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kingofallkings) wrote2015-07-04 02:44 pm
kingofallkings) wrote2015-07-04 02:44 pm
Epic VI: Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven❋
Ishtar and the Bull
They stood there marvelling at the forest,
Gazing at the lofty cedars,
Gazing at forest's entrance -
Where Humbaba came and went there was a track.
The path was straight and the way well trodden.
They saw the Mountain of Cedar, seat of gods and goddesses' throne.
On the face of the mountain the cedar proffered its abundance,
Its shade was sweet and full of delight.
Thick tangled was the thorn, the forest a shrouding canopy,
The cedar and the ballukku-trees.
Undergrowth burgeoned, entangling the forest.
Gilgamesh opened his mouth [to speak, saying to Enkidu:
'Even a glacis-slope two climbing can conquer.
Even a mighty lion two cubs can overcome.'
We have come to a place where a man shouldn't go,
let us set our weapons in the gate of Humbaba!'
Enkidu declared to his friend:
'A tempest's onslaught is ferocious Humbaba!
Like the god of the storm he will trample us down.'
Humbaba opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'Let fools take counsel, Gilgamesh, with the rude and brutish!
Why have you come here into my presence?
'Come, Enkidu, you spawn of a fish, who knew no father,
Hatchling of terrapin and turtle, who sucked no mother's milk!
In your youth I watched you, but near you I went not,
Would your flesh have filled my belly?
'Now in treachery you bring before me Gilgamesh,
And stand there, Enkidu, like a warlike stranger!
I will slit the throat and gullet of Gilgamesh,
I will feed his flesh to the locust bird, ravening eagle and vulture!'
Gilgamesh opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
'My friend, Humbaba's features have changed!
Though boldly we came up to his lair to defeat him,
Yet my heart will not quickly [grow calm?] '
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'Why, my friend, do you speak like a weakling?
With your spineless words you make me despondent.
'Now, my friend, but one is our task,
The copper is already pouring into the mould!
To stoke the furnace for an hour? To [burn] the coals for an hour?
To send the Deluge is to crack the whip!
'Don't draw back, don't make a retreat!
[Steel yourself] make your blow mighty!'
Gilgamesh's tears flowed down before Shamash and he said:
'Remember what you said in Uruk!"
Shamash heard the words of Gilgamesh, scion of Uruk and said:
'As soon as a loud voice from the sky calls down to him
Rush, stand up to him, let him not enter the forest,
Let him not go down to the wood,
'Humbaba will not be clothed in seven auras.
He will be wearing only one; six are taken off.
He shouts only once, but fills one with terror.
The guardian of the forests will shout like the god of storms.'
Enkidu made his voice heard, saying to Humbaba:
'It is a slippery path, and one alone does not [prevail].
But even a glacis-slope two climbing can conquer.
Even a mighty lion two cubs can overcome.'
He smote the ground and he faced him head on.
At the heels of their feet the earth burst asunder,
They shattered, as they whirled, Mounts Sirion and Lebanon.
Black became the clouds of white, raining down on them death like a mist.
Shamash roused against Humbaba the mighty gale-winds:
South Wind, North Wind, East Wind and West Wind,
Blast, Counterblast, Typhoon, Hurricane and Tempest,
Devil-Wind, Frost-Wind, Gale and Tornado:
There rose thirteen winds and the face of Humbaba darkened -
He could not charge forwards, he could not kick backwards -
The weapons of Gilgamesh then reached Humbaba.
In a plea for his life said Humbaba to Gilgamesh:
'You are so young, Gilgamesh, your mother just bore you,
But indeed you are the offspring of Wild-Cow Ninsun!
By Shamash's command the mountains you flattened,
O offshoot sprung from Uruk's midst, Gilgamesh the king!
'Gilgamesh, a dead man cannot [serve his sovereign],
[He must be] alive for his lord to [gain advantage]
Spare my life, O Gilgamesh, [show me mercy],
Let me dwell here for you in the Forest of Cedar!
'I shall make the forest grow luxuriantly for you
Trees as many as you command [to grow tall],
I will guard you myrtle wood,
Timber to be the pride of your palace!'
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'Do not listen, my friend, to Humbaba's words,
Ignore his supplications.'
Humbaba opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
'You are experienced in the ways of my forest, [the ways of my dwelling]
Also you know all the arts of speech.
I should have picked you up and hanged you from a sapling at the way into the forest,
I should have fed your flesh to the locust bird, roaring lions, ravening eagle and vulture.
'Now, Enkidu, my release lies with you:
Tell Gilgamesh to spare me my life!'
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'My friend, Humbaba who guards the Forest of Cedar:
Finish him, slay him, do away with his power!
Before Enlil the foremost hears what we do!
'The great gods will take against us in anger,
Enlil in Nippur, Shamash in Larsa...
Establish for ever a fame that endures,
How Gilgamesh slew ferocious Humbaba!'
Humbaba heard what Enkidu was saying, he lifted his head
Humbaba opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
'You sit before him like [a sheep before] a shepherd,
Like his hireling doing his bidding.
Now, Enkidu, my release lies with you,
Tell Gilgamesh to spare me my life!'
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'My friend, Humbaba who guards the Forest of Cedar:
Finish him, slay him, do away with his power!
Before Enlil the foremost hears what we do!
'The great gods will take against us in anger,
Enlil in Nippur, Shamash in Larsa...
Establish for ever a fame that endures,
How Gilgamesh slew ferocious Humbaba!'
Humbaba heard this and bitterly cursed them:
'May the pair of them not grow old,
Besides Gilgamesh his friend, none shall bury Enkidu!'
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'My friend, I speak to you but you do not hear me!
Let those curses return to his mouth.'
Gilgamesh heard the words of his friend,
He drew forth the dirk at his side.
Gilgamesh smote [Humbaba] in the neck,
Enkidu gave encouragement.
From the head he took the tusks as booty.
Rain in abundance fell on the mountain,
Blood in abundance fell on the mountain.
Gilgamesh went trampling through the Forest of Cedar,
He discovered the secret abode of the gods.
The Wild-Born knew how to give counsel, he said to his friend:
'My friend, we have felled a lofty cedar,
Whose top thrust up to the sky.
'I will make a door, six rods in height, two rods in breadth, one cubit in thickness,
Whose pole and pivots, top and bottom, will be all of a piece.
Let no stranger draw near it, let a god have love for it.
'To the house of Enlil the Euphrates shall bear it,
Let the folk of Nippur rejoice over it!
Let the god Enlil delight in it!'
They bound together a raft, they laid the cedar on it.
Enkidu was helmsman and
Gilgamesh carried the head of Humbaba.
SYNOPSIS: The friends arrive at the forest of Cedar, reassuring one another of their impending victory. Humbaba appears and isn't really worried, but Gilgamesh receives advice - and direct assistance - from Shamash. Together, they defeat Humbaba, who tries to negotiate for his life. Enkidu advises that they slay him before Enlil finds out what they're up to, so Gilgamesh slashes Humbaba's throat. They cut down a magnificent cedar, which Enkidu plans to make into a beautiful door to honor Enlil, and head back toward Uruk.
Gazing at the lofty cedars,
Gazing at forest's entrance -
Where Humbaba came and went there was a track.
The path was straight and the way well trodden.
They saw the Mountain of Cedar, seat of gods and goddesses' throne.
On the face of the mountain the cedar proffered its abundance,
Its shade was sweet and full of delight.
Thick tangled was the thorn, the forest a shrouding canopy,
The cedar and the ballukku-trees.
Undergrowth burgeoned, entangling the forest.
Gilgamesh opened his mouth [to speak, saying to Enkidu:
'Even a glacis-slope two climbing can conquer.
Even a mighty lion two cubs can overcome.'
We have come to a place where a man shouldn't go,
let us set our weapons in the gate of Humbaba!'
Enkidu declared to his friend:
'A tempest's onslaught is ferocious Humbaba!
Like the god of the storm he will trample us down.'
Humbaba opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'Let fools take counsel, Gilgamesh, with the rude and brutish!
Why have you come here into my presence?
'Come, Enkidu, you spawn of a fish, who knew no father,
Hatchling of terrapin and turtle, who sucked no mother's milk!
In your youth I watched you, but near you I went not,
Would your flesh have filled my belly?
'Now in treachery you bring before me Gilgamesh,
And stand there, Enkidu, like a warlike stranger!
I will slit the throat and gullet of Gilgamesh,
I will feed his flesh to the locust bird, ravening eagle and vulture!'
Gilgamesh opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
'My friend, Humbaba's features have changed!
Though boldly we came up to his lair to defeat him,
Yet my heart will not quickly [grow calm?] '
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'Why, my friend, do you speak like a weakling?
With your spineless words you make me despondent.
'Now, my friend, but one is our task,
The copper is already pouring into the mould!
To stoke the furnace for an hour? To [burn] the coals for an hour?
To send the Deluge is to crack the whip!
'Don't draw back, don't make a retreat!
[Steel yourself] make your blow mighty!'
Gilgamesh's tears flowed down before Shamash and he said:
'Remember what you said in Uruk!"
Shamash heard the words of Gilgamesh, scion of Uruk and said:
'As soon as a loud voice from the sky calls down to him
Rush, stand up to him, let him not enter the forest,
Let him not go down to the wood,
'Humbaba will not be clothed in seven auras.
He will be wearing only one; six are taken off.
He shouts only once, but fills one with terror.
The guardian of the forests will shout like the god of storms.'
Enkidu made his voice heard, saying to Humbaba:
'It is a slippery path, and one alone does not [prevail].
But even a glacis-slope two climbing can conquer.
Even a mighty lion two cubs can overcome.'
He smote the ground and he faced him head on.
At the heels of their feet the earth burst asunder,
They shattered, as they whirled, Mounts Sirion and Lebanon.
Black became the clouds of white, raining down on them death like a mist.
Shamash roused against Humbaba the mighty gale-winds:
South Wind, North Wind, East Wind and West Wind,
Blast, Counterblast, Typhoon, Hurricane and Tempest,
Devil-Wind, Frost-Wind, Gale and Tornado:
There rose thirteen winds and the face of Humbaba darkened -
He could not charge forwards, he could not kick backwards -
The weapons of Gilgamesh then reached Humbaba.
In a plea for his life said Humbaba to Gilgamesh:
'You are so young, Gilgamesh, your mother just bore you,
But indeed you are the offspring of Wild-Cow Ninsun!
By Shamash's command the mountains you flattened,
O offshoot sprung from Uruk's midst, Gilgamesh the king!
'Gilgamesh, a dead man cannot [serve his sovereign],
[He must be] alive for his lord to [gain advantage]
Spare my life, O Gilgamesh, [show me mercy],
Let me dwell here for you in the Forest of Cedar!
'I shall make the forest grow luxuriantly for you
Trees as many as you command [to grow tall],
I will guard you myrtle wood,
Timber to be the pride of your palace!'
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'Do not listen, my friend, to Humbaba's words,
Ignore his supplications.'
Humbaba opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
'You are experienced in the ways of my forest, [the ways of my dwelling]
Also you know all the arts of speech.
I should have picked you up and hanged you from a sapling at the way into the forest,
I should have fed your flesh to the locust bird, roaring lions, ravening eagle and vulture.
'Now, Enkidu, my release lies with you:
Tell Gilgamesh to spare me my life!'
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'My friend, Humbaba who guards the Forest of Cedar:
Finish him, slay him, do away with his power!
Before Enlil the foremost hears what we do!
'The great gods will take against us in anger,
Enlil in Nippur, Shamash in Larsa...
Establish for ever a fame that endures,
How Gilgamesh slew ferocious Humbaba!'
Humbaba heard what Enkidu was saying, he lifted his head
Humbaba opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
'You sit before him like [a sheep before] a shepherd,
Like his hireling doing his bidding.
Now, Enkidu, my release lies with you,
Tell Gilgamesh to spare me my life!'
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'My friend, Humbaba who guards the Forest of Cedar:
Finish him, slay him, do away with his power!
Before Enlil the foremost hears what we do!
'The great gods will take against us in anger,
Enlil in Nippur, Shamash in Larsa...
Establish for ever a fame that endures,
How Gilgamesh slew ferocious Humbaba!'
Humbaba heard this and bitterly cursed them:
'May the pair of them not grow old,
Besides Gilgamesh his friend, none shall bury Enkidu!'
Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgamesh:
'My friend, I speak to you but you do not hear me!
Let those curses return to his mouth.'
Gilgamesh heard the words of his friend,
He drew forth the dirk at his side.
Gilgamesh smote [Humbaba] in the neck,
Enkidu gave encouragement.
From the head he took the tusks as booty.
Rain in abundance fell on the mountain,
Blood in abundance fell on the mountain.
Gilgamesh went trampling through the Forest of Cedar,
He discovered the secret abode of the gods.
The Wild-Born knew how to give counsel, he said to his friend:
'My friend, we have felled a lofty cedar,
Whose top thrust up to the sky.
'I will make a door, six rods in height, two rods in breadth, one cubit in thickness,
Whose pole and pivots, top and bottom, will be all of a piece.
Let no stranger draw near it, let a god have love for it.
'To the house of Enlil the Euphrates shall bear it,
Let the folk of Nippur rejoice over it!
Let the god Enlil delight in it!'
They bound together a raft, they laid the cedar on it.
Enkidu was helmsman and
Gilgamesh carried the head of Humbaba.
SYNOPSIS: The friends arrive at the forest of Cedar, reassuring one another of their impending victory. Humbaba appears and isn't really worried, but Gilgamesh receives advice - and direct assistance - from Shamash. Together, they defeat Humbaba, who tries to negotiate for his life. Enkidu advises that they slay him before Enlil finds out what they're up to, so Gilgamesh slashes Humbaba's throat. They cut down a magnificent cedar, which Enkidu plans to make into a beautiful door to honor Enlil, and head back toward Uruk.