Letter 510: Taeis asks her son for news and reports on household, tax, and document matters.

Taeis sends very many greetings to her son and lord. Before anything else, I pray that you are well and prosperous. The beginning is damaged, but Taeis refers to something sold from the father's property and to money, a small document, and instructions she had received. She asks her son to write to her about his safety, because she cannot yet tell him everything. A great death or loss has occurred in Alexandria. Taeis reminds him that, just as he used to manage matters for her when her husband was alive, he is now managing them again even while absent. She wants him to know that they are irrigating the date-palms in Apate. If Taseus listens to her and receives a basket from her, that will help with the matter. She says she has paid all the public dues, thanks to him. She also explains that she has not given anyone the small document he told her not to hand over; as she told them, he himself will give it. She has found no one among his friends to help her. The following lines are badly damaged but mention suitable linen cloths, a return gift, Nephotianos, and daily measures. On the back, someone writes to the mother because she is anxious about him. His sister and her children send greetings.

Ταεις [---] τῷ υἱῷ καὶ κυρίῳ πλεῖστα χαίρειν. πρὸ μὲν πάντων εὔχομαί σε ὑγιαίνειν καὶ εὐτυχεῖν. εἰ ἐπώλησας τοῦ πατρὸς [damaged text] Σεμπρωνίου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ [damaged text] δραχμ[---] χαρταρίδιν ὃ εἴρηκάς μοι ὅτι παρὰ τῆς [---] λάβω, αὐτὸ εἴληφα. υἱέ, γράψον μοι περὶ τῆς σωτηρίας σου. οὐ δύναμαί σοι ἄρτι εἰπεῖν [damaged text]. τασ[---]σε Νεμεσοῦ ἐπεὶ μεγάλη θνῆσις γέγονε ἐν Ἀλεξανδρίᾳ. ὥσπερ σύ με ἐκυβέρνας σου ἐχονόμα μου ὄντος, καὶ ἄρτι πάλιν σύ με κυβερνᾷς ἀπόντος σου. γινώσκειν σε θέλω ὅτι ὀχεύομεν τὰ φοινίκια τὰ ἐν τῇ ἀπάτῃ. ἐάν μου ἀκούσῃ Τασεῦς, καὶ λάβῃ παρʼ ἐμοῦ καλάθιν [damaged text]. πεπλήρωκα πάντα τὰ δημόσια τῇ σῇ χάριτι. τὸ μικρὸν χαρταρίδιν ὃ εἴρηκας ὅτι μὴ δοῖ αὐτό, τοῦτο μηδενὶ οὐκ ἔδωκα· σὺ αὐτός, εἶπον, δώσεις. οὐδένα εὕρηκα ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἐν τοῖς φίλοις. [damaged text] ἄξια σινδόνια τρία [damaged text] ἀπέχεις ἀντίδωρον [damaged text] Νεφωτιανὸς [damaged text] χοῦς τέσσαρας τὸ καθʼ ἡμέραν ἵνα [damaged text] καθὼς [damaged text] ἀμελεῖς Σερηνο. [In the margin or subscription:] [damaged text] τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπεὶ ἀγωνιᾷ περὶ αὐτοῦ. ἀσπάζεταί σε ἡ ἀδελφή σου καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς.