Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 5

[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]

("aegrotavit"), 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-G.o.d 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 G.o.ds 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 a.s.sert, 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 a.s.sume?"

The G.o.ddess 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! va.s.sals! haste to me! your King!" he cries, And stamping fiercely while his pa.s.sions 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 va.s.sals 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 p.r.i.c.kly 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 cl.u.s.tering 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 armed 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d worshipped by Izdubar, the G.o.d 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.]