Scholars of Uruk (CUSAS 10, 14)

1 Like a city of supreme power is my city Uruk, a city of kings!

2 But you, who grew up in my city and my homeland,

3 you stripped clean and plundered the house of my lord, you squandered the property of my lady.

4 Because you were not caught like a thief at the mouth of a breach(!) you (made in the

wall),

5 you slap (lit. kill) my cheeks with the palm of my own hand!

6 You little pig! You have fed and fed, (now) lay yourself down!

7 You can have no reply to what I am saying, you have not been sated (sic! Sum.: can

say a word) and cannot refute (it).

8 Invective (is but) wind and storm: rub (it into the ground) with your foot like spittle!

9 Put an end to cursing with the breath of your mouth, like a puff of wind through a window!

10 May bygone days of squabbling depart and far-off days of friendship be established!

11 May bygone night(s) of foulmouths depart and former nights of kindness be established!

12 May bygone years of insults depart, may far-off years of mutual affection be established!

13 May good fortune always follow after us, may reconciliation guide us!

14 Days of permanent good feeling are (yet) distant, for days of anger are still near!

15 May Sin bring just these things about,

16 may Enlil keep those things far away!

17 In the knowledge you learned I was faster than you. How you were a dunce compared

with me!

18 I looked, I studied, I checked, I read and, compared with you, was I dim-witted?

19 Consider again, a second time, (and) respond! How you were a dunce compared with

me!

20 I went (on), I progressed; in "what I wrote and what was proper, compared with you, was I dim-witted?

21 Like a piglet you sucked at the teats of your own belly!

22 Would that you had changed henceforth, so there would be no more infighting(?)!

23 Nissaba it is who is a scribe, Nissaba it is who is wise,  

24 Nissaba it is who is the mistress of wisdom, Nissaba, the mistress of intelligence.

25 The sublime name of Nissaba (is) like the best portion of a sacrifice, pay it(?) homage!

26 How greatly will I sing praise of its steadfast tenderness, as at the festival of banquets!

27 Like colleagues Ur and Nippur were quarrelling with each other,

28 their dispute about knowledge was growing blasphemous in regard to the greetings they

invented.

29 On behalf of Enlil in Ekur and Sin in Ekisnugal,

30 a passing breeze heard and (! text: they) came to rest in their presence.

31 Sin, the cherished son, made haste and went(!) before the father,

32 [so] as not (to incur) his father's anger nor his mother's [wrath,]

33 [so] his father would not rage nor his mother [fret,]

34 [so] his father would [not] be vexed nor his mother worried.

35 [ . . . he(?) made] him angry, opposed his father.

36 [ . . . ] . . . talked with authority:

37 " [ . . . ] . . . do not speak like a . . . ,

38 [ . . . ] for . . . you called (your) son beloved(!).

39 [ . . . ] you being the most senior, you, his father, granted that he receive two parts of

everything.

40 [ . . . at(?)] the inauguration(?) of his father, you assigned this(!) (as his) lot."

41 Because you love me, (because) Ea also loves me, for my part(?),

42 and now (because) I offered steadfastness to him, Ea, in return for his steadfastness,

43 for the sake of his pity, I have taken pity on you.

44 He (Ea) determined this destiny and bestowed wisdom on my city,

45 he established within my land eternal sagacity.

46 Thereupon the sage came up and the learned one opened his mouth,

48 in the hearts of my men he brought about the birth of much Sumerian.

49 The lady Nissaba brought into being (everything) additional.

50 Though you are one who in the city enjoys a fine reputation, you do not understand;

51 though regarding the lore of my land you are invoked as an expert, you do not understand.

52 Father is taller than son: you be glad about these things of mine!

53 The fame of my city and the fame of my homeland are your fame,

54 the learning of [my] city [and the] wisdom of my homeland are your fame.

55 Enlil [ ] made(?).

56 The father [brought] up [his] son [and] he turned into one "who was capable!

57 Sin, Enlil the [elum brought him up] and he turned into one who was capable!

58 By the will [of Ea(?) . . . he] stood,

59 and by proclamation of the [sage o£Apsu(?)] he was appointed [a scribe(?)] of Ur.

60 The learning of the house of Nippur [Enlil(?)] did permit (him) to acquire.

61 The dispute that Sin and Enlil started(?)

62 Nissaba(?), the veiled bride, [made] good(?).

63 O father Ea, your praise is sweet!