Clay tablet I
Praised be the beauty.
Don’t let her be praised, the perfect beauty.
Don’t let Inanna be praised, the perfect beauty, because she is impure.
Let her be praised, the pure beauty.
Let Dumu-ugen be praised, the pure beauty, because she is imperfect.
Namma close the eyes of the lover.
Namma close the eyes of the hymn writer Mesh-ursang.
His tablets tell of King Melim-anna who sickled the heads of the disobedient like ears of grain.
His tablets tell of King Melim-anna, of life and death of Melim-anna, of fear and abomination, pride and downfall.
The fathers and mothers of Uruk raised their voices and shout:
“Inanna, protect our daughters.”
The youth of Uruk raised their voices and shout:
“Inanna, protect our loved ones.”
The goddess Inanna did not protect the daughters of Uruk.
In the Eanna, King Melim-anna confronted her, draped in gold and lapis lazuli.
Melim-anna spoke to Inanna, the perfect beauty, saying:
“Before the maiden Dumu-ugen marries, let her be brought before me, that I may pour my seed into her womb.”
Inanna spoke to Melim-anna, saying:
“The people equate her beauty with mine.
They shall feel my viper-spitting wrath.
In the Euphrates the maiden shall find her bridal bed.
Hear, O king, in the Euphrates the maiden shall find her bridal bed.”
Melim-anna bowed his head and says:
“Know, Inanna, that you are the most beautiful, that you are the perfect beauty.
Even the moon-like skin and the blue eyes of the maiden Dumu-ugen cannot surpass your splendour.
Hear, Inanna, in the Euphrates the maiden shall never find her bridal bed.”
Thus he appeased her anger.
Thus he appeased the wrath of Inanna.
Outside the gates of enclosed Uruk sat Dumu-ugen.
In the shade of tall date palms she sat, holding counsel in her heart:
“Now the bed is stained with blood.
Now shall I be led away to that bedchamber, for the king’s cruel pleasure.
Now shall I lose my honour.
Now shall I lose my honour like my two sisters before me.”
She took up a knife, stretched her hands to heaven, and laments:
“Great Goddess, perfect beauty, why don’t you help me?
Have I not already endured enough with a fiancé who limps and is scabby?
Shall not only my happiness, but also my honour be erased for all time?
How many times have I not begged you for help?
How many times have your people not begged you for help?
Inanna, why won’t you help me?
Before the cruel man, before King Melim-anna dishonours me, I will dishonour myself.
With the knife I will sever my honour and end my life as a blood-spitting body in that bedchamber.”
Inanna looked down from the evening sky with sparkling eyes and her heart was unmoved.
The ships on the canals saw the maiden lift the knife and tell the Euphrates who tells the endless salt sea, the world creator Namma.
Tears of rage fell from Dumu-ugen’s eyes.
They gathered as blue waters in her hands.
In Namma’s voice they spoke, saying:
“Stop.
Do you want to bring shame on Uruk by your own hand?”
Dumu-ugen did not listen.
“Do you wish to bring shame on your family?”
Dumu-ugen did not listen.
“Do you want to bring shame on yourself?”
Dumu-ugen listened up.
Her body was dry and her face was wet.
The water surrounded Dumu-ugen.
Namma’s hand clasped Dumu-ugen and ran down into the canal with her.
Inanna watched from the evening sky and was satisfied.
Namma’s hand clasped Dumu-ugen and ran down into the Euphrates with her.
The mistress watched from the evening sky and was satisfied.
Namma’s hand clasped Dumu-ugen and ran down into the salt sea with her.
Inanna watched from the evening sky and was satisfied.
Melim-anna spoke to Inanna, the perfect beauty, saying:
“Where is the maiden Dumu-ugen?”
Inanna replies with the following words:
“Consult her father, consult her fiancé.
I cannot tell you.”
Leading the father before him, he exclaims:
“Where is your daughter?”
The father threw himself on the ground before the king and answers with the following words:
“My lord, my master, I cannot tell you.”
“If you cannot tell me, I will cut off your nose or your head.”
The father lamented with loud words, saying:
“My lord, my master, I cannot tell you.”
“What shall I cut off then?”
“My lord, my lord, cut off my nose.”
The king cut off his nose and had him taken away.
He had the fiancé brought before him and called out:
“Where is your bride?”
The fiancé threw himself on the ground before the king and answers with the following words:
“My lord, my master, I cannot tell you.”
“If you cannot tell me, I will cut off your penis or your head.”
The fiancé lamented with loud words, saying:
“My lord, my master, I cannot tell you.”
“What shall I cut off then?”
“My lord, my master, cut off my head.”
The king cut off his head and had him taken away.
He sent his guards to her parents’ house and the guards set it on fire.
He sent his guards to the sisters’ houses and the guards set them on fire.
He searched every house and did not find her.
Melim-anna searched every house in the enclosed Uruk and did not find Dumu-ugen.
Clay tablet II
One night he dreamt.
He looked for the maiden all over the world.
He looked for Dumu-ugen in the irrigated farmland and did not find her.
