Alcove Ii. Column Iii. Heabani Reveals Two : p. 115 COLUMN III HEABANI REVEALS TWO WONDERFUL VISIONS TO THE KING, ONE OF DEATH AND OBLIVION, AND THE OTHER OF HEAVEN, AND DIES IN THE ARMS OF THE KING But, oh, my King! to thee I now reveal A secret that my heart would yet conceal, To thee, my friend, two visions I reveal: The first I oft have...
Alcove Ii. Column V. The Curse Of Ishtar : 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...
Alcove Ii. Column V. Tammuz Is Restored To Life : COLUMN V TAMMUZ IS RESTORED TO LIFE BY THE WATERS OF LIFE--HIS SONG OF LOVE The nectared cup the queen placed to his lips, And o'er his heaving breast the nectar drips, And now his arms are folded round his queen, And her fond kisses he returns again; And see! they bring to him his harp of gold...
Untitled : This is a Victorian poetic translation of the saga of Izdubar. Who is Izdubar? Izdubar is a literal translation of the ideograph for 'Gilgamesh', and was how the hero of the Gilgamesh saga was known when this book was written in the 1880s. A lexicographic tablet was finally discovered several...
Alcove Ii. Column Iv. The King Is Cured : p. 149 COLUMN IV THE KING IS CURED BY THE INCANTATIONS OF KHASISADRA AND HE BECOMES IMMORTAL When Izdubar awakes, they lead the way To the bright fount beside the jasper sea. The seer, with Mua and Ur-Hea, stands Beside the King, who holily lifts his hands Above an altar where the glowing rays...
Alcove Ii. Column Vi. Escape Of Tammuz From Hades : COLUMN VI ESCAPE OF TAMMUZ FROM HADES--HIS DEATH IN THE CLOUDS-FUNERAL PROCESSION OF THE GODS-ISHTAR'S ELEGY OVER THE DEATH OF TAMMUZ--HIS REVIVAL IN HADES, WHERE HE IS CROWNED AS THE LORD OF HADES--ISHTAR'S RETURN BRINGS LIGHT AND LOVE BACK TO EARTH. But see! they pass from those dark gates...
Alcove Ii. Column Iv. The Fight With : 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. p. 85 A louder roar now echoes from the skies, And Erech's Sar without the palace flies...
Alcove I. Tablet Iv. Column I. The Annual : TABLET IV 1--COLUMN I THE ANNUAL SALE OF THE MAIDENS OF BABYLON Hail holy union! wedded love on earth! The highest bliss which crowns us from our birth, Our joy! the mainspring of our life and aims, Our great incentive when sweet love inflames Our hearts to glorious deeds and ever wreathes Around...
Alcove Ii. Column Vi. Izdubar Enters Hades : COLUMN VI IZDUBAR ENTERS HADES--THE SONG OF THE DALKHI IN THE CAVERN OF HORRORS--THE KING PASSES THROUGH HADES TO THE GARDEN OF THE GODS, AND SEES THE WONDERFUL FOUNTAIN OF LIFE'S WATERS In a weird passage to the Under-World, Where demon shades sit with their pinions furled Along the cavern's walls...
Alcove I. Column Vi. Izdubar Slays The Midannu : COLUMN VI IZDUBAR SLAYS THE MIDANNU IN THE FESTIVE HALL, AND HEABANI DECLARES HIM TO BE A GOD The guests are seated round the festal board; Heabani takes his seat beside his lord. The choicest viands of the wealthy plain Before them placed and fishes of the main, With wines and cordials, juices...
Alcove Ii. Tablet V Column I. Coronati : ALCOVE II TABLET V--COLUMN I CORONATION OF IZDUBAR AS KING OF THE FOUR RACES, AND APPEARANCE OF ISHTAR IN HIS ROYAL PRESENCE, WHO SUES FOR HIS HAND To Erech's palaces returns the Sar, Rich laden with Khumbaba's spoils of war. The land of Ur with grandest glories shines-- And gleams with palaces...
Alcove I. Column Iv. Heabani, The Hermit Seer : COLUMN IV HEABANI, THE HERMIT SEER Before a cave within the Gab-ri 1b 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...
Alcove Ii. Column Iii. Ishtar Complains : COLUMN III ISHTAR COMPLAINS TO ANU, KING OF HEAVEN, WHO CREATES A WINGED BULL TO DESTROY ISHTAR Before the throne of Arm, 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...
