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 passage 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 [pg 234] 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 pass ... the lands ... Abdasherah, the slave dog ... the lands of the King to himself.”
84 B. is much broken; all the cities are taken except Gebal and Batruna, which remain like birds in the snare. But he still “trusts.”
12 B. M.—“Ribadda speaks to the King of Lands, of many lands, the great King the prosperous King. The Lady (Ballath) of Gebal gives power to the King my Lord. I bow at my Lord's feet—the Sun-God—seven times seven times. Let the King know! behold! the city Gebal his handmaid, faithful to the King, has gathered because of the allies who are his foes. And I am ill at ease: behold the King lets slip from his hand the chief city that is faithful to him. Let the King smite the lands of those who rob him. Lo! is not he a faithful servant, her chief who abides in the city of Gebal? Do not you say so to your servant, when there is a mighty fighting against him of men of blood, and the Gods of the land are (evilly disposed?), and our sons have been worn out, and our daughters have fled, and there is weakness in my unhappy land. For our living, my fields gave sustenance, which no ... secured. For as many as I possess, all my cities which are in flames, also the foe has overthrown: they submitted to the bloody soldiers. The city of Gebal with two cities, remains to me; and I am ill at ease because Abdasherah is marching. The city of Sigata (is) his; and he is saying to the chiefs of the city of Ammia (Amyun), ‘They have slain your chief and you have done like us, and you have rebelled, and you obeyed his order, and they will punish you as men of [pg 235] blood.’ And I am ill at ease. Lo! now Abdasherah sends for soldiers. I have remained alone—they will be rejoiced at it, and there is ruin before the city of Gebal, if there is no great man to gain me safety from his hands. And the chiefs of the government are expelled from the midst of the lands; and you relinquish all the lands to the men of blood, squandering the wealth of all the lands; and they have torn away sons and daughters nobly born; and (this) while the King is pondering about it, and all the lands have fought for him. And from what they have done to us, behold now thou wilt become naked to their destructions. And so now I am exceedingly afraid. Behold now there is no great man who wins me salvation from their hands. As birds that are in the midst of the snares this place has remained. I myself am in the city of Gebal. Why is there this overthrow of thy land? Now I send (complaint?) to the palace (or great city) and you will not hear us. Now this (is) my message. Amanabba is with thee, ask him: he has fled,[277] and he will show the evils that are against me. Let the King hear his servant's message; and he shall establish his servant's life, and his servant shall live, and shall defend the ... with him.”
The remainder of the letter is broken. It asks for advice and information, and for consideration of the memorial. Ribadda's letters increase in pathetic eloquence as the great catastrophe approaches.
56 B., a much-broken letter. They are advancing to take Gebal. Money has been given to a certain chief who has turned against Ribadda.
62 B., a mere fragment. The enemy are advancing on Gebal with the intention of taking it.
63 B.—This also is much broken. It refers to Yapaaddu, to the King's Paka receiving orders, and to the rulers, and contains the statement, “They have cut off two of my ships, with my sons (or men) and all that was mine.”
80 B. begins with the usual salutation, and continues: “Does the King my Lord know? Behold the city of Gebal has gathered, she has gathered those faithful to the King, and very mighty was the battle of the men of blood against me, [pg 236] and there is no rest through the city of Simyra. (Defeat has not befallen?) the men of blood, through the King's Paka (chief), whom they cast out from the city of Simyra. The chief city is troubled. Now Pakha(mnata), the King's Paka, who (was) in the city of Simyra, has sent a message—he has failed. Sixty minas (mana)[278] it is that they are asking the city of Gebal, from my unhappy land. The battle was waged very mightily against us, and the King is not defended by his fortress.”
81 B.—“To Rabzabi[279] ... thus Ribadda thy son.” The letter is much broken. He refers to money, and asks him to complain to the King. He says he is afraid that the freemen are not (faithful?) to the King's governor, if the broken portion may be so understood.