Epic of Gilgamesh

(One) who hath traversed the Mountains, a wearisome journey of Sunrise, Now that I look on thy face, Ur-Shanabi—Uta-Napishtim Let me see also—the Distant one!” Him did Ur-Shanabi ‘answer’, Gilgamish: ...,..... (In the Assyrian Version Ur-Shanabi presently addresses Gilgamish in exactly the same words as Siduri, the Wine-maker, with the same astonishment at his weather-beaten appearance) :

(Thus) did Ur-Shanabi speak to him, (yea), unto Gilgamish, (saying) : “Why is thy vigour all wasted... ” (It continues thus, to be supplied for Il. 2-31 from Columns I, 33—II, 14 with due bracketing for the last words, and then the text goes on): | Gilgamish (thus) continued his speech to Ur-Shanabi, (saying): “Pr’ythee, Ur-Shanabi, which is "the way unto Uta-Napishtim'? What is its token, I pr’ythee, vouchsafe me, vouchsafe me "its token’. If it be possible (even) the Ocean (itself) will I traverse, But if it should be impossible, "(then) will I range o’er the desert". ” (Thus) did Ur-Shanabi speak to him, (yea), unto Gilgamish, (saying): “Gilgamish, 'tis thine own hand hath hinder’d ‘thy crossing the Ocean’, Thou hast destroyéd the sails(?), (and) hast piercéd (?) the . . . . (Now) destroy 'd are the sails(?), and the urnu not . . . . . NoTES.—iSur-Sunabu in this Version. 2Uta-naishtim. SLit. "to him, to Sur-Sunabu.” 48 | THE EPIC OF GILGAMISH. Gilgamish, take thee thy axe in "thy? hand; O, descend to the forest, rFashion thee’ poles each of five gar in length; make (knops of) bitumen,

Sockets, (too), add (to them)!: bring "them me’.” (Thereat), when Gilgamish ‘heard this’, Took he the axe in his hand, (and) "the glaive? drew forth ‘from his baldric", Went2 to the forest, and poles each of five gar in length "did he fashion", (Knops of) bitumen he made,and he added (their) sockets : and brought them. .3, Gilgamish (then), and Ur-Shanabi fared them forth "in their vessel", Launch 'd they the boat on the billow, and they themselves "in her embarking’. After the course of a month and a half he saw on the third day 50. How that Ur-Shanabi (now) at the Waters of Death had arrivéd.

(Thus) did Ur-Shanabi ‘answer’ him, '(yea), unto Gilgamish, (saying) : “Gilgamish, take the ....away............ Let not the Waters of Death touch thy hand...... Gilgamish, take thou a second, a third, and a fourth pole (for thrusting), Gilgamish, take thou a fifth, (and) a sixth, and a seventh (for thrusting), Gilgamish, take thou an eighth, (and) a ninth, and a tenth pole (for thrusting), Gilgamish, take an eleventh, a twelfth pole!” He ceased‘ from (his) poling, (Aye) with twice-sixty (thrusts); (then) ungirded his loins... . Gilgamish . . . .(*?), and set up the mast in its socket. (He reaches Uta-Napishtim). Uta-Napishtim look’d into the distance and, inwardly musing, Said to himself: "(Now), why are ‘the sails(?)' of the vessel destroyéd, Aye, and one who is not of my . . . (?) doth ride on the vessel? (This) is no mortal who cometh: nor... . I look, but (this) is no "mortal ...... I look, but . . . . . I look but . . . . .

(Remainder of Column lost, but about l. 42 it becomes apparent that Uta-Napishtim is asking Gilgamish in exactly the same words as Siduri, the Wine-maker, and Ur-Shanalt “Why is thy vigour (all) wasted? ” and so on, down to Column V, 1.22 “IO, shall I not also lay me down like him, throughout all eternity never returning ?”’): 23. Gilgamish (thus) continued his speech unto Uta-Napishtim, = “Then "I bethought me’, I’ll get hence and see what far Uta-Napishtim NoTzs.—1The modern punting-pole of S. Mesopotamia is a bamboo with a knob of bitumen at one end, and a metal ferule or ring at the other. 2Lit. “Went down into.” sProbably supply "to Ur-Shanabi.” 4Or “he com- pleted,” or "used up his poles.” The text has “Gilgamish. ” Saith (on the matter). (And so), again (?) I came through all countries, Travell'd o'er difficult mountains,. (aye), "and? all seas have I traversed, Nor hath (ever) my face had its fill of gentle sleep (?): (but) with hardship Have I exhausted myself, (and) my flesh have I laden with sorrow.

