Chapter 7

The glittering court is filled with chiefs and seers, When Ishtar at the entrance now appears, The Ner-kalli,[5] her heralds at the door, As some grand sovereign from a foreign shore. The goddess proudly enters with her train, The spirits of the earth, and tossing main, From mountains, rivers, woods, and running streams; And every spirit where the sunlight gleams, Now fill the courts and palaces and halls, And thousands glowing bright surround the walls; Each wafting wind brings I-gi-gi[6] that soar Above An-un-na-ci from every shore, And herald Ishtar's presence, Queen of Love, With music through the halls, around, above. From lyres and lutes their softest wooings bring, As Ishtar bows before her lover king. A halo from the goddess fills the halls, And shines upon the dazzling jewelled walls. The Sar and seers in wonder were amazed At the sweet strains, and glorious light that blazed; Transfixed in silence stood, as she now spoke, And sweeter music through the palace woke. Like fragrant zephyrs, warbling from retreats Of gardens of the gods, she thus entreats From Izdubar her welcome, or a glance Of love; and she the Sar would thus entrance:

"Thy wisdom, Sar, surpasses all mankind, In thee, O king! no blemish do I find. The Queen of Heaven favor seeks from thee, I come with love, and prostrate bend the knee. My follies past, I hope thou wilt forgive, Alone I love thee, with thee move and live; My heart's affections to thee, me have led, To woo thee to thine Ishtar's marriage bed. O kiss me, my beloved! I adore Thee! Hear me! I renounce the godly shore With all its hollow splendor where as queen I o'er the heavenly hosts, unrivaled reign In grandest glory on my shining throne; And yet for thee my heart here pines alone, I cannot live without my Izdubar! My husband's love and simple word shall far Surpass the godly bond. O let me, king, Rest on thy breast, and happiness will cling To all the blissful days which shall be thine. With glory of the skies, my love shall shine. O Izdubar, my king! this love below Is grander here than mortals e'er can know, For this I leave my throne in yonder skies, And at the feet of love thy queen now lies. Oh, let me taste with thee the sweets of love, And I my love for thee will grandly prove, And thou shalt ride upon a diamond car, Lined with pure gold; and jeweled horns of war Shall stud it round like rays of Samas' fire. Rich gifts whate'er my lover shall desire, Thy word shall bring to thee, my Sar-dan-nu! Lo! all the wealth that gods above can view, I bring to thee with its exhaustless store. Oh, come my love! within the halls, where more Than I have named is found, all, all is thine; Oh, come with me within our halls divine! Amid the fragrant odors of the pines, And all shrubs and flowers, vines, Euphrates' _zir-ri_ there shall sing for thee, And dance around thy feet with zi-mu-ri[7] And kings and lords and princes I will bring To bow to thee, beloved, glorious king! With tribute from the mountains and the plains, As offerings to thee. Thy flocks shall twins Bring forth; and herds of fattened, lowing kine Shall fast increase upon the plains divine. Thy warrior steeds shall prance with flowing manes, Resistless with thy chariot on the plain. Vast spoils, thy beasts of burden far shall bear, Unrivaled then shall be my king of war; And victory o'er all, thine eyes shall view, And loud acclaims shall rend the bright Samu."

[Footnote 1: "Kip-rat arba," the four races or regions.]

[Footnote 2: "Bar-ili," from "bar," gate, and "ili," of the gods--Babel, Bab--originates from the Accadian word "bar," Semitic "bab;" thus Babel was originally called "bar-ili." See Taylor and Furst. The latter renders it "Bar-(Bir-)Bel," "town of Belus."]

[Footnote 3: "Izzu-bar-ili" we believe to be the original name of Izdubar, afterward shortened to Izdubar, and means literally the fire-king of "bar-ili," or the "fire-king of the gate of the gods." This identifies him with Nimrod, the founder of Bar-bet or Babylon.]

[Footnote 4: Ka-ding-ir-a (Acc.), "gate of God"--Pinches.]

[Footnote 5: "Ner-kalli," or "Ner-ekalli," chief of the palace.]

[Footnote 6: "I-gi-gi," pronounced "e-gee-gee," spirits of heaven.]

[Footnote 7: "Zi-mu-ri," spirits of the light.]

