Chapter 3

The hour has come when Izdubar will seek The cool enchantment of the cove, and slake His thirst with its sweet waters bubbling pure, Where Love has spread for him her sweetest lure, The maids expectant listening, watch and wait His coming; oft in ecstacies they prate O'er his surprise, and softly sport and splash The limpid waves around, that glowing flash Like heaps of snowy pearls lung to the light By Hea's[1] hands, his Zir-ri[2] to delight. And now upon the rock each maid reclines, While Ishtar's form beneath them brightly shines; Beside the fountain stands the lovely god, The graceful sovereign of Love's sweet abode.

"He comes; the shrubs of yonder jasmine near Are rustling, oh, he comes! my Izdubar!" And thus her love she greets: "Why art thou here? Thou lovely mortal! king art thou, or seer? We reck not which, and welcome give to thee; Wouldst thou here sport with us within the sea?" And then, as if her loveliness forgot, She quickly grasped her golden locks and wrought Them round her form of symmetry with grace That well became a god, while o'er her face Of sweetest beauty blushes were o'erspread; "Thou see-est only Nature's robe," she said. "'Tis all I wish while sporting with my maids, And all alone no care have we for jades; And if with thee we can in truth confide, We here from all the world may cosey hide." She hurls a glance toward him, smiling naïve, Then bounding from the rock, peeps from a wave; The waters fondling her surround, embrace Her charms; and now emerging with rare grace, She turning says:

"Make haste, my hearts! Come forth! attend your queen!" and then she parts The azure waves, to where, in dumb surprise, The King enchanted stands, and fondly eyes The Queen divine, while fascinating thrills Sweep wildly through his breast; as fragrance fills The rose-tree groves, or gardens of the gods, Or breezes odorous from the Blest Abodes. A longing, rising, fills his inmost soul For this sweet queen who offers him a goal His stormy life has never known, since he, His loved one lost beneath the raging sea; And all his calm resolves to seek no more A joy which passed and left his heart forlore, Are breaking, vanishing beneath her charms, Dissolving as the mists, when sunlight warms The earth, then scorching drinks the rising dews; Till he at last no longer can refuse, And love directs while he the goddess greets: "Such wondrous beauty here no mortal meets; But come, thou Zir-ru,[3] with me sweetly rest; Primroses, gentians, with their charms invest My mossy couch, with odorous citron-trees And feathery palms above; and I will please Thee with a mortal's love thou hast not known; In pure love mingling let our spirits run, For earthly joys are sweeter than above, That rarest gift, the honeyed kiss of love On earth, is sweeter bliss than gods enjoy; Their shadowy forms with love cannot employ Such pleasure as a mortal's sweet caress. Come, Zi-ru, and thy spirit I will bless; The Mandrake[4] ripened golden, glows around; The fruit of Love is fragrant on the ground."

Amid the Dud'im[5] plants he now reclines, And to his welcome fate himself resigns; The lovely queen beside him now doth lay, And leads his soul along the blissful way That comes to every heart that longs for love, When purest joy doth bless us from above; From her soft liquid eyes the love-light speaks, And her warm hands she lays in his, and wakes Beneath her touch a thrill of wild desire, Until his blood now seems like molten fire. Her eyes half closed begat a passion wild, With her warm breast, her loves hath beguiled; She nearer creeps with hot and balmy breath, And trembling form aglow, and to him saith: "My lips are burning for a kiss, my love!" A prize like this, a heart of stone would move, And he his arms around her fondly placed Till she reclined upon his breast, embraced, Their lips in one long thrilling rapture meet. But hark! what are these strains above so sweet That float around, above, their love surround? An-nu-na-ci[6] from forests, mounts around, And from the streams and lakes, and ocean, trees, And all that haunt the godly place, to please The lovers, softly chant and dance around To cymbals, lyres until the rocks resound, Of goddess Ishtar chant, and Izdubar, The Queen of Love wed to the King of War. And he alarmed starts up and springs away, And furious cries, to Ishtar's wild dismay:

"What meanest thou, thou wanton brazen thing? Wouldst thou on me the direst curses bring?" And lo! the goddess is transformed! the crown Of her own silver skies shines like the sun, And o'er her dazzling robes a halo falls; Her stately form with glory him appals, For Heaven's dazzling splendor o'er her flows, With rays celestial; o'er her brow there glows A single star.

