Page 1567

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LATUM SHIL GILGAMESH
EPIC OF GILGAMESH

Tablet 2:255
Tablet 2:301

255 The darkness was dense, there was no light,
256 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
257 When he had achieved two leagues,
258 When he had achieved four leagues, he hurried on;
259 The darkness was still dense, there was no light,
260 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
261 When he had achieved five leagues, he hurried on;
262 The darkness was still dense, there was no light,
263 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
264 When he had achieved six leagues, he hurried on;
265 The darkness was still dense, there was no light.
266 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
267 When he had achieved eight leagues, he hurried.
268 The darkness was still dense, there was no light,
269 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
270 When he had achieved nine leagues, the north wind.
271 But the darkness was still dense, there was no light,
272 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
273 When he had achieved ten leagues he came close.
274 He came out in front of the sun.
275 Brightness was everywhere.
276 All kinds of thorny, prickly, spiky bushes were visible, blossoming with gemstones.
277 Carnelian bore fruit hanging in clusters, lovely to look at,
278 Lapis Lazuli bore foliage,
279 Bore fruit, and was delightful to view.
280 Its fronds of white pappardilu stone, sea-larussu of sasu-stone.
281 Like brambles and thorn bushes of stone.
282 Carob trees of green abasmnu-stone,
283 Subu-stone, Haematite, riches and wealth like turquoise which was of the sea.
284 As Gilgamesh walked around he raised his eyes.
285 Siduri the alewife, who lives down by the sea, vat-stands are made for her, fermentation-vats, are made for her, covered by a covering. Gilgamesh was pacing around.
286 Clad only in a lion skin.
287 He had the flesh of Aluhum upon his body,
288 But grief was in his innermost being.
289 His face was like that of a long-distance traveler.
290 The alewife looked at him from a distance.
291 She pondered in her heart, and spoke a word;
292 To herself, and she advised herself.
293 Perhaps this man is an assassin.
294 Is he going somewhere?
295 The alewife looked at him and locked her door.
296 She locked her door, locked it with a bolt.
297 Then he, Gilgamesh, noticed, raised his chin and Gilgamesh spoke to her, to the alewife;
298 'Alewife, why did you look at me and lock your door,
299 Lock your door, lock it with a bolt?'
300 I will smash the door, I will shatter the bolt.
301 We destroyed Humbaba, who lived in