Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 7

[Footnote 9: "Dum-khi" or "dun-khi," couch.]

[Footnote 10: "Ka-ra! va," etc., "Speak out! and if thou augurest the death of the King, or if thou augurest life of extended years, I have spoken! Speak out! and cast the lots! may they be propitious with us!"]

[Footnote 11: "Za-Ga-bri," the mountains of Zu, "Ga-bri" ("mountains"), and "Za," another form of "zu," the divine bird of the storm-cloud. They were at one time called the mountains of Susa, now the Kurdistan range of mountains. The name we have given we believe to be the probable ancient one.]

[Footnote 12: "Na-bu," prophet, seer.]

[Footnote 13: We have here quoted a prayer after a bad dream, the text of which is lithographed in "C.I.W.A.," vol. iv. 66, 2, and is supposed to be an ancient Accadian prayer. See "Records of the Past," vol. ix. p. 151.]

[Footnote 14: "Nin-a-zu," the G.o.ddess of darkness and death.]

[Footnote 15: "Mak-hir," the daughter of the sun, and G.o.ddess 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, G.o.d of the ocean, the earth's surface, brightness, etc., and chief protector of men.]

[Footnote 18: "Sab-it," or "Sabitu" ("seven"), the seven winds, G.o.ds 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 G.o.ddess of the ocean.]

[Footnote 21: "Amen and Amen and Amen!" The a.s.syrian 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 G.o.ddess 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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' sh.o.r.e, 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 emba.s.sy 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