"Have I embraced a god?" He horrified now cries; and she doth nod Assent.

"But, oh! wilt thou thy queen forgive? I love thee! stay! oh, stay! my heart you grieve!"

He springs beyond the mystic circling ring, And from their sight thus glides the angry King, Beneath the wood himself he doth disguise In tattered garments, on his steed he flies; And when he comes in sight of Erech's gate, His beggar's mantle throws aside; in state Again enrobed, composed his anxious face, Through Erech's gates he rides with kingly grace; O'er his adventure thus the King reflects: "Alas my folly leads, my life directs! 'Tis true, the goddess hath seductive charms, E'en yet I feel her warm embracing arms. Enough! her love from me I'll drive away; Alas! for me, is this unfruitful day!"

[Footnote 1: "Hea," god of the ocean.]

[Footnote 2: "Zir-ri," spirits of the river, the sea-daughters of Hea.]

[Footnote 3: "Zir-ru," water-nymph.]

[Footnote 4: "Mandrake," the "love-plant."]

[Footnote 5: "Dud'im" or "dudaim," [Hebrew: dud'im] or Chald. [Hebrew: ibduchin] and Syr. [Hebrew: ibduch'] the "love-plant" or mandrake; perhaps also originally from "du-du" ("love") or ex. [Hebrew: du] ("particula"), Arab. "possessorem designante," et ex rad. Arab. [Hebrew: ddy] ("ægrotavit"), or [Hebrew: dud] or "amare." See Simoni's Lex. Man. Heb. et Chald. et Lat., pp. 204-206, and Park's Heb. Lex., p. 113, note +.]

[Transcriber's Note: The above "+" is my rendering of a footnote "cross" common in older books.]

[Footnote 6: "An-nu-na-ci," spirits of the earth.]

TABLET II--COLUMN I

ISHTAR'S MIDNIGHT COURTSHIP IN THE PALACE OF IZDUBAR.

As Samas' car sank in the glowing west, And Sin the moon-god forth had come full drest For starry dance across the glistening skies, The sound of work for man on earth now dies, And all betake themselves to sweet repose. The silver light of Sin above bright flows, And floods the figures on the painted walls, O'er sculptured lions, softly, lightly falls; Like grim and silent watch-dogs at the door They stand; in marble check their leaping roar. The King within his chamber went his way, Upon his golden jewelled couch he lay. The silken scarlet canopy was hung In graceful drapery and loosely clung Around his couch, and purple damask cloths Embroidered with rare skill, preserved from moths By rich perfumes, to the carved lintel clung In graceful folds; thus o'er the entrance hung.

Queen Ishtar softly comes, and o'er his dreams A mystic spell she draws, until it seems While half awake he lies, that she is yet Close nestling in his arms, as he had met Her in the wood, and with her there reclined, While her soft arms around him were entwined. Thus while he sleeps she hovers o'er his bed With throbbing heart, and close inclines her head Until her lips near touch the sleeping King's, But daring not to kiss.

She love thus brings, All through his dreams; until one misty night, While he yet restless tossed, the lovely sprite Sunk him to deeper sleep with her soft lyre While hanging o'er his couch consumed with fire That nestling around her heart-strings fiercely burned Until at last lulled by the strain he turned Upon his couch at rest, and she now lay Beside him closely, when she heard him say: "My love thou art, but canst not be!" No more He murmurs, then inflamed she sought the door. "Perchance the _su-khu-li_[1] sleep not!" she said; And satisfied, turned where her lover laid; And to his royal couch she crept again; Her bliss will have despite of gods and men. Her hot and burning lips cannot resist The tempting treasure lying there, nor missed Shall be the dearest joys of love from her Who rules all hearts in Heaven, earth, and air. Her right divine that blessing sweet to take, She will assert, her burning thirst to slake.

