Passages similar to: The Epic of Gilgamesh — Tablet X
1...
Source passage
Mesopotamian
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Tablet X (11)
By the third day they had traveled a stretch of a month and a half, and Urshanabi arrived at the Waters of Death. Urshanabi said to Gilgamesh: "Hold back, Gilgamesh, take a punting pole, but your hand must not pass over the Waters of Death...! Take a second, Gilgamesh, a third, and a fourth pole, take a fifth, Gilgamesh, a sixth, and a seventh pole, take an eighth, Gilgamesh, a ninth, and a tenth pole, take an eleventh, Gilgamesh, and a twelfth pole! In twice 60 rods Gilgamesh had used up the punting poles. Then he loosened his waist-cloth(?) for... Gilgamesh stripped off his garment and held it up on the mast(!) with his arms. Utanapishtim was gazing off into the distance, puzzling to himself he said, wondering to himself: "Why are 'the stone things' of the boat smashed to pieces!
Then was I still more fearful of the abyss; Because I fires beheld, and heard laments, Whereat I, trembling, all the closer cling. I saw then, for...
(6) Then was I still more fearful of the abyss; Because I fires beheld, and heard laments, Whereat I, trembling, all the closer cling. I saw then, for before I had not seen it, The turning and descending, by great horrors That were approaching upon divers sides. As falcon who has long been on the wing, Who, without seeing either lure or bird, Maketh the falconer say, "Ah me, thou stoopest," Descendeth weary, whence he started swiftly, Thorough a hundred circles, and alights Far from his master, sullen and disdainful; Even thus did Geryon place us on the bottom, Close to the bases of the rough-hewn rock, And being disencumbered of our persons, He sped away as arrow from the string.
It is not quite clear, however, how they crossed the sea; they crossed to this side, as if there were no sea; they crossed on stones, placed in a row...
(3) It is not quite clear, however, how they crossed the sea; they crossed to this side, as if there were no sea; they crossed on stones, placed in a row over the sand. For this reason they were called Stones in a Row, Sand Under the Sea, names given to them when they [the tribes] crossed the sea, the waters having parted when they passed. And their hearts were troubled when they talked together, because they had nothing to eat, only a drink of water and a handful of corn they had.
From bridge to bridge thus, speaking other things Of which my Comedy cares not to sing, We came along, and held the summit, when We halted to behold...
(1) From bridge to bridge thus, speaking other things Of which my Comedy cares not to sing, We came along, and held the summit, when We halted to behold another fissure Of Malebolge and other vain laments; And I beheld it marvellously dark. As in the Arsenal of the Venetians Boils in the winter the tenacious pitch To smear their unsound vessels o'er again, For sail they cannot; and instead thereof One makes his vessel new, and one recaulks The ribs of that which many a voyage has made; One hammers at the prow, one at the stern, This one makes oars, and that one cordage twists, Another mends the mainsail and the mizzen; Thus, not by fire, but by the art divine, Was boiling down below there a dense pitch Which upon every side the bank belimed. I saw it, but I did not see within it Aught but the bubbles that the boiling raised, And all swell up and resubside compressed. The while below there fixedly I gazed, My Leader, crying out: "Beware, beware!" Drew me unto himself from where I stood.
A Series Of Reed-floats And Ferryman Texts, Utterances 503-522 (519)
1201 Further, to say: O r.f-.f, doorkeeper of Osiris, 1201 Osiris has said: "Let this thy boat be brought for N., 1201 in which thy pure ones ferry,...
