Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 27

_Chorus_

In our seer's land That glows afar away!

The singing spirits from them fled, and he Alone stood thinking by young Siduri.

The King leaned on his bow, and eyed the maid, A happy look came in his eyes,--and fled, For lo! the curtain quick aside is pushed, And Sabitu within upon them rushed.

She stately glides across the shining floor, And eyes them both, then turns toward the door.

But Izdubar is equal to the task, With grace now smiling, of the maid doth ask: "O Sabitu! wouldst thou tell me the way To Khasisadra? for I go this day.

If I the sea may cross, how shall I go?

Or through the desert? thou the path mayst know."

The maiden startled looks upon his face, And thus she answers him with queenly grace: "So soon must go? Thou canst not cross the sea, For thou wilt perish in the waves that way.

Great Samas once the way of me did ask, And I forbade him, but the mighty task He undertook, and crossed the mighty deep, Where Death's dark waters lie in wait asleep: His mighty car of gold swept through the skies, With fiery chargers now he daily flies.

When I approach thee, thou from me wouldst flee?

But if thou must so soon thus go, the sea Perhaps thou too canst cross, if thou wilt 'void Death's waters, which relentless ever glide.

But Izdubar, Ur-Hea, here hath come!

The boatman of the seer, who to his home Returns. He with an axe in yonder woods A vessel builds to cross the raging floods.

If thou desirest not to cross with him, We here will welcome thee through endless time; But if thou goest, may they see thy face Thou seekest,--welcome thee, and thy heart bless."

[Footnote 1: "Siduri," the "pourer" or "shedder forth," the "all-bountiful," the G.o.ddess who brings the rain, and mists, and running streams to fill the vegetable world with its productions; the G.o.ddess who presides over productive nature. She was also called "the G.o.ddess of Wisdom."]

[Footnote 2: Seven spirits of the earth and heaven, the daughters of Hea.]

[Footnote 3: "Nusku," a budding or blooming shrub or branch, the wand of the Queen, used in magical incantations, which was called the plant of Nusku, the divining-rod.]

[Footnote 4: See Accadian songs, "C.I.W.A.," vol. ii. 15, 16, and translated by Mr. Sayce in "Records of the Past, vol. xi. pp. 154, 155.]

[Footnote 5: "Kara!" cry out, sing, shout.]

[Footnote 6: "Sa-lum-mat-u na-si," lift up the shadows, or be joyful.]

[Footnote 7: "Our corn is bearded." This refers to the heads of wheat which are bearded. See translation by Mr. Sayce, "the corn is bearded."

("Records of the Past," vol. xi. p. 156.)]

COLUMN II

THE KING ON LEAVING THE HAPPY HALLS MEETS UR-HEA, THE BOATMAN OF THE SEER KHASISADRA--THEY BUILD A SHIP AND EMBARK ON AN UNKNOWN SEA, AND ON THEIR VOYAGE Pa.s.s THROUGH THE WATERS OF DEATH

And Izdubar turned from the Halls and goes Toward a fountain in the park, whence flows A merry stream toward the wood. He finds An axe beside the fount, and thoughtful winds, Through groves of sandal-wood and mastic-trees And algum, umritgana. Now he sees The sig-a-ri and ummakana, pines, With babuaku; and ri-wood brightly shines Among the azuhu; all precious woods That man esteems are grown around, each buds Continuous in the softened, balmy air.

He stops beneath a musrilkanna where The pine-trees spread toward the glowing sea, Wild mingled with the surman, sa-u-ri.

The King, now seated, with himself communes, Heeds not the warbling of the birds, and tunes Of gorgeous songsters in the trees around, But sadly sighing gazes on the ground: "And I a ship must build; alas! I know Not how I shall return, if I thus go.

The awful Flood of Death awaits me there, Wide-stretching from this sh.o.r.e--I know not where."

He rests his chin upon his hand in thought, Full weary of a life that woe had brought; He says: "When I remember Siduri, Whose heart with fondest love would comfort me Within these Happy Halls, why should I go To pain and anguish, death, mayhap, and woe?

But will I thus desert my kingdom, throne?

For one I know not! What! my fame alone!