His couch the Heavenly Queen of Love now graces, And on his breast her glorious head she places; Embracing him, she softly through her lips And his, the sweetest earthly nectar sips, While he in sleep lies murmuring of love, And she in blissful ecstasy doth move. Her lips to his, she wildly places there, Until to him it seems a fond nightmare.

And thus, against his will, she fondly takes What he her shall deny when he awakes, The stolen kisses both the lovers thrill: Unquenched her warm desire would kiss him still, But his hot blood now warms him in his dream Which is much more to him than it doth seem; And clasping her within convulsing arms, Receives a thrill that all his nerves alarms, And wakes him from the dreams she had instilled. "What means this fantasy that hath me filled, And spirit form that o'er my pillow leans; I wonder what this fragrant incense means? Oh, tush! 'tis but an idle, wildering dream, But how delightful, joyous it did seem! Her beauteous form it had, its breath perfume; Do spirit forms such loveliness assume?"

The goddess yet dares not her form reveal, And quickly she herself doth now conceal Behind the damask curtains at the door. When he awoke, sprang to the chamber floor, As his own maid the queen herself transforms, Says entering in haste:

"What wild alarms Thee, Sar?" and then demure awaits reply, In doubt to hear or to his bosom fly. "My maid art thou? 'Tis well, for I have dreamed Of spirits, as a Zi-ru fair it seemed."

[Footnote 1: "Su-khu-li," guards of the palace.]

COLUMN II

THE KING'S SECOND DREAM AND EARLY RIDE UPON SUMIR'S PLAIN, AND HAND-TO-HAND CONFLICT ON THE BANKS OF THE EUPHRATES

The night is fleeing from the light of dawn, Which dimly falls upon the palace lawn; The King upon his royal _dum-khi_[1] sleeps, And to his couch again Queen Ishtar creeps. In spite his dream to dismal thoughts she turns, Her victim tosses, now with fever burns: He wildly starts, and from his _dum-khi_ springs, While loud his voice throughout the palace rings: "Ho! vassals! haste to me! your King!" he cries, And stamping fiercely while his passions rise. The _sukhu-li_[2] and _masari_[3] rush in: "What trouble, Sar? have foes here come within?" Then searching around they in his chamber rush, And eagerly aside the curtains push. The King yet paces on the floor with strides That show the trouble of his mind, and chides Them all as laggards; "Soon the sun will rise: My steed prepared bring hence!" he turning cries. He mounts and gallops through the swinging gates, Nor for attendance of his vassals waits. Nor turns his face toward the _nam-za-khi_,[4] Who quickly opened for the King to fly Without the gates; across the plains he rides Away unmindful where his steed he guides. The horse's hoofs resound upon the plain As the lone horseman with bewildered brain, To leave behind the phantoms of the night, Rides fiercely through the early morning light, Beyond the orange orchards, citron groves, 'Mid feathery date-palms he reckless roves. The fields of yellow grain mid fig-trees flash Unseen, and prickly pears, pomegranates, dash In quick succession by, till the white foam From his steed's mouth and quiv'ring flanks doth come; Nor heeds the whitened flowing mane, but flies, While clouds of dust him follow, and arise Behind him o'er the road like black storm clouds, While Zu[5] the storm-bird onward fiercely goads The seven[6] raven spirits of the air, And Nus-ku[7] opens wide the fiery glare Of pent-up lightnings for fierce Gibil's[8] hand, Who hurls them forth at Nergal's[9] stern command, And Rimmon[10] rides triumphant on the air, And Ninazu[11] for victims doth prepare, The King rides from the road into the wild, Nor thought of danger, his stern features smiled As the worn steed from a huge lion shied, Which turning glanced at them and sprang aside; Now Zi-pis-au-ni[12] fly before the King. And yellow leopards through the rushes spring. Upon Euphrates' banks his steed he reins, And views the rosy wilds of Sumir's plains.

