Scholarship on Letter: CUL Or.1080 J1

[Blessings etc. ?] from Him who dwells

in the heavenly expanse.  To [my son?] my beloved only son Mar

Fudhail, from me, your mother Archondou, and from my husband

Mar Elia. Receive many greetings.  You know, son,

we are alive and we trust by God's mercy

that you are also well (?). As you know, son,

... has gone to her eternal home (may there be

life and peace to you and your household and to all Israel). I have heard,

son, that you have hurt your eyes, and by the faith

of Heaven from the day I heard that my eye has flowed

and I have wept night and day and without cease.

You wrote to me that you have bought a ?mattress (τυλάριν): now if

you listen to my advice, son, sell it and keep

the money. Take care of yourself, son: if God

helps you and has mercy on you, concern yourself with the success of your ?business

and may the Holy One, Blessed be He, have mercy on you and ..., because God knows

the things they are saying about you, that no ear should

hear. And why should you, son, want to buy

a... or a ?mattress (τυλάριν) or anything else? And everyone

curses you and says, Cursed be he, Cursed be his name

if he meets from this day on with that wife of his.  Know,

son, that every day Ma'foudh the son of

Mar ?Idias comes and nags me about the quarter

dīnār that you borrowed from him

And if [God?] helps you ...

buy me 3 ... of good ... and I

will repay you the money. And know, son, that I have bought

you ... and half a rotel of almonds,

but I could not find a reliable person to send them to you.

Many greetings to you, my son, from me, your mother,

... and from ?my sister D... [And I desired?],

son, to go up to Fusṭāt, but when I got as far as

Buhaira there was such a strong wind that I could not find

a boat prepared (to sail). And ... and my eyes hurt

very badly and I give 3 zuz every week

to the doctor, and I cannot move from this place. If

God is good to you do me a favour and come quickly

to fetch me out of here so that I do not die, and may your prosperity

increase and not decrease. Amen.

Ask for my son Mar Fudhail in Fusṭāt. From me

your mother Archondou in Alexandria.