Θέων Θέωνι τῷ πατρὶ χαίρειν.
καλῶς ἐποίησες· οὐκ ἀπένηχές με μετ’ ἐσοῦ εἰς πόλιν. ἠ οὐ θέλις ἀπενεκκεῖν μετ’ ἐσοῦ εἰς Ἀλεξάνδριαν, οὐ μὴ γράψω σε ἐπιστολὴν οὔτε λαλῶ σε οὔτε ὑιγένω σε εἶτα. ἂν δὲ ἔλθῃς εἰς Ἀλεξάνδριαν, οὐ μὴ λάβω χεῖραν παρὰ σοῦ οὔτε πάλι χαίρω σε λυπόν. ἂμ μὴ θέλῃς ἀπενέκαι με, ταῦτα γείνετε. καὶ ἡ μήτηρ μου εἶπε Ἀρ̣χελάω, ὅτι “ἀναστατοῖ μὲ· ἆρρον αὐτόν.” καλῶς δὲ ἐποίησες· δῶρά μοι ἔπεμψες μεγάλα, ἀράκια. πεπλάνηκαν ἡμῶς ἐκεῖ
τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ιβ’, ὅτι ἔπλευσες. λυπόν, πέμψον εἴς με, παρακαλῶ σε. ἂμ μὴ πέμψῃς, οὐ μὴ φάγω, οὐ μὴ πείνω. ταῦτα.
ἐρῶσθέ σε εὔχομαι.
Τῦβι ιη’.
ἀπόδος Θέωνι ἀπὸ Θεωνᾶτος υἱῶ.
(P. Oxy. 1.119)
Theon to his father Theon, greetings. You did a fine thing. You didn’t take me with you into town. If you don’t want to take me with you to Alexandria, then I won’t write you a letter, and I won’t speak one word to you or wish you good health. And if you go to Alexandria [without me], from now on I won’t take your hand and I won’t greet you. So if you won’t take me along, these things [will] happen. Even my mother said to Archelaus [my brother] “he is driving me mad—take him away.” You did a fine thing. You sent me fine gifts: locust beans! They deceived us there on the twelfth day, when you sailed. Finally, send for me, please, please. If you don’t send for me, I won’t eat and I won’t drink. So there. Farewell, I pray you.
[dated] the 18th of Tybi [ January].
Give [this letter] to Theon, from his son, little Theon.
(tr. Patricia A. Rosenmeyer, except last line, added by David Bauwens)
Crambe Repetita 