Tablet V

1 They stood marvelling at the forest,
2 gazing at the lofty cedars,
3 gazing at the forest’s entrance –
4 Where Ḫumbaba came and went there was a track,
5 the paths were in good order and the way was well trodden.
6 They were gazing at the Cedar Mountain,⁠a
7 the dwelling of the gods, the throne-dais of the goddesses,
8 [on the] very face of the mountain the cedar was offering its abundance,
9 sweet was its shade, full of delight.
10 [Thick] tangled was the thorn, the forest a shrouding canopy,
11 cedars and gum trees, [all entwined,] left no way in.
12 For a league on all sides cedars [lifts up] saplings,
13 cypresses [grew thick] for two-thirds of a league.
14 Cedars scabbed with resin grew sixty cubits high,
15 the resin [oozed] forth, drizzling down like rain,
16 [flowing freely] for ravines to bear away.
17 [Through] all the forest a bird began to sing,
18 [hen birds] gave answer, a constant din was the noise.
19 [A solitary] tree-cricket set off a noisy chorus,
20 … sing a song, making the … pipe loud.
21 A wood pigeon moans, a turtle dove calls in answer.
22 [At the call of] the stork, the forest exults,
23 [at the cry of] the francolin, the forest exults amid plenty.
24 [Monkey mothers] sing aloud, a youngster monkey shrieks:
25 [like a band] of musicians and drummers,
26 daily they bash out a rhythm in the presence of Ḫumbaba.
27 As the cedar [cast] its shadow,
28 [terror] fell on Gilgameš.
29 [Stiffness took] a grip on his arms,
30 and tremors beset his legs.
31 [Enkidu] opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš:
32 ‘[Let us go deep] into the midst of the forest,
33 [let us get] going and raise a loud cry!’
34 [Gilgameš] opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
35 ‘[Why,] my friend, do we tremble like cowards,
36 [we who] came across all the mountains?
37 ‘[Shall] … before us?
38 Before we have withdrawn…
39 ‘My [friend] is one who is tested in combat,
40 one who has been in battle has no fear of death.
41 ‘You have been splashed in blood, so you need not fear death:
42 [go] berserk, like a dervish fall into a frenzy.
43 Let [your shout] boom loud [like] a kettle drum,
44 may stiffness leave your arms, the tremors depart from your legs!’
45 ‘Take my hand, friend, and we shall go [on] together,
46 [let] your thoughts dwell on combat!
47 Forget death and [seek] life!
48 [The one who] walks alongside is the prudent man.
49 ‘“[Let him who] goes first be on guard for himself and bring his comrade to safety!”
50 It is they made a name [for days] long in the future!’
51 [At the] distant … they both arrived,
52 [they ceased] their talking and came to a halt.
53 They stood marvelling at the forest,
54 […]
55 At once the swords…,
56 and from the scabbards […].
57 The axes were smeared […],
58 hatchets [and] dirks in […]
59 One […],
60 They crept [into …]
61 Ḫumbaba [talked with himself, speaking a word:]
62 “Did not a … go … […?]
63 Did not go … […]?
64 Why are … perturbed and …?
65 ‘Why are my own … […]?
66 In terror for … […]
67 How indeed, … […]?
68 In my very bed … […]
69 ‘It must be Enkidu … […],
70 in goodwill he … […],
71 If a word to … […]
72 may Enlil curse him …!’
73 Enkidu [opened] his mouth [to speak, saying to Gilgameš:]
74 ‘My friend, Ḫumbaba … […]
75 One friend is one alone, but [two are two!]
76 ‘Though they be weak, two … […],
77 [though one alone cannot climb] a sloping rampart, two [will succeed!]
78 Two triplets … […]
79 a three-ply rope [is not easily broken.]
80 ‘A strong dog’s two pups [will overcome it]
81 Fix firm your stance […]
82 My friend, an arrow’s dart … […],
83 the journey that you are making…
84 ‘When we have departed […]
85 … is borne […]
86 Its … two […]
87 My friend, on the winds that Šamaš […]
88 ‘His rear is a tempest, [his forequarters wind.]
89 Speak to Šamaš, that he [give you his winds!]’
90 Gilgameš lifted his head, [weeping before Šamaš,]
91 [his tears] flowing under the rays of the sun:
92 ‘[Do not forget the day that] you spoke [to me] in Uruk!’
93 Now come to my aid and … […]
94 Upon Gilgameš, offshoot sprung from Uruk’s midst, [place your protection!]’
95 Šamaš heard what he had spoken,
96 straight away [from the sky there cried out] a voice:
97 ‘Fear not, stand against him! Ḫumbaba must not [enter his forest,]
98 he must not go down to the grove, he must not put on his auras.]’