He looked for Dumu-ugen in the reeds of the big and small rivers and did not find her.
He looked for Dumu-ugen in the steppe and did not find her.
He looked for Dumu-ugen in the cool shade of the forests and did not find her.
He looked for Dumu-ugen in the mountains and did not find her.
He looked for Dumu-ugen in the salt sea and found a water flower.
He looked between the leaves of the water flower.
Dumu-ugen was sitting between the leaves of the water flower.
She was naked.
Her skin like moonlight.
Her gaze like lapis lazuli.
In the waves around the water flower, a monster circled.
The monster was hideous.
It had a sting.
It had countless arms.
It had jaw claws.
The monster was hideous.
It stabbed at the girl with its sting.
It could not reach the girl.
It reached for the girl with its arms.
It could not reach the girl.
It snatched at the girl with its jaws.
It could not reach the girl.
Dumu-ugen sat between the leaves of the water flower.
She was naked.
Her skin like moonlight.
Her gaze like lapis lazuli.
Dumu-ugen saw the monster and laughed, exclaiming:
“Poor monster, know that the Goddess protects me.
Know that the world creator Namma protects me.”
Then he awoke.
He had the hymn writer Mesh-ursang brought before him and says:
“The divination showed me the missing maiden.
Dumu-ugen is in the salt sea between the leaves of a water flower.
A monster circles in the waves.
It cannot reach the girl.
The world creator Namma protects the girl.”
The king raised his voice and said:
“With nine ships and one hundred men I will set out.
With nine ships and one hundred men I will go down to the salt sea and kill the monster.
With nine ships and one hundred men I will break the water flower and lead the maiden back to Uruk.”
The hymn writer Mesh-ursang bowed his head and says:
“Why, O king, will you put yourself in so much danger?
Why will you harm your men who you will need for war?
Why will you forsake your people?”
The king replies with the following words:
“The people say the maiden is sweet as date syrup.
I will find no rest until I taste this syrup.”
The hymn writer Mesh-ursang bowed his head and says:
“Why do you want to sleep with that brittle one who is called son by her parents?
Why do you want to sleep with that brittle one who made the pearl gifts of her suitors jump like tokens in the irrigation canals?
Why do you want to sleep with that brittle one who is envied by Inanna and protected by Namma?
O king, perdition reaps those who plough among poisonous serpents.”
The king replies with the following words:
“I will not change my mind.
Govern Uruk until I return with Dumu-ugen.”
Inanna, the perfect beauty, learned of Melim-anna’s plans.
She anointed her body with fine oil.
She applied silver make-up on her eyelids.
She put her hair up above her neck.
She came before the king and says:
“Why, O king, will you put yourself in so much danger?
Why will you harm your men who you will need for war?
Why will you forsake your people?”
The king replies with the following words:
“The people say the maiden is sweet as date syrup.
I will find no rest until I taste this syrup.”
Inanna, the perfect beauty, raised her voice and says:
“Why do you want to sleep with that brittle one, who is called brother by her sisters?
Why do you want to sleep with that brittle one who served her fiancé with foaming donkey urine instead of beer?
Why do you want to sleep with that brittle one who wished to pierce her vagina with a knife?
O king, do not seek the beer of the distant servant.
Delicious is the beer which I shall offer you.”
The king replies with the following words:
“I will not change my mind.
Govern Uruk until I return with Dumu-ugen.”
The next day he set out.
With nine ships and one hundred men he set out.
He sailed one day on the Euphrates.
He sailed a second day on the Euphrates.
He sailed a third day on the Euphrates.
Then he reached the salt sea.
He reached the salt sea with nine ships and one hundred men.
He sailed one day on the salt sea.
He sailed a second day on the salt sea.
He sailed a third day on the salt sea.
Then the water made waves.
He sailed a fourth day on the salt sea.
He sailed a fifth day on the salt sea.
He sailed a sixth day on the salt sea.
Then the storm tore the sails.
He sailed a seventh day on the salt sea.
He sailed an eighth day on the salt sea.
He sailed a ninth day on the salt sea.
Then the one hundred men begged Enlil, the shepherd of the black-headed people, for help.
He sailed a tenth day on the salt sea and reached the island in the distance.
With nine ships and one hundred men he reached the island in the distance.
There dwells Uta-napishtim with his wife.
Clay tablet III
The king confronted Uta-napishtim.
Melim-anna confronted Uta-napishtim, the finder of life, and says:
“Old man, my name is Melim-anna, ruler of the enclosed Uruk.
With nine ships and one hundred men I have sailed three days on the Euphrates and ten days on the salt sea.
With nine ships and one hundred men I have reached this island.
Slaughter an ox and prepare a flour soup for us.
Command your wife to make a bed for me so that I can recover from the journey.
Tomorrow we want to leave the island.”
Uta-napishtim raised his voice and says:
“Why did you come to my island?
What drew you to the waters of death?”
The king replies with the following words:
“I am in search of a maiden.
Like all maidens of Uruk, she shall be led to my bedchamber before her bridal night.
By the protecting hand of Namma she escaped me.”
Uta-napishtim replies with the following words:
“O king, do not abuse your power.