(519) 1201 Further, to say: O r.f-.f, doorkeeper of Osiris, 1201 Osiris has said: "Let this thy boat be brought for N., 1201 in which thy pure ones ferry, 1201 that thou mayest receive a libation in this eastern (?) quarter of the imperishable stars 1202 that N. may ferry in it 1202 with that band of green tissue, 1202 woven, as an eye of Horus, 1202 to bandage with it that finger of Osiris which became affected." 1203 N. arrives, ssw, ssw. 1203 The shoals of the great sea protect him. 1203 The double doors with windows (of heaven) are open; the double doors of the lower region are open. 1203 Ye Two Enneads, take N. with you 1203 to the Marsh of Offerings, in accordance with the dignity (quality) of N., (of the) lord of the 'imw.w. 1204 N. strikes with the `b-sceptre; N. directs with the 'i-t-sceptre; 1204 N. conducts the servants of R`. 1204 The earth has been refreshed; Geb has been censed 1204 the Two Enneads have been ndd (?); 1205 N. is a ba which passes among you, O gods. 1205 The p`t-pool (?) has been opened up; the p`t-pool has been filled with water; 1205 the Marsh of Reeds has been inundated; 1205 the Marsh of Offerings has been filled with water. 1206 They come to these four long-haired youths, 1206 who stand on the eastern side of the sky, 1206 and who prepare the two reed-floats for R`, 1206 that R` may go thereby to his horizon. 1206 They prepare the two reed-floats for N., 1206 that N. may go thereby to the horizon, to R`. 1207 O morning star, Horus of the D.t, the divine falcon, the great green (?), 1207 children of heaven, greetings to thee in these thy four faces, which are satisfied 1207 when they see those who are in Kns.t, 1207 who drive away the storm from those who are satisfied. 1208 Give thou these thy two fingers to N., 1208 which-thou gavest to the beautiful one (Nfr.t), daughter of the Great God, 1208 when the sky was separated from the earth, and when the gods ascended to heaven, 1209 whilst thou was a soul appearing in the bow of thy boat of 770 cubits (long), 1209 which the gods of Buto constructed for thee, which the eastern gods shaped for thee. 1210 N. is son of Khepri, born from the vulva, 1210 under the curls of 'Iw.-`., north of Heliopolis, out of the forehead of Geb. 1211 N. is he who was between the legs of Mnti-'irti, 1211 that night when be made the bread plain, 1211 that day when the heads of the mottled serpents were cut off. 1212 Take thou to thyself thy favourite m`b-harpoon, 1212 thy spear which seizes the canals, 1212 whose two points are the rays of the sun, 1212 whose two barbs are the claws of Mfd.t, 1212 with which N. cuts off the heads 1212 of the adversaries, who are in the Marsh of Offerings, 1213 when he descended to the ocean (great green). 1214 Bow thy head, decline thine arms (bow in humility), great green. 1213 The children of Nut are those who descend to thee, 1213 their garlands on their heads, 1213 their garlands of leaves on their necks; 1214 (those) who cause to flourish the crowns (of the North) of the canals of the Marsh of Offerings 1214 for the great Isis, who fastened on the girdle in Chemmis, 1214 when she brought her garment and burned incense before her son, Horus, the young child, 1215 when he was journeying through the land in his two white sandals, 1215 and went to see his father, Osiris. 1215 N. opened his way like fowlers; 1215 N. exchanged greetings with the lords of kas; 1216 N. went to the great island in the midst of the Marsh of Offerings, 1216 on which the gods cause the swallows to alight. 1216 The swallows are the imperishable stars. 1216 They give to N. the tree of life whereof they live, 1216 that N. may, at the same time, live thereof. 1217 (Morning Star), cause thou N. to ferry over with thee, 1217 to this thy great field, which thou didst subdue with the aid of the gods, 1217 (where) thou eatest at evening and at dawn, which is full of food. 1218 N. eats of that which thou eatest; 12 18 N. drinks of that which thou drinkest. 1218 Put thou the back of N. 1218 against the post, against it who is before its sisters. 1219 Thou (Morning Star) makest N. to sit down because of his truth 1219 (and) to stand up because of his venerableness. 1219 N. stands; he has taken (his) venerableness in thy presence, 1219 like Horus who took the house (heritage) of his father from the brother of his father, Set, in the presence of Geb. 1220 Put thou N. as a prince among the spirits, 1220 the imperishable stars of the north of the sky, 1220 who direct the offerings and protect the gifts, 1220 who cause to come those things (offerings and gifts) for those who preside over the kas in heaven.
Then by the way that it before had come, Into the chariot's chest I saw the Eagle Descend, and leave it feathered with his plumes. And such as issues ...
(6) But for his hideous sins upbraiding him, My Lady put him to as swift a flight As such a fleshless skeleton could bear. Then by the way that it before had come, Into the chariot's chest I saw the Eagle Descend, and leave it feathered with his plumes. And such as issues from a heart that mourns, A voice from Heaven there issued, and it said: "My little bark, how badly art thou freighted!" Methought, then, that the earth did yawn between Both wheels, and I saw rise from it a Dragon, Who through the chariot upward fixed his tail, And as a wasp that draweth back its sting, Drawing unto himself his tail malign, Drew out the floor, and went his way rejoicing. That which remained behind, even as with grass A fertile region, with the feathers, offered Perhaps with pure intention and benign, Reclothed itself, and with them were reclothed The pole and both the wheels so speedily, A sigh doth longer keep the lips apart. Transfigured thus the holy edifice Thrust forward heads upon the parts of it, Three on the pole and one at either corner.
