Fragmentary letter from Pesynthios to Papas, comes and pagarch, complaining of the burdens of his city and reporting that he has detained a certain lord Origenes. He mentions the arrival of the most glorious Baroch and the notary John and asks Papas to send word by a groom so that he can travel to meet him.
In English machine translation
[recto]
[…] brother, the toils and the headaches of this city […]
[…] and the weeping of those put aboard the boat, and this […]
[…] from the time when the most glorious Baroch and lord John the notary came here until the hour […]
[…] to pray; for I detained lord Origenes here, thinking that he would be released […]
[…] to be found, and I will pay my respects to you. For this reason I wrote to you beforehand, and for whatever […]
[…] of the remainder (?) from us, I barely found a little relief; since therefore I received some […]
[…] and there is need that I pay my respects to my masters and meet with them; and for the present […]
[…] to be […] as far as the city and to be greeted by our common sister and children […]
[…] so that I may obtain what I am eager for; but write to me beforehand through your groom so that, God
[willing], I may travel […] about the time of the signal (?) and meet you. For through God the public affairs […]
[verso]
[…] of the priest, by your madness (?), as you wrote. For concerning lord Origenes
[…] I announce to you; if you order anything, I do it; for I compelled him to stay until I receive
[…]; for he turned up amid my toils and not at a time of relief. But yes, my master, how many […]
[…] this little relief, so that we may greet one another. For the same he does […]
[… 1 line lost …]
[† To my God-protected] master and brother Papas, the most great comes, councillor [and pagarch, † Pesynthios †]
Papas was pagarch of Apollonopolis Ano (Edfu) in the later 7th century AD; the archive belongs to that setting. The word rendered 'signal' (krousma) is uncertain in meaning, possibly the sounding of a wooden gong or a set time.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as De Pésynthios: la détention d’Origène). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.