Page 1559

 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LATUM SHIL GILGAMESH
EPIC OF GILGAMESH

Tablet 1:410
Tablet 1:462

his mother Sililiu.
411 You loved the shepherd, herdsman, and chief shepherd,
412 Who was always heaping up the glowing ashes for thou,
413 And cooked ewe-lambs for you every day.
414 But you hit him and turned him into a wolf,
415 His own herd-boys hunts him down and his dogs tear at his haunches.
416 You loved Ishullanu, your father's gardener,
417 Who was always bringing your baskets of dates.
418 They brightened your table everyday;
419 You lifted your eyes to him and went to him.
420 My own Ishullanu, let us enjoy your strength,
421 So put your hand and touch our vulva.
423 But Ishullanu said to you,
424 What do you want of me?
425 Did my mother not bake for me, and did I not eat?
426 What I eat with you would be loaves of dishonor and disgrace,
427 Rushes would be my only covering against the cold.
428 You listened as he said this,
429 And you hit him, turned him into a frog,
430 Left him to stay amid the fruits of his labors.
431 But the pole goes up no more, his bucket goes down no more.
432 And how about me? You will love me and then treat me just like them.
433 When Ishtar heard this, Ishtar was furious, and went up to heaven.
434 Ishtar went up and wept before her father ANU,
435 Her tears flowed before her mother Antu.
436 Father, Gilgamesh, hast shamed me again and again Gilgamesh spelt out to me, my dishonour,
437 My dishonor and my disgrace.
438 ANU made his voice heard and spoke,
439 He said to the princess Ishtar,
440 Why didn't you accuse Gilgamesh the ruler for yourself,
441 Since Gilgamesh spelt out your dishonor,
442 Your dishonor and your disgrace?
443 Ishtar made her voice heard and spoke, she said to her father ANU,
444 Father, please give me the bull of heaven, and let me strike Gilgamesh down,
445 Let me capture Gilgamesh in his dwelling.
446 If you don't give me the bull of heaven,
447 I shall strike Gilgamesh.
448 I shall set my face towards the infernal regions,
449 I shall raise up the dead, and they will eat the living,
450 I shall make the dead outnumber the living,
451 ANU made his voice heard and spoke,
452 He said to the princess Ishtar,
453 On no account should you request the bull of heaven from me.
454 There would be seven years of chaff in the land of Uruk,
455 You would gather chalk instead of gems,
456 You would raise grass.
457 Ishtar made her voice heard and spoke.
458 She said to her father ANU,
459 I have heaped up a store of grain in Uruk,
460 I have ensured the production of the years of chaff hast been gathered.
461 ANU listened to Ishtar speaking,
462 And he put the bull of heaven's reins in