Chapter 4

[Footnote 15: "Mak-hir," the daughter of the sun, and goddess of dreams.]

[Footnote 16: Literally, "he that shows favor." The above prayer was translated for the first time by Rev. A.H. Sayce, M.A., in the "Records of the Past," vol. ix. p. 151. We have followed as literally as possible the original, and have given it its probable place in the epic.]

[Footnote 17: Hea, god of the ocean, the earth's surface, brightness, etc., and chief protector of men.]

[Footnote 18: "Sab-it," or "Sabitu" ("seven"), the seven winds, gods of the abyss or ocean.]

[Footnote 19: "Tiamatu," the abyss or ocean.]

[Footnote 20: "Dao-ki-na" or "Dao-ci-na," the wife of Hea, and goddess of the ocean.]

[Footnote 21: "Amen and Amen and Amen!" The Assyrian word is "Amanu." The original "ca-ca-ma" ("Amen") concludes the incantation; Heb. [Hebrew: amen] See "C.I.W.A.," vol. iv. pl. 14; also "Records of the Past," vol. xi. p. 135.]

COLUMN IV

HEABANI, THE HERMIT SEER

Before a cave within the Gab-ri[1] wild, A seer is resting on a rock; exiled By his own will from all the haunts of men, Beside a pool within a rocky glen He sits; a turban rests upon his brow, And meets the lengthened beard of whitest snow. This morn an omen comes before his eyes, And him disturbs with a wild eagle's cries That fierce attacks a fox before his cave; For he of beasts is the most cunning knave; In wait upon the ground the fox hath lain To lure the bird, which flying deems him slain. He fiercely seizes it, as swooping down, The bird with its sly quarry would have flown; But the _a-si_[2] quick seized it by the throat, While the wide wings with frantic fury smote The beast, and the sharp talons deeply tore Its foe--both greedy for the other's gore.

And lo! a voice from yonder sky resounds; Heabani to his feet now quickly bounds, And bowing, listens to the voice that comes In gentleness; upon the winds it roams From yon blue heights like sighing of the trees; The seer in reverence upon his knees Now holy bares his head in Samas' rays, While the soft voice to him thus gently says: "A messenger, Heabani, soon shall come With offers rich, to leave thy lonely home. This eagle sought its food and found a snare, The messenger will come from Izdubar, To learn from thee the meaning of his dream Which goddess Ishtar sent,--a snare for him. Then to the messenger prove not a snare, As yonder _a-si_ doth the eagle tear."

The seer in fury tore his beard of snow And cried--

"Alas! my days shall end in woe Within these wilds my happiness is mine, No other joys I seek, my god divine; I would upon these rocks lie down to die, Upon my back here sleep eternally." And Samas urging, to him thus replied: "Heabani, hast thou not some manly pride? And thinkest thou no joy thou here wilt lose? The lovely Sam-kha-tu[3] the seer may choose. Arrayed in trappings of divinity And the insignia of royalty, Heabani then in Erech shall be great, And live in happiness and royal state; And Izdubar shall hearken, and incline His heart in warmest friendship, and recline With thee upon a couch of luxury. And seat thee on a throne of royalty, On his left hand, a crown shall grace thy brow. Kings of the earth shall to thee subject bow And kiss thy feet, and Izdubar shall give Thee wealth, and thou in luxury shalt live. In silence Erech's men shall bow to thee, In royal raiment thou shalt happy be." Heabani listened to the words that came From Samas, and his brow was lit with shame To hear the god of war urge him to go To earthly happiness--mayhap to woe; But he within his cave now listless turns When Samas ceased; then to his rock returns, And seats himself with calmness on his brow; His thoughts in happy memories now flow, And he recalls the blissful days of yore When he as seer lived on Euphrates' shore, As the queen's bard oft tuned a festive lay, While soft-eyed maidens dance and cymbals play.

[Footnote 1: "Gab-ri," mountains.]

[Footnote 2: "A-si," fox.]

