Part 14 (1/2)

76. They observed how craftily the bow had been constructed,

77. They extolled the work which he had done.

78. [Then] the G.o.d Anu lifted up [the bow] in the company of the G.o.ds,

79. He kissed the bow [saying]: ”That ...”

80. He proclaimed [the names] of the bow to be as follows:--

81. ”Verily, the first is 'Long Wood,' the second is ...

82. ”Its third name is 'Bow Star in heaven' ...”

83. He fixed a station for it ...

[Of the remaining 57 lines of this tablet only fragments of 17 lines are preserved, and these yield no connected sense.]

SIXTH TABLET.

1. On hearing the words of the G.o.ds, the heart of Marduk moved him to carry out the works of a craftsman.

2. He opened his mouth, he spake to Ea that which he had planned in his heart, he gave counsel [saying]:

3. ”I will solidify blood, I will form bone.

4. ”I will set up man, 'Man' [shall be] his name.

5. ”I will create the man 'Man.'

6. ”The service of the G.o.ds shall be established, and I will set them (i.e., the G.o.ds) free.

7. ”I will make twofold the ways of the G.o.ds, and I will beautify [them].

8. ”They are [now] grouped together in one place, but they shall be part.i.tioned in two.”[1]

[Footnote 1: Reading, _ishtenish lu kuppudu-ma ana s.h.i.+na lu uzizu_.]

9. Ea answered and spake a word unto him

10. For the consolation of the G.o.ds[1] he repeated unto him a word of counsel [saying]:

[Footnote 1: _I.e._, ”to cause the G.o.ds to be content,”]

11. ”Let one brother [G.o.d of their number] be given, let him suffer destruction that men may be fas.h.i.+oned.

12. ”Let the great G.o.ds be a.s.sembled, let this [chosen] one be given in order that they (i.e., the other G.o.ds) may be established.”

13. Marduk a.s.sembled the great G.o.ds, [he came near] graciously, he issued a decree,