Letter of Qurra ibn Sharik to Basileios demanding payment of a fine TM 19817Aphrodites Kome (Antaiopolites)18. Juni 710

[recto] Concerning the fine of the pagarch and the subordinates. (Arabic:) To the people of Ishqawh, concerning the fine of the officials. In the name of God. Qurra son of Sharik, governor, to Basileios, administrator of the village of Aphrodito. We give thanks to God, and after this: having looked into the register of the gold paid into the treasury for the fine of the subordinates, we did not find that you had paid anything worth mentioning for the fine assessed on you and on the subordinates of your administration, and God knows it. We wished to repay you for such contempt beyond what you imagine. So on receiving the present letter, send with all speed to the treasury the gold assessed on you and on the subordinates of your administration for the fine, as has been said, if indeed you have any sense and understand what is written to you. For if you delay and we are compelled to make use of another letter, what will afflict you is going to reach you together with that same letter. For you have no excuse in this matter, since you have already harvested the crops, and the deadline has passed, and you have no pretext in anything. So then, if you love your life, do not be negligent in this. Written in the month Pauni, 24th, of the 9th indiction. [verso] Qurra son of Sharik, governor, to Basileios, administrator of the village of Aphrodito. † Epeiph 7, 9th indiction. Brought, concerning sending the fine of the pagarch and the subordinates.