Ere I had come to the "House( ?)" of the Wine-Maker, spent were my garments, . . . Owl, bat, lion, pard, wild cat, deer, ibex, and . . . . . "Flesh" of them (all) have I eaten, (and eke) their pelts have I dress'd (?*) "me". ” (The remainder of the Column is mutilated: there 1s some mention of “let them bolt her gate . . .; with pitch and bitumen . . . .” md, 33, and then nothing which gives connected sense until Column VI, ll. 26-39):

“Shall we for ever build house(s), for ever set signet (to contract), Brothers continue to share, or among ‘foes (*?)" always be hatred? (Or) will for ever the stream (that hath risen) in spate bring a torrent, Kulilu-bird ‘to’ Kimppu-bird ........ ? Face which doth look on the sunlight . . . presently (?) shall not bel . . . Sleeping and dead ‘are’ alike, from Death they mark no distinction Servant and master, when once thy have reach’d ‘their full span allotted’, Then do the Anunnaki, great gods, ..... Mammetum, Maker of Destiny with them, doth destiny settle, Death, (aye), and Life they determine; of Death is the day not revealéd. ”

(The Cause of the Flood). 2Gilgamish unto him spake, to Uta-Napishtim the Distant: “Uta-Napishtim, upon thee I gaze, (yet) in no wise thy presence Strange is, (for) thou art like me, and in no wise different art thou; Thou art like me; (yea) a stomach for fighting doth make thee consummate, r Aye, and to rest (?)? on thy back thou dost lie. "O tell me (?)’, how couldst thou Stand in th’ Assemblage of Gods to petition for life (everlasting) ?” Notgs.—iDifficult line. | 2Assyrian Version. Uta-Napishtim (addressing him thus) unto Gilgamish answer'd: “Gilgamish, I unto thee will discover the (whole) hidden story, Aye, and the rede of the Gods will I tell thee.

The City Shurippak1— (O ’tis) a city thou knowest !—is set "on the marge’ of Euphrates, Old is this city, with gods in its midst. (Now), the great gods a deluge Purposed to bring: . . .... there was Anu, their sire; their adviser Warrior Enlil; Ninurta2, their herald; their leader(?) Ennugi; Nin-igi-azag— tis Ea—, (albeit) conspirator with them, Unto a reed-hut their counsel betray’d he: "O Reed-hut, O Reed-hut ! Wall, wall! Hearken, O Reed-hut, consider, O Wall! O thou Mortal, Thou of Shurippak, thou scion of Ubara-Tutu, a dwelling Pull down, (and) fashion a vessel (therewith); abandon possessions, Life do thou seek, (and) thy hoard disregard, and save life; every creature Make to embark in the vessel. The vessel, which thou art to fashion, Apt be its measure; its beam and its length be in due correspondence, (Then) "on? the deep do thou launch it.” And I—sooth, I apprehending, (This wise) to Ea, my lord, did I speak: ‘See’, Lord, what thou sayest Thus, do I honour, I’ll do—(but) to city, to people, and elders Am I, forsooth, to explain?’ (Then) Ea made answer in speaking, Saying to me—me, his henchman !—‘Thou mortal, shalt speak to them this

wise: “Tis me alone (?) whom Enlil so hateth that I in your city No (more) may dwell, nor turn my face unto the land which is Enlil’s. rI will go’ down to the Deep, (there) dwelling with Ea, my "liege? lord, eas = a you will he shower down plenty, yea, fowl"in great num- er( ?)’, | Booty of fish . . . . "and big’ the harvest. EZ ee causing a plentiful rainfall (?) to come down upon you.” ’3 r(Then) when something’ of morning had dawn'd . . (Five lines mutilated). Pitch did the children4 provide, (while) the strong brought ‘all that was needful. (Then) on the fifth day (after) I laid out the5 shape (of my vessel), Ten gar each was the height of her sides, in accord with her planning(?), Ten gar to match was the size of her deck (?), and the shape of the fore- part (?) | NoTEs.—1The modern Fara. 2Son of Enlil, and the god of war and hunting. 9sTwo difficult lines. «Singular.