Now, at the close of day he turneth down his eyes to Rā; for there cometh a standing still in the Bark and a deep slumber within the ship. And now he...
(5) Now, at the close of day he turneth down his eyes to Rā; for there cometh a standing still in the Bark and a deep slumber within the ship. And now he swalloweth three cubits of the Great Water
This story, which is taken from the book of Kalila and Damnah, is as follows. There was in a secluded place a lake, which was fed by a running...
This story, which is taken from the book of Kalila and Damnah, is as follows. There was in a secluded place a lake, which was fed by a running stream, and in this lake were three fishes, one very wise, the second half wise, and the third foolish. One day some fishermen passed by that lake, and having espied the fish, hastened home to fetch their nets. The fish also saw the fishermen and were sorely disquieted. The very wise fish, without a minute's delay, quitted the lake and took refuge in the running stream which communicated with it, and thus escaped the impending danger. The half wise fish delayed doing anything till the fishermen actually made their appearance with their nets. He then floated upon the surface of the water, pretending to be dead, and the fisherman took him up and threw him into the stream, and by this device he saved his life. But the foolish fish did nothing but swim wildly about, and was taken and killed by the fishermen.
"I am just about collecting the revenue of my fief, and will then lend you three hundred ounces of silver. Will that do?" At this Chuang Tzŭ flushed w...
(2) "Yes," said the prince. "I am just about collecting the revenue of my fief, and will then lend you three hundred ounces of silver. Will that do?" At this Chuang Tzŭ flushed with anger and said, "Yesterday, as I was coming along, I heard a voice calling me. I looked round, and in the cart-rut I saw a stickleback. "'And what do you want, stickleback?' said I. "'I am a denizen of the eastern ocean,' replied the stickleback. 'Pray, Sir, a pint of water to save my life.' "'Yes,' said I. 'I am just going south to visit the princes of Wu and Yüeh. I will bring you some from the west river. Will that do?' "At this the stickleback flushed with anger and said, 'I am out of my element. I have nowhere to go. A pint of water would save me. But to talk to me like this,—you might as well put me in a dried-fish shop at once.'" Jên Kung Tzŭ got a huge hook on a big line, which he baited with fifty oxen. He squatted down at Kuei-chi, and cast into the eastern ocean. Every day he fished, but for a whole year he caught nothing. Then came a great fish which swallowed the bait, and dragging the huge hook dived down below. This way and that way it plunged about, erecting the dorsal fin. The white waves rolled mountain high. The great deep was shaken up. The noise was like that of so many devils, terrifying people for many miles around.
But that vessel floated on the water, while all the oxen and elephants and camels and asses sank to the bottom with all the animals, so that I could n...
(89) But that vessel floated on the water, while all the oxen and elephants and camels and asses sank to the bottom with all the animals, so that I could no longer see them, and they were not able to escape, (but) perished and sank into the depths.
A greater fear I do not think there was What time abandoned Phaeton the reins, Whereby the heavens, as still appears, were scorched; Nor when the wret...
(5) And said: "Now, Geryon, bestir thyself; The circles large, and the descent be little; Think of the novel burden which thou hast." Even as the little vessel shoves from shore, Backward, still backward, so he thence withdrew; And when he wholly felt himself afloat, There where his breast had been he turned his tail, And that extended like an eel he moved, And with his paws drew to himself the air. A greater fear I do not think there was What time abandoned Phaeton the reins, Whereby the heavens, as still appears, were scorched; Nor when the wretched Icarus his flanks Felt stripped of feathers by the melting wax, His father crying, "An ill way thou takest!" Than was my own, when I perceived myself On all sides in the air, and saw extinguished The sight of everything but of the monster. Onward he goeth, swimming slowly, slowly; Wheels and descends, but I perceive it only By wind upon my face and from below. I heard already on the right the whirlpool Making a horrible crashing under us; Whence I thrust out my head with eyes cast downward.
Thither we drew; and there were persons there Who in the shadow stood behind the rock, As one through indolence is wont to stand. And one of them, who...
