“Since my fathers and thy fathers spoke good things zealously, sending eagerly to make presents, and making friends—and did not they speak eagerly—lo! now my brother has sent two manahs of gold as a present to me. Lo! there is much gold beside, which your father sent, and as this has increased beyond what your father gave, why should you send two manahs of gold? Lo! I have received much, even very much gold, which remains in the temple. Enough gold has been sent. Why should you send two manahs of gold? But as for thee, whatever is needed in thy land send for it, let it be taken of me for thee.
“In the time of Curigalzu[418] my father, all the Canaanites sent to him (saying) thus, ‘What sayest thou as to the setting up of the land. It is weak. What sayest thou?’
“My father clave to thy (father). He sent to them thus, ‘It has been sent to me as to your discontent. If you are foes with the King of Egypt my brother, you must cleave to some other. Shall not I go out against you for this? Shall not I destroy you, as if you were discontented with me?’ My father heard them not because of your father. Now behold Assyria has arrayed against me. Did not I send to you, as to their thoughts about your land? Why do they send against me? If you have pity on me it will never be done. They will fail to win these things. I have sent to thee, as a present for thee, three manahs of precious stones, fifteen pairs of horses for five wooden chariots.”
3 B. M.—The salutation is the same as in the preceding.
“Since the time of Caraindas, since your father's envoys to my father came to me, until now there has been good-will. Now I and thou are well with each other. Your envoys have come thrice to me, making also presents, whatever was sent. And I have sent to thee whatever present has been made. As for me, is it not all an honor, and as for thee have not I honored thee in all? Your envoy whom you send, has not he paid the twenty manahs of gold that he has brought? And as for the gifts that remainder, is not the amount five manahs of gold.”
Five lines of the letter are here destroyed. On the back of the tablet it continues:
“... the forces of the land (of Egypt?) ... these let him gather within the year, which thy envoy says he has sent, and he shall cause the women of the princess to be guided to you, any time that you order. Let me ask for her that the speed may be greater; and having been delayed, when he has made speed let your envoy take (them), and he shall do more than they did before. So I have told my envoy Sindisugab to say. So let them both station the chariots speedily. Let them come to me, and let them make proper arrangements; so let my envoy and your envoy come to me, speedily conveyed.
“As a present for thee I have sent thee two manahs of precious stones; and (to enrich?) your daughter my son's wife[419] he gave a ... and (an amulet to cause safety?); and I have sent thee as a present precious stones to the number of one thousand forty and eight; and I sent, as your envoy was sent back with Sindisugab.”
4 B. M.—With the same salutation as before, is very much broken. It contains a list of presents sent in connection with the same royal marriage of a daughter of the King of Egypt to the Babylonian prince. The envoy's name was Sutti; the presents included a throne of strong wood, ivory, and gold, and another of wood and gold, with other objects of gold and strong wood.
6 B.—The salutation is the same, but the Kings' names are spelled “Nabkhururia” and “Burnaburias.” This tablet is very much injured. It refers to a daughter and a promise. It continues: