Column I

(The grief for the dead)

Then, what time that the seine had passed through the dwelling of the builder, and the net had taken its toll, Gilgamesh said:

"Lord, what is it I may do? Now, what time that the seine has passed through the dwelling of the builder, and the net has taken its toll . . ."

(The Prayer of Gilgamesh)

In the sorrow of the mourner, Gilgamesh went alone to the house of worship, and he cried unto his Lord:

"My Lord, now that the seine has stricken me also, down to the earth, the net to the earth has stricken me also. I pray Thee for Enkidu: not pestilence has seized him, nor fever, but only the earth; nor fell he in the battle of mortals; it was only the earth which has seized him."

Yet he knew that the dead do not return to the world, for God has set a barrier behind them till the day they are raised; and in a vision of the night, by the leave of God, the spirit of his friend appeared to him, as a wind coming forth from the earth, and they communed together, mourning.

"Tell, O my friend, O tell me, I pray thee, what thou hast seen of the state of the dead?"

"Nay then, O comrade, I will not tell thee, I will not tell thee; for were I to tell thee what I have seen of the state of the dead, thou wouldst sit 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, as though into his body, like a mantle old, the worm has made its entry. In sooth then, the bride thou didst fondle, thereby rejoicing thee, filled with the dust is her body . . . He has spoken, and into the ground is he sunken . . .

"He who fell in . . . didst thou see him?" "Aye, I saw . . ."

"As a pillar beautiful props an inner portico . . ."

"He who falls from a pole, didst thou see him?" "Aye, I saw: straightway for . . ."

"He whom death . . .

Didst thou see him?" "Aye, I saw:

he is at rest upon a couch;

limpid water doth he drink."

"Then, the hero slain in fight,

didst thou see him?" "Aye, I saw:

father and mother raise his head,

and over him his wife in bitter woe."

"He whose corpse in the desert lies,

hast thou seen him?" "Aye, I saw:

not in earth doth rest his spirit."