The Babylonian Legends of the Creation Part 5

137. She gave him the TABLET OF DESTINIES, she fastened it on his breast, [saying],

138. "As for thee, thy command shall not fall empty, whatsoever goeth forth from thy mouth shall be established."

139. When Kingu was raised on high and had taken the heavens (literally, the G.o.d Anutum)

140. He fixed the destinies for the G.o.ds his sons,

141. Open your mouths, let the Fire-G.o.d[1] be quenched,

[Footnote 1: The G.o.d here alluded to is Mardak, who, in one aspect, is a fire-G.o.d; see Tablet IV, II. 39, 40.]

142. He who is glorious in battle and is most mighty, shall do great deeds.

SECOND TABLET.

1. Tiamat made solid that which she had moulded.

2. She bound the G.o.ds her children with [evil bonds].

3. Tiamat wrought wickedness to avenge Apsu.

4. When ... had harnessed his chariot he went to meet Ea,

5. Ea hearkened to his story,

6. He was sorely afflicted and abode in sorrow,

7. The days were long, his wrath died down.

8. He went his way to the dwelling of Anshar, his father,

9. He went into the presence of Anshar, the father who begat him,

[Ill.u.s.tration: Portion of a tablet inscribed in a.s.syrian with a text of the Second Tablet of the Creation Series. [No. 40,559.]]

10. Whatsoever Tiamat had devised he repeated unto him,

11. Mother Tiamat who gave us birth hath sown these things.

12. She hath set in order her a.s.sembly, she rageth furiously,

13. All the G.o.ds have joined themselves to her.

14. They march by her side together with those whom ye have created.

15. They formed a band and went forth to battle to help Tiamat,

16. They were exceedingly wroth, they made plots by day and by night without ceasing,

17. They offered battle, fuming and raging,

18. They set the battle in array, they uttered cries of defiance.

19. Ummu-Khubur,[1] who fas.h.i.+oned all things,

[Footnote 1: See above.]

20. Set up the unrivalled weapon, she sp.a.w.ned huge serpents

21. Sharp of tooth, pitiless in attack (?)

22. She filled their bodies with venom instead of blood,

23. Grim, monstrous serpents arrayed in terror.

24. She decked them with brightness, she fas.h.i.+oned them in exalted forms,

25. So that fright and horror might overcome him that looked upon them,

26. So that their bodies might rear up, and no man resist their attack.

27. She set up the Viper, and the Snake, and the G.o.d Lakhamu,

28. The Whirlwind, the ravening Dog, the Scorpion-man,

29. The Storm-wind, the Fish-man, the Horned Beast.

30. They carried the Weapon which spared not, nor flinched from the battle.

31. Most mighty were Tiamat's allies, they could not be resisted.

32. Thus she caused eleven [monsters] of this kind to come into being.

33. Among the G.o.ds, her first-born son who had collected her company,

34. That is to say, Kingu, she set on high, she made him the great one amongst them.

35. Leader of the hosts in battle, disposer of the troops,

36. Bearer of the firmly-grasped weapon, attacker in the fight,

37. He who in the battle is the master of the weapon,

38. She appointed, she made him to sit down in [goodly apparel]

39. [Saying], "I have recited the incantation for thee, I have magnified thee in the a.s.sembly of the G.o.ds,