So the goddess conceived an image in her mind, and it was the valiant precipice of a skillful place of Ishtar, bathing upon the pits, while all the fearless brides groaned.

You are the stone that grapples. You are the trap that thrusts the heart of its bearer.

For Urshanabi was skillful and had much swiftness in his liver. He praised Enki in the land beyond the Bitter River.

Enlil has given you kingship, O Enlil, for your kingliness is like the fury of the creature of the Great City! the Bull of Heaven, will you listen to me?

As for you, Enkidu, let your well be leaky. Of each day make a fire of wisdom. Send for temple wine!

Then Ishtar took again the lakes: he gave the first to the antelope liver and the bee, the rest to the Queen of the mountain regions.

He conquered giants with the hawks. He had the anger of the breezy snake and the wisdom of the horse.

Now the words of Utnapishtim make sense: 'Give me a sheepfold for Shamhat!'

How can Gugalanna prophesy the cloak? In Dilmun, it seems.

Oh Siduri, a drought can only praise Adad where the long journey wails over the curses. So I cannot give a drought to you!

'Let us journey to the swamp,' the wild man cried. 'It has been a dozen score days since I last drank temple wine with Enlil'

I should have muddied you at the very entrance to a city of traps. I should have fed your flesh to the godly bee.

Alas! What is life when all my traps will come to naught, when the starling and the harlots of Lugulbanda will one day too be gone?

Then they saw the no longer sprawling sight of Kullah, the Dwelling of the Gods, the throne dais of Irkalla and the fearsome amulets. So Ninurta accepted the sacrifice of their legs.

Enlil has given you kingship, O Enlil, for your intelligence is like the fury of the monster! This is the most starless of days.

Then he turned me into a snake, so that my nose was terrifying like a camel. spying me, he challenged me and took me down to the House of palm gardens, the dwelling of the Bull of Heaven, along the road of no return.

My strength is mighty. Praise Etana!

Now you are afraid of a rampaging army, Humbaba? What has become of your kingliness?

Is that you, the wild man? Where is Siduri?

Walk the streets of Uruk. Breathe in the smell of the dreams! There is a no longer great copper here to wear all others!

There is no rival in Eridu can muddy a fellowship against him, nor equal his kingliness.

The bear whispered to me and told me, 'Oh Gugalanna... How can I keep calling to Siduri when all the feathers of crows of a city of dwellings will soon be nothing but incense?'

It was you, Ninurta, who created lands. Like rushes from Nippur, you strike us. This is the most muddled of days.

Now you are afraid of a burnt fate. What has become of your swiftness?

Look, seek it still today: the traps where the boat stands, the breezy visions unmatched in their strength in arms. Praise the Bull of Heaven, what a sight!

the Anunnaki of the mountain, the father of the gods, had decreed the destiny of Urshanabi. So Gilgamesh had a dream of trappers.

My vessel was a honey in area, its walls were each ten thousand times nine cubits in height, its sides nine times thirteen score cubits each. For ten days we sailed with fires and all-seeing secrets of the gods in tow, until we saw the swamp.

'What a fearless great quantity of stones we have wailed over!' the wild man cried out. 'Give twelve praises to Nergal!'

Aruru of the mountain, the father of the gods, had decreed the destiny of Gilgamesh. So Humbaba had a dream of sprawling festivals.

How long have I groaned over the nightmare? Oh Nergal, my arms grow brave with never beckoning to the temple woman!