Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 28

And see! Dark Rimmon[9] o'er a crag alone!

And Gibil with his blasting malisoun, Above with his dark face maleficent, Who wields a power o'er men omnipotent Forlore! forlore! the souls who feel that blast Which sweeps around that black forbidding coast!

Fierce whirling storms and hurricanes here leap, With blasting lightnings maltalent and sweep The furious waves that lash around that sh.o.r.e, As the fierce whirl of some dread maelstrom's power!

Above the cavern's arch! see! Ninip[10] stands!

He points within the cave with beckoning hands!

Ur-Hea cries: "My lord! the tablets[11] say, That we should not attempt that furious way!

Those waters of black death will smite us down!

Within that cavern's depths we will but drown."

"We cannot go but once, my friend, that road,"

The hero said, "'Tis only ghosts' abode!"

"We go, then, Izdubar, its depths will sound, But we within that gloom will whirl around, Around, within that awful whirlpool black,-- And once within, we dare not then turn back,-- How many times, my friend, I dare not say, 'Tis written, we within shall make our way."

The foaming tide now grasped them with its power, And billowed round them with continuous roar; Away! they whirl! with growing speed, till now They fly on lightnings' wings and ride the brow Of maddened tempests o'er the dizzy deep.

So swift they move,--the waves in seeming sleep Beneath them, whirling there with force unseen.

But see! Updarting with a sulphurous gleen, The hag of Death leaps on the trembling prow!

Her eyes, of fire and hate, turns on them now!

With famine gaunt, and haggard face of doom, She sits there soundless in the awful gloom.

"O G.o.ds!" shrieked Izdubar in his despair, "Have I the G.o.d of Fate at last met here?

Avaunt, thou Fiend! hence to thy pit of h.e.l.l!

Hence! hence! and rid me of thy presence fell!"

And see! she nearer comes with deathless ire, With those fierce, moveless, glaring eyes of fire!

Her wand is raised! she strikes!

"O G.o.ds!" he screams; He falls beneath that bolt that on them gleams, And she is gone within the awful gloom.

Hark! hear those screams!

"Accurst! Accurst thy doom!"

And lo! he springs upon his feet in pain, And cries: "Thy curses, fiend! I hurl again!"

And now a blinding flash disparts the black And heavy air, a moment light doth break; And see! the King leans fainting 'gainst the mast, With glaring eyeb.a.l.l.s, clenched hands,--aghast!

Behold! that pallid face and scaly hands!

A leper white, accurst of G.o.ds, he stands!

A living death, a life of awful woe, Incurable by man, his way shall go.

But oh! the seer in all enchantments wise Will cure him on that sh.o.r.e, or else he dies.

And see! the vessel's prow with s.h.i.+vering turns, Adown the roaring flood that gapes and churns Beneath like some huge boiling cauldron black, Thus whirl they in the slimy cavern's track.

And spirit ravens round them fill the air, And see! they fly! the cavern sweeps behind!

Away the s.h.i.+p doth ride before the wind!

The darkness deep from them has fled away, The fiends are gone!--the vessel in the spray With spreading sails has caught the glorious breeze, And dances in the light o'er s.h.i.+ning seas; The blissful haven s.h.i.+nes upon their way, The waters of the Dawn sweep o'er the sea!

They proudly ride up to the glowing sand, And joyfully the King springs to the land.

[Footnote 1: This remarkable prayer is to be found among a collection of prayers which are numbered and addressed to separate deities. It seems that the prayers were originally Accadian, and were afterward adopted by the a.s.syrians, and made to apply to one G.o.d (Hea). Professor Oppert and Professor Sayce think, however, that they are connected in one hymn to Hea. This may have been so after the a.s.syrians adopted them, but they are distinct, and addressed to separate G.o.ds. The one we have selected is addressed to Hea, the Creator of Mankind, Sayce edition Smith's "C.A.G.,"

pp. 75 to 80. The one we have selected is found at the top of page 77, idem.]

[Footnote 2: "Gibil," the G.o.d of fire, of spells and witchcraft.]

[Footnote 3: "Nibiru," the G.o.d of fate, and ruler of the stars.]

[Footnote 4: "Nusku," the gatekeeper of thunders.]

[Footnote 5: "Urbat," the dog of Death.]

