Refused marriage proposal (Correspondence)

Refused marriage proposal

The king of Babylon complains about the king of Egypt’s refusal to offer a daughter in marriage

EA 4

Kadashman-Enlil I, king of Babylon

Amenhotep Ill, king of Egypt

CDLI

[…]

Moreover, you, my brother, when I wrote to you about marrying your daughter, as regards not giving her you wrote to me, saying, “Never has a daughter of the king of Egypt been given to anyone.” Why is she not given? You are king, you do as you please. If you were to give her, who would say anything? When they told me this, I wrote to my brother thus, saying, “Surely beautiful women, adult daughters of [...], are available. Send me one beautiful woman as if she were your daughter! Who would say, 'She is not the king's daughter?’” But you, in accord with your refusal, did not send me anyone. Did you not seek brotherhood and friendship, when you wrote to me about marriage so that we might become close relations to each other? And I myself, for this very same reason, for brotherhood and friendship, wrote to you about marriage in order that we might become close relations to each other. Why has my brother not sent me one woman? Perhaps, since you have not sent me a woman, just like you I should withhold a woman from you, and not send her? But my daughters are available; I shall not withhold one from you.

Perhaps, when I wrote to you about marriage, and when I also wrote to you about animals […]

[...] your grandees said to me [...]. Now, as to my daughter whom I am sending you, [...] you do not obtain her “seed” [...] as to the animals, send me whatever I asked of you.

And as to the gold I wrote to you about, send as much as is available, a great quantity, before your messenger comes to me; now, quickly, during this summer, either in the month of Du’ūzu or in the month of Abu, send it to me, so I can accomplish the project I have undertaken. If you send me the gold I wrote you about this summer, in Du’ūzu or Abu, I shall give you my daughter. So you do me a favour and send me as much gold as you can. Otherwise, if you do not send me the gold in Du’ūzu or Abu, and I do not use it to accomplish the project I have undertaken, why do me the favour of sending it? Once I have finished the project I have undertaken, why should I want gold? Then you could send me 3,000 talents of gold - I would not accept it; I would return it to you. And I wouldn't give you my daughter in marriage.