Fragments of a Coptic guarantee or surety declaration in which Pnei son of Georgios swears to keep custody of a person, not to let anyone escape, and to produce him for the public account, on pain of punishment and fine. It is addressed to a high official and signed by a scribe and witnesses at Aphrodito in the 8th century.
In English machine translation
[Fragment 1]
... my father(?) ... and you (?) ... that I may guard [...] ...
... as far as the transport (anagoge) ... [...]
[Fragment 2]
[...] that I have been negligent and have shown contempt, and again [...]
[...] ... in the things that will be sought from you [...]
that I do not find him, that I make secure [...]
even if he has fled with [...]
your lordship, on condition that [...]
[Fragment 3]
[...] a great punishment and a great fine [...]
every [...] the public account which you will order of me on the day [...]
of negligence, and that I do not permit any man to leave [...]
unless I shall secure him again in prison, and if any[one] [...]
or anything at all, in any way, comes upon my responsibility(?), that I find him [...]
without concealing him, secure for the public account and for your most glorious lordship. I agree
to it through the one who signs for me, and I am bound with all my property, swearing [...]
and the welfare of those who rule over us, that I will keep my charge and act according to what I have written above.
† I, Pnei son of the late Georgios, who signed first above, agree.
I, Viktor son of the late Theodosios, wrote for him since he does not know letters. †
[† I], Georgios son of the late Psate, am witness [...]
† Senouthios son of Bartholomaios, witness. † † I, David son of Georgios [...]
† Through me, Viktor son of Theodosios [...]
Such declarations at Aphrodito under early Arab rule typically guaranteed the presence of fugitives or taxpayers for the governor. Several readings in the fragmentary opening lines are very uncertain.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below. It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.