99 ‘He [must not] wrap himself in his seven cloaks…!
100 [One] he is wrapped in, six he has shed.’
101 They […]
102 like a fierce wild bull, ready to charge […]
103 He bellowed once, a bellow full of terror,
104 the guardian of the forests was bellowing,
105 … […]
106 Ḫumbaba was [thundering] like the God of the Storm.
107 [Missing text: 107–114.]
115 Ḫumbaba opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš:
116 ‘Let fools, Gilgameš, take the advice of an idiot fellow! Why have you come [here] into my presence?
117 Come, Enkidu, (you) spawn of a fish, who did not know his father,
118 hatchling of terrapin and turtle, who did not suck the milk of his mother!
119 When you were young I would watch you but I would not go near you,
120 would your… have sated my belly?
121 ‘[Now in treache]ry you bring before me Gilgameš,
122 and you take your stand here like a hostile enemy?
123 I will [slit] the gullet and throat of Gilgameš,
124 I will feed his flesh to the birds of the forest, ravening eagle and vulture!’
125 Gilgameš opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu:
126 ‘My friend, Ḫumbaba’s features have changed!
127 Boldly we came up here to his lair to defeat him,
128 but the heart that took fright does not grow calm in a moment.’
129 Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying [to] Gilgameš:
130 ‘Why, my friend, [do you] speak like a weakling?
131 With your feeble talk you vex my heart!
132 ‘Now, my friend, but one is [our task,]
133 already the copper pours into the mould!
134 To stoke the furnace for an hour? To blow on the coals for an hour?
135 To send the Deluge is to crack the whip!
136 [Do not] pull back your foot, do not make a retreat!
137 Make your blow mighty, [like that of a] lion!
138 Let not … […]
139 […] you.
140 And as for him, let him look […]
141 ‘Be mindful of your god Lugalbanda,
142 keep in your thoughts all the dreams that you had!’
143 Gilgameš went [forward] on the advice of his friend,
144 nine times he struck bedrock, the mountain broke up.
145 He launched like a lion a brutal attack,
146 and Enkidu pounced like a puma.
147 They seized hold of Ḫumbaba in the midst of the forest,
148 his fearsome auras did fill the forest.
149 They grabbed his auras in their hands,
150 Ḫumbaba bellowed, on his own account howling:
151 ‘[I shall] lift them and climb to the sky!
152 [I shall] strike the ground so they fall to the Ocean Below!’
153 He lifted them up but the sky was too far,
154 he struck the ground but the bedrock withstood him.
155 At the heels of their feet the earth was splitting apart,
156 as they whirled around Sirara and Lebanon were split apart.
157 White cloud was turned to black,
158 death raining down upon them like a mist.
159 Šamaš roused against Ḫumbaba the mighty stormwinds:
160 South Wind, North Wind, East Wind, West Wind, Blast,
161 Counterblast, Gale, Tempest, Typhoon,
162 Hell-Wind, Icy Blast, Hurricane, Tornado:
163 Thirteen winds rose up and the face of Ḫumbaba darkened —
164 he cannot charge forwards, he cannot kick backwards —
165 and then the weapons of Gilgameš did catch Ḫumbaba.
166 Pleading for his life, Ḫumbaba said to Gilgameš:
167 ‘You are young, Gilgameš, (as when) your mother bore you,
168 but you are the offspring of [Wild-Cow Ninsun!]
169 By Šamaš’s command you flattened ten mountains,
170 O offshoot sprung from Uruk’s midst, Gilgameš the king!
171 ‘Never, O Gilgameš, did a dead man please a master,
172 [but a slave] alive [brings profit] to his owner.
173 O Gilgameš, be merciful! […]
174 Let me stay here in the forest at your beck and call!
175 ‘Trees I will keep you, as many as you ask for:
176 I will keep your myrtle, cedar and cypress,
177 timber to be the pride of [your] palace […]’
178 Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying [to Gilgameš:]
179 Do not listen, my [friend,] to Ḫumbaba’s words of pleading,
180 […] should his pleading ever enter your mind?
181 ‘If he returns to his home, we shall be as unborn!
182 He will bind us fast in the Forest of Cedar,
183 [then] enter the grove and put [on his auras.]’
184 Ḫumbaba [heard how Enkidu] abused [him.]
185 [Ḫumbaba lifted his head, weeping before Šamaš,]
186 [his tears flowing under the rays of the sun:]
187 […]
188 [Missing text: 188–189.]
190 ‘You are experienced in the ways of my forest, the ways […,]
191 also you know all the (best) things to say.