Do not kindle the wrath of the bridegrooms.
Do not kindle the anger of your people.”
Melim-anna raised his voice and says:
“What does one night matter?
One hundred nights and more may the bridegrooms sleep with their brides.
What does one night out of a hundred matter?
Do as I have commanded.
Slaughter an ox and prepare a flour soup for us.
Command your wife to make a bed for me so that I can recover from the journey.”
Uta-napishtim did as the king had commanded him.
He had a sack of grain brought from the storehouse.
He slaughtered an ox.
He prepared a flour soup for the king and his one hundred men.
Secretly, the old man spat into the soup and called out to the guests.
The king and his one hundred men stood in a row and waited for the food.
Uta-napishtim raised his voice and says:
“Those whose spittle drips, who came across the Euphrates without respite, who got caught in the water-spouting spite of the gods, who now receive invigorating soup instead of an ox on the spit, may in spite of this enjoy my hospitality.”
Then the sailors shouted:
“He spat in the soup.
Uta-napishtim spat in the soup.”
The king seized Uta-napishtim by the head and pressed the knife to his neck, saying:
“Confused old man!
Why do you humiliate us?
Why do you spit in the soup that we were about to eat?
Your head shall be the harvest of my sickle!“
Uta-napishtim laughed and says:
“Why do you excite yourself?
What does the spit of an old man in the soup matter to one hundred men?
You do not see it, you do not taste it.
Why will you not eat the soup?
O king, take this parable as a warning.
He who spits into the soup of his guests spoils their appetite.
He who sleeps with his people’s maidens shames their parents and bridegrooms and turns them into whores.
O king, take this parable as a warning.
Your people will rise up against you.
Start on your journey home.
Start on your journey home, sail ten days on the salt sea and three days on the Euphrates, and rule over Uruk.
Start on your journey home and reign as a wise king within the walls of Inanna, the perfect beauty.”
King Melim-anna pushed the old man away.
In a furious rage, he commanded his men to take revenge.
Like wild boars, they trampled the ears of corn and killed the cattle.
The next morning they left the island, leaving Uta-napishtim and his wife in misery.
They sailed the salt sea for ten days and reached the water flower above the waves.
The leaves of the water flower were open, Dumu-ugen in bloom.
She was naked.
Her skin like moonlight.
Her gaze like lapis lazuli.
The king saw her and was transformed.
King Melim-anna saw her and was transformed into a hideous monster.
It had a sting.
It had countless arms.
It had jaw claws.
The monster was hideous.
It stung the first, the second and the third ship with its sting.
The ships sank and the men drowned.
It reached out with its arms to the fourth, fifth and sixth ship.
Then the ships sank and the men drowned.
It snatched at the seventh, eighth and ninth ship with its jaws.
Then the ships sank and the men drowned.
Nine ships and one hundred men were destroyed by the transformed King Melim-anna.
He circled around Dumu-ugen and could not reach the girl.
Dumu-ugen saw the monster and laughed, exclaiming:
“Poor monster, know that the Goddess protects me.
Know that the world creator Namma protects me.”
Clay tablet IV
For one hundred days, the hymn writer Mesh-ursang governed the enclosed Uruk.
For one hundred days the fathers and mothers of Uruk lived without fear for their daughters.
For one hundred days the young men of Uruk lived without fear for their lovers.
One hundred days Uruk lived in peace.
King Melim-anna did not return and Inanna alone knew the reason.
Then Mesh-ursang boarded a ship and set off in search of the king.
He sailed down the Euphrates for three days.
Then he reached the salt sea.
Three more days he sailed on the salt sea.
Then the water made waves.
Three more days he sailed on the salt sea.
Then the storm tore the sail.
Three more days he sailed on the salt sea.
Then he begged Enlil, the shepherd of the black-headed people, for help.
The next day he reached the island of Uta-napishtim and his wife.
Uta-napishtim raised his voice and says:
“Why did you come to my island?
What drew you to the waters of death?”
The hymn writer replies with the following words:
“I am in search of King Melim-anna.
One hundred days ago he left Uruk.
Have you seen him?
Has he entered your island?”
Uta-napishtim scoffed and replies:
“Your king and his one hundred men were here.
Like wild boars they trampled the ears of corn and killed the cattle.
The next morning they left my island and left us in misery.”
Then Mesh-ursang ran to his ship and brought all his supply of flour bread and says:
“Let us eat together.
Give me permission to spend the night here.
Tomorrow I will leave your island.”
As the wood chip glowed, the old man sat with the hymn writer.
They gazed at the reeds and the waves in the moonlight.
Then Uta-napishtim opened his mouth and says:
“Aren’t you afraid?”
“What should I be afraid of?
Should I be afraid of the monster?”
“You should not.”
After a while, Uta-napishtim opened his mouth and says:
“Aren’t you afraid?”
“What should I be afraid of?
Should I be afraid of the wrath of the people?”
“You should not.”
After a while, Uta-napishtim again opened his mouth and says:
“Aren’t you afraid?”
“What should I be afraid of?”
Should I be afraid of the maiden?”
