Column II

While Gilgamesh was thus revealing the vision,

Enkidu sat before the woman,

and the place of his birth he forgot.

So Enkidu stayed for six days and seven nights.

Then the woman broke into speech and spoke to Enkidu:

"As I view thee, thou art wise, Enkidu, and noble.

Why with the beasts of the field dost thou ever range over the desert?

Up, for I will lead thee to Erech, broad-marketed, to the sacred house,

the dwelling of the king; Enkidu, come, that I guide thee

to the great house, where Gilgamesh lives,

the supreme of creation; and thou shalt embrace him

like a brother, and as thyself thou shalt love him.

Rouse thee up from the ground—it is a shepherd's bed only."

He heard her utterance and welcomed her counsel;

the advice of the woman struck home in his heart.

She took off one garment wherewith she might clothe him;

the other she herself wore, and so, taking his hand like a brother's, she led him

to the booths of the shepherds, the place of the sheepfolds. The shepherds

gathered at sight of him.

Column III

(How the Woman schooled Enkidu)

He had been accustomed to suck the milk of the wild things.

The bread which she set before him he broke, but he gazed and he stared:

Enkidu did not know how to eat bread, nor had he the knowledge

how to drink the wine of the country.

Then the woman made answer, speaking to Enkidu:

"Enkidu, taste of the bread, for it is the essential of life;

drink, too, of the drink, it is the wonted use of the country."

Enkidu ate of the bread until he was sated,

and drank of the drink seven cups; his spirits rose, and, exultant,

glad was his heart and cheerful his face. He washed himself,

anointed the hair of his body with oil, and became human.

He donned a garment to be like a man, and, taking his weapon,

hunted the lions which harried the shepherds by night, and the jackals

he caught. So he, having mastered the lions, the shepherds slept soundly.

Enkidu was their warden, and became a man of full vigour.

Column IV

Then, as he sat, he lifted his eyes, and, observing a man,

he spoke to the woman: "O woman, bring me this fellow.

Why has he come? I would know his intention."

The woman called the fellow, that he might come to him and that Enkidu might see him:

"Why art thou seeking, sir? Pray, which is the way to thy rest-house?"

The man spoke, addressing Enkidu: "Gilgamesh calls you to the House of Community.

This is the custom of men, and a homage too to the great ones:

come, then, and heap up the offerings such as are due to the city;

come, on behalf of the common weal bring in the food of the city.

It is for the king of broad-marketed Erech to look on thy greeting,

Gilgamesh, king of broad-marketed Erech, to look on thy greeting."

So at the words of the fellow they went before him.

Column V

(The Entry of Enkidu into Erech)

Enkidu went in front, with the woman coming behind him.

He entered broad-marketed Erech; the populace gathered behind him.

Then, as he stopped in the street of broad-marketed Erech, the people

thronging behind him exclaimed: "Of a truth, he is like Gilgamesh,

shorter in stature a trifle, but his frame is stronger.

Like a weakling baby he sucked the milk of the wild things!

Ever the bread-cakes in Erech give glorious climax to manhood!

He, a mere savage, becomes a hero of proper appearance;

now he is equal to Gilgamesh in stature."

(How Enkidu met Gilgamesh)

And Gilgamesh in the night-time was coming, and Enkidu,

coming in the highway, blocked up the passage to Gilgamesh, threatening,

with his strength . . .

Column VI

Gilgamesh . . . behind him . . .

His rage burgeoned, and he rushed to attack him; they met in the highway.

Enkidu barred up the door with his foot, and to Gilgamesh entry

would not concede. They grappled and snorted like bulls, and the threshold

shattered; the very wall quivered as Gilgamesh and Enkidu grappled,

snorting like bulls; and the threshold they shattered, the very wall quivered.

(The Birth of Friendship)

Gilgamesh bent his leg to the ground, and his fury abated;

and his ardour was quelled. So soon as his ardour was quelled,

Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh: "Of a truth, thy mother

bore thee as one, and one only, that choicest cow of the steer-folds,

Nin-sun; she exalted thy head above heroes, and God has dowered

thee with the kingship over men."