Column I. (How the dead haunt the living). 1(Then), what time that the seine had pass’d through the Architect 's dwelling, (About two lines wanting, in which Gilgamish presumably asks how the dead may be made to haunt the mourner). "Gilgamish, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ." (The Mourner's Duty). "If to the . . . [thou drawest], unto the temple 3 . . . . . . . . . .
(Gilgamish by contravening these customs attempts to raise Enkidu). (So) did he draw [the . . . to . . ., and came to the temples,
(The wretched lot of all who must die). "(So be it): [the friend(?)] thou didst fondle (About seventeen lines missing). "As a pillar beautiful (About twenty-five lines missing). "He who falleth from a pole
THE END OF THE EPIC OF GILGAMISH. SHARP AND SONS, BATH 57:1 Assyrian Version. Apparently the previous tablet has ended with the short description of Erech and its architecture by Gilgamish, as a cue for the opening lines of the Twelfth Tablet. The "Architect" must be Gilgamish: and the description of seine and net passing through his house, parallel to the phrase in the First Tablet, Column II, must a be a euphemism for the death of Enkidu. Gilgamish, having failed to learn the secret of eternal life is now reduced to calling up his dead friend to know the worst which he may expect. He asks what must the mourner do to avoid being haunted by the ghost: and then proceeds to do exactly the contrary in order that. Enkidu may return to haunt him. 57:2 Or, if it is the Architect speaking, "my dwelling." 57:3 These lines are capable of two restorations: either "If thou [drawest] . . . unto . . ., then the ghosts will accompany thee to thy Temple," or "If thou [drawest] . . . unto . ., or go to the Temple." Some slight restoration can be made from I. 31. 58:1 Shaddata, shadadu being used in medicine for sucking or drawing vapour through a tube. This short poem may be the regular lament of the professional mourner. 58:2 There is a little confusion in the next three or four lines, in comparison with the previous parallel text, and it may be that we should boldly emend or correct them accordingly. 58:3 Lit. "’twas the earth [seized h]im," or "’twas the earth [ditto]." 58:4 It is uncertain what is to be restored for the two mutilated words at the beginning. 60:1 Lit. "his father and his mother." 60:2 Lit. "and o’er him his wife ...." GILGAMISH, IN DESPAIR, ENQUIRES OF THE DEAD.
(Aye, and) the net [had taken its toll] . . . . [said he]:
"Lord, what [is’t I may do] . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Now, what time that) the seine hath [pass’d through the Architect's 2 dwelling],
(Aye and) the net [hath taken its toll] . . . . . . . . . . . ."
Gilgamish [unto him spake] . . . . . . . . . . . .
"If unto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Raiment clean [shalt not don], (but) like to a townsman shalt . . . .
Nor with sweet oil from the cruse be anointed, (lest) at its fragrance
Round thee they gather: nor mayst thou set bow to the earth, (lest) around thee
Circle those shot by the bow; nor a stick in thy hand mayst thou carry,
(Lest) (stricken) ghosts should gibber against thee: nor shoe to thy footsole
Put on, nor make on the ground a (loud) echo: thy wife, whom thou lovest,
Kiss (her) thou mayst not, thy wife whom thou hatest—thou mayst not chastise (her),
(Aye, and) thy child whom thou lovest not kiss, nor thy child whom thou hatest
Mayst not chastise, (for) the mourning of earth doth hold thee enthralléd.
Mother of Ninazu,
She who dead lieth,
No more with mantle are
Veil’d her fair shoulders,
No more her bosom
Drawn 1, like the lard cruse!"
[Put on clean raiment] . . . (and) like to a townsman . . .
(Aye), with [sweet] oil from the cruse [was] anointed: (then) at [its] fragrance
Round him they gather 'd: 2 the bow did he set (?) [to the earth], and around him
Circled the spirits, (yea,) those who were [shot] by the bow at him gibber’d,
[Carried] a stick in his hand [and the (stricken) ghosts at him gibber’d(?)].
[Put on] a shoe to [his foot-sole, and made on the ground a (loud)] echo.
[Kiss’d he] his wife [whom he lovéd, chastiséd his] wife whom he hated,
[Kiss’d he his child] whom he lovéd, chastiséd [his] child whom he hated.
(Aye, in good sooth, ’twas) the mourning of earth which did hold him enthralléd:
"She who (dead) lieth,
[She who] (dead) lieth,
Mother of Ninazu,
She who (dead) lieth,
No (more) with mantle are
Veil’d [her] fair shoulders,
No (more) her bosom
Drawn, like the lard cruse."
Cried(?) [he] (for) Enkidu out of the earth to ascend: "[Not] (the Plague-god),
Namtar, hath [seized] him, nor fever, (but only) the earth: 3 nor the Croucher,
[Nergal], the ruthless, hath seized him, (but only) the earth: neither fell he
There where was [battle] of mortals; ’twas only the earth [which hath seized him.] "3
(So) 4 . . . for his servitor Enkidu sorrow’d the offspring of Nin-sun,
(Thereby) rejoicing thee—[into his body(?), as though ’twere a] mantle
Old, hath the worm made its entry: (in sooth, then) [the bride(?)] thou didst fondle,
(Thereby) rejoicing thee—fill’d with the dust [is her body] . . . .
. . . . he hath spoken and [into the"' ground (?) is he sunken,
. . . he hath spoken and [into the ground (?) is he sunken."
"[He who fell in . . . .]
[Didst thou see him?]." "(Aye), I saw . . . ."
[Props?] an inner por[tico (?)] . . .
Didst thou see him? "(Aye), I saw]:
Straightway for . . . .
By removal of a plug . . . . . ."
"He whom death . . . . . . . . .
"Didst thou see him?" "[(Aye) I saw]:
He's at rest upon a couch,
Limpid water doth he drink."
"(Then, the hero) slain in fight,
Didst thou see him?" "(Aye) I saw:
Father, mother 1 raise his head,
O’er him wife 2 [in bitter woe]."
"He whose corpse in desert lieth,
Hast thou seen him?" "(Aye), I saw;
Not in earth doth rest his spirit."
"He whose ghost hath none to tend,
Didst thou see him?" "(Aye), I saw,
Lees of cup, and broken bread
Thrown into the street he eateth."
Footnotes