Did I lay down, (and) the same did I fashion; (aye): six times cross- pinn’d her, DER Sevenfold did I divide her . . . . , divided her inwards Ninefold: hammer'd the caulking within her, (and) found me a quarit-pole, (All) that was needful I added; the hull with six! ska; of bitumen ` 75-7. Smear’d I, (and) three shar of pitch "did I smear’ on the inside; some people... Bearing a vessel of grease, three shar of it brought (me); (and) one shar sz (Out of this) grease did I leave, which the tackling (?) consumed; (and) the boatman Two shar of grease stow 'd away; (yea), beeves for the . . . I slaughter’d, Each day lambs did I slay: mead, beer, oil, wine, too, the workmen -Drank as though they were water2, and made a great feast like the New Year. (Five mutilated lines "I added salve for the hand(s),” "the vessel was finish’d . . . Shamash the great.” “was dificult,” “... P I caused to bring above and below,” “two-thirds

"All I possess’d I” laded aboard her; the silver I laded All I possess’d; gold, all I possess’d I laded aboard her, All I possess’d of the seed of all living "I laded aboard’ her. Into the ship I embark’d all my kindred and family (with me), Cattle (and) beasts of the field (and) all handicraftsmen embarking. (Then) decreed Shamash the hour:“ . . . . (?) Shall in the night let a plentiful rainfall(?) pour down . . . .2 (Then) do thou enter the vessel, and (straightway) shut down thy hatchway. ” Came (then) that hour (appointed), . . . . . . (2) Did in the night let a plentiful rainfall(?) pour down . . . . (?) View d I the aspect of day: to look on the day bore a horror, (Wherefore) I enter 'd the vessel, and (straightway) shut down my hatchway, (So, too) to shut down the vessel to Puzur-Amurri (?), the boatman, Did I deliver the poop (of the ship), besides its equipment.

(Then), when something of dawn had appear'd, from out the horizon Rose a cloud darkling ; (lo), Adad (the storm-god) was rumbling within it, Nabu and Sharru were leading the vanguard, and coming as heralds Over the hills and the levels: (then) Irragal wrench 'd out the bollards; Havoc Ninurta let loose as he came, th’ Anunnaki their torches Brandish’d, and shrivell’d the land with their flames ; desolation from Adad Stretch’d to (high) Heaven, (and) all that was bright was turn’d into darkness. NoTES.—1Var. "three." 2Lit. “water of the river.” SIwo difficult lines. -> THE EPIC OF GILGAMISH. (Four lines mutilated “the land like... ,” “for one day the storm ...,” “fiercely blew... .” “like a battle... ”). Nor could a brother distinguish his brother, ; from heaven were mortals _..Not to be spied. O, were stricken with terror the gods at the Deluge, AZ Fleeing, they rose to the Heaven of Anu, and crouch'd in the outskirts, 115. Cow ring like curs were the gods (while) like to a woman in travail Ishtar did cry, she shrieking aloud, (e'en) the sweet-spoken Lady

(She of the gods): ‘ May that day turn to dust, because I spake evil (There) in th’ Assemblage of Gods! O, how could I utter (such) evil (There) in the Assemblage of Gods, (so) to blot out my people, ordaining Havoc! Sooth, then, am I to give birth, unto (these) mine own people Only to glut (with their bodies) the Sea as though they were fish-spawn?' Gods—Anunnaki—wept with her, the gods were sitting (all) humbled, (Aye), in (their) weeping, (and) closed were their lips "amid( ?)'the Assemblage. Six days, al se’nnight the hurricane, deluge, (and) tempest continued Sweeping the land: when the seventh day came, were quelléd the warfare, Tempest (and) deluge which like to an army embattail’d were fighting. Lull’d was the sea, (all) spent was the gale, assuaged was the deluge, (So) did I look on the day; (lo), sound was (all) still’d; and all human Back to (its) clay was return’d, and fen was level with roof-tree. (Then) I open’d a hatchway, and down on my cheek stream’d the sunlight, Bowing myself, I sat weeping, my tears o’er my cheek(s) overflowing, Into the distance I gazed, to the furthest bounds of the Ocean,

