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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LATUM SHIL GILGAMESH
EPIC OF GILGAMESH

Tablet 1:96
Tablet 1:123

her, to the harlot, come, Shamhat, invite me,
97 To the pure house, the holy dwelling of ANU and Ishtar,
98 Where Gilgamesh is perfect in strength and is like a wild bull, more powerful than any of the people.
99 Let me challenge him, and I will win in Uruk. I shall be the strongest, I shall go in and alter destiny:
100 One who was born in open country has superior wisdom and strength Shamhat answered, come on, let us go forth and let me please you this way for you can be pleased in many ways, for there are, I know.
101 Go, Enkidu, into Uruk the sheepfold. Where young men are girded with sashes and everyday is a feast day, where the drums are beaten. And girls are willing to show off their figures, adorned with joy and full of happiness.
102 In bed at shadow hour, great men enjoy them O Enkidu! You know nothing of life! Let me show you Gilgamesh, a man of joy and woe!
103 Look at him, observe his face, he is beautiful in manhood, dignified, his whole body is charged with seductive charm.
104 He is more powerful in strength of arms than you! He does not sleep by day or shadow hour. O Enkidu, change your plan for punishing him.
105 Shamash loves Gilgamesh, and ANU, Enlil and Enqi made him wise, before you came from the mountains, Gilgamesh was dreaming about you in Uruk. Gilgamesh arose and described a dream.
106 He told it to his mother, mother, I saw a dream in the shadow hour.
107 There were stars in the sky for me. And something like a sky-bolt of ANU kept falling upon me and I tried to lift it up, but it was too heavy for me.
108 I tried to turn it over, but I couldn't budge it.
109 The country men of Uruk were standing over it. The countrymen had gathered over it, the men crowded over it, the young men massed over it, they kissed its feet like very young children.
110 I love it as a wife, doted on it, I carried it, laid it at your feet, you treated it as equal to me.
111 The wise mother of Gilgamesh, all-knowing overstood, she spoke to her ruler.
112 The wise Ninsun all-knowing overstood, she spoke to Gilgamesh, when there were stars in the sky for you, and something like a sky-bolt of ANU kept falling upon you,
113 You tried to lift it up, but it was too heavy for you,
114 You tried to turn it over, but you couldn't budge it. You carried it, laid it at my feet. I treated it as equal to you,
115 And you loved it as a wife, and doted on it.
116 It means a strong partner shall come to you.
117 He will be the most powerful in strength of arms in the land.
118 His strength will be as great as that of a sky-bolt of ANU.
119 You will love him as a wife, you will dote upon him.
120 And he will always keep you safe. That is the meaning of your dream.
121 Gilgamesh spoke to her, to his mother. Mother, I have had a second dream.
122 An axe was thrown down in the street of Uruk. The sheepfold gathered over it, the country men of Uruk stood over it,
123 The land gathered together over it, the men massed over it. I carried it, laid it at your feet.