He looked toward the east across the plain That stretched afar o'er brake and marshy fen, And clustering trees that marked the Tigris' course; And now beyond the plain o'er fields and moors, The mountain range of Zu[13] o'er Susa's land. Is glowing 'neath the touch of Samas' hand; For his bright face is rising in the east, And shifting clouds from sea and rising mist, The robes of purple, violet and gold, With rosy tints the form of Samas fold. The tamarisk and scarlet mistletoe, With green acacias' golden summits glow, And citron, olives, myrtle, climbing vine, Arbutus, cypress, plane-tree rise divine; The emerald verdure, clad with brilliant hues, With rose-tree forests quaffs the morning dews. The King delighted bares his troubled brow, In Samas' golden rays doth holy bow. But see! a shadow steals along the ground! And trampling footsteps through the copses sound, And Izdubar, his hand placed on his sword, Loud cries: "Who cometh o'er mine Erech's sward?" An armèd warrior before him springs; The King, dismounted, his bright weapon swings. "'Tis I, Prince Dib-bara,[14] Lord Izdubar, And now at last alone we meet in war; My soldiers you o'erthrew upon the field, But here to Nuk-khu's[15] son thine arm shall yield!" The monarch eyes the warrior evil-born, And thus replies to him with bitter scorn: "And dost thou think that Samas' son shall die By a vile foe who from my host did fly? Or canst thou hope that sons of darkness may The Heaven-born of Light and glory slay? As well mayst hope to quench the god of fire, But thou shalt die if death from me desire." The giant forms a moment fiercely glared, And carefully advanced with weapons bared, Which flash in the bright rays like blades of fire, And now in parry meet with blazing ire. Each firmly stood and rained their ringing blows, And caught each stroke upon their blades, till glows The forest round with sparks of fire that flew Like blazing meteors from their weapons true; And towering in their rage they cautious sprung Upon each, foiled, while the deep Suk-ha[16] rung. At last the monarch struck a mighty blow, His foeman's shield of gold, his blade cleft through; And as the lightning swung again his sword, And struck the chieftain's blade upon the sward, A Sedu springs from out the tangled copse, And at his feet the sword still ringing drops. The King his sword placed at his foeman's throat And shouted:

"Hal-ca[17] to yon waiting boat! Or I will send thy body down this stream! _Ca is-kab-bu! va kal-bu!_[18] whence you came!" The chief disarmed now slunk away surprised, And o'er the strength of Sar-dan-nu[19] surmised. The King returns, and rides within the gate Of Erech, and the council entered late.

[Footnote 1: "Dum-khi," couch.]

[Footnote 2: "Su-khu-li rabi," attendants of the King.]

[Footnote 3: "Masari," guards of the palace.]

[Footnote 4: "Nam-za-ki," openers of the gates.]

[Footnote 5: "Zu," the divine bird of the storm-cloud, the god worshipped by Izdubar, the god who stole the tablets of heaven.]

[Footnote 6: The seven wicked spirits in the form of men with faces of ravens.]

[Footnote 7: "Nus-ku," the gate-keeper of thunder.]

[Footnote 8: "Gibil," the god of fire and spells and witchcraft.]

[Footnote 9: "Ner-gal," director of the storms, the giant King of War, the strong begetter.]

[Footnote 10: "Rimmon," the god of storms and hurricanes.]

[Footnote 11: "Nin-a-zu," the goddess of fate and death.]

[Footnote 12: "Zi-pis-au-ni," spirits of the papyri, or reeds.]

[Footnote 13: Mountain range of Zu. The ancient name is unknown, but as Susa takes its name from Zu, the divine bird of the storm-cloud, we have given the mountains of Susiana their probable ancient name.]

