Column II

(The Tale of the Fight)

"He lifted up his foot to the door . . .

They raged furiously . . .

Enkidu has not his equal . . . unkempt is the hair . . .

He was born in the desert, and no one can equal his presence."

(Enkidu's sorrow)

Enkidu, as he stood, gave ear to the utterance, grieving,

sitting in sorrow; his eyes filled with tears, and his arms lost their power,

slack was his bodily vigour. Each clasped the hand of the other,

holding like brothers their grip; and Enkidu answered Gilgamesh:

"Friend, my beloved has circled her arms round my neck to bid me farewell;

wherefore my arms lose their power, my bodily vigour is slackened."

(The Ambition of Gilgamesh)

Gilgamesh opened his mouth, and spoke to Enkidu in this wise:

Column III

"I, O my friend, am determined to go to the Forest of Cedars,

and Humbaba the Fierce will I overcome, and destroy what is evil.

Then will I cut down the cedar . . ."

Enkidu opened his mouth, and spoke to Gilgamesh in this wise:

"Know, then, my friend, what time I was roaming with kine in the mountains,

for a distance of two hours' march from the skirts of the Forest

into its depths would I go down. Humbaba—his roar was a whirlwind,

flame in his jaws, and his very breath death! Why hast thou desired

this to accomplish? To meet Humbaba were conflict unequalled."

Gilgamesh opened his mouth and spoke to Enkidu in this wise:

"It is that I need the rich yield of its mountains; I go to the Forest!"

Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gilgamesh in this wise:

"But when we go to the Forest of Cedars, its guard is a fighter,

strong, never sleeping, O Gilgamesh . . ."

Column IV

"So that he safeguard the Forest of Cedars, a terror to mortals,

God has appointed him—Humbaba, his roar is a whirlwind,

flame in his jaws, and his very breath death! If he in the Forest

hear but a tread on the road—'Who is this come down to his Forest?'—

so that he safeguard the Forest of Cedars, a terror to mortals,

God has appointed him, and fell hap will seize him who comes

down to his Forest."

Gilgamesh opened his mouth and spoke to Enkidu in this wise:

"Who, O my friend, is unconquered by death? God alone

lives for ever; but mortals, their days are all numbered,

and all that they do is but wind. But to thee, now thou art dreading death,

thy courage proffers nothing of substance. I will be thy vanguard!

Thine own mouth shall tell that thou didst fear the onslaught of battle.

I, if I should fall, shall have established my name for ever:

'Gilgamesh it was who fought with Humbaba the Fierce!'

In the future, after my children are born to my house, and climb up thee, saying,

'Tell to us all that thou knowest' . . .

When thou speakest in this wise, thou grievest my heart for the cedar.

I am determined to fell it, that I may gain fame everlasting.

(The Weapons are cast for the Expedition)

"Now, O my friend, my charge to the craftsmen I fain would deliver,

so that they cast in our presence our weapons."

The charge they delivered unto the craftsmen; the mould did the workmen prepare,

and the axes monstrous they cast; the celts did they cast, each weighing three talents;

glaives, too, monstrous they cast, with hilts each weighing two talents,

blades, thirty manas to each, corresponding to fit them; the inlay,

gold thirty manas each sword. So were Gilgamesh and Enkidu laden,

each with ten talents.

(Gilgamesh takes counsel with the Elders)

And now at the Seven-Bolt Portal of Erech,

hearing the tidings, the artisans gathered, the people assembled.

There in the streets of broad-marketed Erech, in honour of Gilgamesh,

the Elders of Erech, broad-marketed, took seat before him.

Gilgamesh spoke thus: "O Elders of Erech, broad-marketed, hear me!

I go against Humbaba, the Fierce, who shall say when he hears,

'Ah, let me look on this Gilgamesh, he of whom people are speaking,

he with whose fame the countries are filled!' It is I who will overwhelm him,

there in the Forest of Cedars. I will make the land hear it,

how mighty the scion of Erech is; yea, for the cedars

I am determined to fell, that I may gain fame everlasting."

Column V

The Elders of Erech, broad-marketed, answered Gilgamesh:

"Gilgamesh, thou art young, that thy valour overmuch uplifts thee,

nor dost thou know to the full what thou dost seek to accomplish.

Unto our ears has it come of Humbaba, his likeness is twofold.

Who of free will would seek to oppose in encounter his weapons?

Who, for a distance of two hours' march from the skirts of the Forest,

unto its depths would go down? Humbaba, his roar is a whirlwind,

flame in his jaws, and his very breath death! Why hast thou desired

this to accomplish? To meet Humbaba were conflict unequalled."

Gilgamesh hearkened to the counsel of his counsellors and pondered,

and cried to his friend: "Now indeed, O my friend, will I thus voice my opinion:

I dread him, and yet to the depths of the Forest I will take me."

(The Elders bless Gilgamesh in farewell)

". . . may thy Lord so protect thee,

bringing thee back safe and sound to the walls of broad-marketed Erech."

