I
1 O shepherd,[1] Lord Tammuz, Bridegroom[2] of Istar!
2 Lord of Hades, Lord of Tul-Sukhba!
3 _Understanding_ one, who among the papyri the water drinks
not!
4 His brood in the desert, even the reed, he created not.[3]
5 Its bulrush in his canal he lifted not up.
6 The roots of the bulrush were carried away.
7 O god of the world, who among the papyri the water drinks
not!
.....[4]
[Footnote 1: The early Accadian kings frequently call themselves
"shepherds." According to Berosus, Alorus, the first antediluvian king of
Babylonia, gave himself the same title. Compare the Homeric [Greek:
poimaen laon].]
[Footnote 2: "Khamir," literally "red" or "blushing one," in reference to
the glow of the setting sun.]
[Footnote 3: Or, "was not green."]
[Footnote 4: Lacuna.]