Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 17

And Anu said: "If thou to it shall join Thy strength, which all thy n.o.ble 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 n.o.ble names with G.o.ds 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 G.o.ds 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 p.r.o.ne.

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 G.o.d of chase and war.

With whirling sword before the monster's face, He rains his blows upon its front of bra.s.s And horns, and drives it from him o'er the plain, And now with spreading wings it comes again, With maddened fury; fierce its eyeb.a.l.l.s 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 G.o.ds, 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 G.o.d 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 p.r.o.ne 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 carca.s.s, cursing thus, she cries: "Woe! woe to Izdubar, who me defies!

My power has overthrown, my champion slain; Accursed Sar! most impious of men!"

Heabani heard the cursing of the Queen, And from the carca.s.s cleft the tail in twain, Before her laid it; to the G.o.ddess 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 G.o.ddess 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 carca.s.s 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-t.u.r.da, their Sar's G.o.d, 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 pa.s.s 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 t.i.tles of Izdubar.]

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

[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 t.i.tles of Izdubar.]