[Footnote 3: "Sam-kha-tu" ("Joy"), one of the maids of Ishtar.]

COLUMN V

EXPEDITION OF ZAIDU IN SEARCH OF THE SEER

Prince Zaidu on his steed now hastes away, Upon the plains he travelled all that day; Next morn the Za-Gabri he slow ascends, Along the mountain sides the horseman wends Beneath the Eri-ni,[1] and cliffs, and sees The plains and mountains o'er the misty trees From the wild summit, and old Khar-sak glow Above them all with its twin crests of snow. He plunges in the wild to seek the cave; Three days unceasing sought young Zaidu brave, And now at last within the glen he rode, And near approached Heabani's wild abode. At last he sees the seer before his home, And with his monster[2] now toward him come, That walked subdued beside the hermit seer, Thus they upon the rocks above appear.

"Why art thou here in warrior's array?" The hermit cries. "I know thee not! away!"

"O holy seer, 'tis Zaidu, from our Sar! The king of Erech, chieftain Izdubar."

"What seekest thou within my mountain lair?" Heabani angry cried. "What brings thee here?"

"For thee! if true Heabani is thy name; I seek the hermit seer of wondrous fame. My king doth offer thee rich gifts of state, And sent me to thee here to make thee great." "No empty honors do I seek, which void Of all true happiness, all men have cloyed. Return then to thy haunts of pleasure, pain, For thy king's embassy is all in vain." The seer returns within his lonely cave And leaves the prince alone the beast to brave. At last it slinks away within the gloom; No more from their wild home doth either come, Three days Prince Zaidu watches the dark lair, But now his courage turns to blank despair: The seer hath changed his mind since Samas sought To urge him forth to leave his lonely lot. The prince the mountain precipice now climbs, And peers within while clinging to the limbs Of stunted oaks, and views the mountain lair; But all in vain his calls ring on the air. Then mounting wearily his steed he turns Away, and unsuccessful thus returns.

[Footnote 1: "Eri-ni," cedar-trees.]

[Footnote 2: A carnivorous animal supposed to have been either a lion or a tiger, more probably a lion.]

COLUMN VI

HEABANI RESOLVES TO RETURN TO ERECH

As Zaidu sadly turns and rides away, The hermit from his cave comes forth to pray: "Alas! hath all these wilds their charms here lost? And is my breast with wild ambition tost? My lonely cot I look upon with shame; Again I long to seek the fields of fame, Where luxury my remaining years May crown, and happiness may find--or tears; 'Tis true! I should have welcomed the _bar-ru;_[1] But he hath since returned to Subartu."[2] His harp he took from its dust-covered case, And kissed its carved and well-remembered face; And tuning it, he glanced toward the wood, And sang his farewell ode to solitude:

Farewell, ye mountains, woods and trees-- My heart doth long again for joy; I love your wilds and mossy leas, But oh, your solitude doth cloy!

I love to see the _bur-khi-is_[3] Sweep stately o'er the mossy rocks; And _tsabi_[4] in a wild like this, Hear the tattoo of red woodchucks.

I love the cries of _lig-bar-ri_[5] The _nes-i_[6] calling for their prey; And leaping of the _na-a-li_[7] That fly in wildest fear away.

I love the _bu-hir-tser-i_[8] all, _Khar-sa-a-nii sa-qu-u-tu;_[9] Hear _cu-uts-tsi_[10] with thunder roll Across the skies within my view.

I love to see the _ca-ca-bi_[11] Peep through the pine-trees o'er my home, And watch the wild _tu-ra-a-khi_[12] And _arme_[13] welcome, to me come.

Farewell! ye solitudes, farewell! I will not moulder rotting lie With no one's lips to wish me well; O give me immortality!

But what is fame? A bubble blown Upon the breeze, that bursts its shell, And all our brightest hopes are flown, And leaves our solitude a hell.

The holy minstrel bows his head in woe, And sweeps the harpstrings with a movement slow; Then lifts his eyes toward the setting sun, His evening invocation thus begun:

[14]O Samas! to the lifting of my hands Show favor! unto me thy servant turn! What man before thy blessèd Light withstands? O thou! what mortal thine own words can learn? And who can rival them inviolate? [15]Among the gods no equal thou hast found. In Heaven who of all the gods is great? O thou alone! art great through Heaven's bound!

On earth what man is great? alas! no one, For thou alone art great! through earth's vast bounds. When wide thy awful voice in Heaven resounds, The gods fall prostrate to our Holy One; When on the earth thy voice afar resounds, The genii[16] bow to thee and kiss the dust. In thee, O Samas! do I put my trust, For thy great love and mercy wide abounds!

O my Creator, God, thy watchfulness O'er me, oh may it never cease! Keep thou the opening of my lips! the fleece Of purest snow be my soul's daily dress. Guard thou my hands! O Samas, Lord of Light! And ever keep my life and heart aright!

[Footnote 1: "Bar-ru," an army officer]

[Footnote 2: "Su-bar-tu," Syria]

[Footnote 3: "Bur-khi-is," antelopes]

[Footnote 4: "Tsabi," gazelles]

[Footnote 5: "Lig-bar-ri," hyenas]

[Footnote 6: "Nes-i," lions]

[Footnote 7: "Na-a-li," spotted stags]

[Footnote 8: "Bu-hir-tser-i," beasts of the field]

[Footnote 9: "Khar-sa-a-nu sa-qu-u-tu," forests thick]

[Footnote 10: "Cu-uts-tsi," storms.]

[Footnote 11: "Ca-ca-bi," stars.]

[Footnote 12: "Tu-ra-a-khi," deer.]

[Footnote 13: "Arme," wild goats.]

[Footnote 14: This prayer is made up from Assyrian fragments now in the British Museum.]

[Footnote 15: See "Records of the Past," vol. iii. p. 136.]

[Footnote 16: "Genii," spirits.]

TABLET III--COLUMN I

HEABANI'S WISDOM--SONG OF THE KHAU-IK-I

The dark-eyed maids are dancing in the halls Of Erech's palace: music fills the walls Of splendor where the Sar-dan-nu[1] enthroned, His hours is whiling by the maidens zoned; A whirling garland chanting forth a song. Accompanied with harps thus sang the throng:

"Heabani's wisdom chant and sing To Erech's king our mighty Sar.[2] When Hea did Heabani bring, Who now to Erech comes afar, He taught him then all hidden things Of Ki[3] or bright Samu[4] above, That to the Mu-di[5] mystery brings. Oh, how Heabani we shall love!"

_Chorus_

"Then sing with joy ye Khau-ik-i![6] The Khau-ga[7] chant with waving arms, The Nin-uit[8] sing Au-un-na-ci[9] Give to our Sar your sweetest charms.

"All knowledge that is visible Heabani holds it in his glance, Sees visions inconceivable, The Zi[10] his wizard eyes entrance. Sweet peace he brings from troubled dreams, He comes to El-li-tar-du-si,[11] From a far road by mountain streams; Then sing with joy ye Khau-ik-i!

_Chorus_

"Then sing with joy ye Khau-ik-i! The Khau-ga chant with waving arms, The Nin-uit sing An-un-na-ci! Give to our Sar your sweetest charms.

"E'en all that on the tablet rests, In Erech's tower, the Su-bu-ri,[12] The beautiful, with glorious crests, He wrote for far posterity. We plead with him to leave us not, But Zi-Gab-ri[13] him led away, When our great Shal-man[14] joy us brought, And Elam fled to the blue sea.

_Chorus_

"Then sing with joy ye Khau-ik-i! Il-gi-sa-kis-sat[15] from above, The Nin-uit sing An-un-na-ci! Oh, how Heabani we shall love!"

