(The first Column is badly mutilated; Gilgamesh, addressing Enkidu, compares him to a gazelle, and promises to glorify him. He recites their exploits together: "mountains we ascended, we reached the Forest of Cedars, travelling night and day." Enkidu is lying dying or dead, and Gilgamesh keens over his dead friend before the Elders of Erech.)

Column II

(The Lament of Gilgamesh)

"Unto me hearken, O Elders, to me, aye, me shall ye listen,

it is that I weep for my comrade Enkidu, bitterly crying

like to a wailing woman; my grip is slackened on the curtle-axe

slung at my thigh, and the brand at my belt from my sight is removed;

and my festal attire lends nought of its aid for my pleasure;

me, me has sorrow assailed, and cast me down in affliction.

Comrade and henchman, who chased the wild ass, the pard of the desert,

Enkidu—we who all haps overcame, ascending the mountains,

captured the mighty bull and destroyed him, we overthrew Humbaba,

he who abode in the Forest of Cedars—O, what is this slumber

now has o'ercome thee, for now art thou dark, nor art able to hear me?"

Nathless he raised not his eyes, and his heart, when Gilgamesh

felt it, made no beat.

Then he veiled his friend like a bride,

lifted his voice like a lion,

roared like a lioness robbed of her whelps. In front of his comrade

paced he backwards and forwards, tearing and casting his ringlets,

plucking and casting away all the grace of his raiment.

Then when something of morning had dawned, Gilgamesh . . .

Column III

"On a couch of great size will I, thy friend and thy brother,

Gilgamesh, grant thee to lie; on a handsome couch will I grant thee

rest, and to sit on a throne of great size, a throne at my left hand,

so that the princes of the earth may kiss thy feet in their homage;

I too will make all the people of Erech lament in thy honour,

making them mourn thee, and damsels and heroes constrain to thy service,

while I myself for thy sake will cause my body to carry

stains, and will put on the skin of a lion, and range o'er the desert."

Then when something of morning had dawned, Gilgamesh . . .

loosing his girdle . . .

Column V

". . . Judge of . . ."

Then, when Gilgamesh heard this, he formed of the slaying a concept.

Then, with the dawn of the morning, Gilgamesh fashioned a . . .

brought out also a mighty platter of wood from the highlands;

he filled with honey a bowl of bright ruby, a bowl too of azure,

filled with cream; and adorned the . . .