.................. (my friend?) [Something] that is exceedingly difficult, [Why] dost thou desire [to do this?] .... something (?) that is very [difficult (?)], [Why dost thou] desire [to go down to the forest]? A message [they carried] among [men] They carried about. They made a .... .............. they brought .............................. .............................. (About 17 lines missing.) ............................. ................... my friend ................ they raised ..... answer [they returned.] [To] the woman They proceeded to the overthrowing Col. II. (About eleven lines missing.) .......... name(?) ............. [The one who is] a rival [to him] subdue and ................ Wailing ................ The mother [of Gish, who knows everything] Before [Shamash raised her hand] Who Now(?) [why] hast thou stirred up the heart for my son, [Restlessness imposed upon him (?)] ............................ (About four lines missing.) The eyes [of Enkidu filled with tears]. [He clutched] his heart; [Sadly(?)] he sighed. [The eyes of En]kidu filled with tears. [He clutched] his heart; [Sadly(?)] he sighed. The face [of Gish was grieved]. [He spoke] to Enkidu: ["My friend, why are] thy eyes [Filled with tears]? Thy [heart clutched] Dost thou sigh [sadly(?)]?" [Enkidu opened his mouth] and spoke to Gish: "Attacks, my friend, have exhausted my strength(?). My arms are lame, my strength has become weak." Gish opened his mouth and spoke to Enkidu: (About four lines missing.) Col. III. ..... [until] Huwawa, [the terrible], ........................ ............ [I destroyed]. [I will go down to the] cedar forest, ................... the jungle ............... tambourine (?) ................ I will open it. Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gish: "Know, my friend, in the mountain, when I moved about with the cattle to a distance of one double hour into the heart of the forest, [Alone?] I penetrated within it, [To] Huwawa, whose roar is a flood, whose mouth is fire, whose breath is death. Why dost thou desire To do this? To advance towards the dwelling(?) of Huwawa?" Gish opened his mouth and [spoke to Enkidu: "... [the covering(?)] I will destroy. ....[in the forest] .................... .................... To ................. The dwelling [of Huwawa] The axe .......... Thou .......... I will [go down to the forest]." Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to [Gish:] "When [together(?)] we go down To the [cedar] forest, whose guardian, O warrior Gish, a power(?) without [rest(?)], Huwawa, an offspring(?) of .... Adad ...................... He ........................ Col. IV.