The maidens note their monarch's moody face, And turn their songs to him with easy grace, Of their great ruler tune a joyous lay, And oft into his eyes hurl glances gay; And trumpets join the chorus, rolling drums, And wild applause from all the chieftains comes, Till the grave seers and councillors now cry In praise of him they love so tenderly: With arms upraised the mighty chorus join, Until his heart is filled with joy divine; And thus they sing with more than royal praise, Their love for him in every face doth blaze.

[Footnote 1: "Sar-dan-nu," the great King.]

[Footnote 2: "Sar," king.]

[Footnote 3: "Ki," earth.]

[Footnote 4: "Samu," heaven.]

[Footnote 5: "Mu-di," seers or wise men.]

[Footnote 6: "Khau-ik-i," the choral band.]

[Footnote 7: "Khau-ga," chorus.]

[Footnote 8: "Nin-uit," song.]

[Footnote 9: "An-un-na-ci," spirits of the earth.]

[Footnote 10: "Zi," spirits of the earth, air, water, etc.]

[Footnote 11: "El-li-tar-du-si," one of the temples of Erech.]

[Footnote 12: "Su-bu-ri," the lofty.]

[Footnote 13: "Zi-Gab-ri," spirits of the mountains.]

[Footnote 14: "Shal-man," deliverer.]

[Footnote 15: "Il-gi-sa-kis-sat," spirits of the hosts.]

COLUMN II

SONGS IN PRAISE OF IZDUBAR AND HEABANI AS SUNG BY THE KHAU-IK-I

Our Izdubar dear Erech raised From her distress, when she did mourn; With joy his glorious name be praised! Of a great warrior's daughter born, And Bel in his own might, him arms, To Erech's sons and daughters save; What other Sar hath glorious charms Like his, who saved proud Elam's slave?

_Chorus_

No rival hath our mighty Sar, Thy cymbals strike and raise the cry! All hail! All hail! great Izdubar! His deeds immortal glorify!

Our Izdubar our sons preserves To all our fathers day and night, And Erech's ruler well deserves Our highest praise, whose matchless might Delights the gods! All hail our Sar! Whose firmness, wisdom need no praise! Queen Daunat's son, our Izdubar, His glory to the Sami[1] raise!

_Chorus_

Of a great warrior's daughter born, The gods clothe him with matchless might; His glory greets the coming morn, Oh, how in him we all delight!

And thus of Seer Heabani they now chant His birth and history and hyemal haunt.

Who can compare with thee, O Nin![2] The son of Bel; thy hands didst lay Upon Ar-ur-u, thine own queen, With glory crowned her on that day.

To her thy strength did give, and blessed Her with thy love and a dear son; With Ami's strength within his breast, And Ninip sped then to his throne.

When Queen Ar-u-ru hears her lord From Erech's city far has gone, She bows her head upon the sward, With pleading hands in woe doth moan.

And to Heabani she gave birth, The warrior, great Ninip's son, Whose fame is spread through all the earth. The queen with her own maids alone Retired within her palace walls For purity in Erech's halls.

Like the corn-god his face concealed, Of men and countries he possessed, Great wisdom by the gods revealed: As Ner[3] the god, his limbs were dressed. With wild gazelles he ate his food While roaming with them in the night; For days he wandered in the wood, And bu-hir-tser-i[4] him delight.

The Zi-ar-ri[5] Heabani loves, That play within the running streams; With Zi-ti-am-a-ti[6] he roves Upon the sands in warm sunbeams.

"The prince returns, O Sar!" the herald said, And low before the throne he bowed his head; "Our Zaidu, the bewitcher of all men, Doth unsuccessful to us come again. Before the cave the seer confronted him Three days where Khar-sak's snowy brow doth gleam. Heabani with his beast in his cave went, And Zaidu waited, but his courage spent When he beheld the seer and beast remain Within the cave, and all his words were vain. The prince remains without with downcast face, And beg of thee, his Sar, thy sovereign grace." The king to all the maidens waves his hand, Then vanishes from sight the choral band.

