Chapter 10

And lo! a vision breaks before his eyes! The moon-god hides the shadows of the skies, And sweeps above with his soft, soothing light That streams around his face; he drives the night Before his rays, and with his hands sweet peace He spreads through all the skies; and Strife doth cease! A girdle spans the Heavens with pure light That shines around the River of the Night, Within the circling rays a host appears! The singers of the skies, as blazing spheres! Hark! Hear their harps and lyres that sweetly sound! They sing! Oh, how the glowing skies resound!

"O King of Light and Joy and Peace, Supreme thy love shall ever reign; Oh, can our songs of bliss here cease? Our souls for joy cannot restrain, Sweep! Sweep thy lyres again!

The former things[1] are passed away, Which we on earth once knew below; And in this bright eternal day We happiness alone can know Where bliss doth ever flow."

[Footnote 1: Literally, "the former names," which appears on a fragment of the epic translated by Mr. Sayce. See Smith's "C.A. of Gen.," p. 259, which he has rendered "the former name, the new name."]

COLUMN V

THE KING BURIES HIS SEER IN THE CAVE, AND CONTINUING HIS JOURNEY, HE MEETS TWO FIERY GIANTS WHO GUIDE THE SUN IN THE HEAVENS--THEY MAKE MERRY OVER THE KING, AND DIRECT HIM ON HIS WAY

The King within the cave his seer entombs, And mourning sadly from the cavern comes; The entrance closes with the rocks around, Again upon his journey he is bound. But soon within the mountains he is lost Within the darkness,--as some vessel tost Upon the trackless waves of unknown seas, But further from the awful cavern flees. The morning breaks o'er crags and lonely glens, And he dismayed, the awful wild now scans. He reins his steed and wondering looks around, And sees of every side a mystic ground. Before him stands the peak of Mount Masu,[1] The cliffs and crags forlorn his eyes swift view, And cedars, pines, among the rocks amassed, That weirdly rise within the mountain fast. Hark! hear that dreadful roaring all around! What nameless horror thrills the shaking ground?

The King in terror stares! and see! his steed Springs back! wild snorting,--trembling in his dread. Behold! behold those forms there blazing bright! Fierce flying by the earth with lurid light; Two awful spirits, demons, or fierce gods, With roaring thunders spring from their abodes! From depths beneath the earth the monsters fly, And upward lift their awful bodies high, Yet higher!--higher! till their crests are crowned By Heaven's gates; thus reaching from the ground To heights empyrean, while downward falls Each form, extending far 'neath Hades' walls. And see! each god as molten metal gleams, While sulphurous flame from hell each monster climbs! Two fiery horrors reaching to the skies, While wrathful lightning from each monster flies!

Hell's gate they guard with Death's remorseless face, And hurl the sun around the realms of space E'en swifter than the lightning, while it goes Along its orbit, guided by their blows. Dire tempests rise above from their dread blows, And ever round a starry whirlwind glows; The countless stars thus driven whirl around, With all the circling planets circling round.

The King astounded lifts his staring eyes, Into his face gray fear, with terror flies; As they approach, his thoughts the King collects, Thus over him one of the gods reflects. "Who cometh yonder with the form of gods?" The second says: "He comes from man's abodes, But with a mortal's feebleness he walks; Behold upon the ground alone he stalks."

One lifts his mighty arm across the sky, And strikes the sun as it goes roaring by; The fiery world with whiter heat now glows, While a vast flood of flame behind it flows, That curling, forms bright comets, meteors, And planets multiplies, and blazing stars; The robe of flames spreads vast across the sky, Adorned with starry gems that sparkling fly Upon the ambient ether forming suns That through new orbits sing their orisons; Their pealing thunders rend the trembling sky, The endless anthem of eternity.

The monster turning to the King then says, When nearer now his awful form doth blaze: "So thus you see, my son, the gods are strong, And to provoke great power, is foolish, wrong; But whither goest thou, thou sad-eyed King, What message hast thou;--to us here would bring?"

The King now prostrate to the monsters prayed: "Ye gods or demons, I within your glade Of horrors, have unwilling come to seek Our Khasisadra, who a spell can make To turn the anger of the gods away. Immortal lives the seer beside the sea, He knoweth death and life, all secret things; And this alone your servant to you brings. The goddess sought my hand, which I denied, And Anu's fury thus I have defied; This all my troubles caused, show me the way To Khasisadra, this I ask and pray."