“You should.”
Uta-napishtim, the finder of life, counsels in his heart:
“He is totally ignorant of love.
I will tell him a story about love.”
He raised his voice and narrates:
“Once in the city of Nippur there lived a young man, a seedling of Ninurta in the soil of a human woman.
His skin was like the full moon on the water.
His growth was that of a fresh branch.
His teeth were pearls.
He had a bold heart and knew that the goddess Inanna loved him and would grant his every wish.
So he offered flour bread and cool beer in the temple and performed the rites.
He made a wish and cries out:
“Inanna, great goddess and perfect beauty!
You are my mother and my father, my sister and my brother!
You are my king and my provider, my club and my hoe!
Inanna, great goddess and perfect beauty, accept my offerings and grant me this request:
Let all the women of the world love me!“
Then Inanna, the perfect beauty, approached the young man and says:
“Foolish boy!
Don’t you know how noxious your wish is?”
The young man thought and made a new wish and cries:
“By my father Ninurta!
Grant me, O goddess, this request:
Let all the women of the world that I like love me!“
Inanna, the perfect beauty, replies with the following words:
“Foolish boy!
Don’t you know how noxious your wish is?”
The young man sat down and thought.
Then he made a new wish and exclaims:
“For the last time!
Grant me, O Goddess, this request:
Let all the women of the world that I like and that are still uncommitted love me!“
Inanna, the perfect beauty, laughed up, accepted the offerings and says:
“So be it.”
Inanna fulfilled his wish and all the women of the world that he liked and that were still uncommitted loved him.
He did not survive a single day.”
The hymn writer Mesh-ursang listened.
In his heart he took counsel:
“What is this story supposed to tell me?
Never have I loved anyone other than my parents.
Never have I loved a woman.
What is this story supposed to tell me?
I wish to find the king.
I wish to return the king to Uruk.
Why should I deviate from my plan?”
The next morning he left the island.
Clay tablet V
At the Anunna, Inanna offered libations to her grandfather Enlil and kissed the floor of the temple at his feet.
Then Enlil made her sit down beside his throne and says:
“My little one, why the sacrifices?
What desire makes your breast tremble?
Why do you wear war-red carnelian jewellery around your neck?”
Inanna, the perfect beauty, laments with the following words:
“Why the sacrifice?
What desire makes my breast tremble?
Why do I wear war-red carnelian jewellery around my neck?
Enlil, my grandfather, ruler of heaven and earth, shepherd of the black-headed people and chief of Anunna, why should I not sacrifice to you?
Am I not the most unfortunate of the fifty gods of the assembly?
Are the walls consecrated to me not doomed?
Isn’t the enclosed Uruk doomed?
The walls consecrated to me have no king.
The enclosed Uruk has no king.
Who is able to prevent the fiery dance of Gibil in the enclosed Uruk?
The walls consecrated to me have no steward.
The enclosed Uruk has no steward.
Who is able to prevent the fiery dance of Gibil in the enclosed Uruk?
Enlil, my grandfather, ruler of heaven and earth, shepherd of the black-headed people and chief of Anunna, why should I not sacrifice to you?
King Melim-anna was transformed by a maiden.
King Melim-anna was transformed by the maiden Dumu-ugen, protected by the hands of Namma.
Enlil, my grandfather, ruler of heaven and earth, shepherd of the black-headed people and chief of Anunna, why should I not sacrifice to you?
Will not the hymn-writer Mesh-ursang also be transformed?
Will not the hymn-writer Mesh-ursang, who governed Uruk for one hundred days, also be transformed?
My city is doomed as long as Dumu-ugen lives and Namma puts her protective hands around her.”
Then Namma, the world creator, stepped forward and says:
“I helped the maiden Dumu-ugen by freeing her from the enclosed Uruk.
The rest is written on the Tablets of Destiny.
Enlil, chief of the Anunna, I do not wish Inanna’s interference.
I helped the maiden Dumu-ugen by hiding her from the world in a water flower in the salt sea.
The rest is written on the Tablets of Destiny.”
Then Inanna, the perfect beauty, arose and says:
“Enlil, my grandfather, chief of Anunna, I ask for the re-transformation of the king.
I demand the re-transformation of Melim-anna.
Namma, who is to blame for his transformation, shall give him back his human form.”
Enlil, the sage, weighed the words in his heart.
He opened his mouth and says:
“Namma, venerable creator of the world and mistress over the salt sea, hear my judgement:
Free the king from the foreign body.
Restore Melim-anna to his human form so that he may return home and rule over the enclosed Uruk.”
Namma, the world creator, raised her voice and says:
“Enlil, chief of Anunna, how could I give Melim-anna his human form back?
Have I transformed him?
His greed for the maiden has transformed him.
Enlil, chief of Anunna, how could I give Melim-anna his human form back?
Wouldn’t his greed for the maiden transform him again and again?”
Then Inanna, the perfect beauty, raised her voice and exclaims:
“Her stiff-necked head shall be sickled!
Her radiant body shall be extinguished!
The water flower shall be broken and the bloom shall be defoliated!
The imperfect corpse shall be flayed to perfection!“
Then Namma, the world creator, turned to Inanna and exclaims:
“If you do anything to the maiden, it shall be bad for you!
If you harm Dumu-ugen, I will have King Melim-anna swallowed by the whirlpool of the waters of death!“
Smoking anger sealed Inanna’s lips.
Namma, the world creator, holds counsel in her heart and says in a softer voice:
“Inanna, abjure the maiden murder and I too vow not to interfere.
The king can no longer be saved.
Let the hymn writer be unsuccessful in his quest, because the king can no longer be saved.
Let Enlil ensure that Mesh-ursang sees nothing but blue on his journey.
Then he will turn around.
May Enlil ensure that Mesh-ursang sees nothing but blue on his journey.
Then he will return to the walls consecrated to you and henceforth govern the enclosed Uruk.”
Enlil the wise weighed the words in his heart.
He opened his mouth and says:
“Inanna, you who call yourself most unfortunate among the fifty gods of the assembly, hear my judgement:
Abjure the maiden murder.
I will ensure that Mesh-ursang sees nothing but blue on his journey.
Then he will return to the walls consecrated to you, and henceforth he will govern the enclosed Uruk.”
Then Inanna spat on the floor of the temple and abjured the maiden murder.
Namma was satisfied and left the Anunna.
Then Enlil raised his voice and says to Inanna, the perfect beauty:
“My little one, what has the maiden done to you?
Why do you long for her death?”
Her face was red and she cries out:
“Eternity doesn’t possess enough years for me to enumerate everything I hate about her.
And if Dumu-ugen were tortured, how could that extinguish the conflagration of my hatred?
And if Dumu-ugen were left to die in the dirt among the pigs, how could that extinguish the conflagration of my hatred?
Enlil, my grandfather, ruler of heaven and earth, shepherd of the black-headed people and chief of Anunna, today I swear before you and the fifty gods of the assembly that I will bring misfortune to Dumu-ugen in every life and every existence.
Like a tick, I will sit at her heart and bite her until she bleeds.
Like a tick, I will sit at her heart and suck out her life’s happiness.
Fifty gods of the assembly, hear my words:
The maiden will have no rest from me, unless she herself prevents me.
What mortal could hinder me?
Dumu-ugen will have no rest from me, unless she destroys me herself.
What mortal could destroy me?”
Clay tablet VI
For ten days the hymn writer Mesh-ursang sailed on the salt sea and reached the water flower above the waves.
He could not see the water flower.
He could not see the monster.
He could not see Dumu-ugen.
He could only see the blue of the salt sea.
He could only see the blue of the sky.
He could only see the blue of their eyes in the distance.
Then Mesh-ursang cast anchor and took counsel in his heart:
“What is it about the blue eyes in the distance?
They shoot into my chest like two lightning bolts.
Never shall I be able to depart from them again!”
He thrust his hands against the stem of the water flower and wondered why he could not see it.
He heard the snorting of the approaching monster and wondered why he could not see it.
He climbed up the water flower and came to a stop before the blue eyes of Dumu-ugen and wondered why he could not see her body.
Then he heard the girl’s voice speaking and calling out:
“Who are you?
What have you come here for?”
He did not see that Dumu-ugen was about to push him off the water flower and into the throat of the monster.
He kept looking into the blue of her eyes.
He kept looking into the blue of her eyes, which were life – all around was death.
The surprise sealed his lips.
Again he heard the girl’s voice speaking and calling out:
“Who are you?
What have you come here for?”
Then the hymn writer opened his lips.
Then Mesh-ursang opened his lips and says:
“You ask me who I am?
I can tell you.
It is not Mesh-ursang, the royal hymn writer, who is the answer.
You ask me why I have come here?
I can tell you that.
The answer is not the search for Melim-anna, the ruler of enclosed Uruk.”
Then Mesh-ursang sank down and trembled all over.
Dumu-ugen, realising that he was paying no attention to her naked body, lowered her hands and says:
“Who are you if not Mesh-ursang, the royal hymn writer?
Why have you come here if not in search of Melim-anna, the ruler of enclosed Uruk?”
Mesh-ursang answers with the following words:
“Girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, believe my words.
Believe my words that fall from my mouth without reflection.
Believe my words that I myself can hardly believe.
I am a hyena.
Ice is my home.
My age is infinite.
Girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, you are a swan.
Ice is your home.
Your age is infinite.”
Then Dumu-ugen laughed, thinking she had a royal joker in front of her.
She raised her voice and said:
“Do not fall into the water, madman, when you leave my island.
Do not fall into the water, madman, when you enter your ship and leave my island.”
“Where is my ship?”
“Your ship is on the right side.”
“Where is the monster?”
“The monster is on the left side.”
“So I go to the left side.”
“Why are you going to the left side?”
“I want to go to the monster.”
“Why do you want to go to the monster?”
“The quick death is on the left side.
The slow death is on the right side.”
“You can live for many more years.”
“The longer I live, the slower my death.”
“You can woo many girls.”
“The more I woo, the slower my death.”
“You can marry and have children.”