(5) And as he finished uttering these words, A voice close by us sounded: "Peradventure Thou wilt have need of sitting down ere that." At sound thereof each one of us turned round, And saw upon the left hand a great rock, Which neither I nor he before had noticed. Thither we drew; and there were persons there Who in the shadow stood behind the rock, As one through indolence is wont to stand. And one of them, who seemed to me fatigued, Was sitting down, and both his knees embraced, Holding his face low down between them bowed. "O my sweet Lord," I said, "do turn thine eye On him who shows himself more negligent Then even Sloth herself his sister were." Then he turned round to us, and he gave heed, Just lifting up his eyes above his thigh, And said: "Now go thou up, for thou art valiant." Then knew I who he was; and the distress, That still a little did my breathing quicken, My going to him hindered not; and after I came to him he hardly raised his head, Saying: "Hast thou seen clearly how the sun O'er thy left shoulder drives his chariot?"
At last on the eve of total discouragement fate came to their rescue. A great stone was heard to fall somewhere in the wall near the toiling and...
(5) At last on the eve of total discouragement fate came to their rescue. A great stone was heard to fall somewhere in the wall near the toiling and disgruntled Arabs. Pushing on toward the sound with renewed enthusiasm, they finally broke into the descending passage which leads into the subterranean chamber. They then chiseled their way around the great stone portcullis which had fallen into a position barring their progress, and attacked and removed one after another the granite plugs which for a while continued to slide down the passage leading from the Queen's Chamber above.
And having turned our stern unto the morning, We of the oars made wings for our mad flight, Evermore gaining on the larboard side. Already all the sta...
(6) So eager did I render my companions, With this brief exhortation, for the voyage, That then I hardly could have held them back. And having turned our stern unto the morning, We of the oars made wings for our mad flight, Evermore gaining on the larboard side. Already all the stars of the other pole The night beheld, and ours so very low It did not rise above the ocean floor. Five times rekindled and as many quenched Had been the splendour underneath the moon, Since we had entered into the deep pass, When there appeared to us a mountain, dim From distance, and it seemed to me so high As I had never any one beheld. Joyful were we, and soon it turned to weeping; For out of the new land a whirlwind rose, And smote upon the fore part of the ship. Three times it made her whirl with all the waters, At the fourth time it made the stern uplift, And the prow downward go, as pleased Another, Until the sea above us closed again."
XVII. A Leper Cleansed—the Draught of Fish—palsied Man Cured (11)
When they had this done, they inclosed a multitude of fishes: and their net brake. They beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship,...
(11) When they had this done, they inclosed a multitude of fishes: and their net brake. They beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
Let us descend now unto greater woe; Already sinks each star that was ascending When I set out, and loitering is forbidden." We crossed the circle to...
(5) Let us descend now unto greater woe; Already sinks each star that was ascending When I set out, and loitering is forbidden." We crossed the circle to the other bank, Near to a fount that boils, and pours itself Along a gully that runs out of it. The water was more sombre far than perse; And we, in company with the dusky waves, Made entrance downward by a path uncouth. A marsh it makes, which has the name of Styx, This tristful brooklet, when it has descended Down to the foot of the malign gray shores. And I, who stood intent upon beholding, Saw people mud-besprent in that lagoon, All of them naked and with angry look. They smote each other not alone with hands, But with the head and with the breast and feet, Tearing each other piecemeal with their teeth. Said the good Master: "Son, thou now beholdest The souls of those whom anger overcame; And likewise I would have thee know for certain
A Series Of Old Heliopolitan Texts Partly Osirianized, Utterances 213-222 (216)
150 To say: I had come to thee Nephthys; I am come to thee Boat of the Evening (mkt.t-boat); 150 I am come to thee M`-ri-tr.wt; 150 I am come to thee...
(216) 150 To say: I had come to thee Nephthys; I am come to thee Boat of the Evening (mkt.t-boat); 150 I am come to thee M`-ri-tr.wt; 150 I am come to thee M.t-k.w; remember him--N. 151 is enveloped by the D.t, pure and living, in the horizon; 151 So this is enveloped by the D.t, pure and living, in the horizon; 151 N. is enveloped by the D.t, pure and living, in the horizon. 151 He is content because of them; he is cool because of them, 151 in the arms of his father, in the arms of Atum.
The Heron came in all haste and at once began to speak about himself. ' My charming house is near the sea among the lagoons, where none hears my...
(1) The Heron came in all haste and at once began to speak about himself. ' My charming house is near the sea among the lagoons, where none hears my song. I am so inoffensive that no one complains of me. Sad and melancholy, I stand pensively on the salt sea's verge, my heart filled with longing for the water, for if there were none what would become of me! But since I am not one of those who dwell in the sea, I am like to die, my lips parched, on its shore. Though the waters boil and the waves break at my feet, I cannot swallow a single drop; yet if the ocean should lose even a little of its water my heart would burn with vexation. For a creature such as I my passion for the sea is enough. I have not the strength to go in quest of the Simurgh, so I ask to be excused. How could one like me, who seeks only a drop of water, possibly attain union with the Simurgh?'
