Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 57

1 O shepherd,[1] Lord Tammuz, Bridegroom[2] of Istar!

2 Lord of Hades, Lord of Tul-Sukhba!

3 _Understanding_ one, who among the papyri the water drinks not!

4 His brood in the desert, even the reed, he created not.[3]

5 Its bulrush in his ca.n.a.l he lifted not up.

6 The roots of the bulrush were carried away.

7 O G.o.d of the world, who among the papyri the water drinks not!

.....[4]

[Footnote 1: The early Accadian kings frequently call themselves "shepherds." According to Berosus, Alorus, the first antediluvian king of Babylonia, gave himself the same t.i.tle. Compare the Homeric [Greek: poimaen laon].]

[Footnote 2: "Khamir," literally "red" or "blus.h.i.+ng one," in reference to the glow of the setting sun.]

[Footnote 3: Or, "was not green."]

[Footnote 4: Lacuna.]

II

1 O mighty mountain of Bel, Im-kharsak,[1] whose head rivals heaven, whose root (is) the holy deep!

2 Among the mountains, like a strong wild bull, it lieth down.

3 Its horn like the brilliance of the sun is bright.

4 Like the star of heaven[2] it is a prophet and is filled with sheen.

5 O mighty mother of Beltis, daughter of Bit-Esir: splendor of Bit-kurra,[3] appointment of Bit-Gigune, handmaid of Bit-Cigusurra![4]

.....[5]

[Footnote 1: "Wind of the mountain."]

[Footnote 2: That is, Dilbat, "the prophet," or Venus, the morning-star.]

[Footnote 3: "The temple of the East."]

[Footnote 4: "The temple of the land of forests."]

[Footnote 5: Lacuna.]

ACCADIAN PROVERBS AND SONGS

TRANSLATED BY REV. A.H. SAYCE, M.A.

The following is a selection from an interesting collection of Accadian songs and proverbs, gjven in a mutilated reading-book of the ancient language which was compiled for the use of a.s.syrian (or rather Semitic Babylonian) students. These sentences were drawn up at a time when it was necessary for the scribes to be familiar with the old language of Accad, and to be able to translate it into a.s.syrian, and hence these phrases are of very great philological value, since they indicate often a.n.a.logous words and various verbal forms. The a.s.syrian translation and the Accadian texts are arranged in parallel columns. Some of the proverbs must be taken from an agricultural treatise of the same nature as the "Works and Days"

of Hesiod. Copies of the texts will be found in the "Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia," Vol. II, 15, 16.

ACCADIAN PROVERBS

1 Door and bolt are made fast.

2 Oracle to oracle: to the oracle it is brought.[1]

3 The cut beam he strikes: the strong beam he shapes.

4 The resting-place of the field which (is) in the house he will establish.

5 Within the court of the house he feels himself small.

6 A heap of witnesses[2] as his foundation he has made strong.

7 Once and twice he has made gains;[3] yet he is not content.

8 By himself he dug and wrought.[4]

9 For silver his resting-place he shall buy.

10 On his heap of bricks a building he builds not, a beam he set not up.

11 A house like his own house one man to another consigns.

12 If the house he contracts for he does not complete, 10 shekels of silver he pays.

13 The joists of his wall he plasters.

14 In the month Marchesvan,[5] the 30th day (let him choose) for removal.

15 (Let him choose it, too,) for the burning of weeds.

16 The tenant of the farm two-thirds of the produce on his own head to the master of the orchard pays out.

[Footnote 1: That is, "compared."]

[Footnote 2: Accadian "izzi ribanna," a.s.syrian "igar kasritu" ("heap of covenant"), like the Hebrew "Galeed," Aramaic "Yegar-sahadutha" (Gen.

x.x.xi. 47).]

[Footnote 3: That is, "the more a man has, the more he wants."]

[Footnote 4: That is, "if you want a thing done, do it yourself."]

[Footnote 5: October.]

ACCADIAN SONGS

26 (If) evil thou hast done, (to) the sea forever ...[1] thou goest.

23 My _city_ bless: among my men fully prosper me.

26 Bless everything; and to (my) dress be favorable.

28 Before the oxen as they march in the grain thou liest down.

30 My knees are marching, my feet are not resting: with no wealth of thine own, grain thou begettest for me.

34 A heifer am I; to the cow I am yoked: the plough-handle is strong; lift it up, lift it up!

53 May he perform vengeance: may he return also (to him) who gives.

55 The marsh as though it were not he pa.s.ses;[2]

the slain as though they were not ...[3] he makes good.

57 To the waters their G.o.d[4]

has returned: to the house of bright things he descended (as) an icicle: (on) a seat of snow he grew not old in wisdom.