“The more children I have, the slower my death.”
Dumu-ugen held counsel in her heart:
“He looks at me with loving eyes.
He looks at me with the loving eyes of a brother.”
She raised her voice and says:
“Madman, why have you come here?
I do not need your advice and protection.”
Then Mesh-ursang took new courage, raised his voice and says:
“Girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, you do not need my advice and protection.
The hymns of my mouth are what you need.
I am not knowledgeable of trivial hymns.
Girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, I am knowledgeable of the most beautiful hymn of the black-headed people.”
Dumu-ugen paled.
With the following words she replied:
“Do you speak the truth?
You know the story of King Gilgamesh?
Are you knowledgeable of the story of King Gilgamesh, which is reserved only for the ruling house?”
Mesh-ursang rose and answered with the following words:
“I speak the truth.
I myself am the poet of this hymn.
I myself am the poet of the story of King Gilgamesh and his quest for immortality.”
Then Dumu-ugen asked the hymn poet to stay on her island.
Every day he told her and the water flower began to grow.
Every day he told her and the stem began to grow woody.
Every day he told her and the leaves branched out a thousand times towards the sky.
When he had finished telling the story, they both found themselves in the branches of a mighty tree.
O Inanna, great goddess and perfect beauty, hear my words:
That tree was mightier than the sacred Huluppu tree!
Clay tablet VII
Inanna saw the two and was angry.
Inanna saw the two in their happiness and was angry.
In the Ekur she speaks to Enlil with the following words:
“Enlil, my grandfather, hear me:
Your granddaughter has been deceived.
The hymn writer has fallen in love.
The hymn writer Mesh-ursang has fallen in love with Dumu-ugen.
Neither the king nor he will ever return to Uruk unless we tear them apart.
Enlil, my grandfather, ruler of heaven and earth, shepherd of the black-headed people and chief of Anunna, I beseech you:
Send lightning to the tree in the salt sea that is their trust.
Send lightning and split the tree in the salt sea that is their trust.”
Then Enlil, the shepherd of the black-headed people, sent lightning to the tree in the salt sea.
The lightning was attracted by the hungry heart of the maiden.
Struck by the blow, she looked at the hymn writer.
Struck by the blow, Dumu-ugen looked at Mesh-ursang.
He raised his voice and said:
“What has happened?
Your eyes look at me differently.”
Dumu-ugen did not reply.
She descended the tree and bathed, because the monster was far away.
Mesh-ursang followed her, took off his skirt and bathed, because the monster was far away.
The maiden’s heart was confused.
She could not look Mesh-ursang in the eye.
She could not stop herself from staring at him persistently.
The maiden’s heart was confused.
Inanna saw the two and was angry.
Inanna saw the two in their happiness and was angry.
In the Ekur she speaks to Enlil with the following words:
“Enlil, my grandfather, hear me:
Your granddaughter has been deceived.
Dumu-ugen has fallen in love.
The maiden Dumu-ugen has fallen in love with Mesh-ursang.
Neither the king nor he will ever return to Uruk unless we tear them apart.
Enlil, my grandfather, ruler of heaven and earth, shepherd of the black-headed people and chief of Anunna, I beg you:
Send a storm to the tree in the salt sea that is their trust.
Send a storm and break the tree in the salt sea that is their trust.”
Then Enlil, the shepherd of the black-headed people, sent a storm to the tree in the salt sea.
The storm was attracted by the hungry body of the maiden.
She flew into the air, grabbed a branch and the hymn writer rushed to her aid.
Dumu-ugen flew into the air, grabbed a branch and Mesh-ursang rushed to her aid.
Dumu-ugen clung to Mesh-ursang.
The naked body of Dumu-ugen clung to the naked body of Mesh-ursang.
The maiden’s body was confused.
She could not bear closeness.
She could not prevent herself from secretly touching his nakedness.
Confused was the maiden’s body.
Inanna saw the two and was angry.
Inanna saw the two in their happiness and was angry.
In the Ekur she speaks to Enlil with the following words:
“Enlil, my grandfather, hear me:
Your granddaughter has been deceived.
Dumu-ugen begins to desire.
The maiden Dumu-ugen begins to desire Mesh-ursang.
Neither the king nor he will ever return to Uruk unless we tear them apart.
Enlil, my grandfather, ruler of heaven and earth, shepherd of the black-headed people and chief of Anunna, I beseech you:
Break the sky over the tree in the salt sea that is their trust.
Break the heavens and pour a deluge over the tree in the salt sea that is their trust.”
Then Enlil, the shepherd of the black-headed people, broke the sky and poured a deluge on the tree in the salt sea.
Wet were the leaves.
Wet were the birds in the flowering branches.
Wet were the lovers.
Blue was the light of the sun as it shone through the curtain of rain.
Blue was the body of Dumu-ugen as the light of the sun shone through the curtain of rain.
Then the hymn writer saw Dumu-ugen’s body.
Then Mesh-ursang saw Dumu-ugen’s body and was transformed.
On and on Enlil, the shepherd of the black-headed people, poured the deluge on the tree in the salt sea.
