11. on the door and gate-posts the dust lies undisturbed. 12. When Ishtar arrived at the gate of Hades, 13. to the keeper of the gate she spake: 14. Oh keeper of the entrance! open thy gate! 15. Open thy gate! I say again that I may enter. 16. If thou openest not thy gate and I enter not, 17. I will assault the door; I will break down the gate, 18. I will attack the entrance, I will split open the portals, 19. I will raise the dead to be the devourers of the living! 20. Upon the living the dead shall prey. 21. Then the porter opened his mouth and spake 22. and said to the great Ishtar, 23. Stay, Lady! do not shake down the door. 24. I will go and tell this to Queen Nin-ci-gal. 25. The porter entered and said to Nin-ci-gal 26. These curses thy sister Ishtar (utters) 27. blaspheming thee with great curses. 28. When Nin-ci-gal heard this 29. she grew pale like a flower that is cut off, 30. she trembled like the stem of a reed. 31. I will cure her of her rage, she said, I will cure her fury, 32. these curses will I repay her. 33. Light up consuming flames, light up blazing straw. 34. Let her groan with the husbands who deserted their wives. 35. Let her groan with the wives who from their husband’s sides departed. 36. Let her groan with the youths who led dishonored lives. 37. Go, porter, open the gate for her, 38. but strip her, like others at other times. 39. The porter went and opened the gate. 40. Enter, Lady of Tiggaba[107] city. It is permitted. 41. The Sovereign of Hades will come to meet thee. 42. The first gate admitted her, and stopped her; there was taken off the great crown from her head. 43. Keeper! do not take off from me the great crown from my head. 44. Enter, Lady! for the queen of the land demands her jewels. 45. The second gate admitted her and stopped her; there were taken off the earrings of her ears. 46. Keeper! do not take off from me the earrings of my ears. 47. Enter, Lady! for the queen of the land demands her jewels. 48. The third gate admitted her and stopped her; there were taken off the precious stones from her head. 49. Keeper! do not take off from me the precious stones from my head. 50. Enter, Lady! for the queen of the land demands her jewels. 51. The fourth gate admitted her and stopped her; there were taken off the small lovely gems from her forehead. 52. Keeper! do not take off from me the small lovely gems from my forehead 53. Enter, Lady! for the queen of the land demands her jewels. 54. The fifth gate admitted her and stopped her; there was taken off the emerald girdle of her waist. 55. Keeper! do not take off from me the emerald girdle from my waist. 56. Enter, Lady! for the queen of the land demands her jewels.