[Footnote 1: "Sami," heavens.]

[Footnote 2: "Nin" or "Nin-ip," the god of the chase and war.]

[Footnote 3: "Ner" or "Nergal," the giant king of war, the strong begetter.]

[Footnote 4: "Bu-hir-tser-i," beasts of the field.]

[Footnote 5: "Zi-ar-ri," spirits of the rivers, water-nymphs.]

[Footnote 6: "Zi-ti-am-a-ti," spirits of the sea, naiads or water-nymphs.]

COLUMN III

ZAIDU'S RETURN, AND HIS INSTRUCTION TO TAKE TWO MAIDS WITH HIM TO ENTICE THE SEER FROM HIS CAVE

Prince Zaidu prostrate bows before the Sar, Arises, thus narrates to Izdubar: "Thy sovereign, Zaidu hath his king obeyed, The royal mission I have thus essayed As Amu's[1] soldier; I undaunted tried To urge my mission which the seer denied. I firmly met the beast that with him came: Unmanly fear, confess I to my shame, Came o'er me when I first beheld the beast, In vain I plead, and in despair I ceased When he refused, and angry from me passed Within his cave, where cliffs and rocks are massed; I climbed, but the wild entrance did not gain, And for advice have I returned again."

"'Tis well, my son," the Sar to Zaidu said, "Thy wisdom I commend for thy young head, Again upon thy mission thou must go. His might, and strength of purpose, thou dost know, Before a maiden's charms will flee away; For he doth love the Zi-Ga-bri[2] that play Within the mountain gorges. Turn thy face Again with manly portance; for I'll grace Thine embassy with two of our sweet maids, Who oft shall cheer thee through the mountain glades, Whom thou shalt lead before Heabani's den With their bright charms exposed within the glen. Take Sam-kha-tu and sweet Khar-imatu: They will entice the seer when he shall view Their charms displayed before his wondering eyes. With Sam-kha, Joy, the seer you will surprise; Khar-im-tu will thy plans successful end, To her seductive glance his pride will bend. Sweet Sam-kha's charms are known, she is our Joy, As Ishtar's aid her charms ne'er cloy; Kharun-tu with her perfect face and form, The hearts of all our court doth take by storm: When joys by our sweet Sam-kha are distilled, Kharun-tu's love overcomes us till we yield. Thus, armed with Love's Seduction and her Joy, The greatest powers of earth thou dost employ; No flesh can face them but a heart of stone. And all the world doth lie before them prone."

Three days Prince Zaidu sat with Kharun-tu Before the cave within Heabani's view; Beside the pool they waited for the seer: From Erech three days' journey brought them here, But where hath Joy, sweet Sam-kha, roving gone? When they arrived at setting of the sun She disappeared within with waving arms; With bright locks flowing she displayed her charms. As some sweet _zir-ru_ did young Sam-kha seem, A thing of beauty of some mystic dream.

[Footnote 1: "Anu," the King of Heaven.]

[Footnote 2: "Zi-Gab-ri," spirits of the mountains.]

COLUMN IV

THE TWO MAIDENS ENTICE THE SEER

Thus in Heabani's cave the maiden went, And o'er the sleeping seer her form she bent; O'er him who with gazelles oft eats his food; O'er him who drinks with _bhu-ri_[1] in the wood; O'er him who loves the _zir-ri,_--of them dreams, And sports with them within the mountain streams. And when the gay enticer saw the seer Unconscious sleeping with sweet Joy so near, She clasped him to her breast and kissed his brow. The seer awakes, with wonder eyes her now: "Thy glory thou hast brought to me!" he saith, "Sweet Zir-ru comes to me with fragrant breath!" And with delight he eyes her beauteous form, His breast warm moved by the enticer's charm. He springs upon his feet and her pursues: She laughing flees; to sport with him doth choose.

