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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LATUM SHIL GILGAMESH
EPIC OF GILGAMESH

Tablet 2:345
Tablet 2:396

forest.
346 Go, and let him see your face.
347 If it is possible, cross with him. If it is impossible retreat back.
348 When Gilgamesh heard this he took up an axe to his side,
349 Drew the sword from his belt, stole up and drove them off,
350 Like an arrow he fell among them.
351 In the midst of the forest the noise resounded.
352 Ur-Shanabi looked and drew his sword,
353 Took up an axe and crept up on him.
354 Then he Gilgamesh, hit him on the head,
355 Seized his arms and his chest.
356 And the "things of stone" the boat,
357 In the waters he held back.
358 He smashed them to the river.
359 Of the boat and on the bank.
360 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Ur-Shanabi the boatman,
361 I shall enter to you.
362 Ur-Shanabi spoke to him, to Gilgamesh,
363 Why are your cheeks wasted, your face dejected,
364 Your heart so wretched, your appearance worn out,
365 And grief in your innermost being?
366 Your face is like that of a long-distance traveler.
367 Your face is weathered by cold and heat,
368 Clad only in a lionskin, you roam open country.
369 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Ur-Shanabi, the boatman,
370 How could my cheeks not be wasted, nor my face dejected,
371 Nor my heart wretched, nor my appearance worn out,
372 Nor grief in my innermost being,
373 Nor my face like that of a long-distance traveler,
374 Nor my face weathered by wind and heat,
375 Nor roaming open country clad only in a lionskin?
376 My friend was the hunted mule, wild ass of the mountain, leopard of open country,
377 Enkidu my friend was the hunted mule, wild ass of the mountain, leopard of open country.
378 We who met, and scaled the mountain,
379 Seized the bull of heaven and slew it.
380 Demolished Humbaba who dwelt in the pine forest,
381 Killed lions in the passes of the mountains,
382 Enkidu my friend whom I love so much who experienced every hardship with me,
383 The fate of mortals conquered him!
384 For six days and seven shadow hours I wept over him: I did not allow him to be buried until a worm fell out of his nose.
385 I was frightened.
386 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Utnafishtim,
387 So I thought I would go to see Utnafishtim the far-distant, of whom people speak.
388 I searched, went through all countries, passed through and through difficult lands,
389 And crossed to and fro all seas.
390 My face never had enough of sweet sleep,
391 My fibre was filled with grief.
392 I made myself over-anxious by lack of sleep.
393 What did I gain from my toil?
394 I did not make a good impression on the alewife, for my clothes were finished.
395 I killed a bear, hyena, lion, leopard, tiger, deer, mountain goat, cattle, and other wild beasts of open country.
396 I ate meat from them, I spread out their skins.