Tablet II

1 [Enkidu] was sitting before her, […] …
2 [Missing text: 2–25.]
26 … […]
27 … […]
28 be b[elted with a waistband …!]
29 Why [do you roam the wild] with the [animals?]
30 Taking his own counsel […]
31 by his own judgement […]
32 his heart (now) wise [was seeking a friend.]
33 of Šamhat […]
34 The first garment [she put on herself,]
35 and with the second garment [she clothed] him.
36 she took him (by the hand), [leading him] like a god,
37 To the shepherd’s camp, the site of the sheep-pen.
38 The band of shepherds was gathered around him
39 of their own will and by himself:
40 ‘This fellow — how similar to Gilgameš he is in build,
41 he is tall in stature, majestic as a battlement
42 For sure he was born in the hills,
43 his strength is as mighty as a lump of rock from the sky.’
44 They put bread before [him]
45 they put ale before him.
46 Enkidu did not eat the bread, he looked intently as he viewed (it):
47 [how to eat bread he had never] even [been taught,]
48 [how to drink ale Enkidu did not] know.
49 [The prostitute said to him, to] Enkidu,
50 ‘[Eat the bread, Enkidu, the staff of the] people,
51 [drink the ale, the destiny of the] land!’
52 […] …
53 [The translation for this passage appears with passage 52.]
54 [Missing text: 54–55.]
56 […] …
57 […] …
58 […] …
59 His heart [now wise…]
60 [he would] massacre wolves and [chase] away [lions.]
61 [As] the senior herdsmen lay sleeping,
62 Enkidu was their herdsman, a [wakeful man.]
63 [A certain] fellow [was invited] to a wedding,
64 [into] Uruk the sheepfold for … […]
65 […] … […]
66 […] … […]
King [of Uruk the sheepfold ...]
husband […]
And […]
… […]
67 [Missing text: 67–98.]
99 […] … […]
100 [He stood] in the street of Uruk [the sheepfold.]
101 […] parted, strength […,]
102 he blocked the path [of Gilgameš.]
103 The land of Uruk was standing [around him,]
104 the land was gathered [about him.]
105 A crowd was jostling before [him,]
106 the menfolk were thronging [around him.]
107 They were [kissing his feet] like a little baby’s;
108 already the man … […] …
109 For Išḫara a bed of […] …
110 for Gilgameš, like a god, a substitute was in place.
111 Enkidu with [his] feet blocked the doorway of the wedding house,
112 not allowing Gilgameš to enter.
113 They took hold of each other in the doorway of the wedding house,
114 they joined combat in the street, the Main-Street-of-the-Land.
115 The door jambs quaked, the wall shook.
116 [Missing text: 116–161.]
162 ‘He is the mightiest [in the land, strength he possesses,]
163 [his strength is as mighty as a] lump of rock from the sky,
164 tall in [stature, majestic as a battlement.]’
165 The mother of Gilgameš [opened her] mouth [to speak,]
166 saying to [her son,]
167 Wild-Cow Ninsun [opened her mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš:]
168 ‘My son, … […]
169 bitterly you […]
170 … […]
171 […]
172 You hold […]
173 … in his gate […]
174 Bitterly he wails […]
175 Enkidu does not have [kith and kin]
176 Loose-hanging hair…[…]
177 he was born in the wild and [has] no [brother]
178 Enkidu being present, he heard [what she said,]
179 thinking it over, he sat [down weeping.]
180 His eyes filled with [tears,]
181 his arms fell limp, strength […]
182 They took hold of each other and together […]
183 they [linked] their hands and like […]
184 Gilgameš … […]
185 [to] Enkidu he said a word, [saying:]
186 ‘Why, my friend, [did your eyes] fill [with tears,]
187 your arms fall limp, [strength…?]’
188 Enkidu said to him, [to Gilgameš:]
189 My friend, my heart was made to ache…[…]
190 Through sobbing [my legs do] tremble,
191 terror has entered my heart.
192 [No English translation is supplied for this damaged passage in the edition.]
193 Gilgameš opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
194 ‘As if, my friend, to…[…]
195 … is imminent […]
196 But as for us, wrestling... […]
197 … him, the days […]
198 … beside you … […]
199 So now, my friend, […]
200 […] in the land we […]
201 […] … Ḫubaba […]
202 […] … […]
203 [Missing text: 203–211.]