Land was uprear’d at twelve (points), and the Ark on the Mountain of Nisir Grounded ; the Mountain of Nisir held fast, nor gave lease to her? shifting. One day, (nay,) two, did Nisir hold fast, nor give lease to her shifting. Three days, (nay), four, did Nisir hold fast, nor give lease to her shifting, Five days, (nay,) six, did Nisir hold fast, nor give lease to her shifting. (Then), when the seventh day dawn’d, I put forth a dove, and released (her), (But) to and fro went the dove, and return’d (for) a resting-place was not. (Then) I a swallow put forth and released ; to and fro went the swallow, She (too) return’d, (for) a resting-place was not; I put forth a raven, Her, (too,) releasing; the raven went, too, and th’ abating of waters Saw ; and she ate as she waded (and) splash’d, (unto me) not returning. Unto the four winds (of heaven) I freed (all the beasts), and an off’ring Sacrificed, and a libation I pour’d on the peak of the mountain, Twice seven flagons devoting, (and) sweet cane, (and) cedar, and myrtle, NOTE.—1Lit. “and.” 2Text has "the vessel.”

Heap 'd up beneath them ; the gods smelt the savour, the gods the sweet savour Smelt ; (aye,) the gods did assemble like flies o'er him making the off ring. Then, on arriving, the Queen (of the gods) the magnificent jewels Lifted on high, which Anu had made in accord with her wishes; ‘O ye Gods! I will (rather) forget (this) my necklet of sapphires, Than not maintain these days in remembrance, nor ever forget them. (So), though (the rest of) the gods may present themselves at the off’ring, Enlil (alone of the gods) may (himself) not come to the off’ring, Because he, unreasoning, brought on a deluge, and therefore my people Unto destruction consign’d.’ Then Enlil, on his arrival,

Spied out the vessel, and (straightway) did Enlil burst into anger, Swollen with wrath 'gainst the gods, the Igigi!: ‘Hath any of mortals ’Scaped? Sooth, never a man could have lived through (the welter of) ruin.’ (Then) did Ninurta make answer and speak unto warrior Enlil, Saying: ‘O, who can there be to devise such a plan, except Ea? Surely, tis Ea is privy to ev ry design.’ Whereat Ea Answer’d and spake unto Enlil, the warrior, saying: ʻO chieftain Thou of the gods, thou warrior! How, forsooth, how (all) uncounsell’d Couldst thou a deluge bring on? (Aye,) visit his sin on the sinner Visit his guilt on the guilty, (but) O, have mercy, that (thereby) He shall not be cut off; be clement, that he may not ‘perish’. O, instead of thy making a flood, let a lion come, man to diminish; O, instead of thy making a flood, let a jackal come, man to diminish; O, instead of thy making a flood, let a famine occur, that the country May be "devour d(*)"; instead of thy making a flood, let the Plague-god Come and the people ‘o’erwhelm’ ;

Sooth, indeed ’twas not I of the Great Gods the secret revealéd, (But) to th’ Abounding in Wisdom? vouchsafed I a dream, and (in this wise) He of the gods heard the secret. Deliberate, now, on his counsel’. (Then) to the Ark came up Enlil; my hand did he grasp, and uplifted Me, even me, and my wife, too, he raised, and, bent-kneed beside me, Made her to kneel; our foreheads he touch’d as he stood there between us, Blessing us; ‘Uta-Napishtim hath hitherto only been mortal, Now, indeed, Uta-Napishtim and (also) his wife shall be equal Like to us gods; in the distance afar at the mouth of the rivers Uta-Napishtim shall dwell’. (So) they took me and (there) in the distance Notz.—1Gods of heaven. 2Ałra-hasis, another name for Uta-Napishtim. Caused me to dwell at the mouth of the rivers. But thee, as for thee, pray, Who will assemble the gods for thy (need), that the life which thou seekest Thou mayst discover? Come, fall not asleep for six days, aye, a se'nnight!” (But Gilgamish ts too mortal to resist even sleep). (Then), while he sat on his haunches a sleep like a breeze breathed upon

