A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

.Correspondence 497
1
Herraocrates to Chaeras his son, greeting. First of all I To a dila-
T 1
tory son.
1 1-111
pray that you may be m health . . . and 1 beg you ...
to write regarding your health and whatever you wish. First century
Already indeed I have written you regarding the ^^'
. . . ,
and you neither answered nor came, and now, if you do
not come, I run the risk of losing the lot (of land) which
I possess. Our partner has taken no share in the work,
for not only was the well not cleaned out, but in addition
the water-channel was choked with sand, and the whole
land is untillcd. No tenant was willing to work it, only
I continue paying the public taxes without getting back
anything in return. There is hardly a single plot that the
water will irrigate. Therefore you must come, otherwise
there is a risk that the plants perish. Your sister Helene
greets you, and your mother reproaches you because you
have never answered her. ... I pray that you may be
well. Pauni 9.
(Addressed)
Deliver from Hermocrates to Chaeras his son.
Didymus to his most esteemed Apollonius greeting.
Please accompany Ailourion, who conveys this letter
to you, in order that he may buy for us young pigeons for
the feast. You are also invited to come down and feast
along with us. If you do this, you will have laid up a
great store of gratitude at my hands.
Greet all your household.
Goodbye.
The third year of the Imperator Caesar Domitian Augustus
Germanicus, Pachon 15.
(Addressed)
Deliver at Bacchias to the most esteemed Apollonius.
An invitation
to a
festival.
Milligan, 63.
84 A.D.
The Egyptian
month
Pachon,
April 26-
May 26.