35 Those seven in the earth were born,
36 those seven in the earth grew up.
37 The forces of the deep for war[1] have drawn near.
38 Go, my son Merodach!
39 (for) the laurel, the baleful tree that breaks in pieces the
incubi,
40 the name whereof Hea remembers in his heart.
41 In the mighty enclosure, the girdle of Eridu which is to
be praised,
42 to roof and foundation may the fire ascend and to (work)
evil may those seven never draw near.
43 Like a broad scimitar in a broad place bid (thine) hand
rest; and
44 In circling fire by night and by day[2] on the (sick) man's
head may it abide.
45 At night mingle the potion and at dawn in his hand let
him raise (it).
46 In the night a precept[3] in a holy book,[4] in bed, on the
sick man's head let them place.[5]
47 The hero (Merodach) unto his warriors sends:
48 Let the Fire-god seize on the incubus.
49 Those baleful seven may he remove and their bodies may
he bind.
50 During the day the sickness (caused by) the incubus (let
him) overcome.
51 May the Fire-god bring back the mighty powers to their
foundations.
52 May Nin-ci-gal [6] the wife of (Hea) establish before her the
_bile_ (of the man).
53 Burn up the sickness[7] ...
54 May Nin-akha-kuddu [8] seize upon his body and abide upon
his head,
55 according to the word of Nin-akha-kuddu,
56 (in) the enclosure of Eridu.
57 (In) the mighty girdle of the deep and of Eridu may she
remember his return (to health).
58 In (her) great watch may she keep (away) the incubus
supreme among the gods (that is) upon his head, and in
the night may she watch him.
59 (By) night and day to the prospering hands of the Sun-god
may she intrust him.
_Conclusion_.
60 (In) Eridu a dark pine grew, in a holy place it was planted.
61 Its (crown) was white crystal which toward the deep spread.
62 The ... [9] of Hea (was) its pasturage in Eridu, a canal
full (of waters).
63 Its seat (was) the (central) place of this earth.[10]
64 Its shrine (was) the couch of mother Zicum. [11]
65 The ...[12] of its holy house like a forest spread its shade;
there (was) none who within entered not.
66 (It was the seat) of the mighty the mother, begetter of Anu.[13]
67 Within it (also was) Tammuz.[14]
(Of the two next and last lines only the last word, "the universe,"
remains.)
[Footnote 1: Literally, "warlike expedition."]
[Footnote 2: In the Accadian, "day (and) night."]
[Footnote 3: "Masal" (mashal), as in Hebrew, "a proverb."]
[Footnote 4: Literally, "tablet."]
[Footnote 5: It is evident that the poem was to be used as a charm in case
of sickness. Compare the phylacteries of the Jews.]
[Transcriber's Note: The following footnote (6) is illegible in many
places. Illegible areas are marked with a '*'.]
[Footnote 6: "Nin-ci-gal" ("the Lady of the Empty Country") was Queen of
*s, and identified with Gula, or *, "chaos" ["bohu"] of Gen-*, *, "the
Lady of the House of Death."]
[Footnote 7: In the Accadian, "the sick head (and) sick heart." Then
follows a lacuna.]
[Footnote 8: Apparently another name of Nin-ci-gal.]
[Footnote 9: Lacuna.]
[Footnote 10: Compare the Greek idea of Delphi as the central [Greek:
omphalos] or "navel" of the earth.]
[Footnote 1: Zicum, or Zigara, was the primeval goddess, "the mother of
Anu and the gods."]
[Footnote 2: Lacuna.]
[Footnote 3: That is, of Zicum.]
[Footnote 4: Tammuz, called "Du-zi" ("the [only] son") in Accadian, was a
form of the sun-god. His death through the darkness of winter caused Istar
to descend into Hades in search of him.]