COLUMN II

THE KING'S ANSWER AND ISHTAR'S RAGE

Amazed the sovereign sat upon his throne; And while she wooed, his heart was turned to stone; In scorn replied:

"Rise Ishtar, Heaven's high queen, Though all thy wealth, possessions I had seen Now piled before me, all in gems and gold, Of all the wealth of Heaven there heaped of old, I nakedness and famine would prefer To all the wealth divine thou canst confer. What carest thou for earthly royalty? The cup of poison shall thy lovers see. Thou sawest me within a haunt away From men. I lingered on that direful day, And took thee for a beauteous _zi-re-mu_[1] Or _zi-ar-i-a_ or a _zi-lit-tu_[2] And thou didst cause to enter love divine. As _zi-cur-un-i,_ spirit of the wine, Thou didst deceive me with thine arts refined, And love escaped upon the passing wind. Then to my palace come, and me there seek; Didst place thy mouth upon my lips, and wake Within my breast a dream of love and fire, Till I awoke and checked thy wild desire; Thou camest with the form of spirits fair, Didst hover o'er me in my chamber there. Thy godly fragrance from the skies above, A sign did carry of the Queen of Love: I woke, and thou didst vanish, then didst stand As mine own servant in my palace grand. Then as a skulking foe, a mystic spell Didst weave, and scorch me with the fires of hell While I was wrapped in sleep. Again I woke, I saw around me _dal-khi_, sulphurous smoke, Which thou didst send around my royal bed; And I believed that I was with the dead, With _dal-khi_ gloating over me in hell. My _su-khu-li_ then sought thy presence fell. Forever may thy wooing cease! for love Hath fled, may godly praises never move Upon the lips of holy gods, or men,-- Of thee, the god of Love ne'er speak again! I loved thee once; with love my heart inflamed Once sought thee, but my troubles I have blamed Upon thee, for the dreams which thou didst send. Go! rest thy heart; and to thy pleasures wend!

"For Tammuz of thy youth thy heart once wailed, For years his weary form thy love assailed; Allala next, the eagle, lovest, tore His wings. No longer could he joyful soar And float above the forest to the sky. Thou leavest him with fluttering wings to die. A lusty lion thou didst love, his might Destroyed, and plucked his claws in fierce delight, By sevens plucked, nor heard his piteous cry. A glorious war-steed next thy love didst try, Who yielded to thee, till his strength was gone: For seven _kaspu_[3] thou didst ride upon Him without ceasing, gave no food nor drink, Till he beneath thee to the earth did sink, And to his mistress, Sil-i-li, the steed Returned with broken spirit, drooping head. Thou lovest Tabulu, the shepherd king, And from his love continuous didst wring _Sem-uk-ki_[4], till he to appease thy love, The mighty gods of heaven then sought to move To pity with his daily offerings. Beneath thy wand upon the ground he springs, Transformed to a hyena; then was driven From his own city--by his dogs was riven. Next Is-ul-lan-u lov'st, uncouth, and rude, Thy father's laborer, who subject stood To thee, and daily scoured thy vessels bright: His eyes from him were torn, before thy sight. And chained before thee, there thy lover stood, With deadly poison placed within his food. Thou sayst: 'O Isullanu, stretch thy hand! The food partake, that doth before thee stand!' Then with thy hand didst offer him the food. He said: 'What askest thou? It is not good! I will not eat the poison thus prepared.' Thy godly wand him from thy presence cleared, Transformed him to a pillar far away. And for my love Queen Ishtar comes this day? As thou hast done with others, would thy love Return to me, thine actions all doth prove."

The queen in fury from his presence turned, In speechless rage the palace halls she spurned; And proudly from the earth swept to the skies; Her godly train in terror quickly flies.

[Footnote 1: "Zi-re-mu," spirit of mercy or grace.]

[Footnote 2: "Zi-lit-tu," spirit of the mist.]

[Footnote 3: "Seven kaspu," fourteen hours; each kaspu was two hours.]

[Footnote 4: "Sem-uk-ki," translated by Sayce "stibium," antimony; by Talbot, "lütarish semukki," "thou who didst make evil with thy drugs."-- "Trans. Soc. Bib. Arch.", vol. v. p. 110. Sayce's edition Smith's "C.A.G.," p. 229.]

COLUMN III

ISHTAR COMPLAINS TO ANU, KING OF HEAVEN, WHO CREATES A WINGED BULL TO DESTROY ISHTAR

Before the throne of Anu, Ishtar cries, And Anatu, the sovereigns of the skies: "O Sar, this king my beauty doth despise, My sweetest charms beholds not with his eyes." And Anu to his daughter thus replied: "My daughter, thou must crush his vaunting pride, And he will claim thy beauty and thy charms, And gladly lie within thy glorious arms."

