Letter from Ammonios to Apollonios about gifts and a family quarrel TM 25080OxyrhynchosI - II

[recto] Ammonios to Apollonios his brother, greeting. I received the crossed (chi-marked) letter and the clothes-bag and the cloaks and the reed-pipes, not good ones; but the cloaks I did not accept as old, but rather as something greater than new, because of the spirit in which they were given. I do not want you, brother, to burden me with your continual kindnesses, … since I am unable to repay them; we think that we have shown you only this, the disposition of friendly feeling. I urge you, brother, to say nothing more about the key of the single room. For I do not want you brothers to have any quarrel on account of me or anyone else. For I pray that harmony and mutual affection may remain among you, so that you may be beyond reproach (?) and not like us. For experience leads me to urge you to keep the peace and not to give others grounds against you. Try then to do this for my sake too, granting me what you will meanwhile recognize as good. If you have received the wool in full from Salvius and it pleases you, write back to me. I wrote you some jokes in my previous letter, which you will take in good part; for my soul becomes relaxed when your name is present, and this though it is not in the habit of being at rest because of what comes upon it; but Leonas bears up. I greet you, master, and all your people. Farewell, most honoured one. [verso] To Apollonios son of Apollo(…), inspector, brother.