THE SCENE: Writing in the 14th Century BC, the King of Babylon tried the novel approach of whining at the King of Egypt to try to extort more gold from him.
THE TEXT: Tell Niphuriya, the king of Egypt: Your Brother Burnaburias, king of [Babylonia] sends this message:
I am well. May everything be well indeed with you, your house, your wife and children, country, officials, horses and your chariots.
Ever since my fathers and your fathers arranged friendly relations with each other, they have sent fine presents to each other and have not refused each other any reasonable demand. But now my brother has sent only two pounds of gold as a present for me. Indeed if there is much gold (in Egypt), do send me as much as your fathers did. In case there is little gold, send me half of what your fathers did, but why in the world did you send only two pounds of gold to me? Just now I have much work to be done on the temple and I am very anxious to do it. Do send me therefore more gold and write me what you want from my country so that messengers can take it to you.
– Letters From Mesopotamia, edited & translated by A. Leo Oppenheimer, 14th Century BC