Spake to her, Uta-Napishtim, yea, unto his wife: “O, behold him, E’en the strong fellow who asketh for life, (how) hath breathéd upon him Sleep like a breeze!” (Then) his wife unto Uta-Napishtim the Distant Answer’d: “O, touch him, and let the man wake, that the road he hath traversed He may betake himself homeward in peace, that he by the portal Whence he fared forth may return to his land.” Spake Uta-Napishtim, (Yea), to his wife: “(How) the troubles of mortals do trouble thee also! Bake then his flour (and) put at his head, but the time he is sleeping On the house-wall do thou mark it.1” (So straightway) she (did so), his flour Baked she (and) set at his head, but the time he was sleeping she noted On the house-wall. (So), first was collected his flour, (then) secondly sifted, Thirdly, ’twas moisten’d, and fourthly she kneaded his dough, and so fifthly Leaven she added, and stxthly ’twas baked; (then) seventh—he touch’d him, All on a sudden, and (so from his slumber) dwoke the (great) fellow ! Gilgamish unto him spake, (yea) to Uta-Napishtim the Distant:

“(Tell me), I pr’ythee (?), was °t thou, who when sleep was shower’d upon me All on a sudden.didst touch me, and (straightway) rouse me (from slumber) ? ” Uta-Napishtim to Gilgamish "spake, (yea), unto him spake he’: “Gilgamish, told was the tale of thy meal . . . and (then) did I wake thee: *One’—was collected" thy flour: " (then) 'źwo '1—it was sifted ; (and) ‘thirdly’ — Moisten = (and) ‘fourthly’—she kneaded thy dough '(and) ‘fifthly” the eaven Added: (and) ‘sixthly’—’twas baked: "(and) 'seventh'"— 'twas I on a sudden Touch’d thee and thou didst awake.” To Uta-Napishtim, the Distant,2 . Gilgamish answer'd: "O, "how" shall I act, (or) where shall I hie me, Uta-Napishtim? A Robbers (from me) hath ravish’d my "courage," Death "in? my bed-chamber broodeth, and Death is wherever I "listen". ” ‘Spake’ to "him, (yea),? to the boatman Ur-Shanabi Uta-Napishtim:

Notes.—1A difficult passage, capable of other interpretations. But if this is the correct one, Uta-Napishtim is mocking the "strong man” who seeks eterna! life, with the tally of the number of hours (or days ?) he sleeps, unable even to stay awake. 2As before “Unto him, unto Uta-Napishtim.” 3So as it stands, but it is not intelligible. . “Tis thou, Ur-Shanabi. .. the crossing, will hate thee, (Sooth), to all those who come to its marge, doth its marge set a limit: (This) man for whom thou wert guide—are stains to cover his body, Or shall a skin hide the grace of his limbs? Ur-Shanabi, take him, . Lead him to where he may bathe, that he wash off his stains in the water (White) as the snow: let him cast off his pelt(s)that the sea may remove (them) ; Fair let his body appear: of his head be the fillet renewéd, Let him, as clothes for his nakedness, garb himself in a mantle, Such that, or ever he come to his city, and finish his journey, No (sign of) age shall the mantle betray, but preserve (all) its freshness. ”

Wherefore Ur-Shanabi took him, and where he might bathe did he lead him, Washing his stains in the "water" like snow, his pelt(s), "too", discarding, So that the sea might bear them away; (and) his body appearéd Fair; ‘of’ his head he ‘the fillet’? renewed, and himself in a mantle Garb’d, as the clothes for his nakedness, ‘such that or ever his city Reach he’, or ever he finish his journey, "the mantle betray not Age, but? preserve "(all) its freshness’. (So) into their vessel embarkéd Gilgamish, (aye), and Ur-Shanabi, launching (their) craft "on the billow", They themselves riding aboard (her). (The magic gift of restored youth). | | To Uta-Napishtim, the Distant!, Spake (then) his wife: "Came Gilgamish (hither) aweary with rowing, . What wilt thou give wherewith he return to his land ? ” and the meanwhile Gilgamish, lifting his pole, was pushing the boat at the seashore. (Then answer d) Uta-Napishtim to him, (yea), "to Gilgamish "spake he’: “Gilgamish, (hither) didst come (all) aweary with rowing; (O, tell me), . What shall I give thee (as gift) wherewith to return to thy country? Gilgamish, I will reveal thee a hidden matter . . . I'll tell thee:

