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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LATUM SHIL GILGAMESH
EPIC OF GILGAMESH

Tablet 1:124
Tablet 1:154

124 I loved it as a wife, doted upon it and you treated it as equal to me.
125 The wise cow Ninsun, all-knowing, overstood, she spoke to Gilgamesh, the copper axe which you saw is a man.
126 You will love it as a wife, you will dote upon it, and I shall treat it as equal to you.
127 A strong partner will come to you, one who saves the life of a comrade.
128 He will be the most powerful in strength of arms in the land.
129 His strength will be as great as that of a sky-bolt of ANU. Gilgamesh spoke to his mother, let it fall, then, according to the word of Enlil the great counselor.
130 I shall gain a friend to advise me. Ninsun retold his dreams.
131 Thus, Shamhat heard the dreams of Gilgamesh and told them to Enkidu.
132 The dream means that you will love one another.
133 Enkidu was seated before her in Tiranu full of tears for he trusted Mulliltu, who is Ninlil, why was he betrayed, they were consulting together by themselves, anger at his decision about what to do,
134 Who overstood in his heart the truth which Shamhat spoke of one garment which is clean.
135 She held him by the hand and like Aluhum who ruled, he bowed though he was the most powerful in strength of arms in the land. His strength was as great as that of a sky-bolt of ANU, and built as sturdy as battlements.
136 The wild cow Ninsun, mother of Gilgamesh, spoke to Gilgamesh, my son, bitterly he was weeping seized by pain he brought up to his door his weary body, bitterly he was weeping from hurt Enkidu had no garment.
137 His hair is allowed to hang loose as a beast.
138 He was born in open country, and who can prevail over him?
139 Enkidu stood, listened to him speaking, pondered, and then sat down, and began to cry.
140 His eyes grew dim with tears.
141 His arms slackened, his strength gone then they grasped one another, and embraced and held each other's hands.
142 Gilgamesh made his voice heard and spoke, he said to Enkidu,
143 Why are your eyes filled with tears?
144 Enlil has destined him to keep the pine forest safe, to be the terror of people.
145 Humbaba, whose shout is the flood-weapon, whose utterance is fire, and whose breath is death,
146 Can hear for a distance of sixty leagues through the field of the forest, so who can penetrate his forest?
147 Debility would seize anyone who penetrated his forest. Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Enkidu,
148 Are you saying that you know the way?
149 Gilgamesh made his voice heard and spoke to Enkidu, my friend, are they not there? Are there no children there?
150 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke to Gilgamesh, my friend, were we to go to him, out there Humbaba is waiting.
151 Gilgamesh made his voice heard and spoke to Enkidu, my friend, we really should prepare.
152 They sat and pondered on things. We made a hassinnu-axe a pasu-axe with a whole talent of bronze for each half of talent their swords weighed a whole talent each;
153 Their belts weighed a whole talent each; listen to me young men,
154 Young men of Uruk who know the way I am adamant: I shall take the road to Humbaba.