Gilg. OB RA 101

1       [The harlot said to him, to Ea (Enkidu):]

2       “[Let the people(?) ( . . . )] see your face,

3       [your heart(?), now wise,] is seeking a friend.

4       [O Ea (Enkidu), before] you came from your uplands,

5       [ . . . ] Sîn (Gilgameš) was having dreams in Ur.

6       Sîn (Gilgameš) [lay] down and had a dream,

7       [he] arose (and) talked to his mother:

8       “The stars of the sky grew distinct(?),

9       a lump of sky-rock fell down before me.

10     I picked it up but it was too heavy for me,

11     I gave it a shove but could not move it.

12     The land of Ur was gathered about me,

13     the young men all together could not raise it.

14     I braced my shoulder, they supported me,

15     I picked it up and took it away into your presence.”

16     Being wise the mother of Sîn (Gilgameš) explained,

17     said to Sîn (Gilgameš),

18     so: “For sure, O Sîn (Gilgameš), there is one like yourself,

19     he was born in the wild and the wild reared (him).

20     His strength is as mighty as a lump of sky-rock,

21     because I shall gather in force (sic! for make him equal) with you.

22     They shackled (sic! for admired) it, gathering around it,

23     and the young men kissing it:

24     You will see him and your heart will laugh,

25     you will hug him and bring him into my presence.”

26     [Sîn (Gilgameš)] answered her, saying to his mother:

27     “Let [a friend] come forth, so be it, let him come!

28     [Let him befall] me(?) like a lump of sky-rock,

29     [let] his strength [be mighty!]

30     [ . . . ] . . . and let him ease my heart!”

31     [Sîn (Gilgameš) lay down and] had a dream.

32     [He arose (and) talked to] his mother:

33     “[ . . . in the street of] Ur-the-Capital,

34     [an axe was lying] and (people) were gathered around it.

35     [I took it up and put it] at my side.

36     [The axe was strange] in shape,

37     [I loved it,] moaning over her like over a wife.”

38     [Being wise, the mother of Sîn (Gilgameš)] explained,

39     [(and) said to Sîn (Gilgameš):]

         “The axe, O Sîn (Gilgameš), that you saw is a man,

40     [there will come to you one who will save] (his) friend.

41     [You will see him and your heart] will laugh,

42     [you will hug him and bring] him into my presence.”

58:

57     From [ . . . . . . . . . ]

58     “You are handsome, [O Ea (Enkidu), you are just like a god,]

59     why like [the animals do you roam the wild?]

60     Clothe yourself [with a garment . . . ,]

61     be girt with a waistband [ . . . . . . !]

62     Take up a weapon, [become(?)] like a warrior!

63     Why do you inhabit [ . . . . . . ?]

64     Why do you, like the [animals, roam the wild?]

65     You should see Uruk, [ . . . . . . ,]

66     the people's home, seat [of Anu(?),]

67     where the young men are girt [with waistbands(?),]

68     daily the beds of night-[time . . . ]

69     To the festive food you will [ . . . . . . ,]

70     you are (now) displaced from the territory [ . . . ]”

71     He heard her words, consented [to what she said,]

72     a woman's counsel [struck home in his heart.]

73     She took off (her) garment, [clothed him in] one part,

74     and the other part she put [on herself.]

75     He put on the garment [ . . . . . . ,]

76     he anointed himself with oil [ . . . . . . ]

77     She grasped his hand, [leading him,] like a [god,]

78     to the shepherds’ camp, the site [of the sheep-pen.]

79     The shepherds saw him and [ . . . . . . ,]

80     they threw [themselves prostrate] before Ea (Enkidu) as (before) a god.

81     The shepherds were bowed down in [his] presence,

82     the herdsboys humbling themselves [before him.]

83     “The fellow is [equal in build] to Sîn (Gilgameš),

84     (though) squatter of stature, [he is sturdier of] bone.

85     For sure he is born in [the uplands.]”

86     The shepherds lay themselves down [at night,]

87     sleep overtook [them, . . . . . . ]

88     Ea (Enkidu) was [their] watchman, [a man wide awake.]

89     He kept [ . . . . . . . . . ,]

90     with Šamḫat [pleasuring himself.]

91     He did not [ . . . . . . . . . ,]

92     he kept chasing(?) [ . . . . . . . . . ]

93     Anything [ . . .

long lacuna

3'       “[ . . . ] O Ea (Enkidu), Ur [ . . .

4'       [ . . . ] . . . [ . . .

5'       [where] the young women are filled [with beauty(?),]

6'       graced [with charm,] full [of delight.]

7'       [ . . . ] . . . Ea (Enkidu), Ur [ . . . ,]

8'       [I will] show you [Sîn (Gilgameš),] a man [ . . . ]

9'       [ . . . ] . . . he is fair in manhood [ . . .]”

General: The transliteration and translation almost always follow George 2007. The text has “either a very late Old Babylonian date or an early Middle Babylonian date” (George 2007, 63).

         22: According to George 2007, 69, ulaʾʾiṭūšūma is corrupt for unaʾʾidūšūma.

         63: On the interrogative miššu see George 2007, 69 and Wasserman 2012, 208 no. 7.

         79: The restoration k[a-pa-ar-ru] is based upon the parallel rēʾû – kaparrū in ll. 81–82, which is unique for the Epic.