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© 1995-2001 Untangle Incorporated
Last Updated: Friday February 15, 2002
Tablet II
Enkidu and Gilgamesh Meet
Long before Enkidu met Shamhat, long before Enkidu was civilized, Gilgamesh dreamt.
Gilgamesh saw a star fall from heaven.
Gilgamesh saw a star fall on the ground outside holy Eanna's city
Gilgamesh saw the people gather around the fallen star.
Gilgamesh was drawn to the fallen star as to a woman.
Gilgamesh walked from Uruk to the fallen star and saw the people's awe and fear.
Gilgamesh walked up to the fallen star and tried to lift it, and could not.
Gilgamesh awoke with fear in his heart.
Gilgamesh cried out and arose.
Gilgamesh went to his mother, virgin Lady Wild Cow, Ninsun.
Gilgamesh told her his dream.
Virgin Ninsun said this to her son Gilgamesh:
"You did right to tell me of this dream.
You did right to wonder what it meant.
This star represents a man who will be a gift from heaven.
This star represents a man who will be loyal to you and brave for you.
This star represents a man who will be your friend.
This star represents good things for you and for Uruk
Gilgamesh, his heart calmed then said:
Let this dream happen as you tell it.
Shamhat and Enkidu began their journey.
Shamhat cut her cloak in two and covered Enkidu with one half.
Shamhat taught Enkidu how to dress.
Shamhat then took Enkidu's hand like a mother takes a toddling son,
Like a goddess takes a worshipper into her temple.
Shamhat led Enkidu from the woods and so their journey began.
Into a shepherds camp they walked.
The shepherds looked at Enkidu and thought:
"Like Gilgamesh is this man, twice as large as most, twice as strong, twice as steady.
This man is like a star from heaven."
To the pair the shepherds brought cooked food.
To the pair the shepherds brought beer.
And Enkidu looked at the cooked food and knew it not.
And Shamhat continued teaching Enkidu how to eat.
"Enkidu, this is cooked food. It is good food. Eat your fill.
Enkidu, this is beer to drink. It is good to drink. Drink your fill."
So Enkidu ate the cooked food. Seven platters of the cooked food.
So Enkdiu drank the beer. Seven jugs of the cooked food.
At the end Enkidu sprang up. Enkidu was happy and began to sing to heaven.
Shamhat taught Enkidu how to wash his body which was twice the size of other men.
Shamhat showed Enkidu how to rub fragrant oils into his body which was twice that of other men.
The shepherds brought new clothes for Enkidu to wear.
Shamhat taught Enkidu how to dress.
Enkidu dressed himself in new clothes the shepherds brought.
Shamhat taught Enkidu how to speak fine and clear.
Enkidu thanked the shepherds for the hospitality and asked what they might do in turn.
Shamhat taught Enkidu how to listen when someone speaks.
The shepherds taught Enkidu to use a spear.
The shepherds taught Enkid how to protect the sheep, to protect the shepherds and to protect Shamhat.
Thus did Enkidu guard all about when the sun had set and night lay across the sky.
Column II
One day soon after a stranger came to the shepherd's camp bearing fine gifts.
Shamhat asked: "Where are you going with all those fine gifts?"
And the stranger said in reply: "To Uruk do I bear these gifts, for a wedding of my friend.
The bride shall first lie with Gilgamesh in pleasure then the groom shall go to his bride."
On hearing these words, Enkidu leaped up and cried, "Why does the groom allow that to be?"
The stranger replied: "All fall before the power and desire of Gilgamesh, Wild Ox greatest of all."
Enkidu scowled and proclaimed: "Take me to Gilgamesh. Take me to Uruk now.
I am a wild man born of wildness, fallen from heaven. I cannot be withstood."
So to Uruk did this trio go.
Column III
When Enkidu did stride on Uruk's streets,
When Enkidu did walk upon it's holy ground
Then the people did remark on how another Gilgamesh had appeared
"Who be this man so like Gilgamesh. Here Gilgamesh has met his match. Here Gilgamesh has met his twin"
And straight to the wedding party did the trio go.
And straight to the bride's door did Enkidu door.
There he took a protective stance.
Like a shepherd Enkidu guarded the door.
Enkidu, Wild Man, stood ready to meet and stop the king.
Gilgamesh came like a Wild Ox to take the bride as his.
Wild heart met wild heart,
At the door and then struggled did begin.
Each body on the other did meet with grapple and heavy blows.
Stray swings did the door break, did the door jamb did break, did the walls did crack.
On to the streets did the pair wrestle, wild heart to wild heart.
Doors fell, corners were broken off, stalls knocked down, and still on they fought.
They fought to the city gates, which trembled with their blows.
Then with a terrible shout Gilgamesh did in anger throw his strength straight at Enkidu.
A the wild heart of an Ox did wrestle to his knees the wild heart of the wild-man.
Enkidu said "You are the strongest of us two.
You are blazing rage to my angry shout,
You are terror to my puny fear.
Virgin Ninsun bore only you. Eanna's city is yours to rule."
And so right quick did anger subside in the wild heart of the Ox Gilgamesh,
And hard resolve did they hug, then kissed, and then held in trust the other's arm.
Column IV
And while they stood face to face, hand to arm, wild heart to wild heart, did Ninsun come.
"Enkidu was heaven born. No father nor mother his.
Enkidu lived on grass, and with the prairie deer did run with no guidance from his kind.
Enkidu has learned the civilized ways, and will never forget.
Enkidu will be loyal and brave for you too."
Enkidu wept to hear himself so well understood.
And with each a shout hugged each other and then gripped each others hand, a convenant of newly forged friends.
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