Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 29

The tablets high are heaped, the alcoves full, Where truth at last has found a welcome goal.

In wisdom's room, the sage his guest has led, And seats him till the banquet high is spread; Of Izdubar he learns his journeys great, How he for aid has left his throne of state.

The maid now comes, him welcomes to the hall Of banquets, where are viands liberal, And fruits, immortal bread, celestial wines Of vintage old; and when the hero dines, They lead him to his private chamber room That overlooks the wondrous garden's bloom Across the plain and jasper sea divine, To Heaven's mountains rising sapphirine.

Four beauteous streams of liquid silver lead Across the plain; the s.h.i.+ning sea they feed; The King reclines upon his couch at rest, With dreams of happiness alone is blest.

[Footnote 1: "Mua," the waters of the dawn, the daughter of Khasisadra.]

COLUMN IV

THE KING IS CURED BY THE INCANTATIONS OF KHASISADRA AND HE BECOMES IMMORTAL

When Izdubar awakes, they lead the way To the bright fount beside the jasper sea.

The seer, with Mua and Ur-Hea, stands Beside the King, who holily lifts his hands Above an altar where the glowing rays Of sacred flames are curling; thus he prays:

"Ye glorious stars that s.h.i.+ne on high, Remember me! Oh, hear my cry, Su-ku-nu,[1] bright Star of the West!

Dil-gan, my patron star, oh, s.h.i.+ne!

O Mar-bu-du, whose rays invest Dear Nipur[2] with thy light divine, The flames that s.h.i.+nes, upon the Waste!

O Papsukul, thou Star of Hope, Sweet G.o.d of bliss, to me, oh, haste, Before I faint and lifeless drop!

O Adar,[3] Star of Ninazu, Be kind! O Ra-di-tar-tu-khu.

Sweet U-tu-ca-ga-bu,[4] dear Star With thy pure face that s.h.i.+nes afar!

"Oh, pardon me! each glorious Star!

Za-ma-ma,[5] hear me! O Za-ma-ma!

Ca-ca-ma u Ca-ca-ma."[6]

"[7]Remember him! O dear Za-ma-ma!

Ca-ca-ma u Ca-ca-ma."

As Izdubar doth end his holy prayer He kneels, and they now bear his body where A snowy couch doth rest beneath a shrine That stands near by the glowing fount divine, And Khasisadra lifts his holy hands, His incantation chants, and o'er him stands.

"O Bel, Lord of An-nu-na-ci, O Nina, Hea's daughter! Zi![8]

This Incantation aid, Remember us, Remember!

"[9]Ye tempests of High Heaven, be still!

Ye raging lightnings, oh, be calm!

From this brave man his strength is gone, Before thee see him lying ill!

Oh, fill with strength his feeble frame, O Ishtar, s.h.i.+ne from thy bright throne!

From him thine anger turn away, Come from thy glowing mountains, come!

From paths untrod by man, oh, haste!

And bid this man arise this day.

With strength divine as Heaven's dome, His form make pure and bright and chaste!

The evil curse, oh, drive away!

"Go! A-sac-cu-kab-bi-lu,[10] go!

O Nam-ta-ru-lim-nu,[11] oh, fly!

U-tuc-cu-lim-nu[12] from him flow!

A-lu-u-lim-nu,[13] hence! away!

E-ci-mu-lim-nu,[14] go! thou fiend!

Fly, Gal-lu-u-lim-nu,[15] afar!

Fly from his head! his life! I send Thee, fiend! depart from Izdubar!

Go from his forehead, breast, and heart, And feet! Avaunt! thou fiend! depart!

Oh, from the Curse, Thou Spirit High!

And Spirit of the Earth, come nigh!

Protect him, may his spirit fly!

O Spirit of the Lord of Lands, And G.o.ddess of the Earthly Lands, Protect him! raise with strength his hands!

"Oh, make him as the Holy G.o.ds, His body, limbs, like thine Abodes, And like the Heavens may he s.h.i.+ne!

And like the Earth with rays divine!

Quick! with the khis-ib-ta[16] to bring High Heaven's Charm--bind round his brow!

The sis-bu[17] place around his hands!

And let the sab-u-sat[18] bright cling!

The mus-u-kat[19] lay round him now, And wrap his feet with rad-bat-bands,[20]

And open now his zik-a-man[21]

The sis-bu cover, and his hands The bas-sat[22] place around his form!

From baldness and disease, this man Cleanse, make him whole, head, feet, and hands!

"O Purity, breathe thy sweet charm!

"Restore his health and make his skin s.h.i.+ne beautifully, beard and hair Restore! make strong with might his loins!

And may his body glorious s.h.i.+ne As the bright G.o.ds!--

Ye winds him bear!

Immortal flesh to his soul joins!

Thou Spirit of this man! arise!

Come forth with joy! Come to the skies!"

And lo! his leprosy has fled away!

He stands immortal,--purged! released from clay!

[Footnote 1: "Su-ku-nu" or "Kak-si-di," the star of the West.]

[Footnote 2: "Nipur," the city from which Izdubar came.]

[Footnote 3: "Adar," the star of Ninazu, the G.o.ddess of death, who cursed him with leprosy in the cavern. This star was also called "Ra-di-tar-tu-khu."]

[Footnote 4: "U-tu-ca-ga-bu," the star with the white or pure face.]

[Footnote 5: "Za-ma-ma," another name for Adar. This is the deity for whom Izdubar or Nammurabi built the great temple whose top, in the language of the Babylonians, reached the skies. It was afterward called the "Tower of the Country" or "Tower of Babylon." This was perhaps the Tower of Babel.

He also restored another temple called "Bite-muris," which was dedicated to the same G.o.ddess.]

[Footnote 6: "Amen and amen!" The word "amen" is usually repeated three times.]

[Footnote 7: The response of the priest Khasi-sadra.]

[Footnote 8: "Zi," spirits.]