Tablet IV — The Cedar Forest
The tablet survives in only a few small fragments, yet these are enough to show that it describes the preparations for the capture of the fortress of Humbaba, the Elamite king. Tablets IV and V together hold the historical kernel of the epic's narrative.
As Dr. Jeremias reconstructs it, Tablet IV once ran something like this:
In the first column, Enkidu stands before the king of the gods—Marduk, perhaps—speaking of Humbaba, whom he and Gilgamesh intended to kill, and whose corpse the vultures might devour. They asked the god to look with favour upon their fight:
We watched over you, O king of the gods. Now watch over us as well.
Then Gilgamesh tells Enkidu to go to the lofty palace of the great queen, she who knows all things. Both go to the great prophetess, who is described in the second column—her breast ornaments and her crown especially noted.
After this the narrative continues:
Before Shamash he sacrificed a smoke-offering, poured out a libation; he lifted his hands toward Shamash and prayed:
"Why have you troubled the heart of Gilgamesh? Now you have taught him, and a far road he travels—toward Humbaba. An unknown fight he is about to enter, an unknown war he is about to set forth. From the day he goes until he returns again, until he comes to the splendid cedar wood, until he shall have killed Humbaba the tyrant— all the many evils that shall befall him shall ruin him. On the day when you …"
The end of the second column tells of the preparations for the great fight. The forces of the country assembled; the army completed its gear; the heroes put on their armour. Then the two friends set out together.
The fifth column opens with these words:
That the cedar wood might remain intact, Bel has made it a terror for the people. The roaring of Humbaba was like a storm cyclone; his mouth was full of blasphemy, his breath a killing hot wind. … whoever descends into his park hears a roaring in the forest. That the cedar forest might remain intact, Bel has made it a terror for the people. Whoever enters it, pestilence will overtake him.
And Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu, saying:
Plates 57 and 58 Dr. Jeremias assigns to the last column of Tablet IV. Gilgamesh recounts to Enkidu a favourable dream, a splendid dream, in which he saw the corpse of Humbaba.
Then in the morning they set out; every twenty double leagues they took a meal, every thirty double leagues they rested. Before Shamash they dug a hole, and Gilgamesh poured his sacrificial meal into the hole, saying:
"Mountain, bring a dream to Enkidu! Let him see dream-visions, O Shamash."
Then they slept.
About midnight Gilgamesh awoke, arose, and spoke to his friend Enkidu:
"My friend, did you call me?"
Then he told him of a third dream:
"The dream I dreamed was very terrible: heaven thundered, earth quaked; day grew dark, darkness came up; lightning set in, fire flared up, sated with destruction and filled with death. Then suddenly the light darkened, the fire was quenched … fell down, turned into smoke …"
Enkidu heard this dream and said to him:
[The rest of this tablet is broken away.]
[Here we append the Babylonian Yale tablet, which relates material about the preparations for battle with Humbaba.]
… my friend … [Something] that is exceedingly difficult— why do you desire to do this? … something that is very difficult … why do you desire to go down to the forest?
A message they carried among men, carried about. They made a … they brought …
(About seventeen lines missing.)
… my friend … they raised … answer they returned.
To the woman they proceeded—
(About eleven lines missing.)
… name …
The one who is a rival to him subdue and …
Wailing …
The mother of Gilgamesh, who knows everything, before Shamash raised her hand:
"Why now have you stirred up the heart of my son? Restlessness imposed upon him …"
(About four lines missing.)
The eyes of Enkidu filled with tears. He clutched his heart; sadly he sighed. The eyes of Enkidu filled with tears. He clutched his heart; sadly he sighed.
The face of Gilgamesh was grieved. He spoke to Enkidu:
"My friend, why are thy eyes filled with tears? Thy heart clutched— dost thou sigh sadly?"
Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gilgamesh:
"Attacks, my friend, have exhausted my strength. My arms are lame, my strength has become weak."
Gilgamesh opened his mouth and spoke to Enkidu:
(About four lines missing.)
… until Humbaba, the terrible, … I destroyed. I will go down to the cedar forest, … the jungle …
… I will open it.
Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gilgamesh:
"Know, my friend: in the mountain, when I moved about with the cattle, to a distance of one double hour into the heart of the forest— alone I penetrated within it, to Humbaba, whose roar is a flood, whose mouth is fire, whose breath is death. Why do you desire to do this? To advance toward the dwelling of Humbaba?"
Gilgamesh opened his mouth and spoke to Enkidu:
"… the covering I will destroy … in the forest …
The dwelling of Humbaba— the axe …
I will go down to the forest."
Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gilgamesh:
"When together we go down to the cedar forest, whose guardian—O warrior Gilgamesh— a power without rest, Humbaba, an offspring of … Adad …
To keep safe the cedar forest, Enlil has decreed for it sevenfold terror."
Gilgamesh opened his mouth and spoke to Enkidu:
"Whoever, my friend, overcomes terror, it is well for him with Shamash for the length of his days. Mankind will speak of it at the gates. Wherever terror is to be faced, thou, forsooth, art in fear of death. Thy prowess lacks strength. I will go before thee. Though thy mouth calls to me— thou art afraid to approach— if I fall, I will establish my name.
Gilgamesh—the corpse of Humbaba, the terrible— has snatched from the time that my offspring was born …
The lion restrained thee— all of which thou knowest … and … open … like a shepherd …
When thou callest to me, thou afflictest my heart. I am determined to enter the cedar forest. I will indeed establish my name.
The work, my friend, to the artisans I will entrust. Weapons—let them mould before us."
The work to the artisans they entrusted. A dwelling they assigned to the workmen.
Hatchets the masters moulded: axes of three talents each they moulded. Lances the masters moulded; blades of two talents each, a spear of thirty mina each attached to them. The hilt of the lances—thirty mina in gold.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu were equipped with ten talents each.
… in Uruk, seven … its … the people heard and … proclaimed in the street of Uruk, of the plazas.
Gilgamesh brought him out. In the street of Uruk, of the plazas, Enkidu sat before him. Thus he spoke:
"… of Uruk, of the plazas … before him— Gilgamesh, of whom they speak—let me see! Whose name fills the lands. I will lure him to the cedar forest, like a strong offspring of Uruk. I will let the land hear that I am determined to lure him into the cedar forest. A name I will establish."
The elders of Uruk, of the plazas, brought word to Gilgamesh:
"Thou art young, O Gilgamesh, and thy heart carries thee away. Thou dost not know what thou proposest to do. We hear that Humbaba is enraged. Who has ever opposed his weapon? To one double hour into the heart of the forest— who has ever penetrated it? Humbaba, whose roar is a deluge, whose mouth is fire, whose breath is death. Why do you desire to do this? To advance toward the dwelling of Humbaba?"
Gilgamesh heard the report of his counsellors. He saw and cried out to his friend:
"Now, my friend, thus I speak: I fear him, but I will go to the cedar forest. I will go with thee to the cedar forest."
(About five lines missing.)
May … thee— thy god may … thee; on the road may he guide thee in safety.
At the rampart of Uruk, of the plazas, Gilgamesh kneeled down before Shamash. A word then he spoke to him:
"I will go, O Shamash—thy hands I seize hold of. When I shall have saved my life, bring me back to the rampart in Uruk. Grant protection to me."
Gilgamesh cried: "My friend …"
His oracle …
(About two lines missing.)
"I, Gilgamesh, the strong one of the land … a road which I have never trodden; … food … do not know. When I shall have succeeded, I will praise thee in the joy of my heart, I will extol the superiority of thy power, I will seat thee on thrones."
… his vessel …
The masters brought the weapons; bow and quiver they placed in his hand. He took the hatchet … his quiver.
… to the god a second time, with his lance in his girdle, … they took the road.
Again they approached Gilgamesh:
"How long till thou returnest to Uruk?"
Again the elders approached him. For the road they counselled Gilgamesh:
"Do not rely, O Gilgamesh, on thy strength. Provide food and save thyself. Let Enkidu go before thee— he is acquainted with the way, he has trodden the road to the entrance of the forest of Humbaba.
… He who goes in advance will save the companion. Provide for his road and save thyself.
May Shamash carry out thy endeavor. May he make thy eyes see the prophecy of thy mouth. May he track out for thee the closed path. May he level the road for thy treading. May he level the mountain for thy foot. During thy night, the word that will rejoice— may Lugal-banda convey it, and stand by thee in thy endeavor. Like a youth may he establish thy endeavor. In the river of Humbaba, as thou planest, wash thy feet. Round about thee dig a well— may there be pure water constantly for thy libation. Goblets of water pour out to Shamash. May Lugal-banda take note of it."
Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gilgamesh:
"Since thou art resolved to take the road, thy heart be not afraid—trust to me. Confide to my hand his dwelling."
On the road to Humbaba they proceeded.
… command their return …
(Three lines missing.)
… were filled. … they will go with me.
… joyfully.
Upon hearing this word of his, alone, the road he levelled.
"Go, O Gilgamesh—I will go before thee. May thy god go … May he show thee the road."
Gilgamesh and Enkidu knowingly …
Between them …
[End supplement]