The Epic of Gilgamesh
Translated by Maureen Gallery
Kovacs
Electronic Edition by Wolf Carnahan,
I998
Tablet V
... They stood at the forest's
edge,
gazing at the top of the Cedar
Tree,
gazing at the entrance to the
forest.
Where Humbaba would walk there
was a trail,
the roads led straight on, the
path was excellent.
Then they saw the Cedar
Mountain, the Dwelling of the
Gods, the
throne dais of Imini.
Across the face of the mountain
the Cedar brought forth
luxurious
foliage,
its shade was good, extremely
pleasant.
The thornbushes were matted
together, the woods(?) were a
thicket
... among the Cedars,... the
boxwood,
the forest was surrounded by a
ravine two leagues long,
... and again for two-thirds (of
that distance),
...Suddenly the swords...,
and after the sheaths ...,
the axes were smeared...
dagger and sword...
alone ...
Humbaba spoke to Gilgamesh
saying:"He does not come (?) ...
...
Enlil.. ."
Enkidu spoke to Humbaba, saying:
"Humbaba...'One alone..
'Strangers ...
'A slippery path is not feared
by two people who help each
other.
'Twice three times...
'A three-ply rope cannot be cut.
'The mighty lion--two cubs can
roll him over."'
...
Humbaba spoke to Gilgamesh,
saying:
..An idiot' and a moron should
give advice to each other,
but you, Gilgamesh, why have you
come to me!
Give advice, Enkidu, you 'son of
a fish,' who does not even
know his own father,
to the large and small turtles
which do not suck their mother's
milk!
When you were still young I saw
you but did not go over to you;
... you,... in my belly.
...,you have brought Gilgamesh
into my presence,
... you stand.., an enemy, a
stranger.
... Gilgamesh, throat and neck,
I would feed your flesh to the
screeching vulture, the eagle,
and
the vulture!"
Gilgamerh spoke to Enkidu,
saying: "My Friend, Humbaba's
face keeps changing!ยท
Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh,
saying:'
"Why, my friend, are you whining
so pitiably, hiding behind your
whimpering?
Now there, my friend,...
in the coppersmith's channel
...,
again to blow (the bellows) for
an hour, the glowing (metal)(?)
...for an hour.
To send the Flood, to crack the
Whip."
Do not snatch your feet away, do
not turn your back,
... strike even harder!"
... may they be expelled....
head fell ... and it/he
confronted him...
The ground split open with the
heels of their feet,
as they whirled around in
circles Mt. Hermon and Lebanon
split.
The white clouds darkened,
death rained down on them like
fog.
Shamash raised up against
Humbaba mighty tempests'--
Southwind, Northwind, Eastwind,
Westwind, Whistling Wind,
Piercing Wind, Blizzard, Bad
Wind, Wind of Simurru,
Demon Wind, Ice Wind, Storm,
Sandstorm--
thirteen winds rose up against
him and covered Humbaba's face.
He could nor butt through the
front, and could not scramble
out
the back,
so that Gilgamesh'a weapons were
in reach of Humbaba.
Humbaba begged for his life,
saying to Gilgamesh:
"You are young yet, Gilgamesh,
your mother gave birth to you,
and you are the offspring of
Rimnt-Nlnsun (?) ...
(It was) at the word of Shamash,
Lord of the Mountain,
that you were roused (to this
expedition).
O scion of the heart of Uruk,
King Gilgamesh!
... Gilgamesh...
Gilgamesh, let me go (?), I will
dwell with you as your servant
(?)
As many trees as you command me
I will cut down for you,
I will guard for you myrtle
wood...,
wood fine enough for your
palace!"
Enkidu addressed Gilgamesh,
saying:
"My friend, do not listen to
Humbaba,
[io lines are misring Apparently
Humbaba sees thar Gilgamrsh is
influenced by Enkidu, and moves
to dissuade Enkidu.]
"You understand the rules of my
forest, the rules...,
further, you are aware of all
the things so ordered (by
Enlil)."
I should have carried you up,
and killed you
at the very entrance to the
branches of my forest.
I should have fed your flesh to
the screeching vulture, the
eagle,
and the vulture.
So now, Enkidu, clemency is up
to you.
Speak to Gilgamesh to spare my
life!"
Enkidu addressed Gilgamesh,
saying:
My friend, Humbaba, Guardian of
the Cedar Forest,
grind up, kill, pulverize(?),
and destroy him!
Humbaba, Guardian of the Forest,
grind up, kill, pulverize(?),
and destroy him!
Before the Preeminent God Enlil
hears...
and the ...gods be filled with
rage against us.
Enlil is in Nippur, Shamash is
in Sippar.
Erect an eternal monument
proclaiming...
how Gilgamesh killed(?)
Humbaba."
When Humbaba heard...
[Abour l0 linrs are misiing.]
... the forest.
and denunciations(?) have been
made.
But you are sitting there like a
shepherd...
and like a 'hireling of his
mouth.'
Now, Enkidu, clemency is up to
you.
Speak to Gilgamesh that he spare
my life!"
Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh,
saying:
"My friend, Humbaba, Guardian of
the Forest,
grind up, kill, pulverize(?),
and destroy him!
Before the Preeminent God Enlil
hears,
and the ... gods are full of
rage at us.
Enlil is in Nippur, Shamash is
in Sippar.
Erect an eternal monument
proclaiming...
how Gilgamesh killed(?)
Humbaba."
Humbaba heard ...
[About 10 lines are missing.]
"May he not live the longer of
the two,
may Enkidu not have any
'share'(?) more than his friend
Gilgamesh!"
Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh,
saying:
"My friend, 1 have been talking
to you but you have not been
listening to me,"
You have been listening to the
curse of Humbaba!"
... his friend
... by his side
.. they pulled out his insides
including his tongue.
... he jumped(?).
...abundance fell over the
mountain,
...abundance fell over the
mountain.
They cut through the Cedar,
While Gilgamesh cuts down the
trees, Enkidu searches through
the urmazallu.
Enkidu addressed Gilgamesh,
saying:
"My friend, we have cut down the
towering Cedar whose top
scrapes the sky.
Make from it a door 72 cubits
high, 24 cubits wide,
one cubit thick, its fixture,
its lower and upper pivots will
be out of one piece.
Let them carry it to Nippur, the
Euphrates will carry it down,
Nippur will rejoice.
..."
They tied together a raft...
Enkidu steered it...
while Gilgamesh held the head of
Humbaba.