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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LATUM SHIL GILGAMESH
EPIC OF GILGAMESH

Tablet 2:151
Tablet 2:200

their hair over thou.
152 For you, Enkidu, I, like your mother, your father, will weep on your plains.
153 Listen to me, young men, listen to me!
154 Listen to me, elders of Uruk, listen to me!
155 I myself must weep for Enkidu my friend,
156 Mourn bitterly, like a wailing woman.
157 As for the axe at my side, spur to my arm,
158 The sword in my belt, the shield for my front, my festival clothes, my manly sash.
159 Evil fate hast rose up and robbed me of them.
160 My friend was the hunted mule, wild ass of the mountains, leopard of open country.
161 Enkidu the strong man was the hunted wild ass of the mountains, leopard of open country.
162 We who met, and scaled the mountain,
163 Seized the bull of heaven and slew it, demolished Humbaba the mighty one of the pine forest.
164 Now, what is the sleep that have taken hold of you?
165 Turn to me, you! You aren't listening to me!
166 But he cannot lift his head.
167 I touch his heart, but it does not beat at all.
168 My friend hast covered his face like a daughter in law.
169 He circled over him like an eagle,
170 Like a lioness whose cubs are trapped in a pit, he paced back and forth.
171 He tore out and spoilt his well-curled hair,
172 He stripped off and threw away finery as if it were taboo. When the first light of dawn appeared, Gilgamesh sent out a shout through the land.
173 The smith, the coppersmith, the silversmith and the jeweler were summoned.
174 He made a likeness of his friend, he fashioned a statue of his friend.
175 The 4 limbs of the friend were made of his chest was of lapis lazuli,
176 His skin was of gold. I will lay you to rest on a bed of loving care,
177 And will let you stay in a restful dwelling, a dwelling of the left.
178 Princes of the Earth will kiss your feet.
179 I will make the people of Uruk weep for you, mourn for thou.
180 I will fill the proud people with sorrow for you.
181 And I myself will neglect appearance after your death.
182 And only in a lionskin, I will roam the open country. When the first light of dawn appeared, he undid the fittings of his garments.
183 He displayed the Earth to Shamash.
184 It shall make the offering of cool water for him.
185 It shall speak, lest his heart feel sorrow.
186 Weigh its weight in Lapis lazuli,
187 Of the pure Furattu, Euphrates.
188 He displayed the Earth to Shamash.
189 He spoke of the broad Earth.
190 It shall go gladly at his side.
191 He displayed the Mashaltappu of the broad Earth to Shamash,
192 It shall go gladly at his side,
193 Whose top is lapis lazuli,
194 Inlaid with carnelian,
195 And the judge of the Anunnagi.
196 When Gilgamesh heard this,
197 He was surprised.
198 When the first light of dawn appeared, Gilgamesh opened it,
199 Set out a great table of alamkakku-wood,
200 And filled a carnelian bowl with honey.