Gilgamesh knelt, to God alone, a word in His presence to utter:

"Here I present myself, O God, to lift up my hands in entreaty;

O that hereafter my life may be spared, to the ramparts of Erech

bring me again; spread Thine aegis upon me."

And his prayer was heard, and the answer was given him . . .

Column VI

Tears adown Gilgamesh's cheeks were now streaming: "A road I have never

traversed I go, on a passage I know not; but if I be spared,

in content will I come, and will pay Thee due thanks for Thy mercy."

The axes they brought, monstrous, and delivered the bow and the quiver

into his hand; so, taking a celt, he slung on his quiver,

grasping another celt he fastened his glaive to his baldric.

But, or ever the twain had set forth on their journey, they offered

gifts in charity, in the name of God, that home He might bring them to Erech in safety.

(The Departure of the two Heroes)

Now the Elders farewell him with blessings, to Gilgamesh giving

counsel concerning the road: "O Gilgamesh, to thine own power

trust not alone; but at least let thy road be traversed before thee.

Guard thou thy person; let Enkidu go before thee as vanguard,

for it was he who discovered the way, the road he has travelled.

Of the Forest the passes are all well known to Enkidu; he who goes

as vanguard is able to safeguard a comrade.

O that God may grant thee success to attain thine ambition,

O that He grant that thine eyes see consummated the words of thine utterance,

O that He level the path that is blocked, cleave a road for thy treading,

cleave, too, the mountain for thy foot! May God

bring in thy night-time a message to thee, with which thou shalt be gladdened,

so that it help thine ambition, for like a boy thine ambition

on the overthrow of Humbaba thou fixest, as thou hast settled.

Wash then thy feet; when thou haltest, thou shalt hollow a pool, so that ever

pure be the water within thy skin-bottle, and cool be the water;

unto God thou pourest thanks, and thus shalt remember His bounty."

Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:

"Gilgamesh, art thou in truth full equal to making this foray?

Let not thy heart be afraid; trust me."

On his shoulder he drew his mantle, and now on the road to Humbaba they set forth together.

(The two heroes meet a man who sets them on their way)

". . . they went with me . . . tell you . . . in joy of heart."

So when he heard this his word, the man on his way did direct him:

"Gilgamesh, go . . . let thy brother precede thee . . . and in thine ambition.

O that God may show thee success!"

(Another version of the Elders' counsel)

"Gilgamesh, put not thy faith in the strength of thine own person solely;

quenched be thy wishes if thou trustest overmuch in thy shrewdness in smiting.

He who goes as vanguard is able to safeguard a comrade;

he who knows how to guide has guarded his friend; so before thee

do thou let Enkidu go, for it is he who to the Forest of Cedars

knows the road; it is he who lusts for battle, and threatens combat.

Enkidu would watch over a friend, would safeguard a comrade;

such a one would deliver his person from out of the pitfalls.

We, O King, in our conclave have paid deep heed to thy welfare;

thou, O King, in return with an equal heed shalt requite us."

Gilgamesh opened his mouth and spoke to Enkidu, saying:

"Unto the palace of splendour, O friend, come, let us betake us,

unto the presence of Nin-sun, the glorious queen, to Nin-sun,

wisest of all clever women, all-knowing; a well-devised pathway

she will prescribe for our feet."

They clasped their hands, each to each, and went to the palace of splendour,

Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Unto the glorious queen, to Nin-sun,

Gilgamesh came, and he entered in unto the presence of Nin-sun:

"Nin-sun, O fain would I tell thee how I a far journey am going

unto the home of Humbaba, to counter a warfare I know not,

to follow a road which I know not, from the time of my starting

till my return, until I arrive at the Forest of Cedars,

till I overthrow Humbaba the Fierce, and destroy from the country

all that God abhors of evil . . ."

". . . garb thyself . . . in thy presence."

So to her offspring, to Gilgamesh, Nin-sun gave ear.

Column II

She entered her chamber and decked herself with flowers,

put on the festal garb of her body, put on the festal garb of her bosom,

her head crowned with a circlet.

She climbed the stairway, ascended the roof, and mounted the parapet;

she offered incense to God, her offering she offered for God's sake;

then towards heaven her hands she uplifted in prayer, saying:

"Why didst Thou give this restlessness of spirit

with which Thou didst dower Gilgamesh, my son?

That now Thou touchest him, and straight he starts

a journey far to where Humbaba dwells,

to counter warfare which he knows not,

to follow a pathway which he knows not,

from the very day on which he starts,

till he return, till to the Cedar Forest

he reach; till he overthrow the fierce Humbaba,

and from the land destroy all evil things

which Thou abhorrest; the day which Thou hast set

as term of that strong man who fears Thee,

O may Thy mercy be his remembrancer.

Watch over him in the night watches . . ."

(The Elders' words repeated)

"Such a one would deliver his person from out of the pitfalls.

We, O King, in our conclave have paid deep heed to thy welfare;

now, O King, in thy turn with an equal heed shalt requite us."

Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:

"Turn, O my friend . . ."