Part 10 (1/2)

119. ”'Sit down together in friendly fas.h.i.+on in Upshukkinaku,

120. ”'Let me issue decrees by the opening of my mouth, even as ye do,

121. ”'Whatsoever I bring to pa.s.s let it remain unaltered.

122. ”'That which my mouth uttereth shall neither fail nor be brought to nought.”'

123. ”Hasten ye therefore, issue your decrees speedily

124. ”That he may go to meet your mighty enemy.”

125. The G.o.ds Lakhmu and Lakhamu heard, they wailed loudly,

126. All the Igigi G.o.ds wept bitterly [saying]:

127. ”Who were [our] enemies until [the G.o.ds] were posted [in heaven]?

128. ”We cannot comprehend the work of Tiamat.”

129. They gathered themselves together, they went,

130. All the great G.o.ds, who issue decrees.

131. They entered in, they filled [the court] before Anshar.

132. Brother [G.o.d] kissed brother [G.o.d] in the [divine] a.s.sembly,

133. They held a meeting, they sat down to a feast,

134. They ate bread, they heated the [sesame wine],

135. The taste of the sweet drink confused their ...

136. They drank themselves drunk, their bodies were filled to overflowing,

137. They were overcome by heaviness [of drink], their livers (i.e., spirits) were exalted,

138. They issued the decree for Marduk as their avenger.

FOURTH TABLET.

1. They founded for him a majestic canopy,

2. He (i.e., Marduk) seated himself in the seat of kings.h.i.+p in the presence of his fathers [who said unto him]:

3. ”Thou art honourable by reason of thy greatness among the G.o.ds.

4. ”Thy position is unrivalled, the words thou utterest become Anum (i.e., as fixed as the sky).