The Pennsylvania Tablet

Gilgamesh rose to recount a dream; he spake to his mother: “O my mother, in the course of this my night, I grew joyful and walked among the young men. There came down upon me stars of heaven; a block of Anu fell upon my back. I strove to lift it — it was too heavy for me; I tried to roll it, but I could not move it. The land of Uruk gathered around it, the warriors kissed its feet. I set my forehead against it, they steadied me. I lifted it, and I bore it to thee.”

The mother of Gilgamesh, who knows all things, spake to Gilgamesh: “Gilgamesh, a man like thyself was born in the open steppe, and the mountains reared him. Thou wilt see him and rejoice; the warriors will kiss his feet. Thou wilt embrace him, and thou wilt bring him to me.”

He lay down and saw a second dream, and he told the dream to his mother: “O my mother, I have seen another! I beheld a dream within the streets of Uruk of the broad marketplace. An axe lay there, and the people were gathered about it. The axe — its shape was strange. I looked at it and I rejoiced; I loved it like a wife, I caressed it. I lifted it and set it at my side.”

The mother of Gilgamesh, who knows all things, spake to Gilgamesh: “Gilgamesh, the man whom thou sawest, thou wilt love him like a wife, and he will be a comrade striving at thy side.”

For the one who would be a match for him, Gilgamesh unfolded the dream.

Enkidu was dwelling before the harlot; she lay with him, she opened her lap. Enkidu forgot the place where he was born. Six days and seven nights Enkidu approached and lay with the courtesan. The harlot opened her mouth and spake to Enkidu: “I look at thee, Enkidu; thou art become like a god. Why with the wild beasts dost thou roam the open steppe? Come, let me lead thee into the midst of Uruk of the broad marketplace, to the holy temple, the dwelling of Anu. Enkidu, arise; let me guide thee to Eanna, the dwelling of Anu, where Gilgamesh is perfect in strength. And thou, thou wilt love him as thou lovest thine own self. Come, rise from the trampled ground, from the shepherd’s resting-place.”

He heard her words and took in her speech; the counsel of the woman fell into his heart. She tore off a garment: one half she put upon him, the other half she clothed herself. She took his hand, and like a god she led him onward to the shepherd’s camp, to the place of the sheepfold. There the shepherds gathered about him.

[And he, Enkidu — his birthplace was the mountain — with the gazelles he ate the grass, with the herd he slaked his thirst, with the wild beasts he drank water, and his heart was glad.]

The milk of the wild creatures he would suck. Bread was set before him; he drew back, he stared and looked askance. Enkidu knew not how to eat bread; to drink strong drink he had not been taught.

The harlot opened her mouth and spake to Enkidu: “Eat the bread, Enkidu — it is the staff of life; drink the strong drink — it is the custom of the land.” Enkidu ate the bread until he was sated; of the strong drink he drank seven goblets. His spirit loosened; he grew merry; his face shone. He rubbed the shaggy hair from his body; he anointed himself with oil, and he became a man. He donned a garment, and he was like a bridegroom. He took up his weapon; he hunted lions so that the shepherds might lie down at night; he drove off wolves, he caught lions. The chief herdsmen lay down in peace: Enkidu was their watchman — a man of might, a single champion. He spake to the shepherds ...

... he made a feast of joy. He lifted up his eyes and saw the man. He spake to the harlot: “Shamhat, bring the man hither. Why has he come? I would learn his name.”

The harlot called the man; he approached, and Enkidu beheld him. “Alas! ... how thou dost trouble thyself! Evil is thy coming; heavy is thy toil.” He opened his mouth and spake to Enkidu: “The ways of marriage ... the customs of the people ... the office of manhood. For the city of the toil-basket and the sustenance of the city ... for the king of Uruk of the broad marketplace, open the marriage-chamber for the bridegroom; for Gilgamesh, king of Uruk of the broad marketplace, open the marriage-chamber. He shall have the bride of destiny: he first, the husband afterwards. By the counsel of the gods it is so ordained; at the cutting of his navel-cord his fate was decreed for him.”

At the hero’s words his face grew pallid.

... Enkidu walked in front, and the harlot followed behind him. He entered into Uruk of the broad marketplace; the people thronged around him. He stood in the street of Uruk of the broad marketplace, and the folk gathered about him, saying: “In form he is the very likeness of Gilgamesh, only shorter in stature, ... strong ... In the land he is mighty of strength. The milk of wild beasts he sucked. Ever within Uruk the warriors are purified, the champion is proclaimed for the man whose face is fair. For Gilgamesh — as for a god — a rival is raised up for him. For Ishara a couch is laid, and Gilgamesh beds the bride thereafter; in the night he approaches, and she is taken.”

He rushed, and Enkidu stood in the street; he blocked the going of Gilgamesh to display his might.

... Gilgamesh ... against him came Enkidu; ... he tore his hair. He rose and went before him. They met in the market-place of the land. Enkidu barred the gate with his foot, and Gilgamesh he would not let enter. They seized each other; like raging bulls they wrestled; they demolished the doorpost; the wall shook. Gilgamesh and Enkidu seized each other again; like raging bulls they wrestled; they demolished the doorpost; the wall shook. Gilgamesh bent his knee to the ground; his fury subsided, and his breast grew still. When his breast had grown still, Enkidu spake to Gilgamesh: “As one alone thy mother bore thee, the wild cow of the sheepfold, Ninsunna, who raised thy head above all men. Kingship over the people Enlil has decreed for thee.”

Second tablet. ... Four sixties.