As the first year drew nigh, One hundred and twenty thousand warriors I sent out, but not one returned alive. 20 As the second year drew nigh, ninety thousand warriors I sent out, but not one returned alive. As the third year drew nigh, sixty thousand seven hundred warriors I sent out, but not one returned alive. Despairing, powerless, and afflicted, I was full of woe, and I groaned aloud, And I spake unto my heart, saying: "By my life! 25 I am a king who hath brought no prosperity unto his country, 66 COLUMN III And a shepherd who hath brought no prosperity unto his people. But this thing will I do. In mine own person will I go forth! The pride of men, and night, and death, and disease, and 5 And famine, and misery of every kind Pursue after their 15 With supplications unto Ea, the . . . of the great gods, 36 It would seem that one of the gods urged the king to make offerings and supplication at the Feast of the New Year, before undertaking his fourth expedition. From lines 14 and those following it is clear that the king followed the god's advice; and, from the conclusion of Column IV, it may be inferred that he at last met with success against his enemies. Pure offerings for the Feast of the New Year I cried unto the magicians, and I directed them, 20 I placed there also the holy And I inquired of the great gods, Of Ishtar, and . . ., and Zamama, and Anuntium, [The lower half of the column is wanting,37 except for traces of what is probably the last line of the column, preserved by K. 5,640.] Thou, O king, or ruler, or prince, or any one whatsoever, 10 Whom the god shall call to rule over the kingdom, A tablet concerning these matters have I made for thee, In the city of Cuthah, in the temple E-shidlam, 15 And harken unto the words thereof, And thou shalt not despair, nor be feeble, Sleep in peace beside thy wife, 37 It is clear that in the missing portion of the column the king describes the defeat of his foes, since in Column IV he refers to the record of his history as an encouragement to future princes who may succeed him on the throne. 20 Strengthen thy walls, Fill thy trenches with water, Bring in thy treasure chests, and thy corn and thy silver, and thy goods, and thy possessions, And thy. household stuff. Fix firmly the . . ., and build surrounding walls. 25 Guard thy body and take heed for thy person. thou shalt not go out unto him, ..., thou shalt not draw nigh unto him. [The lower half of the column is wanting.] THE RIVER OF CREATION O thou River, who didst create all things, They set prosperity upon thy banks, Within thee Ea, the King of the Deep, created his dwelling, The deluge they sent not before thou wert! Fire, and wrath, and splendor, and terror Thou judgest the cause of mankind! O River, thou art mighty! O River, thou art supreme! O River, thou art righteous! 38 In this address to future rulers, the general moral which the king would draw from his own history appears to be that safety is to be found in following the commands of the gods. Furthermore, he recommends his successors upon the throne not to take the field against an invading foe, but to shelter themselves behind the walls of the city of Cuthah. (2100-1100 B.C.) THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH " Bring into the ship seed of all living things! The ship that thou shalt build." "On the sinner impose his sin, On the evil-doer impose his evil, - GILGAMESH EPIC. But be merciful not to root out completely; be considerate not to destroy altogether.” -GILGAMESH EPIC. |