Alcove I. Tablet Iii Column I. Heabani's : TABLET III--COLUMN I HEABANI'S WISDOM-SONG OF THE KHAU-IK-I The dark-eyed maids are dancing in the halls Of Erech's palace: music fills the walls Of splendor where the Sar-dan-nu 1 enthroned, His hours is whiling by the maidens zoned; A whirling garland chanting forth a song, Accompanied with harps...
Alcove I. Column Iv. The King Goes From Ishtar's : p. 70 COLUMN IV THE KING GOES FROM ISHTAR'S TEMPLE TO THE TEMPLE OF SAMAS He rose and raised the pendant mystic charms And kissed them, and the jewels of her arms And ornaments upon her breast divine, And then her crown with jewels iridine He placed upon his brow, and it returned; ...
Alcove Ii. Tablet Vii Column I. The King : TABLET VII--COLUMN I THE KING AND SEER CONVERSING ON THEIR WAY TO KHASISADRA--INTERPRETATION OF THE KING'S DREAM IN THE PALACE ON THE NIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL "The dream, my seer, which I beheld last night Within our tent, may bring to us delight. I saw a mountain summit flash with fire, That like...
Alcove I. Column Iii. The King Worships : p. 65 COLUMN III THE KING WORSHIPS AT THE SHRINE OF ISHTAR 1 The richest and the poorest here must stay, Each proud or humble maid must take her way To Ishtar's temple grand, a lofty shrine, With youth and beauty seek her aid divine. Some drive in covered chariots of gold, With courtly trains come...
Alcove Ii. Column V. Izdubar Falls In Love : COLUMN V IZDUBAR FALLS IN LOVE WITH MUA, AND OFFERS HER HIS HAND "O Mua! thou bright Waters of the Dawn! Oh, where art thou?" one cries as he doth run Through the bright garden. See! 'tis Izdubar! Immortal! glorious! our King of War! And now in love is seeking Mua here. He scarcely treads...
Alcove I. Column V. Festival In H : p. 50 COLUMN V FESTIVAL IN HONOR OF HEABANI, WHO ARRIVES AT ERECH--INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM The sounds of wild rejoicing now arise; "Heabani comes!" resound the joyful cries, And through the gates of Erech Suburi Now file the chieftains, Su-khu-li rubi. 1 A festival in honor of their guest...
Alcove Ii. Tablet Vi Column I. Ishtar's Descent : p. 91 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...
Alcove I. Column Ii. The Fall Of Erech : COLUMN II THE FALL OF ERECH O Moon-god, 1b hear my cry! With thy pure light Oh, take my spirit through that awful night That hovers o'er the long-forgotten years, To sing Accadia's songs and weep her tears! 'Twas thus I prayed, when lo! my spirit rose On fleecy clouds, enwrapt in soft repose; And I...
Alcove I. Column Vi. Hand To Hand Conflict : COLUMN VI HAND-TO-HAND CONFLICT OF THE RIVAL GIANTS--DEATH OF KHUMBABA Now the black forest through, the Sar and seer Sought for their foe, Khumbaba, far and near; But he had fled when he beheld the gods In fury rushing from their bright abodes. Now from the battle-field the King and seer...
Alcove I. Column Ii. Songs In Praise Of Izdubar : COLUMN II SONGS IN PRAISE OF IZDUBAR AND HEABANI AS SUNG BY THE KHAU-IK-I Our Izdubar dear Erech raised From her distress, when she did mourn; With joy his glorious name be praised! Of a great warrior's daughter born, And Bel in his own might, him arms, To Erech's sons and daughters save; Wh...
Alcove I. Column Ii. Council In The Palace : COLUMN II COUNCIL IN THE PALACE The seers on silver couches round the throne; The hangings of the carvd lintel thrown Aside; the heralds cried: "The Sar! The Sar! The council opens our King Izdubar!" The Sar walked o'er the velvets to his throne Of gold inlaid with gems. A vassal prone Before...
Alcove I. Column Vi. Heabani Resolves : p. 40 COLUMN VI HEABANI RESOLVES TO RETURN TO ERECH As Zaidu sadly turns and rides away, The hermit from his cave comes forth to pray: "Alas! hath all these wilds their charms here lost? And is my breast with wild ambition tost? My lonely cot I look upon with shame; Again I long to seek the fields...
