The Epic of Gilgamesh

by Anonymous

He put on a garment, became like a warrior,P 110 he took up his weapon to do battle with lions.

‘His speech is fire, his breath is death, he hears the forest murmur at sixty leagues’ distance. Who is there would venture into his forest?

‘As for man, [his days] are numbered, whatever he may do, it is but wind,

“Who goes in front will save his comrade, who knows the road shall [guard] his friend.”

the warrior’s rite, the task of a man. He will make rage his fury against you, terror of him will wrap your legs

‘Take my hand, friend, and we shall go [on] together,V 45 [let] your thoughts dwell on combat! Forget death and [seek] life!

‘To the one who survives is left grief for a legacy:VII 75 the dead leave sorrow to those who survive.

‘The Anunnaki, the great gods, held an assembly, Mammitum, maker of destiny, fixed fates with them:X 320 both Death and Life they did establish, but the day of Death they do not disclose.’

I brought out a dove, I let it loose: off went the dove but then it returned, there was no place to land, so back it came to me.XI

‘Now make ready the equipment and arms of battle, let weapons of war return to your grasp! Let them create terror and a dread aura,45 so when he arrives fear of me overwhelms him, so his good sense is confounded and his judgement undone!’

“No man can stretch to the sky, no matter how tall, no man can compass a mountain, no matter how broad!”