[Footnote 14: "Dib-bara" ("the darkening one"), the son of Nuk-khu. He is supposed to have been the viceroy of Khumbaba, and led the attack upon Erech.]

[Footnote 15: "Nuk-hu," or "Nuk-khu," the god of darkness and sleep. He is sometimes called "Cus-u."]

[Footnote 16: "Suk-ha," wood or grove, or a forest.]

[Footnote 17: "Hal-ca!" "Go!"]

[Footnote 18: "Ca is-kab-bu! va kal-bu!" "Thou fool and dog!" "Ca" ("thou") is the short form of "cat-ta" or "ca'a"; generally it appears as "at-ta."]

[Footnote 19: "Sar-dan-nu," the great King.]

COLUMN III

IZDUBAR RELATES HIS SECOND DREAM TO HIS SEERS, WHO CANNOT INTERPRET IT

The counsellors assembled round the throne Within the council halls of _zam-at_[1] stone, Now greet their monarch, and behold his face With trouble written on his brow, and trace Uneasiness within that eagle eye, While he with stately tread, yet wearily His throne approached; he turned to the mu-di,[2] And swept a glance upon his khas-iz-i.[3] Uneasy they all eyed his troubled face, For he had ridden at a furious pace. The _abuli_[4] had told them on that morn, How he across the plains had wildly torn To drive away some vision of the night. One asked, "Hath our Sardan-nu's dreams been light? Or hath dread phantoms o'er thy pillow hung? For trouble on thy countenance hath clung." The monarch startled at the question eyes The councillor, and to him thus replies: "'Tis true, my counsellors and wisest men, I dreamed a fearful dream Sat mu-si;[5] when I have disclosed it, if one clear reveals Its meaning all and naught from me conceals, On him will I the greatest wealth bestow: I will ennoble him, and the _sib-zu_[6] A _ku-bar-ra_[7] for him shall rich prepare; As my _tur-tan-u_[8] he shall be, and seer, Decked with a golden chain shall next preside At every feast, and break his bread beside The King, and highest rank he shall attain 'Mong counsellors, and mine own favor gain; And seven wives to him I will allow, And a grand palace. This as King I vow, The scribe it shall enroll above my seal As Erech's Sar's decree beyond repeal.

"I dreamed upon my _dum-khi_[9] fast asleep, The stars from heaven fell from yonder deep To earth; and one, with fierceful heat my back Did pierce as molten fire, and left its track Of flames like some huge ball along my spine; And then transformed, it turned its face to mine; As some fierce god it glowed before my sight Till agony was lost in dread affright. I rooted stood, in terror, for its face Was horrible; I saw in its feet's place A lion's claws. It sprang, my strength it broke, And slew me, gloating over me! Awoke, I sprang, methought I was a corpse _ka-ra Va tal-ka mat sar, talka bu-la sha Ra-pas-ti sat-ti, ar-id-da! ka-rat Va hal-li-ka! lik-ru-bu ki-mi-ta!_[10]" The seers in silence stand, perplexed and think; But from the task at once the wisest shrink.

The King each face soon read:

