A Christian private letter from Pamouris to his brother Psais, urging him to visit, complaining of a lack of letters, asking for tools and for a girl to be sent to work for him in return for wool. Added messages concern textiles and loom equipment, and Maria sends greetings. Written at Kellis in the Dakhla Oasis in the mid-4th century AD.
In English machine translation
To my lord, most honoured and truly most longed-for brother Psais, Pamouris, greetings in God.
First of all, I and my wife and our sons, each by name, send many greetings to your piety; we are well so far by the providence of God. Greet for us our lord brother Theognostos and his (?) son Andreas. Concerning your coming to us, most honoured one, we have been expecting you every day for a long time now, ever since you wrote. And by God, because of you I stayed on here and did not go to Antinoou on a pressing matter with brother Pekysios. But look, he has often sent for me to come there, but since I am expecting you, I did not go. I wrote exactly this to him too, that I am expecting my brother here with the children. So do not neglect to come. Bring with you for me a small axe and a bronze baking-pan (?). Greet for me each one by name. I am amazed how, when so many people have come to us, you have not even thought us worthy of a letter in such a long time; I too had decided not to write, and yet I could not bear it, especially since Philammon is here (?). Or do you not know that we thirst for your letters? Greet for me Kapiton and Psais son of Tryphanes with their wives and children. Greet warmly for me mother Maria and little Tsempnouthes. Send me the girl, I ask you. I will pay the transport costs, and each year I will give you wool for a cloak as her wage. Farewell, my lord.
[margin]
Please receive from Kame the ten staters of warp-thread and give them to Psais son of Tryphanes. I am surprised, mother Maria, that you did not write to me that you received the hanging (?) from Psais; receive this other one from Philammon, and a small pot of fish.
[verso]
Please, mother Maria, send me the pan (?) and the little iron ring, because I want to put them on the loom.
I, Maria, greet my lady mother and my sister with the children. My children also greet you. Farewell.
…
Antinoou probably refers to Antinoopolis in the Nile Valley. The terms batellion and parakremasion are rare and their exact meaning (a pan or loom part; a hanging cloth) is uncertain.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Private Letter). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.