There is a plant like a thorn with its root (?) "deep down in the ocean’, Like unto those of the briar (in sooth) its prickles will scratch ‘thee’, (Yet) if thy hand reach this plant, ‘thou’lt surely find life (everlasting)". ” (Then), when Gilgamish heard this, he loosen 'd(?)2 "his girdle about him’, Bound heavy stones "on his feet?, which dragg’d him down to the sea-deeps, "Found he the plant’; as he seized on the plant, (lo), "its prickles did scratch him’. Reż wana "to him, (yea), to Uta-Napishtim.” 2The word is not spelt quite correctly, if this is right. Cut he the heavy stones "from his feet? that again it restore him Unto its shore. | Gilgamish spake to him, (yea), to the boatman Ur-Shanabi (this wise) : “(Nay, but) this plant is a plant of great wonder(?), Ur-Shanabi, ” said he, “Whereby a man may attain his desire—I’ll take it to Erech, (Erech), the high-wall’d, and give it to eat "unto..... ue ‘Greybeard-who-turneth-to-man-in-his-prime’ is its name and I[’]] eat it I myself, that again I may come to my youthful condition. ”

(The Quest ends in Tragedy). Broke they their fast at the fortieth hour: at the sixtieth rested. . Gilgamish spied out a pool of cool water, (and) therein descending Bathed in the water. (But here was) a serpent who snuff'd the plant's fragrance, Darted he up "from the water (?)", and snatch’d the plant, uttering malison . As he drew back. Then Gilgamish sate him, (and) burst into weeping. Over his cheeks flow’d his tears: to the boatman Ur-Shanabi ‘spake he( ?)" “(Pr’ythee), "for? whom have toiléd mine arms, O Ur-Shanabi, (tell me), (Pr’ythee), for whom hath my heart’s blood been spent? (yea), not for mine | own self, Have I the guerdon achieved; (no), 'tis for an earth-lion (only) Have I the guerdon secured—(and) now at the fortieth hour (Such an) one reiveth (it)—O, when I open'd the sluice and . . .ed the attachment, 1 (Aye), I noted the sign (?) which to me was vouchsafed as a warning, . Would I had turn'd and abandon 'd the boat at the marge (of the ocean)! ”

Broke they their fast at the fortieth hour: at the sixtieth rested, (So in the end) to the middle of Erech, the high-wall'd, arrivód. (The Pride of the Architect). Gilgamish spake to him, (yea), to the boatman Ur-Shanabi (this wise): “Do thou, Ur-Shanabi, go up and walk on the ramparts of Erech, Look on its base, and take heed of its bricks, if its bricks be not kiln-burnt, (Aye), and its ground-work be not bitumen, e’en seven courses, One shar the city, (and) one sha; the gardens, and one sha» the. . . .(?) . . the Temple of Ishtar, amass’d I three shay and . . .(?) of Erech2. NoTES.—1ILit. “furniture.” The incident is lost in one of the previous gaps. Is it referable to the “dam” in the Fifth Tablet, Column VI? 2Unfortunately there are two difficult words in these two lines. "THE EPIC OF GILGAMISH. 57

GILGAMISH, IN DESPAIR, ENQUIRES OF THE DEAD.

