Heabani modestly arose and said, And gracefully to all inclined his head: "O Sar! thy seer will gladly counsel give To thee, and all our seers; my thanks receive For thy great confidence in my poor skill To crush our foes who every country fill. I with the Sar agree that we should strike A blow against the rival king, who like Our Sar, is a great giant king, and lives Within a mountain castle, whence he grieves All nations by his tyranny, and reigns With haughty power from Kharsak to these plains. I'll lead the way, my Sar, to his wild home; 'Tis twenty _kas-pu_[2] hence, if you will come. A wall surrounds his castle in a wood, With brazen gates strong fastened. I have stood Beneath the lofty pines which dwindle these To shrubs that grow in parks as ornate trees. The mighty walls will reach six _gars_[3] in height, And two in breadth, like Nipur's[4] to the sight. And when you go, take with you many mules; With men to bring the spoils, and needed tools To break the gates, his castle overthrow: To lose no time, to-morrow we should go. To Erech, pines and cedars we can bring With all the wealth of Elam's giant king, And Erech fill with glorious parks and halls, Remove these _man-u-bani,_[5] ruined walls. Take to your hearts, ye seers, poor Erech's wrongs! Her fall, the bards of Elam sing in songs. I love dear Erech, may her towers shine!" He seized his harp, thus sung the seer divine: "O Erech! thy bright plains I love; Although from thee thy seer did rove, My heart remained with thee! The foe destroyed thy beauteous towers, Sa-mu forgot to rain her showers, And could I happy be? Mine eyes beheld thy fallen gates, Thy blood warm flowing in thy streets, My heart was broken then. I raised mine eyes and saw thy Sar In glory on his steed of war, And joy returned again! I saw the foe in wild dismay Before him flee that glorious day. With joy I heard the cry Of victory resound afar, Saw Elam crushed 'neath Accad's car: I shouted, Victory! Away! till birds of prey shall rend His flesh and haughty Elam bend Before our mighty Sar! Beneath his forest of pine-trees The battle-cry then loudly raise, We follow Izdubar! And may the birds of prey surround Khumbaba stretched upon the ground, Destroy his body there! And Izdubar alone be king, And all his people joyful sing, With glory crown him here! All hail! All hail! our giant King, The _amaranti_[6] for him bring, To crown him, crown him here, As King of Accad and Sutu, And all the land of Subar-tu! So sayeth Hea's seer!"