Said the Hoopoe: 'O ignorant of the sea, don't you know that it is full of crocodiles and other dangerous creatures? Sometimes its water is bitter, sometimes salt; sometimes it is calm, sometimes boisterous; always changing, never stable; sometimes it flows, sometimes it ebbs. Many great ones have been swallowed up in its abyss. The diver in its depths holds his breath lest he should be thrown up like a straw. The sea is an element devoid of loyalty. Do not trust it or it will end by submerging you. It is resdess because of its love for its friend. Sometimes it rolls great billows, sometimes it roars. Since the sea cannot find what it desires, how will you find
there a resting place for your heart! The ocean is a rill which rises in the way that leads to its friend; why then should you remain here content, and not strive to see the face of the Simurgh?'
Means Whereby The Deceased King Reaches Heaven, Utterances 263-271 (263)
337 To say: The two reed-floats of heaven are placed for R`, that he may ferry over therewith to the horizon. 337 The two reed-floats of heaven are...
(263) 337 To say: The two reed-floats of heaven are placed for R`, that he may ferry over therewith to the horizon. 337 The two reed-floats of heaven are placed for Harachte that Harachte may ferry over therewith to R`. 337 The two reed-floats of heaven are placed for N. that he may ferry over therewith to the horizon, to R`. 337 The two reed-floats of heaven are placed for N. that he may ferry over therewith to Harachte, to R`. 338 It is good for N. (to be) with his ka; N. lives with his ka. 338 His b-loin-cloth is on him; his Horus-weapon is on his arm; his sceptre is in his hands. 339 He makes himself serviceable to those who have passed on. 339 They bring to him those four spirits, the eldest, the first of the wearers of side-locks, 339 who stand on the eastern side of the sky and lean upon their d`m-sceptres, 340 that they may speak the good name of N. to R` 340 and proclaim N. to Nb-k.w, 340 so that the entrance of N. may be greeted (or protected). The Marshes of Reeds were filled (with water), 340 so that N. might ferry over the Winding Watercourse. 341 N. will certainly ferry over to the eastern side of the horizon; 341 N. will certainly ferry over to the eastern side of heaven. 341 His sister is Sothis; his mother is the Dw.t (morning star).
Now follow me, and mind thou do not place As yet thy feet upon the burning sand, But always keep them close unto the wood." Speaking no word, we came...
(4) Now follow me, and mind thou do not place As yet thy feet upon the burning sand, But always keep them close unto the wood." Speaking no word, we came to where there gushes Forth from the wood a little rivulet, Whose redness makes my hair still stand on end. As from the Bulicame springs the brooklet, The sinful women later share among them, So downward through the sand it went its way. The bottom of it, and both sloping banks, Were made of stone, and the margins at the side; Whence I perceived that there the passage was. "In all the rest which I have shown to thee Since we have entered in within the gate Whose threshold unto no one is denied, Nothing has been discovered by thine eyes So notable as is the present river, Which all the little flames above it quenches." These words were of my Leader; whence I prayed him That he would give me largess of the food, For which he had given me largess of desire. "In the mid-sea there sits a wasted land," Said he thereafterward, "whose name is Crete, Under whose king the world of old was chaste.
And had it not been, that upon that precinct Shorter was the ascent than on the other, He I know not, but I had been dead beat. But because Malebolge ...
(2) And even as he who acts and meditates, For aye it seems that he provides beforehand, So upward lifting me towards the summit Of a huge rock, he scanned another crag, Saying: "To that one grapple afterwards, But try first if 'tis such that it will hold thee." This was no way for one clothed with a cloak; For hardly we, he light, and I pushed upward, Were able to ascend from jag to jag. And had it not been, that upon that precinct Shorter was the ascent than on the other, He I know not, but I had been dead beat. But because Malebolge tow'rds the mouth Of the profoundest well is all inclining, The structure of each valley doth import That one bank rises and the other sinks. Still we arrived at length upon the point Wherefrom the last stone breaks itself asunder. The breath was from my lungs so milked away, When I was up, that I could go no farther, Nay, I sat down upon my first arrival. "Now it behoves thee thus to put off sloth," My Master said; "for sitting upon down, Or under quilt, one cometh not to fame,