Δῖος Εὐτυχίδηι τῶι τιμιοτάτωι
χαίρειν.
ἐπίστασαι ὅτι οὐ διὰ λόγων αἱ φιλίαι δείκνυνται ἀλλὰ διʼ ἔργων
καὶ μάλιστ[α] ἡ πρὸς ἀλλήλους φι-[λ]ία φανερ[ά] ἐστιν ἀμφοῖν καὶ
[π]λείστοις ἀνθρώποις ἡ διʼ ἔργων.
καὶ αὕτη γε̣ [ἀ]ξιόλογ[ός] ἐστι καὶ
[θ]εοφιλὴς κ[α]ὶ ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις
[ἐ]παινετή, ὅτι δὴ τοὺς συνήθεις
αὕτη ἀποκατέστησεν ὥστε φι-
λεῖσθαι ὑπʼ ἀλλήλων· οὐδὲν γὰρ
μεῖζόν ἐστιν οὐδὲ ἐράσμιον
οὐδὲ ἡμ[ερώ]τατον οὐδὲ ἀπο-
λαυστ[ότερόν] ἐστιν ἢ ἡ τοιαύ-
τη φι[λία ἐν τ]ῶι ἀνθρωπ[ί]νωι
βίωι. [ἐγὼ μ]ὲν δὴ διὰ βρ[αχ]έων
λόγω[ν ἐρῶ] σοι τὰ μέχ[ρι] νῦν.
γινώ[σκειν] δέ σε βούλ[ομ]αι
ὅτι οὔ[ποτε ὤκ]ν̣ησα πρός σ[ε] γρά-
φειν κ[ ]
ις τῆς ἡμέρας
ὡς̣ οἷόν τʼ ἐστιν ἐπ̣ιστέ̣λ̣λειν.
ἐγενόμην γὰρ ἐν [θορύ]βοις πολ-
λοῖς οὓς οὐκ ἄν σοι [τ]ολμήσαιμι
25 ἀδεῶς λέγειν [ἵ]να μὴ ἀτόπως
δ[ι]ηγήσω[μ]αι. οἶμαι δέ σε ἀκη-
κ[ο]έναι· εἰς γὰρ πλ[εί]στους ἐξίτη-
λ[α] ταῦτα ἦλθε. καὶ κὰν
[ὁ] θεὸς ἐθέλῃ,
νί[κ]ην διὰ σὲ δώσει [μ]οι, ἀποσκιδνά-
σας τὴν περὶ ἐμὲ ταραχὴν σέ
τε [φ]υλάξ[α]ς μοι καὶ ἀγαγὼν εἰς
τὴν προσφιλεστάτην σου
πόλιν
ἐρρῶσθ(αί) σε εὔχομ(αι), φίλτατε
Φαμενὼ(θ)
Apparatus
^
r.1-2.
l. τιμιωτά|τωι
^
r.15-16.
BL 6.73 : τοι |αύτη prev. ed.
^
r.28.
l. ἐὰν
^
r.32.
corr. ex σοι
^
r.34.
BL6.73 : Φαμενὼθ prev. ed.
To Dios Eutychides, the most honorable,
greetings.
You know that friendships are not shown through words but through deeds,
and especially the friendship towards one another is evident for both of us and
for most people through deeds.
And this is indeed remarkable and beloved of God and
praiseworthy for all men, because indeed this has restored the usual bonds
so that we may be loved by one another; for there is nothing greater,
nor more desirable, nor more pleasant, nor more delightful than such
friendship in human life. I indeed will speak to you briefly about what has happened until now.
I want you to know that I never hesitated to write to you
on this day as it is possible to send.
For I was in many disturbances which I would not dare to tell you freely
lest I recount something inappropriate. But I think you have heard; for these things have come to most people.
And even if God wishes,
He will give me victory through you, having removed the disturbance concerning me,
both to keep you safe and to bring me to your most beloved city.
I pray that you may be well, dearest Phamenoth.