Mine honor should preserve! and royal state!

Alas! this Fame is but a dream of--Fate!

"A longing after that which does not cheer The heart. Applause of men, or thoughtless sneer, Is naught to me, I am alone! alone!

This Immortality cannot atone For my hard fate that wrings mine aching heart.

I long for peace and rest, and I must start And find it, leave these luring bright abodes,-- I seek the immortality of G.o.ds.

This Fame of man is not what it doth seem, It sleeps with all the past, a vanished dream.

My duty calls me to my kingdom, throne!

To Khasisadra go, whose aid alone Can save my people from an awful fate That hangs above them, born of Fiends of hate.

And I shall there return without my seer!

I live; and he is dead. Why did I hear His words advising me to come? Alas!

I sadly all my weary days shall pa.s.s; No one shall love me as my seer, my friend.

"But what said Siduri?--There comes an end At last to sorrow, joy will hopeful spring On wings of Light! Oh, how my heart will sing!

I bless ye all, ye holy spirits here!

Your songs will linger with me, my heart cheer; Upon my way I turn with joy again!

How true your joyful song! your memory then Will keep me hopeful through yon darkened way; How bright this land doth look beside the sea!"

He looks across the fields; the river glows And winds beside taprani-trees, and flows By teberinth and groves of tarpikhi And ku-trees; curving round green mez-kha-i, Through beds of flowers, that kiss its waves and spring Luxuriant,--with songs the groves far ring.

Now thinking of the ship, he turns his eyes, Toward the fountain,--springs up with surprise!

"'Tis he! the boatman comes! Ur-Hea comes!

And, oh! at last, I'll reach the glistening domes Of Khasisadra's palaces,--at last My feet shall rest,--upon that land be placed."

And now Ur-Hea nearer makes his way, And Izdubar addressing him, doth say: "Ur-Hea is thy name? from yonder sea Thou comest, from the seer across the way?"

"Thou speakest truth, great Sar, what wouldst thou have?"

"How shall I Khasisadra reach? The grave He hath escaped, Immortal lives beyond, For I to him upon my way am bound; Shall I the waters cross or take my way Through yon wide desert, for I start this day?"

"Across the sea we go, for I with thee Return to him,--I know the winding way.

Thine axe of bronze with precious stones inlaid With mine, we'll use beneath the pine-trees' shade."

And now, within the grove a ship they made, Complete and strong as wise Ur-Hea bade.

They fell the pines five _gar_ in length, and hew The timbers square, and soon construct a new And buoyant vessel, firmly fixed the mast, And tackling, sails, and oars make taut and fast.

Thus built, toward the sea they push its prow, Equipped complete, provisioned, launch it now.

An altar next they raise and thus invoke The G.o.ds, their evil-workings to revoke:

"[1]O Lord of Charms, Ill.u.s.trious! who gives Life to the Dead, the Merciful who lives, And grants to hostile G.o.ds of Heaven return, To homage render, worship thee, and learn Obedience! Thou who didst create mankind In tenderness, thy love round us, oh, wind!

The Merciful, the G.o.d with whom is Life, Establish us, O Lord, in darkest strife.

O never may thy truth forgotten be, May Accad's race forever worship thee."

One month and fifteen days upon the sea, Thus far the voyagers are on their way; Now black before them lies a barren sh.o.r.e, O'ertopped with frowning cliffs, whence comes a roar Of some dread fury of the elements That shakes the air and sweeping wrath foments O'er winds and seas.

And see! a yawning cave, There opens vast into a void dislave, Where fremed shadows ride the hueless waves.

Dread Ninazu whose deathless fury craves For hapless victims lashes with a roar The mighty seas upon that awful sh.o.r.e.

The Fiends of Darkness gathered lie in wait, With Mammitu, the G.o.ddess of fierce hate, And Gibil[2] with his spells, and Nibiru[3]

The twin-G.o.d of black Fate, and grim Nusku[4]

The keeper of red thunders, and Urbat[5]

The dog of Death, and fiend of Queen Belat;[6]

And Nuk-khu, and the black-browed Ed-hutu[7]

The G.o.ds of darkness here with Tsi-lat-tu.[8]