Column I

(The Wonders of the Forest)

They stood and stared at the Forest, they gazed at the height of the cedars,

scanning the avenue into the Forest, and there where Humbaba

stalked was a path, and straight were his tracks, and good was the passage.

They beheld also the mount of the cedar, the dwelling of the angels' bounty,

the cedar uplifting its pride against the mountain;

fair was its shade, full of delight, with bushes spreading,

and spread, too, the fragrant incense-tree.

Column II

(Gilgamesh relates his dreams)

"Then came another dream to me, comrade, and this second vision,

pleasant indeed, which I saw; for we twain were standing together

high on a peak of the mountains, and then did the mountain peak

topple, leaving us twain like creatures which are born in the desert."

Enkidu spoke to his comrade, the dream to interpret, thus saying:

"Comrade, in sooth this vision of thine foretells to us good fortune;

it is a dream of great gain thou didst see; for, bethink you, O comrade,

surely the mountain which thou hast beholden must needs be Humbaba.

Thus it means we shall capture Humbaba, and throw down his carcass,

leaving his corpse in abasement; to-morrow's outcome will I show thee."

Now at the fortieth league they broke their fast with a morsel;

at the sixtieth they rested, and hollowed a pit in the sunshine.

Gilgamesh mounted above it and poured out his meal on the ground, and prayed:

"O my Lord, grant me a dream . . ."

Column III

A dream was granted . . .

Then a chill wind-blast sprang up, and a gust passing over

made him to cower, and he swayed like the corn of the mountains.

Gilgamesh, bent-kneed, supported his haunches, and straightway

sleep such as flows on man descended upon him. At midnight,

ending his slumber all sudden, he hied him to speak to his comrade:

"Didst thou not call me, O friend? Why am I wakened from slumber?

Didst thou not touch me? Why am I fearful? Or has not some being

passed me? Or why is my flesh all a-quiver?"

(The dream of the volcano, which probably represents Humbaba)

"A third dream, O comrade,

I have beheld; but all awesome is this dream which I have beholden:

loud did the firmament roar, and earth with the echo resounded;

sombre the day, with darkness uprising and levin bolts flashing;

kindled were flames, and Death was filled to overflowing;

then faded the glare, then faded the fires,

falling, the brands turned to ashes. Come, let us go down to the desert

that we may counsel together."

Enkidu now to interpret his dream to Gilgamesh speaks . . .

(A variant version)

". . . O friend, a mountain . . . he cast me down, seized my feet . . .

The brilliance increased: a man, most comely of all the land

was his beauty . . . Beneath the mountain he drew me, and

water he gave me to drink, and my desire was assuaged; to earth

he set my feet . . ." Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh:

"My friend, we will go . . . whatever is hostile . . . Come, lay aside fear . . ."

Column VI

(The Fight with Humbaba)

In the following manner . . . the sun in heaven . . . the trees:

he saw Gilgamesh . . .

Gilgamesh spoke then in prayer unto God in heaven:

"Lo, on that day to the city . . . which is in the city:

I in sooth pray to Thee, O God in heaven: I on a road have now started."

Unto the prayer of Gilgamesh God in heaven hearkened,

wherefore against Humbaba He raised mighty winds: a great wind,

wind from the North, a wind from the South, a tempest and storm wind,

chill wind and whirlwind, a wind of all evil: eight winds He raised,

seizing Humbaba before and behind, so that nor to go forwards

nor to go back was he able; and then Humbaba surrendered.

Wherefore to Gilgamesh spoke Humbaba thus: "O Gilgamesh, I pray thee,

stay now thy hand; be thou now my master, and I will be thy henchman;

disregard all the words which I spoke so boastful against thee . . ."

Thereat Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh: "Of the counsel which Humbaba

makes to thee, thou darest in nowise offer acceptance;

for Humbaba must not remain alive . . ."

. . . they cut off the head of Humbaba.