And now he eyes his hairy body, arms Compared to Sam-kha's snowy god-like charms, She give to him her freshness, blooming youth? She laughing comes again to him,--Forsooth! Her glorious arms she opens, flees away, While he doth follow the enticer gay. He seizes, kisses, takes away her breath, And she falls to the ground--perhaps in death He thinks, and o'er her leans where she now lay; At last she breathes, and springs, and flees away. But he the sport enjoys, and her pursues; But glancing back his arms she doth refuse. And thus three days and four of nights she played; For of Heabani's love she was afraid. Her joyous company doth him inspire For Sam-kha, joy, and love, and wild desire. He was not satisfied unless her form Remained before him with her endless charm. But when his _bhu-ri_ of the field the sight Beheld, the wild gazelles fled in affright. And now without the cave they came in view Of Zaidu waiting with sweet Kharim-tu,

And when Heabani saw the rounded form Of bright Kharim-tu, her voluptuous charm Drew him to her, and at her feet he sate With wistful face, resigned to any fate. Kharim-tu, smiling sweetly, bent her head, Enticing him the tempter coyly said, "Heabani, like a famous god thou art, Why with these creeping things doth sleep thy heart? Come thou with me to Erech Su-bu-ri[2] To Anu's temple Elli-tar-du-si, And Ishtar's city where great Izdubar Doth reign, the glorious giant king of war; Whose mighty strength above his chiefs doth tower, Come see our giant king of matchless power." Her flashing eyes half languid pierce the seer, Until his first resolves all disappear. And rising to his feet his eyes he turned Toward sweet Joy,[3] whose love for him yet burned; And eyeing both with beaming face he saith, "With Sam-kha's love the seer hath pledged his faith; And I will go to Elli-tar-du-si, Great Anu's seat and Ishtar's where with thee, I will behold the giant Izdubar, Whose fame is known to me as king of war; And I will meet him there, and test the power Of him whose fame above all men doth tower. A _mid-dan-nu_[4] to Erech I will take, To see if he its mighty strength can break. In these wild caves its strength has mighty grown; If he the beast destroys, I will make known His dream to him--e'en all the seer doth know; And now with thee to Erech I will go.

[Footnote 1: "Bhu-ri," wild-beasts, pets of the hermit seer.]

[Footnote 2: "Su-bu-ri," the lofty.]

[Footnote 3: "Sam-kha-tu" or "Samkha."]

[Transcriber's Note: Footnote 3 looks like it should be two lines down from where it is; this is probably an error.]

[Footnote 4: "Mid-dan-nu," a carnivorous animal, supposed to be a tiger; the Khorsabad sculpture, however, portrays it as a lion.]

COLUMN V

FESTIVAL IN HONOR OF HEABANI, WHO ARRIVES AT ERECH--INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM

The sounds of wild rejoicing now arise; "Heabani comes!" resound the joyful cries, And through the gates of Erech Suburi Now file the chieftains, Su-khu-li rubi.[1] A festival in honor of their guest The Sar proclaims, and Erech gaily drest, Her welcome warm extends to the famed seer. The maidens, Erech's daughters, now appear, With richest kirtles gaily decked with flowers, And on his head they rain their rosy showers. Rejoicing sing, while harps and cymbals play, And laud him to the skies in their sweet way; And mingling with their joy, their monarch rode Before the seer, who stately after strode Beside his beast, and next the men of fame. The maids thus chant high honors to his name:

"A prince we make thee, mighty seer! Be filled with joy and royal cheer! All hail to Erech's seer!

Whom day and night our Sar hath sought, O banish fear! for Hea taught The seer, his glory wrought.

He comes! whom Samas loves as gold, To Erech grace, our city old; All wisdom he doth hold.

Great Hea doth to him unfold All that remains to man untold; Give him the chain of gold!

He cometh from the Za-Gab-ri To our dear Erech Su-bu-ri. Heabani glorify!

Thy dream he will reveal, O Sar! Its meaning show to Izdubar, Victorious king of war."