Breathless were the leaves.
Breathless were the birds in the flowering branches.
Breathless were the lovers.
In the waters of the eternal rain, Dumu-ugen fought the monster.
In the water of the eternal rain, Dumu-ugen begged the goddess Namma for help.
In the water of the eternal rain, the fighters drowned in each other.
Then Mesh-ursang turned and calls out:
“Dumu-ugen, hear me:
So long have I sought you!
Unimaginably long have I sought you!
Through all times, death and life, I have sought you!
You are life, all around is death.
Not another day can I be away from you!
Dumu-ugen, girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, hear me:
Will you board my ship with me?
Will you sail with me to Uruk and marry me?”
Dumu-ugen turned and calls out:
“Mesh-ursang, hear me:
You are life, all around is death.
Not another day can I be away from you!
Mesh-ursang, madman, hear me:
I will gladly board your ship with you!
Gladly will I go with you to Uruk and marry you!“
Clay tablet VIII
The monster swam up the curtain of rain.
The monster swam up the curtain of rain and saw the lovers.
The monster swam up the curtain of rain, saw that Dumu-ugen was a woman and turned into King Melim-anna.
His face was red with anger when he saw them.
Red with anger was his face when he drew his knife and severed Dumu-ugen’s head from her shoulders.
Red with anger was his face when he pushed Mesh-ursang away.
The hymn writer fell into the water.
He tried to climb the tree.
He could not reach the tree.
He tried to climb his ship.
He could not reach his ship.
He tried to catch his breath.
He could not reach the air.
The water surrounded Mesh-ursang.
Namma’s hand clasped Mesh-ursang and ran with him across the salt sea.
Inanna stood laughing in front of the corpse of Dumu-ugen and did not notice him.
Namma’s hand clasped Mesh-ursang and ran with him over the Euphrates.
The mistress stood laughing before the corpse of Dumu-ugen and did not notice him.
Namma’s hand clasped Mesh-ursang and ran with him over the channel of the enclosed Uruk.
Inanna stood laughing before the corpse of Dumu-ugen and did not notice him.
Inextinguishable hatred seethed in the eyes of the hymn writer.
He stepped before the family of Dumu-ugen and cries out:
“Hear me and hold counsel in your hearts!
The most beautiful daughter of Uruk is dead!
Dumu-ugen, the most beautiful daughter of Uruk, is dead!
King Melim-anna has torn her to pieces! Inanna, the perfect beauty, has guided his hand!
King Melim-anna has torn her to pieces as he has always done!
Inanna, the perfect beauty, has guided his hand, as she has always done!”
Inextinguishable hatred seethed in the eyes of the hymn writer.
He gathered the people of Uruk before the ziggurat.
He gathered the people of Uruk before the ziggurat built of mud bricks and cries:
“Hear me and hold counsel in your hearts!
The most beautiful daughter of Uruk is dead!
Dumu-ugen, the most beautiful daughter of Uruk, is dead!
King Melim-anna has torn her to pieces! Inanna, the perfect beauty, has guided his hand!
King Melim-anna has torn her to pieces as he has always done!
Inanna, the perfect beauty, has guided his hand, as she has always done!”
He tore off his hair and beard and raised his voice, shouting:
“When will the king stop ravishing the daughters of Uruk?
When will the king stop ravishing us all?
When will Inanna, the perfect beauty, stop guiding his hand?”
The people raised their voices, lamenting:
“When will the king stop ravishing the daughters of Uruk?
When will the king stop ravishing us all?
When will Inanna, the perfect beauty, stop guiding his hand?”
The hymn writer Mesh-ursang raised his voice, shouting:
“Hear the words of the man who administered Uruk for one hundred days!
Hear the words of the man under whom the people of Uruk lived peacefully for one hundred days!
Hear the words of the man who saw King Melim-anna slaughter Dumu-ugen!
Hear the words of the man who heard how Inanna was amused by Dumu-ugen’s death!
Let us stop sacrificing to our goddess!
Let us stop sacrificing to Inanna, the perfect beauty!
From this day forth, let us cease to sacrifice to Inanna, the perfect beauty!”
The people of Uruk raised their voices, shouting:
“From this day forth, we cease to sacrifice to Inanna, the perfect beauty!”
When King Melim-anna, protected by Inanna, came to Uruk, the hymn writer hid himself in the rushes of the canal bank.
When King Melim-anna, protected by Inanna, came to Uruk, the people hid their revengeful hearts.
When King Melim-anna, protected by Inanna, came to Uruk, the people concealed that they denied the sacrificial offerings to Inanna.
Inanna, the perfect beauty, spent a day without food.
Then she felt unwell.
She spent a second day without food.
Her stomach ached.
She spent a third day without food.
Then she appeared to the people of Uruk in a dream and spoke threatening words against them.
Disguised as a beggar, Mesh-ursang went from house to house and encouraged the people to deny Inanna the offerings.
Inanna, the perfect beauty, spent a month without food.
Then the fire of her cheeks and lips went out.
She spent a second month without food.
Then the bones pierced her skin.
She spent a third month without food.