The god's vast face broke out with wondrous smiles, And laughing, ripples rolled along for miles; His mouth wide opened its abyss and yawned, As earthquake gulf, far spreading through the ground. His roaring laughter shakes the earth around, "Ho! ho! my son! so you at last have found The Queen can hate, as well as love her friends, And on thy journey Ishtar's love thee sends? A mortal wise thou wast, to her refuse, For she can do with man what she may choose. A mortal's love, in truth, is wondrous strong, A glorious thing it is, Life's ceaseless song! Within a cave upon the mountain side, Thou there thy footsteps must to Hades guide, Twelve _kaspu_ go to yonder mountain gates, A heart like thine may well defy the fates. A darkness deep profound doth ever spread Within those regions black,--Home of the Dead. Go, Izdubar! within this land of Mas, Thy road doth lead, and to the west[2] doth pass, And may the maidens sitting by the walls Refresh thee, lead thee to the Happy Halls."

The path they take behind the rising sun The setting sun they pass,--with wings have flown The scorpion men,[3] within wide space have gone, Thus from his sight the monsters far have flown.

[Footnote 1: "Mount Masu," the Mountains of Masius, or "Mons Masius" of Strabo (vi. 12, §§ 4, 14, 2, etc.), may be referred to by the author of the epic. These mountains are now known to the Turks as Jebel Tur and Karaiah Dag.--Rawlinson's "Ancient Monarchies," vol. ii. pp. 9 and 25.]

[Footnote 2: Mr. Sayce translates thus: "the path of the sun."]

[Footnote 3: He also names the monsters "the scorpion men," and refers to an Assyrian cylinder on which two composite winged monsters are carved, with the winged emblem of the supreme god in the centre above them. The monsters have the feet of lions and the tails of scorpions. See illustration in Smith's revised edition, by Sayce, "Chald. Acc. of Gen.," p. 276. The monsters were supposed to fly ahead of the sun, and as it passed guide it along its orbit.]

COLUMN VI

IZDUBAR ENTERS HADES--THE SONG OF THE DALKHI IN THE CAVERN OF HORRORS--THE KING PASSES THROUGH HADES TO THE GARDEN OF THE GODS, AND SEES THE WONDERFUL FOUNTAIN OF LIFE'S WATERS

In a weird passage to the Under-World, Where demon shades sit with their pinions furled Along the cavern's walls with poisonous breath, In rows here mark the labyrinths of Death. The King with torch upraised, the pathway finds, Along the way of mortal souls he winds, Where shades sepulchral, soundless rise amid Dark gulfs that yawn, and in the blackness hide Their depths beneath the waves of gloomy lakes And streams that sleep beneath the sulphurous flakes That drift o'er waters bottomless, and chasms; Where moveless depths receive Life's dying spasms. Here Silence sits supreme on a drear throne Of ebon hue, and joyless reigns alone O'er a wide waste of blackness,--solitude Black, at her feet, there sleeps the awful flood Of mystery which grasps all mortal souls, Where grisly horrors sit with crests of ghouls, And hateless welcome with their eyes of fire Each soul;--remorseless lead to terrors dire; And ever, ever crown the god of Fate; And there, upon her ebon throne she sate The awful fiend, dark goddess Mam-mitu, Who reigns through all these realms of La-Atzu.[1]

But hark! what are these sounds within the gloom? And see! long lines of torches nearer come! And now within a recess they have gone; The King must pass their door! perhaps some one Of them may see him! turn the hags of gloom Upon him, as he goes by yonder room! He nearer comes, and peers within; and see! A greenish glare fills all the cave! and he Beholds a blaze beneath a cauldron there; Coiled, yonder lie the Dragons of Despair; And lo! from every recess springs a form Of shapeless horror! now with dread alarm He sees the flitting forms wild whirling there, And awful wailings come of wild despair: But hark! the _dal-khis'_ song rings on the air! With groans and cries they shriek their mad despair:

Oh, fling on earth, ye demons dark, Your madness, hate, and fell despair, And fling your darts at each we mark, That we may welcome victims here.

Then sing your song of hate, ye fiends, And hurl your pestilential breath, Till every soul before us bends, And worship here the god of Death.

In error still for e'er and aye, They see not, hear not many things; The unseen forces do not weigh, And each an unknown mystery brings.

In error still for e'er and aye, They delve for phantom shapes that ride Across their minds alone,--and they But mock the folly of man's pride.