[Footnote 6: "Belat" or "Allat," the Queen of Hades.]

[Footnote 7: "Ed-hutu," G.o.d of darkness.]

[Footnote 8: "Tsi-lat-tu," shades of night.]

[Footnote 9: "Rimmon," G.o.d of storms.]

[Footnote 10: "Ninip," G.o.d of bravery and war.]

[Footnote 11: "Tablets." This may mean charts or scrolls similar to the charts used by modern navigators. Babylon communicated with all nations in commerce.]

COLUMN III

KHASISADRA ON THE Sh.o.r.e SEES THE VESSEL COMING, AND RETURNING TO HIS PALACE, SENDS HIS DAUGHTER MUA TO WELCOME IZDUBAR--MEETING OF THE KING AND SAGE

Beneath a ku-tree Khasisadra eyes The spreading sea beneath the azure skies, An aged youth with features grave, serene, Matured with G.o.dly wisdom; ne'er was seen Such majesty, nor young, nor old,--a seer In purpose high. The countenance no fear Of death has marred, but on his face sublime The perfect soul has left its seal through time.

"Ah, yes! the dream was clear, the vision true, I saw him on the s.h.i.+p! Is it in view?

A speck! Ah, yes! He comes! he comes to me My son from Erech comes across the sea!"

Back to his palace goes the holy seer, And Mua[1] sends, who now the sh.o.r.e doth near; As beautiful as Waters of the Dawn, Comes Mua here, as graceful as a fawn.

The King now standing on the glistening sand, Beholds the beauteous Mua where she stands, With hands outstretched in welcome to the King, "O thou sweet spirit, with thy snowy wing, Oh, where is Khasisadra in this land?

I seek the aid of his immortal hand."

"Great Sar," said Mua, "hadst thou not a seer, That thou shouldst come to seek my father here?"

"'Tis true, my daughter dear, a seer had I, Whom I have lost,--a dire calamity; By his advice and love I undertake This journey. But alas! for mine own sake He fell by perils on this lengthened way; He was not strong, and feared that he should lay Himself to rest amid the mountains wild.

He was a warrior, with him I killed Khumbaba, Elam's king who safely dwelt Within a forest vast of pines, and dealt Destruction o'er the plains. We razed his walls-- My friend at last before me dying falls.

"Alas! why did my seer attempt to slay The dragons that we met upon the way, He slew his foe, and like a lion died.

Ah, me! the cause, when I the G.o.ds defied, And brought upon us all this awful woe; In sorrow o'er his death, my life must flow!

For this I came to find the ancient seer, Lead me to him, I pray, if he lives here."

Then Mua leads him through the glorious land Of matchless splendor, on the border grand Of those wide Happy Fields that spread afar O'er beaming hills and vales, where ambient air With sweetest zephyrs sweeps a grand estrade, Where softest odors from each flowering glade Lull every sense aswoon that breathes not bliss And harmony with World of Blessedness.

'Neath trees of luring fruits she leads the way, Through paths of flowers where night hath fled away, A wilderness of varied crystal flowers, Where fragrance rests o'er cl.u.s.tering, s.h.i.+ning bowers.

Each gleaming cup its nectared wine distils, For spirit lips each chalice ever fills.

Beyond the groves a lucent palace shone In grandest splendor near an inner zone; In amethyst and gold divinely rose, With glories scintillant the palace glows.

A dazzling halo crowns its lofty domes, And spreading from its summit softly comes With grateful rays, and floods the bal.u.s.trades And golden statues 'neath the high arcades; A holy palace built by magic hand With wondrous architecture, portals grand, And aurine turrets piled to dizzy heights, Oh, how its glory Izdubar delights!

Beneath majestic arcades carved, they pa.s.s, Up golden steps that s.h.i.+ne like polished gla.s.s, Through n.o.ble corridors with sculptured walls, By lofty columns, archways to the halls Of glories, the bright harbinger of fanes Of greater splendor of the Heavenly plains.

Beneath an arch of gems the King espies A form immortal, he who death defies.

Advancing forth the sage his welcome gives, "'Tis Izdubar who comes to me and lives!"

Embracing him he leads him in a room, Where many a curious graven tablet, tome, And scrolls of quaint and old forgotten lore Have slept within for centuries of yore.