23 B. M.—The usual salutation is absent, and it seems to be written to an official: “To ... as a letter thus _Ribadda_. I bow at thy feet. Baalath of Gebal the God of the King my Lord may (she?) strengthen thy power in the presence of the King thy Lord—the Sun of the lands. You know behold that a (covenant?) has been engraved. But why was it sent? And lo! this thou shalt announce: I am left in fear that an end will be made of all. Thou shalt make the whole known. Behold it was sent to me. ‘Do not wait to go forth to the city _Simyra_ till I come.’ Behold you know, the wars are exceeding mighty against me, but he comes not. I did march, and lo! the city of _Ambi_ (_’Aba_) has been burned by me. You know that the chief and the principal men of this city have gathered with _Abdasherah_, and behold I did not march farther. Behold you know all that has been; and on this account ... having asked my question of my prophet(256) behold I feared accordingly. Hear me speak—favorably as I trust (as to) coming; and you know that they strive with our country, who behold are men of good will. Because ... your favor is strong ... do not you urge ... a message to this city, and out of its midst she sends to ...”
86 B., a much-broken letter, supposed to be from _Ribadda_, mentions _Batruna_ and _Ambi_.(257) Toward the end it reads continuously: “The King of the land of the _Hittites_ behold is ... to the sons of _Abdasherah_, for he hastens to despatch soldiers of the royal ... and the neighboring places have joined: the lands of the King my Lord are made a desert, which the dogs bring to naught: they have mourned. If _Neboyapiza_ fears the King my Lord will he not march on them, if the King my Lord will speak to the great man of the chief city—to the great man of the chief city of _Cumidi_(258) (_Kamid_) ... to march to join ... to me...”
41 B. begins with the usual salutation from _Ribadda_. “Behold I am a faithful servant of the Sun-King, and I confess that my messages have been sad for the King, as you own. The King my Lord shall hear the messages of his faithful servant, and _Buri_ is sending out in the direction of the city _Simyra_ and _Hadar_ ... has marched against you, and they have beaten us, and they have brought us low. (These foes?) are destroying in my sight, and I was ready (to go out?) with the _Paka_ to keep watch in the presence of the chiefs of the governments. And my Lord shall hear the news. Now _Aziru_ the son of _Abdasherah_ is marching with his brethren from(259) the city _Gebal_: and despatch Egyptian soldiers (_bitati_), and thou shalt march against him and smite him—the land is the King’s land; and since one has talked thus and you have not moved, the city of _Simyra_ has been lost. The King my Lord shall hear the news of his faithful servant. There is no money to buy me horses, all is finished, we have been spoiled. Give me thirty (companies—_tapal?_) of horse with chariots ... men ... there is none of this with me ... not a horse ...”