Then the skin crumbled from her body like winter leaves.
Disguised as a beggar, Mesh-ursang went from house to house encouraging the people to deny Inanna the offerings.
In the Eanna she confronted King Melim-anna, pale and trembling.
She stretched out her arms to him and laments:
“Help me, O king!
The goddess to whom you are devoted needs you!
Inanna, the perfect beauty, to whom you are devoted, needs you!”
King Melim-anna looked at the hungry one and laughed and says:
“Go away, you who call yourself Inanna, for the toothless whores in the streets are more beautiful than you!
Go away, you who call yourself the perfect beauty, for the toothless whores in the streets are more beautiful than you!
Indeed, with the maiden Dumu-ugen, all beauty has departed from the enclosed Uruk!”
Then Inanna’s anger seized her.
She spat vipers at his legs, the legs of an ox.
Then they became weak and motionless.
She spat vipers on his arms, the arms of a lion.
Then they became weak and motionless.
She spat vipers on his neck, the neck of the Bull of Heaven.
Then it became weak and motionless.
On the top steps of the Eanna she banished the paralytic, where the people could see him.
On the top steps of the Eanna she banished the paralytic, where the people could hear him.
On the top steps of the Eanna she banished the paralytic, where the sun scorched his skin.
On the top steps of the Eanna she banished the paralytic, where the crows pecked out his eyes.
On the top steps of the Eanna she banished the paralytic, where he had to stand upright and be mocked while he was dying.
Clay tablet IX
Girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, why didn’t you say “Keep me dear”?
Dumu-ugen, why didn’t you say “Keep me dear”?
I did not see love in your eyes.
I saw fear in your eyes.
I saw confusion in your eyes.
I did not see love in your eyes.
The flour bread was baked to be eaten together.
Why am I eating it alone now?
The mud bricks were stacked to be inhabited together.
Why do I now inhabit them alone?
The salt sea was created to be sailed together.
Why do I now sail it alone?
Girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, why did you not say “Keep me dear”?
Dumu-ugen, why didn’t you say “Keep me dear”?
I did not see love in your eyes.
I saw fear in your eyes.
I saw confusion in your eyes.
I did not see love in your eyes.
You were a dream.
The water flower was a dream.
The birds in the flowered branches were a dream.
Your eyes appeared to me in my sleep.
I told you stories in my sleep.
We grew together in my sleep.
Are these mirages true?
Is your love true?
Dumu-ugen, girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, is your love true?
I did not see love in your eyes.
I saw fear in your eyes.
I saw confusion in your eyes.
I did not see love in your eyes.
Why do you kiss me if you do not love me?
My thoughts are poisoned by suspicion!
Why do you caress me if you do not love me?
My thoughts are poisoned by suspicion!
Why do you allow me to take your abundance when you do not love me?
My thoughts are poisoned by suspicion!
Cursed are both our souls.
I found you.
I found you with a new body and a new tongue.
I found you after an endless search.
Dumu-ugen, girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, I wanted to tell you everything.
I lost you in the blink of an eye.
Cursed are both our souls.
Break the tablets of fate, Enlil, shepherd of the black-headed people!
Break the tablets of fate if they do not say that Dumu-ugen and Mesch-ursang dance together to the sound of lyres and timpani!
Break the tablets of fate if they do not say that Mesh-ursang will take Dumu-ugen to his house!
Break the tablets of fate if they do not say that Mesh-ursang will put honey bread in Dumu-ugen’s mouth!
Break the tablets of fate if they do not say that Mesh-ursang gives Dumu-ugen a precious necklace with pierced shell beads!
Break the tablets of fate if they do not say that Dumu-ugen will give birth to a beautiful child for Mesh-ursang!
Break the tablets of fate, Enlil, shepherd of the black-headed people!
Break the tablets of fate if they do not say that the two will hold each other!
Break the tablets of fate if they do not say that Mesh-ursang will hold Dumu-ugen for all time!
Girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, why did you not say “Keep me dear”?
Dumu-ugen, why did you not say “Keep me dear”?
I did not see love in your eyes.
I saw fear in your eyes.
I saw confusion in your eyes.
I did not see love in your eyes.
Cursed are both our souls.
I found you.
I found you with a new body and a new tongue.
I found you after an endless search.
Dumu-ugen, girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, I wanted to tell you everything.
I lost you in the blink of an eye.
Cursed are both our souls.
The stars are reflected by the salt sea to be admired together.
Why do I admire them alone now?
Girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, once I had found you.
Say, will I find you again?
Dumu-ugen, once I had found you.
Say, will I find you again?
The waters of death may engulf me before the new king is able to slaughter me.
The waters of death may engulf me before En-piringduanna is able to slaughter me.
The waters of death may engulf me, just as they engulfed you.
Girl with the lapis lazuli gaze, “Keep me dear” I say to you now.
Dumu-ugen, “Keep me dear” I say to you now.
See the love in my eyes.
Do not see the fear in my eyes.
Do not see the confusion in my eyes.
See the love in my eyes.
See the love, the everlasting love in my eyes.
Dumu-ugen be praised!