The Lantern

Pennsylvania Tablet2

GILG

(means) that he is to be associated with thee."

Gish understood the dream.

[As] Enki[du] was sitting before the woman,

[Her] loins(?) he embraced, her vagina(?) he opened.

[Enkidu] forgot the place where he was born.

Six days and seven nights

Enkidu continued

To cohabit with [the courtesan].

[The woman] opened her [mouth] and

Spoke to Enkidu:

"I gaze upon thee, O Enkidu, like a god art thou!

Why with the cattle

Dost thou [roam] across the field?

Come, let me lead thee

into [Erech] of the plazas,

to the holy house, the dwelling of Anu,

O, Enkidu arise, let me conduct thee

To Eanna, the dwelling of Anu,

The place [where Gish is, perfect] in vitality.

And thou [like a wife wilt embrace] him.

Thou [wilt love him like] thyself.

Come, arise from the ground

(that is) cursed."

He heard her word and accepted her speech.

The counsel of the woman

Entered his heart.

She stripped off a garment,

Clothed him with one.

Another garment

She kept on herself.

She took hold of his hand.

Like [a god(?)] she brought him

To the fertile meadow,

The place of the sheepfolds.

In that place they received food;

[For he, Enkidu, whose birthplace was the mountain,]

[With the gazelles he was accustomed to eat herbs,]

[With the cattle to drink water,]

[With the water beings he was happy.]