(translation by Nikolai Gumilyov)
Gilgamesh opens his mouth, Ur-Ea asks:
“How can I descend into the abode of darkness,
How can I see my Eabani?
Ur-Ea says to Gilgamesh:
"O Gilgamesh, if you want to see Eabani,
Eabani, who lives in the kingdom of the dead,
Take off your clean dress, put on a dirty dress,
It’s as if you were a citizen in Ninazu’s palace!
Do not anoint yourself with incense oil from the urn:
When you hear the smell, the shadows will rush towards you!
Do not place your bow on the ground:
All those struck by the bow will surround you!
Do not hold the royal scepter in your hand:
The shadows will declare you a prisoner!
Let no shoes touch your feet:
Don't make any noise while walking on the ground!
Don't kiss your wife, whom you love,
And don’t beat your wife, whom you hate!
Don't kiss the child you love
And don't hit your child whom you hate!
Then you will hear the complaint of the earth!
She who rests, she who rests, mother Ninazu, she who rests,
Her shiny thighs are not covered with clothes,
Her chest doesn’t look like an urn!”
Three days have passed, and Gilgamesh breaks the law,
He kisses the wife he loves,
Hit a child he hates.
He cannot hear the complaint of the earth:
She who rests, she who rests, mother Ninazu, she who rests,
Her shiny thighs are not covered with clothes,
Her chest doesn't look like an urn.
Eabani cannot go to earth.
Namtaru did not take him, misfortune did not take him, the earth did not let him in,
Nergal's merciless guard did not take him, the earth does not let him in,
He didn’t fall at the place of the battle; the earth won’t let him in.
Ninsun cries for his servant Eabani,
She hurriedly comes to Bel's house alone,
Bel didn’t say a word to come to Sin,
Sin did not say a word, comes to Ea,
The father says to Nergal:
“Strong Nergal, open the hole of hell,
Let the shadow of Eabani come to his brother!
Strong Nergal listens to the command of Ea,
He opens the hole of hell,
And from there, like a breath, the shadow of Eabani emerges.
Gilgamesh speaks to his friend, speaks to Eabani:
"Tell me, my friend, tell me, my friend,
Tell me the law of the land that you know!” —
“I won’t tell, my friend, I won’t tell!
If the law of the earth had told me,
Then you would sit down and cry!” —
“What? Let me sit down and pay!
Tell me the law of the land that you know.” —
“The head that you touched and which you rejoiced in your heart,
Like old clothes, the worm devours them!
The breast that you touched and which you rejoiced in your heart,
It's like an old bag, it's full of dust!
My whole body is like dust!” —
“Have you seen the one who died the death of iron?” - "Saw!
He lies on the bed, drinks clear water.” —
“Did you see the one who was killed in battle?” -
"Saw! His mother and father are holding his head, his wife is bending over him.” —
Did you see the one whose body was thrown into the field? - "Saw!
His shadow finds no rest in the earth.” —
“Have you seen the one whose spirit no one cares about?” -
"Saw! He eats leftovers in pots and scraps from the street.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru