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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LATUM SHIL GILGAMESH
EPIC OF GILGAMESH

Tablet 1:318
Tablet 1:360

west wind, moaning wind,
319 Gale, Sparziqqu-wind, Imhullu-wind, Asakku wind,
320 Wintry wind, tempest, whirlwind, 13 winds rose up at him and Humbaba’s face grew dark.
321 He could not charge forwards, he could not go run backwards.
322 Thus, the weapons of Gilgamesh succeeded against Humbaba.
323 Humbaba gasped for breath, he addressed Gilgamesh.
324 You are young, Gilgamesh; your mother gave birth to you,
325 And you are the offspring of Ninsun you rose up at the command of Shamash, ruler of the mountain.
326 And you are the scion of Uruk, ruler Gilgamesh.
327 Oh Gilgamesh, my friend Gilgamesh I shall make them grow luxuriantly for you in your sight,
328 As many trees as you wish.
329 I shall keep for you myrtle wood, timbers to be the pride of your palace in Uruk.
330 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke; he said to Gilgamesh,
331 My friend, don’t listen to the words of Humbaba.
332 You have found out the nature of my forest, the nature of my dwelling;
333 And now you know all their natures.
334 I should have taken you and slain you at the entrance to my forest’s growth,
335 I should have given your flesh to be eaten by the birds of the forest, roaring lions, birds of prey, and scavengers.
336 But now, Enkidu, it is in your power to release me.
337 So tell Gilgamesh to spare my life.
338 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke; he said to Gilgamesh,
339 My friend, finish him off, slay him, grind him up, that I may survive,
340 Humbaba, the guardian of the pine forest!
341 Do it before the leader Enlil hears about it.
342 Lest the Anunnagi will be filled with fury at us.
343 Enlil in Nippur, Shamash in Sippar,
344 Set up an eternal memorial to tell how Gilgamesh slew Humbaba!
345 Humbaba listened and said you sit like a shepherd,
346 Now, Enkidu, thus settle in, your own release.
347 And tell Gilgamesh that he may save his life.
348 Neither one of them shall outlive his friend Gilgamesh and Enkidu shall never become old men.
349 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke; he said to Gilgamesh,
350 My friend, I talk to you, but you don’t listen to me.
351 Their dark patch of verdigris,
352 Gilgamesh was cutting down the trees; Enkidu kept tugging at the stumps.
353 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke; he said to Gilgamesh,
354 My friend, I have had a fully mature pine cut down,
355 The crown of which butted against the sky.
356 I made a door six poles high and two poles wide.
357 Its doorpost is a cubit feet, its lower and upper hinges are made from a single.
358 Let the Furattu, Euphrates carry it to Nippur.
359 They tied together a raft, they put it down Enkidu embarked on it and Gilgamesh took the head of Humbaba.
360 He washed his filthy hair, he cleaned