) . . . have brought us, with speed, corn . . . So now not without favor . . . I have become a great man, behold: strong and powerful in their sight we have been made. But mighty and rebellious to the King is this power. (His land does not intend to help the land?) Behold I am despatching two men to the city of Simyra, and all the men of its chief have gathered in order to consult as to messages to the King, who will know why you hear from us your chiefs. Good is the letter they have brought us, and the letter which the messengers of the King have uttered to us.[1] Through the pretensions of this dog the King’s heart has been grieved with men, and . . . has been unrighteously set up, devising in their hearts . . . and . . . (your chief?). I go against the men of blood from the city Simyra . . . to keep . . . and whatsoever I have been commanded. And let the King . . . the news of his servant. I have despatched ten chiefs of the Land of Nubia,[2] twenty chiefs of the Land of Egypt, as a guard to the King. Sun-God and Lord thy servant is faithful to thee.”
73 B—“To the King . . . thus says Ribadda thy servant, the footstool of the feet of the Sun-God my Lord. Seven times and seven times at his feet I bow. Grievous it is to say what, in the sight of the King, he has done—the dog Abdasherah. Behold what has befallen the lands of the King on account of him; and he cried peace to the land, and now behold what has befallen the city of Simyra—a station of my Lord, a fortress . . . and they spoil our fortress . . . and the cries of the place . . . a violent man and a dog.”
The next message is too broken to read, but refers to the city of Gebal. The letter continues:
“Will not the King order his Paka to pronounce judgment? and let him guard the chief city of my Lord, and order me as I (say), and let my Lord the Sun set free the lands, and truly my lord shall order the wicked men all of them to go out. I present my memorial in the sight of my Lord, but this dog has not taken any of thy Gods. Prosperity has fled which abode in Gebal, which city of Gebal was as a city very friendly to the King. It is grievous. Behold I have associated Abdbaal
