* * * * * They looked at him, at him looked the gods, The gods, his fathers, looked at him; at him looked the gods. And nearer pressed the lord, with his eye piercing Tiamat. On Kingu her consort rested his look. As he so looked, every way is stopped. His senses Kingu loses, vanishes his thought, And the gods, his helpers, who stood by his side Saw their leader powerless.... But Tiamat stood, not turning her back. With fierce lips to him she spake:-- * * * * * Then grasped the lord his thunderbolt, his mighty weapon, Angry at Tiamat he hurled his words:-- * * * * * When Tiamat heard these words, She fell into fury, beside herself was she. Tiamat cried wild and loud Till through and through her body shook. She utters her magic formula, speaks her word, And the gods of battle rush to arms. Then advance Tiamat, and Marduk the ruler of the gods To battle they rush, come on to the fight. His wide-stretched net over her the lord did cast, The evil wind from behind him he let loose in her face. Tiamat opened her throat as wide as she might, Into it he sent the evil wind before she could close her lips. The terrible winds filled her body, Her senses she lost, wide open stood her throat. He seized his spear, through her body he ran it, Her inward parts he hewed, cut to pieces her heart. Her he overcame, put an end to her life, Cast away her corpse and on it stood. So he, the leader, slew Tiamat, Her power he crushed, her might he destroyed. Then the gods, her helpers, who stood at her side, Fear and trembling seized them, their backs they turned, Away they fled to save their lives. Fast were they girt, escape they could not, Captive he took them, broke in pieces their arms. They were caught in the net, sat in the toils, All the earth they filled with their cry. Their doom they bore, held fast in prison, And the eleven creatures, clothed with dread, A herd of demons who with her went, These he subdued, destroyed their power, Crushed their valor, trod them under foot; And Kingu, who had grown great over them all, Him he overcame with the god Kugga, Took from him the tablets of fate which were not rightfully his, Stamped thereon his seal, and hung them on his breast. When thus the doughty Marduk had conquered his foes, His proud adversary to shame had brought, Had completed Anshar's triumph over the enemy, Had fulfilled Nudimmud's will, Then the conquered gods he put in prison, And to Tiamat, whom he had conquered, returned. Under his foot the lord Tiamat's body trod, With his irresistible club he shattered her skull, Through the veins of her blood he cut;