A private letter from Petesouchos to his brother Petearsemtheus and other men at Pathyris, reassuring them that he and his companions are safe after a separation in which they had feared being killed. He mentions news that mice have eaten the sown seed and invites them to come here or to Diospolis to buy wheat.
In English machine translation
[recto]
Petesouchos son of Panebchounis to Petearsemtheus and Paganis son of Panebchounis and Pathemis son of Paras and Petearsemtheus son of Hargenouphis and Petearsemtheus son of Psennesis and Horos son of Pates, greeting and good health. I myself am well, and so are Esthautis and Patous and Almentis and Phibis and Psenosiris and Phaphis and all those with us. Do not grieve over those who have been separated. They expected (?) to be killed. He did us no harm, but on the contrary has taken care of us; about which, if you wish, write to me. We have heard that the mouse has eaten up the seed. It is good for us here; or, if you prefer, come to Diospolis to buy wheat. For the rest, you would do me a favour by taking care of yourselves so that you stay healthy. Horos and Petosiris are well.
Farewell. Year 19, Pachon 8.
[verso]
From Petesouchos son of Nebchounis, to Petearsemtheus son of Nebchounis.
The letter likely reflects unrest or military events in the Thebaid around 95 BC; the subject of 'they expected to be killed' and the unnamed 'he' are ambiguous. 'The mouse' is a collective for a plague of field mice.
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.