"Ye tell me no?" And nodding all, concealed from him their woe, For they beheld within the dream some fate Impending o'er him born of godly hate, And durst not to their monarch prate their fears, For flatterers of kings are all his seers. The King impatient eyed them all with scorn, And hid his thoughts by wildest passions born; And then at last contemptuous to them said, "So all my seers of trouble are afraid? Or else in ignorance you turn away; 'Tis well! I sorely need a seer this day." And they now prostrate fall before his throne, "Forgive thy seers!" one cries, "O mighty One! For we this dreadful dream do fear portends Thy harm! a god some message to thee sends! We know not what, but fear for thee, our Sar, And none but one can augur it; afar He lives, Heabani should before the King Be brought from Za-Ga-bri[11] the _na-bu_[12] bring!" "'Tis well! Prince Zaidu for the hermit send, And soon this mystery your Sar will end." The King distressed now to the temple goes To lay before the mighty gods his woes; This prayer recites to drive away bad dreams, While Samas' holy altar brightly gleams: [13] "O Samas! may my prayer bring me sweet rest, And may my Lord his favor grant to me: Annihilate the things that me invest! This day, O God! distressed, I cry to thee! O goddess! be thou gracious unto me, Receive my prayer, my sins forgive I pray: My wickedness and will arrayed 'gainst thee. Oh, pardon me! O God, be kind this day, My groaning may the seven winds destroy, Clothe me with deep humility! receive My prayers, as wingèd birds, oh, may they fly And fishes carry them, and rivers weave Them in the waters on to thee, O God! As creeping things of the vast desert, cry I unto thee outstretched on Erech's sod; And from the river's lowest depths I pray; My heart cause thou to shine like polished gold, Though food and drink of Nin-a-zu[14] this day Be mine, while worms and death thy servant fold. Oh, from thine altar me support, protect, In low humility I pray, forgive! Feed me with joy, my dreams with grace direct; The dream I dreamed, oh favorable give To me its omen filled with happiness! May Mak-hir,[15] god of dreams, my couch invest! With visions of Bit-sag-gal my heart bless, The temple of the gods, of Nin, with rest Unbroken, and to Merodach I pray! The favoring one, to prosper me and mine: [16]Oh, may thy entering exalted be! And thy divinity with glory shine, And may our city shine with glowing meads, And all my people praise thy glorious deeds." Now to Euphrates' banks the Sar and seers Their footsteps turn to pray into the ears Of Hea,[17] where, in white, a band of priests Drawn in a crescent, Izdubar invests. Now at the water's edge he leans, his hands Dips in the waves, and pours upon the sands The sparkling drops, while all a hymn descant To Hea, thus the incantation chant:

"O chant our incantation to the waters pure, Euphrates' waters flowing to the sea! Where Hea's holy face shines bright on every shore, O Sabit[18] of Timatu[19] to ye We pray! may your bright waters glowing shine As Hea's face, and heaving breast divine!

"O Sabit, to your father Hea take our prayer! And may Dao-ki-na,[20] your bright mother, hear! With joy, oh shine, as peaceful as the sleeping light, O ever may your throbbing waves be bright. O spirit of the Heaven, hear! Remember us, Remember! O spirit of the earth, come near! Remember us, Remember! O hear us, Hea! hear us, dear Dao-ki-na! _Ca-ca-ma u ca-ca-ma u ca-ca-ma!_"[21]

[Footnote 1: "Zam-at" stone, diamond, crystal or lapis lazuli.]

[Footnote 2: "Mu-di," seers.]

[Footnote 3: "Khas-i-zi," counsellors.]

[Footnote 4: "Ab-u-li," guard of the great gates of the city.]

[Footnote 5: "Sat mu-si," in the night-time, or last night.]

[Footnote 6: "Sib-zu," embroiderer.]

[Footnote 7: "Ku-bar-ra," robe of a prince.]

[Footnote 8: "Tur-tan-u," next in rank to the King.]

[Footnote 9: "Dum-khi" or "dun-khi," couch.]

[Footnote 10: "Ka-ra! va," etc., "Speak out! and if thou augurest the death of the King, or if thou augurest life of extended years, I have spoken! Speak out! and cast the lots! may they be propitious with us!"]

[Footnote 11: "Za-Ga-bri," the mountains of Zu, "Ga-bri" ("mountains"), and "Za," another form of "zu," the divine bird of the storm-cloud. They were at one time called the mountains of Susa, now the Kurdistan range of mountains. The name we have given we believe to be the probable ancient one.]

[Footnote 12: "Na-bu," prophet, seer.]

[Footnote 13: We have here quoted a prayer after a bad dream, the text of which is lithographed in "C.I.W.A.," vol. iv. 66, 2, and is supposed to be an ancient Accadian prayer. See "Records of the Past," vol. ix. p. 151.]

[Footnote 14: "Nin-a-zu," the goddess of darkness and death.]