A letter from Ammonios to his master and patron Sarapammon complaining that Sarapammon's letters fail to state the prices of meat, chaff and other goods to be collected from the villagers. Ammonios also reports sending people with receipts and letters, asks about accounts and payments for oil-presses, and urges a quick reply. It comes from 4th-century Oxyrhynchus.
In English machine translation
To my master and patron Sarapammon, Ammonios.
I am surprised that you write to me like this without making clear in your letter even the price, so that before the time of compulsion the country people too may make their ready payment. Take care that we do not later burn everything; for if you write like this again, the blame is not on me. Ammonianos has just now written to Nesmimis in general terms. This is how you write. You made known through your own man Amois about 600 pounds of meat; you did not make clear at how much the pound. And about 10,000 pounds of chaff, again you did not make clear the price, or whether you want to send the commodity, I mean the chaff, to the city. So the country people too say the same: because of your letters the whole trickery happens. Write to me then the price of each commodity. I shall stop being distressed along with my troubles. Perhaps the flood is coming, so that at one stroke we may complete everything. I have sent you Saraeous daughter of Pausirios, who has a receipt of Ammonianos for 22 pounds of meat; see whether it was entered in the account; if not, have it entered and write to me. I have sent you Ammonas the field-guard with letters. If you receive what is yours, make him pay the same. The wool has been apportioned among the sheep so that the rural guard may pay, and not a little. As for what you write to me about Zoilas, you did not send their statement. I pray for your health for many years.
[margin]
Do not neglect to write me the price of the meat, how much they demand per pound, and moreover write to me about the chaff too. Perhaps you do not even read my letters. Have the president give 1 1/2 1/4 grams of gold for the oil-press of the heirs of Syros;
[verso]
for I too am already demanding payment for the other oil-presses. Write to us today the price of each, and the price of the mule, how much for each aroura, and hurry so that before the time of compulsion they may again help.
To my master and patron Sarapammon, Ammonios.
The goods appear to be levies in kind (meat, chaff, wool) collected from villagers, probably commuted into money, hence the concern with prices. The 'price of the mule per aroura' (bourdon) is obscure and probably refers to a levy assessed on land.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Letter from Ammonius to Sarapammon). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.