(How the dead haunt the living). 1(Then), what time that the seine had pass’d through the Architect’s dwelling, (Aye, and) the net "had taken its toll" . . . . "said he’: “Lord, what "is’t Imaydo'............ (Now, what time that) the seine hath "pass'd through the Architect’s? dwelling’, (Aye and) the net "hath taken its tol) . . . ........ s Gilgamish ‘unto him spake’ ............ CH WARGO! x 1 os, “ph Be tes Sh 47 06 0 ee ae 2 i (About two lines wanting, in which Gilgamish presumably asks how the dead may be made to haunt the mowrner). “Gilgamish, . > »woócętd ee Hk ee ww a HS i (The Mourner’s Duty). “If to the . . . ‘thou drawest?, unto the temples ........ Raiment clean ‘shalt not don’, (but) like to a townsman shalt .. .. Nor with sweet oil from the cruse be anointed, (lest) at its fragrance Round thee they gather: nor mayst thou set bow to the earth, (lest) around thee

Circle those shot by the bow; nor a stick in thy hand mayst thou carry, (Lest) (stricken) ghosts should gibber against thee: nor shoe to thy footsole Put on, nor make on the ground a (loud) echo: thy wife, whom thou lovest, Kiss (aer thou mayst not, thy wife whom thou hatest—thou mayst not astise (her), (Aye, ano thy child whom thou lovest not kiss, nor thy child whom thou Mayst not chastise, (for) the mourning of earth doth hold thee enthralléd. Norgs.— Assyrian Version. Apparently the previous tablet has ended with the short description of Erech and its architecture by Gilgamish, as a cue for the opening lines of the Twelfth Tablet. The “Architect” must be Gil- gamish: and the description of seine and net passsing through his house, parallel to the phrase in the First Tablet, Column II, must a be a euphemism for the death of Enkidu. Gilgamish, having failed to learn the secret - of eternal life is now reduced to calling up his dead friend to know the worst which he may expect. He asks what

must the mourner do to avoid being haunted by the ghost: and then proceeds to do exactly the contrary in order that Enkidu may return to haunt him. 20r, if it is the Architect speaking, “my dwelling.” SThese lines are capable of two restorations: either “If thou (drawest) . . . unto. . . , then the ghosts will accompany thee to thy Temple, ” or “If thou [drawest) . .. unto... , or go to the Temple.” Some slight restoration can be made from /. 31. 58 THE EPIC OF GILGAMISH. “She who dead lieth, She who dead lieth, Mother of Ninazu, She who dead lieth, „30. No more with mantle are Veil’d her fair shoulders, No more her bosom Drawn!, like the lard cruse!” (Gilgamish by contravening these customs attempts to raise Enkidu). (So) did he draw ‘the . . . to. . ., and came to the temple’, rPut on clean raiment’... (and) like to a townsman . . . (Aye), with "sweet? oil from the cruse ‘was’ anointed: (then) at "its fragrance Round oo they gather’d :2 the bow did he set (?) "to the earth’, and around

Circled the spirits, (yea,) those who were "shot! by the bow at him gibber’d, r Carried” a stick in his hand ‘and the (stricken) ghosts at him gibber'd(?)". 40. "Put on’ a shoe to ‘his foot-sole, and made on the ground a (loud) echo. rKiss'd he’ his wife "whom he lovód, chastiséd his? wife whom he hated, rKiss'd he his child” whom he lovćd, chastiséd "his? child whom he hated. (Aye, in good sooth, 'twas) the mourning of earth which did hold him enthrallód : “She who (dead) lieth, ‘She who’ (dead) lieth, Mother of Ninazu, She who (dead) lieth, No (more) with mantle are Veil'd ‘her’ fair shoulders, No (more) her bosom Drawn, like the lard cruse. ” Cried(?) The" (for) Enkidu out of the earth to ascend: “Not? (the Plague-god), Namtar, hath seized” him, nor fever, (but only) the earth :3 nor the Croucher, "Nergal", the ruthless, hath seized him, (but only) the earth: neither fell he There "= was battle’ of mortals; ’twas only the earth "which hath seized

im.? ”3 (So)4. . . for his servitor Enkidu sorrow’d the offspring of Nin-sun, NoTES.—1Shaddata, shadadu being used in medicine for sucking or drawing vapour through a tube. This short poem may be the regular lament of the professional mourner. 2There is a little confusion in the next three or four lines, in comparison with the previous parallel text, and it may be that we should boldly emend or correct them accordingly. sii. “’twas the earth [seized hjim,” or "'twas the earth (ditto].” «It is uncertain what is to be restored for the two mutilated words at the beginning. TRE EPIC OF GILGAMISH. 30

