Page 1580 of the Holy Tablets

 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

LOWHA SHIL ETANA
TABLET OF

Tablet 1:38
Tablet 1:77

grieved his heart.
39 You have done unforgivable deeds, an abomination to the Anunnagi.
40 But come, let us stand up and make a pledge together.
41 Let us swear an oath on the next of Shamash's great day'.
42 In the presence of Shamash, the warrior, they swore an oath,
43 'Whoever oversteps the limit set by Shamash,
44 Shamash shall deliver into the hands of the smiter for harm,
45 Whoever oversteps the limit set by Shamash,
46 May the mountain keep its pass far away from him,
47 May the prowling weapon make straight for him,
48 May the snares on which the oath to Shamash is sworn overturn him ensnare him!'
49 When they had sworn the oath.
50 On the next of Shamash's day,
51 They stood up straight and went up the mountain.
52 Each day they kept watch for their prey to come.
53 The eagle-man would catch a wild bull or wild ass,
54 And the serpent-man would eat, then turn away so that its young could eat.
55 The serpent-man would catch mountain goats or gazelles.
56 And the eagle-man would eat, then turn away so that its young could eat.
57 The eagle-man would catch wild boar and wild sheep,
58 And the serpent-man would eat, then turn away so that its young could eat.
59 The serpent-man would catch cattle from the plains and wild beasts from the country-side,
60 And the eagle-man would eat, then turn away so that its young could eat.
61 The young of the serpent-man had an abundance of food.
62 The eagle-man's young grew large and flourished. When the eagle-man's young grew large and flourished.
63 When the eagle-man's young had grown large and flourished,
64 The eagle-man plotted evil in its heart,
65 And in its heart it plotted evil,
66 And made up its mind to eat its friend's young ones.
67 The eagle-man made its voice heard and spoke to its young,
68 'I am going to eat the serpent man's young ones,
69 The serpent-man is sure to be angry.
70 So I shall go up and abide in the sky.
71 I shall come down from the tree top only to eat the fruit!'
72 A small fledging, especially wise, addressed its words to the eagle-man, its father.
73 'Father, don't eat! The net of Shamash will ensnare you.
74 The snares on which the oath of Shamash is sworn will overturn you and ensnare you.
75 Remember: whoever oversteps the limit set by Shamash,
76 Shamash shall deliver into the hands of the smiter for harm.'
77 It would not listen to them, and