212 [No English translation is supplied for this damaged passage in the edition.]
213 let [me cut …]
214 May they smash […]
215 the whirlwinds […]’
216 Enkidu [opened his] mouth [to speak, saying to Gilgameš:]
217 ‘How can we [go, my friend, to the Forest of Cedar?]
218 In order to keep the cedars safe,
That journey [is not one for the making,]
219 Enlil made it his destiny to be the terror of the people:
[that man is not one for the seeing.]
220 He who guards [the Forest of Cedar is mighty, never resting,]
221 Ḫumbaba, his voice is the Deluge,
222 his speech is fire, his breath is death.
223 He hears his forest’s murmur for sixty leagues;
224 who is there that would venture into his forest?
225 Adad is the first, but he is the second!
226 Who is there among the Igigi that would oppose him?
227 In order to keep the cedars safe,
228 Enlil made it his destiny to be the terror of the people.
229 And he who ventures into his forest, feebleness will seize him!’
230 Gilgameš opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
231 ‘Come, […]
232 Why, my friend, do you speak like a weakling?
233 With your feeble talk you have vexed my heart!
234 As for man, [his] days are numbered,
235 all that ever he did is but [wind.]
236 … do not exist […]
237 You were born and grew up [in the wild.]
238 Lions attacked you, [you experienced all,]
239 grown men, too, fled [from your presence.]
240 Your heart, well tried, [is tested in] combat;
241 come, my friend, [I will go] to the forge!’
242 [To the] forge [they went, …]
243 […] … […]
244 [Missing text: 244–246.]
247 They [were sitting] down exchanging views, to […]
248 ‘Let us cast axes […]
249 hatchets of seven talents each, […]
250 Their swords of seven talents each,
251 … […] Scribal annotation: [new] break
252 Their belts of one talent apiece,
253 the belt of […]’
254 […] … […] Scribal annotation: new break, new break
255 [Missing text: 255–259.]
260 ‘Listen to me, O young men (of Uruk the sheepfold!) Scribal annotation: five lines skipped
261 O young men of Uruk, who understand [combat!]
262 I have grown so bold as to travel the [distant] path [to where Ḫumbaba is.]
263 I shall face a battle that I do not know,
264 [I shall ride] a road [that I do not know.]
265 Give me your blessing, so that I may go,
266 [so that I may see your] faces [(again) in safety,]
267 and come in through Uruk’s gate [glad at heart!]
268 I will return and [perform] the akītu-festival [twice] in the year,
269 the akītu I will perform [twice] in the year.
270 Let the akītu take place and the merriment begin,
271 let the drums be beaten in [the presence of Wild-Cow] Ninsun!’
272 Enkidu [gave] advice to the elders,
273 and the young men of Uruk, who understand [combat]
274 ‘Tell him that he must not go to the Forest of Cedar,
275 that journey is not one for making.
276 That man [is not one for] the seeing,
277 he who guards the Forest of Cedar is mighty, never resting.
278 Ḫumbaba, [his voice is the Deluge,]
279 [his speech is fire,] his breath is death.
280 [He hears] his forest’s murmur [for sixty leagues;]
281 [who is there that would venture] into his forest?
282 [Adad is the first, but he is] the second!
283 [Who is there] among the Igigi [that would oppose him?]
284 [In order to keep the cedars safe,]
285 Enlil made it his destiny [to be the] terror of the people.
286 [And] he who ventures into his forest, feebleness will seize him!’
287 The senior advisers arose,
288 they expressed in return (their) opinion to Gilgameš:
289 ‘You are young, Gilgameš, carried away by enthusiasm,⁠a
290 and the thing that you talk of you do not understand.
291 Ḫumbaba, his voice is the Deluge,
292 his speech is fire, his breath is death.
293 He hears his forest’s murmur for sixty leagues;
294 he who ventures into his forest, [feebleness will seize him!]
295 Who is there that would venture into his forest?
296 Who is there among the Igigi that would oppose him?
297 Adad is the first, but he is the second!
298 In order to keep the cedars safe,
299 Enlil made it his destiny to be the terror of the people.
300 Gilgameš heard the words of the senior advisers,
301 he looked and … Enkidu.
302 … […] …
303 [Missing text: 303–321.]
322 [No English translation is supplied for this damaged passage in the edition.]