"I hate him now, O Sar, as I did love! Against the strength of Anu let him prove His right divine to rule without our aid, Before the strength of Anu let him bleed. Upon this giant Sar so filled with pride, Let Anu's winged bull[1] in fury ride, And I will aid the beast to strike him prone, Till he in death shall breathe his dying groan." And Anu said: "If thou to it shall join Thy strength, which all thy noble names define Thy glories[2] and thy power thus magnified, Will humble him, who has thy power defied," And Ishtar thus: "By all my might as queen Of war and battles, where I proudly reign, This Sar my hands shall strike upon the plain, And end his strength and all his boastings vain. By all the noble names with gods I hold As queen of war, this giant monarch bold, Who o'er mine ancient city thinks to reign, Shall lie for birds of prey upon the plain. For answering my love for thee with scorn, Proud monarch! from thy throne thou shalt be torn!"

For Ishtar, Anu from the clouds creates A shining monster with thick brazen plates And horns of adamant;[3] and now it flies Toward the palace, roaring from the skies.

[Footnote 1: "Anu's winged bull," Taurus, constellation of the heavens.]

[Footnote 2: "Glories" ("maskhi"). This word is not translated by Mr. Sayce.]

[Footnote 3: "Horns of adamant." Sayce translates in I. 22, col. v., horns of crystal--"thirty manehs of crystal," etc. The meaning probably of "zamat stone," as given by Smith, was a hard substance, such as the diamond or adamant. By some translators it has been rendered onyx, and others lazuli.]

COLUMN IV

THE FIGHT WITH THE WINGED BULL OF ANU

The gods appear above to watch the fight, And Erech's _masari_ rush in affright To Izdubar, who sits upon his throne, Before him fall in speechless terror prone. A louder roar now echoes from the skies, And Erech's Sar without the palace flies. He sees the monster light upon the plain, And calls Heabani with the choicest men Of Erech's spearsmen armed, who fall in line Without the gates, led by their Sar divine.

And now the monster rushed on Izdubar, Who meets it as the god of chase and war. With whirling sword before the monster's face, He rains his blows upon its front of brass And horns, and drives it from him o'er the plain, And now with spreading wings it comes again, With maddened fury; fierce its eyeballs glare. It rides upon the monarch's pointed spear; The scales the point have turned, and broke the haft. Then as a pouncing hawk when sailing daft, In swiftest flight o'er him drops from the skies, But from the gleaming sword it quickly flies. Three hundred warriors now nearer drew To the fierce monster, which toward them flew; Into their midst the monster furious rushed, And through their solid ranks resistless pushed To slay Heabani, onward fought and broke Two lines and through the third, which met the shock With ringing swords upon his horns and scales. At last the seer it reaches, him impales With its sharp horns: but valiant is the seer-- He grasps its crest and fights without a fear. The monster from his sword now turns to fly; Heabani grasps its tail, and turns his eye Towards his king, while scudding o'er the plain. So quickly has it rushed and fled amain, That Izdubar its fury could not meet, But after it he sprang with nimble feet.

Heabani loosed his grasp and stumbling falls, And to his king approaching, thus he calls: "My friend, our strongest men are overthrown: But see! he comes! such strength was never known. With all my might I held him, but he fled! We both it can destroy! Strike at its head!" Like Rimmon now he flies upon the air, As sceptred Nebo,[1] he his horns doth bear, That flash with fire along the roaring skies, [2]Around the Sar and seer he furious flies. Heabani grasps the plunging horns, nor breaks His grasp; in vain the monster plunging shakes His head, and roaring, upward furious rears. Heabani's strength the mighty monster fears; He holds it in his iron grasp, and cries: "Quick! strike!" Beneath the blows the monster dies; And Izdubar now turned his furious face Toward the gods, and on the beast doth place His foot; he raised his gory sword on high, And sent his shout defiant to the sky: "'Tis thus, ye foes divine! the Sar proclaims His war against your power, and highest names! Hurl! hurl! your darts of fire, ye vile _kal-bi!_[3] My challenge hear! ye cravens of the sky!"

[Footnote 1: "Nebo," the holder of the sceptre of power; also the god of prophecy.]

[Footnote 2: "Around" ("tarka"), or it may mean "between."]

[Footnote 3: "Kal-bi," dogs.]

COLUMN V

THE CURSE OF ISHTAR, AND REJOICING OF ERECH OVER THE VICTORY

The monarch and his seer have cleft the head From Anu's bull prone lying on the mead. They now command to bring it from the plain Within the city where they view the slain. The heart they brought to Samas' holy shrine, Before him laid the offering divine. Without the temple's doors the monster lays, And Ishtar o'er the towers the bulk surveys; She spurns the carcass, cursing thus, she cries: "Woe! woe to Izdubar, who me defies! My power has overthrown, my champion slain; Accursèd Sar! most impious of men!"