In error still for e'er and aye! They learn but little all their lives, And Wisdom ever wings her way, Evading ever,--while man strives!

But hark! another song rings through the gloom, And, oh, how sweet the music far doth come! Oh, hear it, all ye souls in your despair, For joy it brings to sorrowing ones e'en here!

"There is a Deep Unknown beyond, That all things hidden well doth weigh! On man's blind vision rests the bond Of error still for e'er and aye!

"But to the mighty gods, oh, turn For truth to lead you on your way, And wisdom from their tablets learn, And ever hope for e'er and aye!"

And see! the hags disperse within the gloom, As those sweet sounds resound within the room; And now a glorious light doth shine around, Their rays of peace glide o'er the gloomy ground. And lo! 'tis Papsukul, our god of Hope,-- With cheerful face comes down the fearful slope Of rugged crags, and blithely strides to where Our hero stands, amid the poisonous air, And says: "Behold, my King, that glorious Light That shines beyond! and eye no more this sight Of dreariness, that only brings despair, For phantasy of madness reigneth here!" The King in wonder carefully now eyes The messenger divine with great surprise, And says: "But why, thou god of Hope, do I Thus find thee in these realms of agony? This World around me banishes thy feet From paths that welcome here the god of Fate And blank despair, and loss irreparable. Why comest thou to woe immeasurable?"

"You err, my King, for hope oft rules despair; I ofttimes come to reign with darkness here; When I am gone, the god of Fate doth reign; When I return, I soothe these souls again." "So thus you visit all these realms of woe, To torture them with hopes they ne'er can know? Avaunt! If this thy mission is on Earth Or Hell, thou leavest after thee but dearth!" "Not so, my King! behold yon glorious sphere, Where gods at last take all these souls from here! Adieu! thou soon shalt see the World of Light, Where joy alone these souls will e'er delight."

The god now vanishes away from sight, The hero turns his face toward the light; Nine _kaspu_ walks, till weird the rays now gleam, As _zi-mu-ri_ behind the shadows stream. He sees beyond, umbrageous grots and caves, Where odorous plants entwine their glistening leaves. And lo! the trees bright flashing gems here bear! And trailing vines and flowers do now appear, That spread before his eyes a welcome sight, Like a sweet dream of some mild summer night. But, oh! his path leads o'er that awful stream, Across a dizzy arch 'mid sulphurous steam That covers all the grimy bridge with slime. He stands perplexed beside the waters grime, Which sluggish move adown the limbo black, With murky waves that writhe demoniac,-- As ebon serpents curling through the gloom And hurl their inky crests, that silent come Toward the yawning gulf, a tide of hate; And sweep their dingy waters to Realms of Fate.

He cautious climbs the slippery walls of gloom, And dares not look beneath, lest Fate should come; He enters now the stifling clouds that creep Around the causeway, while its shadows sleep Upon the stream that sullen moves below,--

He slips!--and drops his torch! it far doth glow Beneath him on the rocks! Alas, in vain He seeks a path to bring it back again. It moves! snatched by a _dal-khu's_ hand it flies Away within the gloom, then falling dies Within those waters black with a loud hiss That breaks the silence of that dread abyss.

He turns again, amid the darkness gropes, And careful climbs the cragged, slimy slopes, And now he sees, oh, joy! the light beyond! He springs! he flies along the glowing ground, And joyous dashes through the waving green That lustrous meets his sight with rays serene, Where trees pure amber from their trunks distil, Where sweet perfumes the groves and arbors fill, Where zephyrs murmur odors from the trees, And sweep across the flowers, carrying bees With honey laden for their nectar store; Where humming sun-birds upward flitting soar O'er groves that bear rich jewels as their fruit, That sparkling tingle from each youngling shoot, And fill the garden with a glorious blaze Of chastened light and tender thrilling rays. He glides through that enchanted mystic world, O'er streams with beds of gold that sweetly twirled With woven splendor 'neath the blaze of gems That crown each tree with glistening diadems. The sounds of streams are weft with breezes, chant Their arias with trembling leaves,--the haunt Of gods! O how the tinkling chorus rings!-- With rhythms of the unseen rustling wings Of souls that hover here where joy redeems Them with a happiness that ever gleams.

