Petition of a widow to the prefect against her dishonest estate managers TM 12592Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)

[recto, column 2] To Clodius Culcianus, the most eminent prefect of Egypt, from Aurelia Gle[…], most illustrious, residing in the city of the Arsinoites. You help all, lord prefect, and you render to all what is their own, [above all] to women, because of the weakness of their nature. Therefore I too approach your Magnificence, hoping to obtain help from you. [Since I possess] very much [land(?)] in the same Arsinoite nome and pay no small public dues, I mean the regular taxes and the military supplies, being a weak woman and a widow, and since our children are in military service and occupied abroad, I took on for my assistance and the management of my affairs first a certain Secundus and afterwards also Tyrannos, thinking that they would keep good faith with me. But they, behaving improperly, squandered my property, and having taken into their hands what belonged to me, they withdrew from me and never rendered me the customary accounts, perhaps acknowledging their guilt in what they had done, having also seized from me two oxen out of those I have […] of the same estates of mine, despising my inexperience in affairs. Therefore, [having taken advantage(?)] of your auspicious visit, I flee for refuge to the feet of you, my lord, asking […], if it should seem good to your excellence, [by] your most powerful subscription to me […] or deposits(?) […] through them […] my […] tax-paying […] I may be able and […] the receiving […] […] [… lines lost …] [column 3] [… lines lost …]