Heabani heard the cursing of the Queen, And from the carcass cleft the tail in twain, Before her laid it; to the goddess said: "And wherefore comest thou with naught to dread? Since I with Izdubar have conquered thee, Thou hearest me! Before thee also see Thine armored champion's scales! thy beast is dead," And Ishtar from his presence furious fled, And to her maids the goddess loudly calls Joy and Seduction from the palace halls; And o'er her champion's death she mourning cries, And flying with her maids, sped to the skies.

King Izdubar his summons sends afar To view the monster slain by Erech's Sar. The young and old the carcass far surround, And view its mighty bulk upon the ground. The young men eye its horns with wild delight, And weigh them on the public scales in sight Of Erech. "Thirty _manehs_ weighs!" they cry; "Of purest _zamat_ stone, seems to the eye In substance, with extremities defaced." Six _gurri_ weighed the monster's bulk undressed. As food for Lugul-turda, their Sar's god, The beast is severed, placed upon the wood. Piled high upon the altar o'er the fires. Then to Euphrates' waters each retires To cleanse themselves for Erech's grand parade, As Izdubar by proclamation bade. Upon their steeds of war with Izdubar The chiefs and warriors extend afar With chariots, and waving banners, spears, And Erech rings with their triumphant cheers. Before the chariot of their great Sar, Who with his seer rides in his brazen car, The seers a proclamation loud proclaim And cheer their Sar and seer; and laud the name Of their great monarch, chanting thus his praise, While Erech's band their liveliest marches play:

"If anyone to glory can lay claim Among all chiefs and warriors of fame, We Izdubar above them all proclaim Our Izzu-Ul-bar[1] of undying fame. _Sar gabri la isu, Sar-dannu bu-mas-lu!_[2]

"He wears the diadem of Subartu, From Bar-ili[3] he came to Eridu; Our giant monarch, who of all _barri_[4] Can rival him, our Nin-arad _rabi?_[5] _Sar-dannu ina mati basi, Sar bu-mas-la e-mu-ki, nesi._"[6]

Through the grand halls of Erech far resounds The feast their Sar proclaimed through all the grounds Of Erech's palaces; where he now meets His heroes, seers and counsellors, and greets Them in his crowded festal halls. Grand banquets far are spread within the walls, And sparkling rarest wines each freely drank, And revels ruled the hour till Samas sank, And shadows sweep across the joyous plain, And Samas sleeps with Hea 'neath the main. The jewelled lamps are lit within the halls, And dazzling glory on the feasters falls. The rays o'er gems and richest garments shone Upon the lords and ladies round the throne; While troops of dancing girls around them move With cymbals, harps and lutes, with songs of love. Again the board glows with rich food and wines, Now spread before them till each man reclines Upon his couch at rest in the far night, And swimming halls and wines pass from their sight.

[Footnote 1: "Izzu-Ul-bar," the fire of Bel's temple.]

[Footnote 2: "The King who has no rival. The powerful giant King." The royal titles of Izdubar.]

[Footnote 3: "Bar-ili," temple, or country of the gods.]

[Footnote 4: "Barri," chieftains, army, soldiers.]

[Footnote 5: "Nin-arad rabi," "the servant of Nin, the King."]

[Footnote 6: "Who is the great king (in the land) of all countries, the powerful giant king, the lion!" The royal titles of Izdubar.]

COLUMN VI

ISHTAR WEAVES A MYSTIC SPELL OVER THE KING AND SEER, AND VANISHES--THE SEER ADVISES THE KING TO SEEK THE AID OF THE IMMORTAL SEER WHO ESCAPES FROM THE FLOOD.

The goddess Ishtar wrapped in darkness waits Until the goddess Tsil-at-tu[1] the gates Of sleep has closed upon the darkened plain; Then lightly to the palace flies the Queen. O'er the King's couch she weaves an awful dream, While her bright eyes upon him furious gleam. Then o'er Heabani's couch a moment stands, And Heaven's curtains pulls aside with hands Of mystic power, and he a vision sees-- The gods in council;--vanishing, she flees Without the palace like a gleam of light, And wakes the guard around in wild affright.

Next day the seer reveals to Izdubar How all the gods a council held of war, And gave to Anu power to punish them For thus defying Ishtar's godly claim; And thus the seer gave him his counsel, well Considered, how to meet their plottings fell:

"To Khasisadra go, who from the flood Escaped when o'er the earth the waters stood Above mankind, and covered all the ground; He at the river's mouth may yet be found. For his great aid, we now the seer must seek, For Anu's fury will upon us break. Immortal lives the seer beside the sea; Through Hades pass, and soon the seer mayst see."