(Aye), as he went all alone unto "Ekur", the temple of Enlil: “rEnlil’, (my) Father, ('tis now) that the seine hath stricken me also, Down to the earth—the net to the earth hath stricken me also. Enkidu ie rI pray thee’ to raise "from the earth'—not (the Plague- 800), Namtar, hath seized him, nor fever, "but only the earth? : nor the Croucher, Nergal, the ruthless, hath seized "him, but only the earth’ : "neither fell he? There — was battle of mortals: " 'twas only the earth which hath seized im". (But) no answer did Enlil, the father vouchsafe. | rTo the Moon-god he hied him (?)': “Moon-god, (my) Father, ('tis now) that the seine ‘hath stricken me also, Down to the earth’'—the net ‘to the earth hath stricken me also". Enkidu ae ‘I pray thee’ to raise "from the earth'—not (the Plague- 800), Namtar, hath seized him, ‘nor’ fever, "but only the earth: nor’ the Croucher, Nergal, "the ruthless, hath seized him, but only the earth’: "neither fell he? There = rwas battle of mortals: ’twas only the earth which hath seized im.” r(But) no answer the Moon-god vouchsafed : | (Then) to Ea he hied him:' r"Ea, (my) Father, 'tis now that the seine hath stricken me also,” r Down to the earth—the net to the earth hath stricken me also." "Enkidu e" I pray thee to raise from the earth—not (the Plague- god) ,' | Nam'tar, hath seized him, nor fever, but only the earth: nor” the Croucher, Nergal, the ruthless, "hath seized him, but only the earth: neither fell he’ There = was battle of mortals: "'twas only the earth which hath seized im.” Ea, the father, "gave ear (and) to Nergal", the warrior-hero, rSpake he’: "O Nergal, O warrior-hero, "give ear to my speaking(?)'! ‘Ope now,” a hole "in the earth’, that the spirit of "Enkidu, (rising)", "May from the earth issue forth, and so have speech’ with ‘his’ brother. ” Nergal, the warrior-hero, "gave ear to the speaking of Ea', Oped, then, a hole in the earth, and the spirit of Enkidu issued Forth from the earth like a wind. They embraced and..... Communed together, mourning. “Tell, O my friend, O tell, O my friend, (O) tell (me, I pr'y thee), What thou hast seen of the laws of the Underworld?” "(Nay, then,) O comrade ;

60 THE EPIC OF GILGAMISH. I will not tell thee, (yea,) I will not tell thee—(for), were I to tell thee, What I have seen of the laws of the Underworld, —sit thee down weeping ! ” “(Then) let me sit me down weeping. ” | (The wretched lot of all who must die). | “(So be it): "the friend(?)"' thou didst fondle (Thereby) rejoicing thee—" into his body(?), as though 'twere a’ mantle Old, hath the worm made its entry: (in sooth, then) "the bride(?)! thou didst fondle, Coe rejoicing thee—fill’d with the dust "is her body’ RA Gal „ he hath spoken and "into the’ ground (?) is he sunken, . . . . he hath spoken and "into the” ground ( ?) is he sunken.” “(He who fell in.... 1 rDidst thou see him??.” “(Aye), I saw .... ” (About seventeen lines missing). 118. “As a pillar beautiful ‘Props ?? an inner por'tico (?)) . . . (About twenty-five lines missing). 145. “He who falleth from a pole Didst thou see him? ""(Aye), I saw’: Straightway for . .

By removal of a plug....... “He whom death . . . ........ | “Didst thou see him?” “'(Aye) I saw’: He’s at rest upon a couch, Limpid water doth he drink. p “(Then, the hero) slain in fight, Didst thou see him?” “(Aye) I saw: Father, mother! raise his head, O’er him wife2 "in bitter woe’. “He whose corpse in desert lieth, Hast thou seen him?” “(Aye), I saw; Not in earth doth rest his spirit.” “He whose ghost hath none to tend, Didst thou see him?” “(Aye), I saw, Lees of cup, and broken bread Thrown into the street he eateth.” THE END OF THE EPIC OF GILGAMISH.