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The Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet 12

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Tablet 12 is very poor, it would seem Gilgamesh having failed in his bid for eternal life, seeks to raise his dead friend Enkidu, but in this he fails also.

(Then), what time that the seine had passed through the Architect’s dwelling, (Aye, and) the net [had taken its toll] ... … [said he]: “Lord, what [is it I may do] … … … (Now, what time that) the seine has [passed through the Architect’s 2 dwelling], (Aye and) the net [has taken its toll] … … …” Gilgamesh [unto him spoke] … … … … “If unto … … … … … (About two lines missing). “Gilgamesh, … … … … …”  “If to the . . . [thou drawest], unto the temple 3 … … … … … Raiment clean [shalt not don], (but) like to a townsman shalt … … Nor with sweet oil from the cruse be anointed, (lest) at its fragrance Round thee they gather: nor mayst thou set bow to the earth, (lest) around thee Circle those shot by the bow; nor a stick in thy hand mayst thou carry, (Lest) (stricken) ghosts should gibber against thee: nor shoe to thy foot-sole. Put on, nor make on the ground a (loud) echo: you must not kiss the wife, whom you love, thou mayst not kiss, thy wife whom thou hate - thou mayst not chastise (her),

(Aye, and) thy child whom thou love, not kiss, nor thy child whom thou hate. Mayst not chastise, (for) the mourning of earth doth hold thee enthralled. "She who dead lieth, she who dead lieth, mother of Ninazu, she who dead lieth, no more with mantle are veiled her fair shoulders, no more her bosom … … … like the lard cruse!"

 (So) did he draw [the … to … and came to the temples, [Put on clean raiment] . . . (and) like to a townsman … (Aye), with [sweet] oil from the cruse [was] anointed: (then) at [its] fragrance around him they gathered: … … the bow did he set (?) [to the earth], and around him circled the spirits, (yea,) those who were [shot] by the bow at him gibbered, [Carried] a stick in his hand [and the (stricken) ghosts at him gibbered(?)].

[Put on] a shoe to [his foot-sole and made on the ground a (loud)] echo. [Kissed he] his wife [whom he loved, chastised his] wife whom he hated, [Kissed he his child] whom he loved, chastised [his] child whom he hated. (Aye, in good sooth, ’twas) the mourning of earth which did hold him enthralled:

“She who (dead) lieth, [She who] (dead) lieth, Mother of Ninazu, she who (dead) lieth, no (more) with mantle are Veiled [her] fair shoulders, no (more) her bosom … …… … like the lard cruse.”

Cried(?) [he] (for) Enkidu out of the earth to ascend: Namtar, hath [seized] him, nor fever, (but only) the earth: nor the Croucher, [Nergal], the ruthless, hath seized him, (but only) the earth: neither fell he. There where was [battle] of mortals; it was only the earth [which hath seized him.] … … for his servant Enkidu sorrowed the offspring of Nin-sun,

(Aye), as he went all alone unto [Ekur], the temple of Enlil: "[Enlil], (my) Father, (’tis now) that the seine has stricken me also, down to the earth - the net to the earth hath stricken me also.

Enkidu ’tis - whom [I pray thee] to raise [from the earth] - not (the Plague-god), Namtar, has seized him, nor fever, [but only the earth]: nor the Croucher, Nergal, the ruthless, has seized him, but only the earth]: [neither fell he]

There where was battle of mortals: [’twas only the earth which hath seized him]."

(But) no answer did Enlil, the father vouchsafe.  "Moon-god, (my) Father, (’tis now) that the seine [hath stricken me also, down to the earth]—the net [to the earth hath stricken me also]. Enkidu ’tis—whom [I pray thee] to raise [from the earths—not (the Plague-god), Namtar, hath seized him, [nor] fever, [but only the earth: nor] the Croucher, Nergal, [the ruthless, hath seized him, but only the earth]: [neither fell he] There where [was battle of mortals: ’twas only the earth which hath seized him." [(But) no answer the Moon-god vouchsafed: then) to Ea he hied him:] ["Ea, (my) Father, ’tis now that the seine hath stricken me also,] [Down to the earth - the net to the earth hath stricken me also.] [Enkidu ’tis, - whom I pray thee to raise from the earth - not (the Plague-god),] Namtar, hath seized him, nor fever, but only the earth: nor the Croucher, Nergal, the ruthless, [hath seized him, but only the earth: neither fell he] There where was battle of mortals: [’twas only the earth which hath seized him]."

Ea, the father, [gave ear (and) to Nergal], the warrior-hero, [Spoke he]: “O Nergal, O warrior-hero, [give ear to my speaking(?)]! Opened then a hole in the earth, that the spirit of Enkidu, issued, [May from the earth issue forth, and so have speech] with [his] brother.”

Nergal, the warrior-hero, [gave ear to the speaking of Ea, opened, then, a hole in the earth, and the spirit of Enkidu issued forth from the earth like a wind. They embraced and … … Communed together, mourning.

“Tell, O my friend, O tell, O my friend, (O) tell (me, I pray thee), What thou hast seen of the laws of the Underworld?” “(Nay, then,) O comrade; I will not tell thee, (yea,) I will not tell thee - (for), were I to tell thee, what I have seen of the laws of the Underworld, - sit thee down weeping!”

"(Then) let me sit me down weeping." (The wretched lot of all who must die). "(So be it): [the friend(?)] thou didst fondle (Thereby) rejoicing thee - [into his body(?), as though ’twere a] mantle Old, has the worm made its entry: (in sooth, then) [the bride(?)] thou didst fondle, (Thereby) rejoicing thee - filled with the dust [is her body] … … … he has spoken and [into the"' ground (?) is he sunken, … … he has spoken and [into the ground (?) is he sunken.” “[He who fell in …] [Didst thou see him?]." "(Aye), I saw ...” (About seventeen lines missing). “As a pillar beautiful [Props?] an inner por[tico (?)] … … (About twenty-five lines missing).

“He who fell from a pole didst thou see him? "(Aye), I saw]: Straightway for … … By removal of a plug …” “He whom death … … … … "Didst thou see him?" "[(Aye) I saw]: he’s at rest upon a couch, Limpid water does he drink.” “(Then, the hero) slain in fight, didst thou see him?” “(Aye) I saw: father, mother raise his head, Over him wife [in bitter woe].” “He whose corpse in desert lieth, has thou seen him?" "(Aye), I saw; not in earth doth rest his spirit." “He whose ghost has none to tend, didst thou see him?" "(Aye), I saw, Lees of cup, and broken bread thrown into the street he eats.”

THE END OF THE EPIC OF GILGAMISH.

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