Thus Izdubar replied, and him embraced: "With thee, Heabani, I my throne have graced; With thee I go, mine own companion dear, And on the road each other we may cheer," "The way is long, my King, and if I live, With thee I go, but oh, thou must not grieve, For perils great attend the way, and old Am I: the suppleness of youth to hold My strength I need, but it alas! is gone. My heart is ready, but I fear, my son, These crippled limbs which Anu's bull hath left Of my strong vigor, have thy seer bereft. Too weak am I, for that long journey hard To undertake; my presence would retard Thee,--with these wounds; nor strength have I to last To guard my body in the mountain fast. But if thou wilt, my strength is thine, my King! To do thy will my agèd form shall spring With gladness, and all perils I'll defy; If need be, for thee will thy servant die."

"Heabani, noble one! my chosen seer! I love thee, bid thy loyal heart good cheer. He steeds may take to ride through all the way, With easy journeys on the road each day; From perils I will guard thee, and defend; To-morrow then we on our way will wend."

Equipped for the long journey they appear Next morn and leave, while Erech's people cheer Them on their way across the glowing plain, To perils dire they go--distress and pain.

[Footnote 1: "Tsil-at-tu," goddess of darkness, or shades of night.]

TABLET VI--COLUMN I

ISHTAR'S DESCENT TO HADES--HER FEARFUL RECEPTION

To Hades' darkened land, whence none return, Queen Ishtar, Sin's great daughter, now doth turn; Inclined her ear and listened through the void That lay beneath of every path devoid, The home of darkness, of the Under-World, Where god Ir-kal-la[1] from the heights was hurled. The land and road from whence is no return, Where light no entrance hath to that dark bourne; Where dust to dust returns, devouring clods; Where light dwells not in Tsil-lat-tus abodes; Where sable ravens hovering rule the air; O'er doors and bolts dust reigneth with despair. Before the gates of gloom the Queen now stands, And to the keeper Ishtar thus commands: "O keeper of the waters! open wide Thy gate, that I through these dark walls may glide; But if thou open'st not the gate for me, That I may enter, shattered thou shalt see The doors and bolts before thee lying prone, And from the dust shall rise each skeleton, With fleshless jaws devour all men with thee, Till death shall triumph o'er mortality." The keeper to the Princess Ishtar said: "Withhold thy speech! or Allat's fury dread! To her I go to bid thee welcome here." To Allat then the keeper doth appear: "Thy sister Ishtar the dark waters seeks-- The Queen of Heaven," thus Allat's fury breaks. "So like an herb uprooted comes this Queen, To sting me as an asp doth Ishtar mean? What can her presence bring to me but hate? Doth Heaven's Queen thus come infuriate?" And Ishtar thus replies: "The fount I seek, Where I with Tammuz, my first love, may speak; And drink its waters, as sweet nectar-wines, Weep o'er my husband, who in death reclines; My loss as wife with handmaids I deplore, O'er my dear Tammuz let my teardrops pour." And Allat said, "Go! keeper, open wide The gates to her! she hath me once defied; Bewitch her as commanded by our laws." To her thus Hades opened wide its jaws.

"Within, O goddess! Cutha thee receives! Thus Hades' palace its first greeting gives." He seized her, and her crown aside was thrown. "O why, thou keeper, dost thou seize my crown?" "Within, O goddess! Allat thee receives! 'Tis thus to thee our Queen her welcome gives." Within the next gate he her earrings takes, And goddess Ishtar now with fury shakes. "Then why, thou slave, mine earrings take away?" "Thus entrance, goddess, Allat bids this day." At the third gate her necklace next he takes, And now in fear before him Ishtar quakes. "And wilt thou take from me my gems away?" "Thus entrance, goddess, Allat bids this day." And thus he strips the goddess at each gate, Of ornaments upon her breast and feet And arms; her bracelets, girdle from her waist, Her robe next took, and flung the Queen undrest Within a cell of that dark solitude. At last, before Queen Ishtar Allat stood, When she had long remained within the walls, And Allat mocked her till Queen Ishtar falls Humiliated on the floor in woe; Then turning wildly, cursed her ancient foe. Queen Allat furious to her servant cries: "Go! Naintar! with disease strike blind her eyes! And strike her side! her breast and head and feet; With foul disease her strike, within the gate!"

[Footnote 1: "Ir-kal-la," the King of Hades, who was hurled from the heights of heaven with the evil gods who rebelled with Tiamatu, the goddess of chaos, against the reign of the gods of heaven.]

COLUMN II

EFFECT OF ISHTAR'S IMPRISONMENT IN HADES--LOVE DEPARTS FROM THE EARTH--THE EARTH'S SOLEMN DIRGE OF WOE.