Sippar

1 […] wild bulls, the aurochs of […,]
2 [he] clothed himself in their skins, eating their flesh.
3 Gilgameš [dug] wells that never existed before,
4 [he] drank the water as he chased the winds.
5 Šamaš became worried, so he bent down to him,
6 he spoke to Gilgameš:
7 ‘O Gilgameš, where are you wandering?
8 You cannot find the life that you seek.’
9 Gilgameš spoke to him, to the hero Šamaš:
10 ‘After roaming, wandering through the wild,
11 within the Netherworld will rest be scarce?
12 I shall be lying down all the years,
13 but now let my eyes look on the sun so I am sated with light.
14 The darkness is hidden, how much light is there?
15 When may a dead man see the rays of the sun?
16 ‘[My friend, whom I love deeply,]
17 who with me went through every danger,
18 Enkidu, whom I love deeply,
19 who with me went through every danger:
20 he went to the destiny of mankind,
21 I wept over him day and night.
22 I did not give him up for burial —
23 “Maybe my friend will rise at my cry!” —
24 for seven days and seven nights,
25 until a maggot dropped from his nostril.
26 After he was gone I did not find life,
27 as I wandered like a trapper through the midst of the wild.
28 Now, tavern keeper, I have seen your face,
29 but I would not see death, that ever I fear.’
30 The tavern keeper spoke to him, to Gilgameš:
31 ‘O Gilgameš, where are you wandering?
32 You cannot find the life that you seek:
33 when the gods created mankind,
34 for mankind they established death,
35 life they kept for themselves.
36 You, Gilgameš, let your belly be full,⁠a
37 keep enjoying yourself, day and night!
38 Every day make merry,
39 dance and play day and night!
40 Let your clothes be clean!
41 Let your head be washed, may you be bathed in water!
42 Gaze on the little one who holds your hand!
43 Let a wife enjoy your repeated embrace!
44 Such is the destiny [of mortal men,]
45 that one who lives […’]
46 Gilgameš [spoke] to her, [to the tavern keeper:]
47 ‘Why, O tavern keeper, do you talk […?]
48 My heart is sick for my friend […]
49 Why, O tavern keeper, do you talk […?]
50 My heart is sick for Enkidu […]
51 You dwell, O tavern keeper, on the shore [of the ocean,]
52 you are familiar with all […]
53 Show me the way! […]
54 If it can be done [I will cross] the ocean!’
55 The tavern keeper spoke to him, [to Gilgameš:]
56 ‘There was not, Gilgameš, one like you […]
57 One who travels […] who […?]
58 Nobody […’]
59 He smashed them in his fury.
60 He came back to stand over him,
61 as Sursunabu looked him in the eye.
62 Sursunabu spoke to him, to Gilgameš:
63 ‘What is your name? Tell me!
64 I am Sursunabu, of Ūta-naʾištim the Distant.’
65 Gilgameš spoke to him, to Sursunabu:
66 ‘Gilgameš is my name,
67 who came from Uruk-Eanna,
68 who came around the mountains,
69 the hidden road where the sun rises.
70 Now, Sursunabu, I have seen your face,
71 show me Ūta-naʾištim the Far-Away!’
72 Sursunabu spoke to him, to Gilgameš:
73 ‘[…]
74 [to reach Ūta-naʾištim the] Far-Away,
75 […you] must travel by boat,
76 [ …] …, I will take you near to (him).’
77 [They sat] down, talking it over between the two of them.
78 Then saying a word to him,
79 Sursunabu spoke to him, to Gilgameš:
80 ‘The Stone Ones, Gilgameš, were what enabled me to cross,
81 because I must not touch the Waters of Death.
82 In your fury you have smashed them.
83 The Stone Ones were with me to take me across.
84 [Take] up, Gilgameš, the axe in your hand,
85 cut me three hundred [punting]-poles, each sixty cubits.
86 […] …, and equip them with bosses,
87 […] in … […]’