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© 1995-2001 Untangle Incorporated
Last Updated: Saturday February 16, 2002
Tablet IV
Hawawa Met and Battle Become
Column I-II
Enkidu and Gilgamesh marched fast.
Breaking their march with first meal, sixty long walks had they covered
Setting their nightly camp, another 20 long walks had they covered.
In three days the passed what all others would see pass only in three full weeks.
After 3 days Enkidu found water in the driest sand
They drank their fill only to Shamash received libation.
Nothing could stop their march to challenge Hawawa.
Column III-IV
Steadfast did they march
Straight to danger
in cedar forest far.
An high hill did Gilgamesh offer Shamash flour
"Give us dreams, O Might God, that sharpen the steel of our resolve."
And that very night did Gilgamesh awake, dream tense and look about.
Awakening Enkidu he did ask:
"I had a dream just now, of you and idea walking through a mountain pass,
When down the mountain came,
Upon our heads, like a man's hands upon two flies."
Enkidu once man of wildness did respond:
"I was a wild man so this good dream I know.
It is Hawawa, the falling mountain,
Falling Hawawa as he dies, all about us."
With these words Gilgamesh did relax and returned to sleep.
And in his sleep he dreamt again.
Gilgamesh awoke and awakening Enkidu he did ask:
"I had another dream.
In this dream I lay helpless on the ground
While above me a great bull was bellowing in delight
Each bull breath on me did I feel
Each stamp of the bull did I feel as the ground about did shake
Dusk did I break as the ground beneath his hoofs did break
And yet I was brought water to slake my thirst."
Enkidu once a man of wildness did respond:
"I was a wild man so this good dream I know.
The bull is not cedar forest demon, but Shamash.
In the triumph of Hawawa's death does Shamash delight,"
So to your parched lips did he bring like father to son, sweet respite."
And with these words back to slumber did Gilgamesh go, but dreamed once more.
Gilgamesh awoke and awakening Enkidu he did ask:
"I had a third dream.
In this dream their was sky and earth with mountain in between,
And in the dark lightning did make bright all about,
And thunder shook me from head to feet
And Fire rained down all about,
And Ash came after Fire, and covered all things about."
Enkkidu once a man of wildness did respond:
"I was a wild man so this good dream I know.
When Hawawa is dead, the world will continue,
Time will bury memory of him like the Fire long gone,
Is but Ash."
So Gilgamesh fell into sleep and dreamt no more.
Column IV
When the pair walked down next morn,
Into pine scented air, green all about.
The silence did inspire fear in the two friends
Fear which grew until both took their axe and feel three cedars.
There came a roar then a crash and the a ear filling crack.
The Enkidu turned to Gilgamesh and said:
"Recall your words you did to me say:
'A man's life is short, shall we live in shallow hole and cry?
Follow me to the cedar forest and urge me to take each step.
Each man does die, but my immortality is sure.
If Hawawa strikes me down most dead, it will be said I fought howling Hawawa. No shame!
If I do Hawawa strike down and slay him now and forever then I will have greater fame. No shame.
Whatever I try I shall succeed to brand my life upon the memory of my sons.
So Enkidu, you who have fought with lion and wolf, bring that courage with me now.'
Gilgamesh, hear me now, make small your fear [tur su nu]."
And Gilgamesh did take heart from Enkidu's words
So Gilgamesh did reply,
"Thank you wild Enkidu, friend most true,"
Hawawa has seven forms, each one terrible to behold,
But two friends can stand fast against each form,"
And in that way beat him down.
And so far he has shown only one form to us, so let us beat that down."
Column V
When the demon form did come forth,
Enkidu fled from the fearsome face
But Gilgamesh did pursue and to him said,
"Enkidu two friends can prevail against one form, no matter the fear,
Let us back to forest go and defeat Hawawa one form again and again."
Enkidu did rejoice "Strong are you so stong am I, let us depart.
Column VI
The one form they did meet.
With companion blows and wounds
Did they meet the howls, and claws and foul smells of demon kind
So in the end the demon fell, one of seven, to the ground.
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