The Babylonian Legends of the Creation Part 9

69. He did homage, and he kissed the ground at their feet.

70. He bowed down, stood up, and spake unto them [saying]:

71. "[O ye G.o.ds], Anshar your son hath charged me,

72. "The intention of his heart he hath made me to know in this wise:--

73. "Mother Tiamat who gave us birth hath sown these things,

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

75. "All the G.o.ds have joined themselves to her.

76. "They march by her side together with those whom ye have created,

77. "They formed a band and went forth to battle to help Tiamat.

78. "They were exceedingly wroth, they made plans by day and by night without ceasing.

79. "They offered battle, foaming and raging.

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

81. "Ummu-Khubur, who formed all things,

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

83. "Sharp of tooth, pitiless in attack (?)

84. "She filled their bodies with venom instead of blood,

85. "Grim, monstrous serpents, arrayed in terror,

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

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

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

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

90. "The Whirlwind, the Ravening Dog, the Scorpion-man,

91. "The Storm-wind, the Fish-man, the Horned Beast,

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

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

94. "Thus she caused Eleven [monsters] of this kind to come into being.

95. "Amongst the G.o.ds, her first-born son who had collected her company,

96. "That is to say, Kingu, she set on high, she made him the great one among them.

97. "Leader of the hosts in the battle, disposer of the troops,

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

99. "He who in the battle is the master of the weapon

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

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

102. "'I have filled his (i.e., thy) hand with the sovereignty of the whole company of the G.o.ds.

103. "'Mayest thou be magnified, thou who art my only spouse.

104. "'May the Anunnaki make great thy renown over all of them.'

105. "She gave him the TABLET OF DESTINIES, she fastened it on his head [saying]:

106. "'As for thee, thy command shall not fall empty, what goeth forth from thy mouth shall be established.'

107. "When Kingu was raised on high, and had taken the heavens (Anutum)

108. "He fixed the destinies for the G.o.ds, his sons, [saying]:

109. "'Open your mouths, let the Fire-G.o.d be quenched,

110. "'He who is glorious in battle and is most mighty shall do great deeds.

111. "'I sent the G.o.d Anu, but he could not prevail against her.

112. "'Nudimmud (i.e., Ea) was afraid and turned back.

113. "'Marduk, your son, the envoy of the G.o.ds, hath set out.

114. "'His heart is stirred up to oppose Tiamat.

115. "'He opened his mouth, he spoke unto me, [saying]:

116. "'Should I as your avenger

117. "'Slay Tiamat, and bestow life upon you,

118. "'Summon a meeting (i.e., council), proclaim and magnify my position,