Page:Assyrian and Babylonian Literature - 1901.djvu/438

326 pushed into the river his boat and covered (it). He returned (?) to the city of Gan-gan-na, which the enemy had destroyed completely. The she-asses have trampled down their foals; The cows in madness turn upon their calves. And as the cattle were frightened, so were the people. Like the doves, the maidens sigh and mourn. The gods of Erech, the strong-walled, Assume the shape of flies and buzz about the streets. The protecting deities of Erech, the strong-walled, take on the shape of mice and hurry into their holes. Three years the enemy besieged the city of Erech; the city's gates were barred, the bolts were shot. And even Ishtar, the goddess, could not make head against the enemy. But Bel opened his mouth, said to Ishtar, the queen, and spoke to her thus:
 * * * full of sorrows he wept bitterly.

[The rest of the text is broken off; traces still allow to read (21) "Babylon the city of joy" (?). The death of the king must have created consternation in the city, described above, so graphically. Then Gilgamesh comes to the city as her saviour, and later on appears as her king.]

With the exception of Column I the text of this tablet is preserved almost completely. Gilgamesh is introduced as the ruler of Erech, but his rule soon became unpopular, since he compelled all the young men of the city to enter his service, and carried off the maidens to his court. The parents complained, saying:

Not does Gilgamesh leave the son to his father, nor the maiden to the warrior, nor the wife to her husband. Their wailing and lament [is heard everywhere?]. "Ye gods of heaven, and thou Bel of Erech, who didst bring my son into existence, [save us!?], He (Gilgamesh) has not a rival [in all the land?]