Alcove I. Column Iii. The Rescue Of Erech : COLUMN III THE RESCUE OF ERECH BY IZDUBAR Heabani, weary, eyes his native land, And on his harp now lays his trembling hand; The song has ended in a joyous lay, And yet, alas! his hands but sadly play: Unused to hope, the strings refuse their aid To tune in sympathy, and heartless played. Ag...
Alcove Ii. Column V. The King Buries His : COLUMN V THE KING BURIES HIS SEER IN THE CAVE, AND CONTINUING HIS JOURNEY, HE MEETS TWO FIERY GIANTS WHO GUIDE THE SUN IN THE HEAVENS--THEY MAKE MERRY OVER THE KING, AND DIRECT HIM ON HIS WAY The King within the cave his seer entombs, And mourning sadly from the cavern comes; The entrance closes...
Alcove Ii. Column Ii. Contest With The Dragons : COLUMN II CONTEST WITH THE DRAGONS IN THE MOUNTAINS--THE SEER IS MORTALLY WOUNDED--HIS CALM VIEW OF THE HEREAFTER 1"O Mam-mitu, thou god of fate and death! Thou spirit of fierce hate and parting breath, Thou banisher of joy! O ghastly Law, That gathers countless forces in thy maw! A phantom! curse...
Alcove Ii. Column Vi. Ishtar Weaves A Mystic : p. 89 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...
Alcove Ii. Column Vi. Mua's Answer : COLUMN VI MUA'S ANSWER Sweet Mua lifts her eyes toward the heights That glow afar beneath the softened lights That rest upon the mountain's crystalline. And see! they change their hues incarnadine To gold, and emerald, and opaline; Swift changing to a softened festucine Before the eye. And thus...
Alcove Ii. Column Iv. Release Of Ishtar Her : p. 98 COLUMN IV RELEASE OF ISHTAR--HER ATTEMPTS TO BRING TO LIFE TAMMUZ, HER FIRST LOVER When Allat saw the flaming herald come, And his bright light dispelling all her gloom, She beat her breast; and at him furious foams In rage, and stamping shakes all Hades' domes, Thus cursed the herald...
Alcove Ii. Column Iii. Izdubar Greeted : p. 146 COLUMN III KHASISADRA ON THE SHORE SEES THE VESSEL COMING, AND RETURNING TO HIS PALACE, SENDS HIS DAUGHTER MUA TO WELCOME IZDUBAR--MEETING OF THE KING AND SAGE Beneath a ku-tree Khasisadra eyes The spreading sea beneath the azure skies, An agd youth with features grave, serene, Matured with...
Alcove Ii. Column Ii. The King And Ur He : p. 140 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 PASS THROUGH THE WATERS OF DEATH And Izdubar turned from the Halls and goes Toward a fountain in the park, whence flows A merry...
Alcove I. Column V. Expedition Against Khumbab : COLUMN V EXPEDITION AGAINST KHUMBABA, AND BATTLE IN THE BLACK FOREST At early dawn the shining ranks are massed, And Erech echoes with the trumpet's blast; The chosen men of Erech are in line, And Ishtar in her car above doth shine. The blazing standards high with shouts are raised, As Samas' car...
Alcove I. Tablet I Column I. Invocation : p. 3 ALCOVE I TABLET I: COLUMN I INVOCATION O LOVE, my queen and goddess, come to me; My soul shall never cease to worship thee; Come pillow here thy head upon my breast, And whisper in my lyre thy softest, best, And sweetest melodies of bright "Sami", 1 Our Happy Fields 2 above dear "Subartu"; 3...
Alcove Ii. Column Ii. Effect Of Ishtar's : p. 93 COLUMN II EFFECT OF ISHTAR'S IMPRISONMENT IN HADES--LOVE DEPARTS FROM THE EARTH--THE EARTH'S SOLEMN DIRGE OF WOE. When Ishtar, Queen of Love, from Earth had flown, With her love fled, and left all nature prone; From Earth all peace with love then fled amain. In loneliness the bull stalked...
Alcove I. Column Iv. Coronation Of Izdubar : p. 17 COLUMN IV CORONATION OF IZDUBAR A crowd of maidens led a glorious van; With roses laden the fair heralds ran, With silver-throated music chant the throng, And sweetly sang the coronation song: And now we see the gorgeous cavalcade, Within the walls in Accad's grand parade They pass, led by...