The hero stands upon a damasked bed Of flowers that glow beneath his welcome tread, And softly sink with 'luring odors round, And beckon him to them upon the ground. Amid rare pinks and violets he lies, And one sweet pink low bending near, he eyes. With tender petals thrilling on its stem, It lifts its fragrant face and says to him, "Dear King, wilt thou love me as I do thee? We love mankind, and when a mortal see We give our fragrance to them with our love, Their love for us our inmost heart doth move." The King leans down his head, it kissing, says, "Sweet beauty, I love thee? with thy sweet face? My heart is filled with love for all thy kind. I would that every heart thy love should find." The fragrant floweret thrills with tenderness, With richer fragrance answers his caress. He kisses it again and lifts his eyes, And rises from the ground with glad surprise.

And see! the glorious spirits clustering round! They welcome him with sweet melodious sound. We hear their golden instruments of praise, As they around him whirl a threading maze; In great delight he views their beckoning arms, And lustrous eyes, and perfect, moving forms. And see! he seizes one bright, charming girl, As the enchanting ring doth nearer whirl; He grasps her in his arms, and she doth yield The treasure of her lips, where sweets distilled Give him a joy without a taint of guilt. It thrills his heart-strings till his soul doth melt, A kiss of chastity, and love, and fire, A joy that few can dare to here aspire. The beauteous spirit has her joy, and flees With all her sister spirits 'neath the trees. And lo! the _gesdin_[2] shining stands, With crystal branches in the golden sands, In this immortal garden stands the tree, With trunk of gold, and beautiful to see. Beside a sacred fount the tree is placed, With emeralds and unknown gems is graced, Thus stands, the prince of emeralds,[3] Elam's tree, As once it stood, gave Immortality To man, and bearing fruit, there sacred grew, Till Heaven claimed again Fair Eridu.[4]

The hero now the wondrous fountain eyes; Its beryl base to ruby stem doth rise, To emerald and sapphire bands that glow, Where the bright curvings graceful outward flow; Around the fountain to its widest part, The wondrous lazite bands now curling start And mingle with bright amethyst that glows, To a broad diamond band,--contracting grows To _uk-ni_ stone, turquoise, and clustering pearls, Inlaid with gold in many curious curls Of twining vines and tendrils bearing birds, Among the leaves and blooming flowers, that words May not reveal, such loveliness in art, With fancies spirit hands can only start From plastic elements before the eye, And mingle there the charms of empery. Beneath two diamond doves that shining glow Upon the summit, the bright waters flow, With aromatic splendors to the skies, While glistening colors of the rainbow rise.

Here ends the tablet,[5] "When the hero viewed The fountain which within the garden stood."

[Footnote 1: "La-Atzu," Hades, hell, the spirit-world.]

[Footnote 2: "Gesdin," the Tree of Life and Immortality.]

[Footnote 3: See Sayce's edition Smith's "Chald. Acc. of Gen.," p. 264.]

[Footntoe 4: "Eridu," the Garden of Eden. Idem, pp. 84-86.]

[Footnote 5: "Tablet of the series; when the hero Izdubar saw the fountain."--Sayce's edition Smith's "Chald. Acc. of Gen.," p. 264, l. 14.]

TABLET VIII--COLUMN I

THE KING'S ADVENTURE AT THE GATE OF THE GARDEN OF THE GODS WITH THE TWO MAIDENS--ONE OF THEM LEADS HIM INTO THE HAPPY HALLS--SONGS OF THE SABITU AND ZI-SI.

A gate half opened shows the silvery sea Yet distant shining lambent on his way. And now he sees young Siduri,[1] whose breast Infuses life; all nature she hath blest, Whose lips are flames, her arms are walls of fire, Whose love yields pleasures that can never tire, She to the souls who joy on earth here miss, Grants them above a holier, purer bliss. The maiden sits within a holy shrine Beside the gate with lustrous eyes divine, And beckons to the King, who nearer comes, And near her glows the Happy Palace domes.