192 Had I only picked you up and hanged you from a sapling at my forest’s entrance,
193 Had I only fed your flesh to the birds of the forest, ravening eagle and vulture.
194 Now, Enkidu, [my] release rests with you:
195 speak to Gilgameš so he spares my life.’
196 Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš:
197 ‘My friend, Ḫumbaba, guardian of the Forest of [Cedar,]
198 finish him, slay him, do away with his power!
199 Ḫumbaba, guardian of the Forest, finish him, slay him, do away with his power,
200 before Enlil the foremost has learned (about it)!
201 The [great] gods could be angry with us,
202 Enlil in Nippur, Šamaš in [Larsa … ]
203 establish for ever [a fame] that endures,
204 how Gilgameš [slew ferocious] Ḫumbaba!’
205 Ḫumbaba heard [how Enkidu abused him.]
206 Ḫumbaba [lifted] his head, [weeping before Šamaš.]
207 [his tears flowing under the rays of the sun:]
208 [Missing text: 208–246.]
247 … […]
248 … […]
249 Enkidu [opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš:]
250 ‘My friend, [catch a bird,]
251 and where [can its hatchlings go?]
252 Ḫumbaba […]
253 Where will [they go…?]
254 Where will [they go …?]’
255 Ḫumbaba heard [how Enkidu abused him.]
256 Ḫumbaba lifted his head, [weeping before Šamaš,]
257 [his tears flowing] under the rays of the sun:
258 “You did enter, O Enkidu, […]
259 in the clashing of weapons a prince […]
260 and the one who dwells in his house […] hostilities.
261 You sit before [him] like a shepherd,
262 and like one at his beck and call you […]
263 Now, Enkidu, [my release] rests with you, and [ … ,]
264 speak to Gilgameš so he [spares] my life!’
265 Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying [to Gilgameš:]
266 ‘My friend, Ḫumbaba, guardian of the Forest of [Cedar,]
267 finish him, slay him, [do away with his power,]
268 ‘Ḫumbaba, guardian of the Forest of Cedar, finish [him, slay him, do away with his power,]
269 before [Enlil] the foremost has learned (about it)!
270 The [great] gods could be angry with us,
271 Enlil in Nippur, Šamaš in [Larsa (…) establi]sh for ever [a fame] that endures,
272 how Gilgameš slew [the fearsome] Ḫumbaba!’
273 Ḫumbaba heard [how Enkidu] abu[sed him.]
274 Ḫumbaba [lifted up] his head, [weeping before Šamaš,]
275 [his tears flowing] under the [rays of the sun:]
276 [“O Šamaš …”]
… […]
277 … […]
278 May they not […]
279 May the pair of them not grow old,
280 apart from his friend Gilgameš, may Enkidu have nobody to bury him!’
281 Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš:
282 ‘My friend, I speak to you but you do not listen to me!
283 Until the curses … […] … […]
284 [let those curses return] to his mouth.’
285 [Gilgameš heard the words] of his friend,
286 he drew forth [the dirk at] his side.
287 Gilgameš [struck him] in the neck,
288 Enkidu cut out [his heart], pulled it forth with the lungs.
289 […] … jumping up,
290 [from] the head he takes the tusks as booty.
291 [blood] in plenty fell on the mountain,
292 [gore] in plenty fell on the mountain.
293 […] …
294 […] …
295 [Missing text: 295–297.]
298 […] …
299 […] … […]
300 Gilgameš went trampling [through the] forest,
301 to take the resin from the cedars [for the table] of Enlil.
302 [Enkidu] opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš:
303 “[My friend,] we have reduced the forest [to] a wasteland,
304 [how] shall we answer Enlil in Nippur?
305 ‘[In] your might you slew the guardian,
306 what was this wrath of yours that you went trampling the forest?’ ”
307 After they had slain his seven sons,
308 Cricket, Screecher, Typhoon, Screamer, Crafty, …, Storm —
309 Hatchets of two talents each were their axes,
[…] … they cut off,
310 three and a half cubits (long) were the chips made by each stroke.
311 Gilgameš was cutting down the trees,
312 Enkidu was seeking out the best timber.
313 Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš:
314 My friend, we have cut down a lofty cedar,
315 whose top abutted the heavens.
316 I made a door — six rods is its height, two rods its breadth, one cubit its thickness,
317 its pole, its top pivot and its bottom pivot are all of a piece.
318 To the house of Enlil in Nippur the Euphrates shall bear it,
319 [let rejoice] the sanctuary [of Nippur].
320 They fashioned a raft of logs [of cedar and] cypress,
321 they bound together a raft, they laid [cedar on it.]
322 […] … Enkidu […]
323 Enkidu was riding… […]
324 and Gilgameš rode [too, bearing] the head of Ḫumbaba.