Tablet X.
- 1. Siduri and Sabitu (who in the land beside the sea)
- 2. dwelt and ....
- 3. it was the moon, it was the moon ....
- 4. a covering of fire (?) ye accomplish.
- 5. Izdubar approached and ....
- 6. the ulcer covering (his) skin
- 7. he had the brand of the gods on (his) ....
- 8. there is shame of face on ....
- 9. to go on the distant path his face (was set).
- 10. Sabitu afar off pondered,
- 11. she counselled to her heart (this) plan.
- 12. Within herself also she (considered):
- 13. What is this message ....
- 14. May no one come straight in (his path).
- 15. When Sabitu saw him she entered (her gate);
- 16. her gate she entered and entered her ....
- 17. And he Izdubar had ears to (hear her);
- 18. he had struck his hands and made ....
—–———–———–———– - 19. Izdubar to her also even said (to Sabitu:)
- 20. Sabitu what didst thou see (that)
- 21. thy gate thou barrest ....
- 22. I force the door ....
The rest of this column is lost, but it must have described the meeting of Izdubar with a boatman named Ur-Hea or Lig-Hea, called Nes-Hea “the lion” or “dog of Hea” in Assyrian. In the second column they commence a journey by water together in a boat. But little of this column is preserved; two fragments only are given here.
Column II.
- 1. .... he the word of his friend ....
- 2. .... the word of Hea-bani ....
- 3. .... I traverse (the desert).
- 4. .... (in) the dust he had ....
- 5. (the friend whom I have loved declared) lovingly; Hea-bani the friend whom I have loved made ....
- 6. (I am not as he) and would we had never gone up ....
- 7. (I did not make) the fortress of ....
—–———–———–———– - 8. (Izdubar to) her also speaks, even to Sabit:
- 9. (Again) O Sabit what is the way to Xisuthrus?
- 10. Explain the tokens of it to me; yea, explain the tokens of it to me.
- 11. If it be suitable the sea let me cross,
- 12. if it be not suitable the desert let me traverse.
—–———–———–———– - 13. Sabit to him also speaks, even to Izdubar:
- 14. There was no crossing (of the sea), O Izdubar, at any time,
- 15. and no one from remote times onwards has crossed the sea.
- 16. From crossing the sea Samas the hero I the mother prevented; (yet) Samas crossed, whoever
- 17. his mouth the passage .... its road,
- 18. and the well of the waters of death which extend before it
- 19. I approach, and, Izdubar, thou crossest the sea.
- 20. When thou hast come round to the waters of death, thou contrivest how
- 21. for Izdubar there is Ur-Hea the boatman of Xisuthrus.
- 22. Precious stones with him in the midst of the forest ....
- 23. .... may they see thy face.
- 24. .... and to cross with him if it is not suitable hasten behind him
- 25. .... upon hearing this,
- 26. .... an axe in the hand.
- 27. .... to their well he returns.
- 28, 29, 30. ....
- 31. .... Izdubar
- 32. .... and his lower part
- 33. .... the ship
- 34. .... (the waters) of death
- 35. .... wide
- 36. .... the field
- 37. .... to the river
- 38. .... ship
- 39. .... the well
- 40. .... the boatman
- 41. .... he descended
- 42. .... to thee
Here there are many lines lost, then recommencing the story proceeds on the third column.
Column III.
- 1. my friend whom I have loved made ....
- 2. I am not as he and would we had never gone
up ....
—–———–———–———– - 3. Izdubar to him also speaks, even to Ur-Hea;
- 4. Again, Ur-Hea, what (is the way to Xisuthrus?)
- 5. what are its signs explain to me; yea, explain (to me its signs).
- 6. If it be suitable the sea let me cross; if it be
not suitable the desert let me traverse.
—–———–———–———– - 7. Ur-Hea to him also speaks, even to (Izdubar):
- 8. Thy hand, Izdubar, it prevents ....
- 9. thou hidest among the precious stones thou ...
- 10. the precious stones (are) a hiding-place [or canopy] and they are not ...
- 11. Take, Izdubar, an axe in (thy hands) ....
- 12. go down to the forest and a clearing of five gar (make).
- 13. Bury and make a tumulus; carry ....
- 14. Izdubar on his hearing this,
- 15. took the axe in his hand ....
- 16. he went down to the forest and a clearing of five gar (made):
- 17. he buried and made a tumulus; he carried ....
- 18. Izdubar and Ur-Hea rode (in the ship);
- 19. the ship the waves took and they ....
- 20. a journey of one month and fifteen days. On the third day in their course
- 21. Ur-Hea also reached the waters of death ....
Column IV.
- 1. Ur-Hea to him also speaks, even to Izdubar:
- 2. The tablets O Izdubar ....
- 3. The waters of death smite; never mayest thou >enter the dome of the house (of the abyss).
- 4. The second time, the third time, and the fourth time go, O Izdubar ....
- 5. the fifth, sixth, and seventh time go, O Izdubar ....
- 6. the eighth, ninth, and tenth time go, O Izdubar ....
- 7. the eleventh and twelfth time go, O Izdubar ....
- 8. on the one hundred and twentieth time Izdubar finished ....
- 9. and he struck the middle of it ....
- 10. Izdubar seized the .......
- 11. on his wings an embankment he completed ...
- 12. Xisuthrus over him afar off pondered,
- 13. he counselled (this) plan within his heart.
- 14. With himself also he considered:
- 15. Why is the hiding-place of the ship ....
- 16. and the pilot ....
- 17. the man who went also is not; and ....
- 18. I ponder, and I do not ....
- 19. I ponder, and I do not....
- 20. I ponder, and I do not....