[Footnote 14:  “Shal-man,” deliverer.]

[Footnote 15:  “Il-gi-sa-kis-sat,” spirits of the hosts.]

COLUMN II

SONGS IN PRAISE OF IZDUBAR AND HEABANI AS SUNG BY THE KHAU-IK-I

    Our Izdubar dear Erech raised
      From her distress, when she did mourn;
    With joy his glorious name be praised! 
      Of a great warrior’s daughter born,
    And Bel in his own might, him arms,
      To Erech’s sons and daughters save;
    What other Sar hath glorious charms
      Like his, who saved proud Elam’s slave?

        Chorus

    No rival hath our mighty Sar,
      Thy cymbals strike and raise the cry! 
    All hail!  All hail! great Izdubar! 
      His deeds immortal glorify!

    Our Izdubar our sons preserves
      To all our fathers day and night,
    And Erech’s ruler well deserves
      Our highest praise, whose matchless might
    Delights the gods!  All hail our Sar! 
      Whose firmness, wisdom need no praise! 
    Queen Daunat’s son, our Izdubar,
      His glory to the Sami[1] raise!

        Chorus

    Of a great warrior’s daughter born,
      The gods clothe him with matchless might;
    His glory greets the coming morn,
      Oh, how in him we all delight!

And thus of Seer Heabani they now chant
His birth and history and hyemal haunt.

    Who can compare with thee, O Nin![2]
      The son of Bel; thy hands didst lay
    Upon Ar-ur-u, thine own queen,
      With glory crowned her on that day.

    To her thy strength did give, and blessed
      Her with thy love and a dear son;
    With Ami’s strength within his breast,
      And Ninip sped then to his throne.

    When Queen Ar-u-ru hears her lord
      From Erech’s city far has gone,
    She bows her head upon the sward,
      With pleading hands in woe doth moan.

    And to Heabani she gave birth,
      The warrior, great Ninip’s son,
    Whose fame is spread through all the earth. 
      The queen with her own maids alone
    Retired within her palace walls
      For purity in Erech’s halls.

    Like the corn-god his face concealed,
      Of men and countries he possessed,
    Great wisdom by the gods revealed: 
      As Ner[3] the god, his limbs were dressed. 
    With wild gazelles he ate his food
      While roaming with them in the night;
    For days he wandered in the wood,
      And bu-hir-tser-i[4] him delight.

    The Zi-ar-ri[5] Heabani loves,
      That play within the running streams;
    With Zi-ti-am-a-ti[6] he roves
      Upon the sands in warm sunbeams.