And lo! 'tis she his lips have fondly kissed Within the garden, when like fleeing mist She disappeared with the bright spirit Seven,[2] The Sabit, who oft glide from earth to Heaven. And lo! one of the Seven, Sabitu, Emerging from the gate doth jealous view The coming hero who hath kissed her mate, She angry springs within to close the gate, And bars it, enters then the inner halls, And Izdubar to her now loudly calls, "O Sabitu! what see-est thou, my maid? Of Izdubar is Sabitu afraid? Thy gate thou barrest thus before my face. Quick, open for me! or I'll force the brass!" The maid now frightened opens wide the door. The Sar and Siduri now tread the floor Of the bright palace where sweet joy doth reign. Through crystal halls 'neath golden roofs the twain Next go within a lofty ceilinged hall, With shining pearled columns, golden wall, And purple silken hangings at each door, With precious gems inlaid upon the floor; Where couches grand are spread for one to rest Beneath the softened rays that sweet invest The senses with a thrill of happiness; Where Siduri with joy all souls doth bless. The maid sits on a couch and turns her face Toward the King with that immortal grace That love to gods and men will e'er bestow. Their eyes now mingling with a happy glow, The maiden sweetly says: "Where wouldst thou go? Within these Happy Halls we joy but know, And if thou wilt, my King, my heart is thine! Our love will ever bring us bliss divine."

"Alas, my maid, thy love to me is dear, And sad am I that I must go from here. I came from Erech by advice from one I loved more than thou canst e'er know, but gone From me is my Heabani, faithful seer. Across a desert waste have I come here, And he has there to dust returned,--to dust-- O how the love of my friend I did trust! I would that we had never started here, I now must find the great immortal seer."

The maiden turns her glowing eyes on him, Replies: "My King, thou knowest joy may gleam, Take courage, weary heart, and sing a song! The hour of sorrow can never be long; The day will break, and flood thy soul with joy, And happiness thy heart will then employ! Each day must end with all its sorrow, woe, Oh, sing with me, dear heart! I love thee so!" And lo! the curtains flung aside, now comes The joyous Sabitu from yonder rooms, And gathering round, a song they gayly sing, Oh, how with music the bright walls now ring! If evil thou hast done, my King,

Oh, pray! oh, pray! And to the gods thy offerings bring, And pray! and pray! The sea is roaring at thy feet, The storms are coming, rain and sleet; To all the gods, Oh, pray to them! oh, pray!

_Chorus_

To all the gods, Oh, pray to them! oh, pray!

Thy city we will bless, O Sar! With joy, with joy! And prosper thee in peace and war With joy, with joy! And bless thee every day and night, Thy kingly robes keep pure and bright; Give thee bright dreams, O glorious king of war!

_Chorus_

Give thee bright dreams, O glorious king of war!

And if thy hand would slay thy foes In war, in war! With thee returning victory goes In war, in war! We grant thee victory, my King; Like marshes swept by storms, we bring Our power to thee With victory in war!

_Chorus_

Our power to thee With victory in war!

And if thou wouldst the waters pass, The sea, the sea! We'll go with thee in every place, With thee, with thee! To Hea's halls and glorious throne, Where he unrivalled reigns alone, To Hea go Upon his throne of snow.

_Chorus_

To Hea go Upon his throne of snow.

And if thine anger rules thy heart As fire, as fire! And thou against thy foes would start With ire, with ire! Against thy foes thy heart be hard, And all their land with fire be scarred, Destroy thy foes! Destroy them in thine ire!

_Chorus_

Destroy thy foes! Destroy them in thine ire!

And lo! young Siduri hath disappeared, And with the Zisi crowned she now appeared; The corn-gods in a crescent round their queen, She waves before the king her Nusku[3] green, And sings with her sweet voice a joyful lay, And all the Zisi join the chorus gay:

[4]A heifer of the corn am I, Kara! Kara![5] Yoked with the kine we gayly fly, Kara! Kara! The ploughman's hand is strong and drives The glowing soil, the meadow thrives! Before the oxen Sa-lum-mat-u na-si.[6]

_Chorus_

Before the oxen Sa-lum-mat-u na-si.

The harvesters are in the corn! Kara! Kara! Our feet are flying with the morn, Kara! Kara! We bring thee wealth! it is thine own! The grain is ripe! oh, cut it down! The yellow grain Sa-lum-mat-u na-si.

_Chorus_

The yellow grain Sa-lum-mat-u na-si.

The fruit of death, oh, King, taste it not! Taste not! taste not! With fruit of Life the land is fraught Around! around! The fruit of Life we give to thee And happiness, oh, ever see. All joy is thine Through Earth and Heaven's bound.

_Chorus_

All joy is thine Through Earth and Heaven's bound.

Our corn immortal there is high And ripe! and ripe! And ever ripens 'neath that sky As gold! as gold! Our corn is bearded,[7] thus 'tis known, And ripens quickly when 'tis grown. Be joy with thee, Our love around thee fold!

_Chorus_

Be joy with thee, Our love around thee fold!