Alcove I. Column Ii. The King's Second Dream : p. 29 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...
Alcove Ii. Column Ii. The King's Answer : 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...
Introduction : p. iii SPECIAL INTRODUCTION From "Babylonian And Assyrian Literature" [1901] By Epiphanius Wilson, A.M. The great nation which dwelt in the seventh century before our era on the banks of Tigris and Euphrates flourished in literature as well as in the plastic arts, and had an alphabet of its own...
Alcove I. Column V. Ishtar And Her Maids : COLUMN V ISHTAR AND HER MAIDS IN THE FAVORITE HAUNT OF IZDUBAR The king while hunting where a forest grows, Around sweet hyacinths and budding rose, Where a soft zephyr o'er them gently flows From the dark "sik-ka-ti" 1 where Kharsak 2 glows; And Sedu 3 softly dances on the leaves, And a rich...
Alcove Ii. Column Iii. Papsukul Intercedes : COLUMN III PAPSUKUL, THE GOD OF HOPE, AND HERALD OF THE GODS, FLIES FROM THE EARTH AND INTERCEDES FOR THE RELEASE OF ISHTAR, AND HEA GRANTS HIS PRAYER O Hope! thou fleeting pleasure of the mind, Forever with us stay, our hearts to bind! We cling to thee till life has fled away; Our dearest phantom...
Alcove I. Column Iii. Zaidu's Return : COLUMN III ZAIDU'S RETURN, AND HIS INSTRUCTION TO TAKE TWO MAIDS WITH HIM TO ENTICE THE SEER FROM HIS CAVE Prince Zaidu prostrate bows before the Sar, Arises, thus narrates to Izdubar: "Thy sovereign, Zaidu hath his king obeyed, The royal mission I have thus essayed As Anu's 1 soldier; I undaunted...
Alcove Ii. Column Iv. The Grief Of The King : COLUMN IV THE GRIEF OF THE KING OVER THE LOSS OF HIS SEER, AND HIS PRAYER TO THE MOON-GOD, WHO ANSWERS HIS PRAYER WITH A VISION The King weeps bitterly with flowing tears Above his seer when from him disappears The last faint breath; and then in deepest woe He cries: "And through that desert must I...
Alcove I. Column V. Expedition Of Zaidu : 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...
Alcove I. Column Iii. Izdubar Relates His : COLUMN III IZDUBAR RELATES HIS SECOND DREAM TO HIS SEERS, WHO CANNOT INTERPRET IT The counsellors assembled round the throne Within the council halls of "zam-at" 1 stone, Now greet their monarch, and behold his face With trouble written on his brow, and trace Uneasiness within that eagle eye, While...
Alcove I. Tablet Ii Column I. Ishtar's Midnight : 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-god 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...
Alcove I. Column Iv. The Two Maidens Entice : p. 48 COLUMN IV THE TWO MAIDENS ENTICE THE SEER Thus in Heabani's cave the maiden went, And o'er the sleeping seer her form she bent; O'er him who with gazelles oft eats his food; O'er him who drinks with "bhu-ri" 1 in the wood; O'er him who loves the "zir-ri",--of them dreams, And sports with...
Alcove Ii. Tablet Viii Column I. The King's : p. 133 TABLET VIII-COLUMN I THE KING'S ADVENTURE AT THE GATE OF THE GARDEN OF THE GODS WITH THE TWO MAIDENS--ONE OF THEM LEADS HIM INTO THE HAPPY HALLS--SONGS OF THE SABITU AND ZI-SI. A gate half opened shows the silvery sea Yet distant shining lambent on his way. And now he sees young Siduri, 1...
Title Page : ISHTAR AND IZDUBAR THE EPIC OF BABYLON; Or, The Babylonian Goddess Of Love And The Hero And The Warrior King; Constructed From Translations Of The Great Accadian Epic And The Legends Of Assyria And Babylon, Found In Cuneiform Inscriptions On Tablets Lately Discovered And Now Deposited...
Alcove I. Column Vi. Izdubar Falls In Love : p. 23 COLUMN VI IZDUBAR FALLS IN LOVE WITH ISHTAR, THE QUEEN OF LOVE The hour has come when Izdubar will seek The cool enchantment of the cove, and slake His thirst with its sweet waters bubbling pure, Where Love has spread for him her sweetest lure, The maids expectant listening, watch and wait...
