(translation by Nikolai Gumilyov)
About the one who saw everything to the end of the universe,
Who knew the hidden, who comprehended everything,
Tested the fate of earth and sky,
The depths of knowledge of all the sages.
He knew the unknown, solved mysteries,
He brought us news of the days before the flood,
He walked far, and got tired, and returned,
And he engraved his works in stone.
He surrounded blessed Uruk with a wall,
Pure Temple, Saint Eanna
Gilded the base, copper is stronger,
And the high walls from which the priests do not leave,
They contained an inscription on a stone that had been there since ancient times.
He is beautiful, he is strong, he is wise,
He is two-thirds deity, only one-third man,
His body is as bright as a big star,
But he knows no equal in the art of torment
Those people who are entrusted to the authorities.
Gilgamesh, he will not leave his son to his mother,
He will not leave the bride to the groom,
Daughter to the hero, husband to the husband,
Day and night he feasts with them,
He to whom blessed Uruk is entrusted,
He is their shepherd, he is their guardian,
He is beautiful, strong, he is wise.
Their prayer reached the high sky,
The heavenly gods, the lords of Uruk, said to Arur:
“Behold, you have created a son, and he has no equal,
But Gilgamesh is cruel, you feast day and night,
The groom will not leave the bride and his wife's husband,
He to whom blessed Uruk is entrusted,
He is their shepherd, he is their guardian." Aruru listens to their requests,
They approach the great Arur again:
“You, Aruru, have already created Gilgamesh,
You will be able to create his likeness,
Let them compete in strength, and Uruk rest."
He listens to Aruru and gives birth to the likeness of Anu in his heart,
Apypy washes his hands and throws in a handful of clay.
And creates Eabani, the hero, the power of Ninib.
His body is in his hair, he wears a braid like a woman,
Strands of curls fall like ripe ears,
He doesn’t know either the land or the people, he’s dressed like Gira,
Together with the gazelles, he plucks the grass,
He goes with the cattle to the watering hole,
With the water creature the heart rejoices.
One hunter, a skilled hunter,
I spotted him at the watering hole,
Again and again at the watering hole.
The hunter was frightened, his face darkened,
I was very sad, I cried bitterly,
My heart sank, and sorrow penetrated to my belly,
He and his flock hurried towards the house.
The hunter opens his mouth and announces to his father:
“My father, the man who came down from the mountain,”
His power is great throughout the country,
Great is his strength, like the army of Anu -
He roams freely throughout our lands.
He is always in the pasture among the gazelles,
His feet are always at the watering hole,
I wander around and don’t dare approach him.
I dug traps, he filled them,
I set up the nets, he tore them out,
He drove away the beasts of the desert from me,
He does not allow me to work in the desert."
The father opens his mouth to teach the hunter:
“Find King Gilgamesh in blessed Uruk -
His power is great throughout the country,
Great is his strength, like the army of Anu -
Tell him what you know, ask him for advice.”
The hunter listens to his father's word,
Sets off on his journey, slows down his steps in Uruk,
He comes to the feast and says to Gilgamesh:
“O king, the man who came down from the mountain,
Roams freely in your domain,
I dug traps, he filled them,
I set up the nets, he tore them out,
He doesn’t let me work in the desert.”
Gilgamesh opens his mouth, and the hunter listens:
“Come back, my hunter, and take the harlot with you,
And when that man comes to the watering hole,
Let her take off her clothes, and he will take her maturity.
He will approach her as soon as he sees her,
And he will leave the beasts that grew in the middle of his desert.”
And the hunter went and took with him the harlot,
Both set off on the straight road
And on the third day they came to that field.
The hunter sat down, and the harlot sat down,
Day and another they wait at the watering hole,
The animals come and drink cold water,
The herd comes running, their hearts rejoice.
And he, Eabani - his homeland is the mountains -
She plucks grass together with gazelles,
He goes with the cattle to the watering hole,
With water creatures the heart rejoices.
A harlot saw him, a passionate man,
Strong, destroyer, in the middle of the desert:
It's him, harlot, open your breasts
Open your womb, let him take your maturity.
Give him pleasure, it's women's business.
As soon as he sees you, he will rush towards you
And he will leave the beasts that grew in the middle of his desert.”
The harlot bared her breasts and opened her womb,
She was not ashamed, she breathed in his breath,
She threw off the cloth and lay down, and he lay on top,
He directed the power of his love towards her.
For six days, seven nights Eabani came and played with the harlot
And when he had satisfied his thirst,
He addressed the animals as before.
They saw him, Eabani, and the gazelles rushed off,
The beasts of his desert retreated from him.
Eabani was ashamed of himself, his body became heavy,
His knees stopped when he chased the herd,
And he could not run as he had run until now.
But now he feels a new mind,
He returns and sits at the feet of the harlot,
The harlot looks into his eyes,
And while he speaks, his ears are attentive:
“You are strong and beautiful, you are like a god, Eabani,
What are you doing among the beasts of the desert?
I will lead you to high Uruk,
To the sacred house, the dwelling of Ishtar and Anu,
Where lives Gilgamesh, perfect in strength,
And he reigns over people like a wild buffalo.”
He speaks, and these speeches are pleasant to him,
He wants to look for a friend after his heart:
"I agree, harlot, take me to the city,
Where lives Gilgamesh, perfect in strength,
I want to challenge him and argue with him;
I will scream in Uruk - I am the mighty one,
It is I who rule people's destinies,
He who was born in the desert, great is his strength,
Before his face your face will turn pale,
And I know in advance who will be defeated.”
Eabani and the harlot enter Uruk,
They meet people in magnificent clothes,
Here in front of them is the palace of Gilgamesh,
A place where the holiday never ends,
The young men feast there, the harlots feast,
Everyone is full of lust, full of fun,
The elders are forced to come out with shouts;
And again the harlot says to Eabani:
“Oh Eabani, you are now wise,
Here is Gilgamesh before you, the man who laughs,
Do you see him? Look into his eyes!
His eyes are shining, his appearance is noble,
His body excites desires
And he is more powerful than you,
He who does not lie down either day or night.
Calm down, Eabani, your vain anger,
Gilgamesh, Shamash loves him,
Anu, Bel and Ea breathed wisdom into him;
Even before you came down from the mountain,
Gilgamesh in Uruk saw you in a dream;
He woke up and told his mother the dream:
“My mother, I dreamed last night
The sky was full of stars
And, like the army of Anu, he fell upon me
A man born on the mountain;
I grabbed him, but he was stronger
I threw it but it didn't budge
The whole region of Uruk rose against him,
But he stood like a pillar, and they kissed his feet;
Then, like a woman, I jumped on him,
I overpowered him and threw him at your feet,
It was you who wanted us to measure strength."
Rimat-Belit, who knows everything, says to the master,
Ramat-Belit, who knows everything, says to Gilgamesh:
“He who is among the stars in the vast sky,
Like the army of Anu, he fell upon you,
The one whom you defeated and threw at my feet,
An honest and strong comrade, always helping a friend,
His power is great throughout the country,
Great is his strength, like the army of Anu.”
From the throne Gilgamesh Eabani noticed,
Gilgamesh speaks to Eabani,
And they sit down like brothers, next to each other.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru