25 "So that fright and horror might overcome him that looked upon them,

26 "So that their bodies might rear up, and no man resist their attack.

27 "She set up the Viper, and the Snake, and the rebel host,

28 "The Whirlwind, the ravening Dog, the Scorpion-man,

29 "The Storm-wind, the Fish-man, the Horned Beast.

30 "They carried the weapon which spared not, nor flinched from the battle.

31 "Most mighty were her allies, they could not be resisted.

32 "Thus she caused eleven monsters of this kind to come into being.

33 "Among the rebels, her first-born, who had collected her company,

34 "That is to say, Kingu, she set on high, she made him the great one amongst them.

35 "Leader of the hosts in battle, disposer of the troops,

36 "Bearer of the firmly-grasped weapon, attacker in the fight,

37 "He who in the battle is the master of the weapon,

38 "She appointed, she made him to sit down in goodly apparel.

39 "Saying, 'I have magnified thee in the assembly of the rebels,

40 "'I have filled thy hand with the sovereignty of the whole company.

41 "'Mayest thou be magnified, thou who art my chosen one,

42 "'May the host make great thy renown over all of them.'

43 "She gave him authority that was not his, she fastened it on his breast, saying--

44 "'As for thee, thy command shall not fall empty, what goeth forth from thy mouth shall be established.'

45 "When Kingu was raised on high and had usurped the heavens,

46 "He fixed decrees for his host, saying,

47 "'Open your mouths, let the Light be quenched,

48 "'He who is glorious in battle and is most mighty shall do great deeds.'"

49 When the chief of the angels heard that the chaos was stirred mightily,

50 ... he bit his lips

51 ... his mind was not at peace

[Lines 52-54 too fragmentary for translation.]

The chief of the angels then addresses the wise one and says:--

55 "Thou hast overcome the steward and the rebel of the deep,

56 "But the chaos hath exalted Kingu--where is the one who can meet her?"

[Lines 57 and 58 imperfect; lines 59-71 wanting.]

72 The chief of the angels spake a word unto one of the angels:--

73 "... this is a difficulty, my warrior

74 "Whose power is exalted, whose attack cannot be stayed,

75 "Go and stand thou in the presence of the chaos,

76 "That her spirit be quieted, her heart softened.

77 "But should she not hearken unto thy word,

78 "Speak thou our word unto her so that she may be abated."

79 He heard the order of the chief of the angels.

80 He took the straight road to her, and hastened on the way to her.

81 He drew nigh, he searched out the plan of the chaos,

82 He could not prevail against her, he turned back.

Lines 83 and 84 contain his report to the chief of the angels, but they are too fragmentary to translate; line 85 reads:--

83 He went to the chief of the angels,

84 He spake unto him a word concerning the chaos

85 "She laid hands upon me that withered me up."

86 The chief of the angels was distressed, he looked down upon the ground,

87 He turned pale; towards the wise one he lifted up his head.

88 All the host assembled at their posts.

89 They shut their mouths, they sat in lamentation.

90 They said, "Nowhere is there an angel who can attack the chaos.

91 "He would not escape from her presence with his life."

92 The chief of the angels spoke majestically,

93 He lifted up his heart, he addressed the host, saying

94 "He whose strength is mighty shall be an avenger for us

95 "In the strife, the hero whom God has chosen."

96 The wise one called the chosen servant to the place where he received instruction,

97 He came and according to his heart he addressed him,

98 Saying, "O chosen servant, hear the counsel and advice of thy elder,

99 "Thou art the one who refresheth his heart,

100 "Draw nigh and enter the presence of the chief of the angels,

101 "Stand there with joy, when he looketh upon thee he will be at rest."

113 The servant rejoiced at the word of his elder,

114 He approached and took up his place before the chief of the angels.

115 The chief looked upon him and his heart was filled with gladness.

116 He put away his fear. Then the servant said:

117 "My lord, let not the opening of thy mouth be closed,

118 "I will go, I will make to take place all that is in thy heart.

119 "Chief of the angels, let not the opening of thy mouth be closed,

120 "I will go, I will make to take place all that is in thy heart." The chief of the angels says to him:

121 "What man is the cause of the battle which made thee go forth

122 "... the chaos, which is a created thing, pursueth thee with weapons.

123 "Rejoice our hearts and make us glad.

124 "Thou thyself shalt soon trample upon the neck of the chaos,

125 "Rejoice our hearts and make us glad.

126 "Thou thyself shalt soon trample upon the neck of the chaos.

127 "My son, who dost comprehend everything,

128 "Cast deep sleep upon the chaos with thy prayer to God.

129 "Betake thyself to thy march with all speed.

130 "..."

131 The servant rejoiced at the word of his elder,

132 His heart leaped with joy, to him he spake, saying,

133 "O Lord of the angels, Overlord of the great hosts,

134 "Should I, as your avenger,

135 "Overcome the chaos and bestow safety upon you,

136 "Gather together, and proclaim that the command is God's alone,

137 "Sit ye down together in friendly fashion in the assembly.

138 "Let me carry out decrees by the leave of God, even as ye do.

139 "Whatsoever God brings to pass let it remain unaltered,

140 "That which the mouth of God uttereth shall never fail or be brought to nought."

Third Tablet

1 The chief of the angels opened his mouth, and

2 Unto Gaga, his envoy, spake a word, saying,

3 "O Gaga, my envoy, who makest glad my heart.

4 "I will despatch thee unto the elder angels.

5 "Thou must know and understand the intention of my heart

6 "... are brought before thee

7 "... all the host.

8 "Let them make a council, let them sit down together

9 "Let them eat bread, let them take their drink.

10 "Let them carry out the decree of God, with the chosen servant as their avenger.

11 "Get thee gone, Gaga, take up thy stand before them.

12 "All that I am now going to tell thee do thou repeat to them, saying,

13 "'O ye angels, the chief of the host hath charged me,

14 "'The intention of his heart he hath made me to know in this wise:--

15 "'The mother of the deep hath sown these things,

16 "'She hath set in order her assembly, she rageth furiously,

17 "'All the rebels have joined themselves to her.

18 "'They march by her side together with those whom ye have created.

19 "'They formed a band and went forth to battle to help the chaos.

20 "'They were exceedingly wroth, they made plots by day and by night without ceasing.

21 "'They offered battle, foaming and raging.

22 "'They set the battle in array, they uttered cries of defiance.

23 "'The mother of the deep, who is only a created thing,

24 "'Set up the unrivalled weapon, she spawned huge serpents,

25 "'Sharp of tooth, pitiless in attack.

26 "'She filled their bodies with venom instead of blood.

27 "'Grim, monstrous serpents arrayed in terror.

28 "'She decked them with brightness, she fashioned them in exalted forms,

29 "'So that fright and horror might overcome him that looked upon them,