57. The sixth gate admitted her and stopped her; there was taken off the golden rings of her hands and feet. 58. Keeper! do not take off from me the golden rings of my hands and feet. 59. Enter, Lady! for the queen of the land demands her jewels. 60. The seventh gate admitted her and stopped her; there was taken off the last garment from her body. 61. Keeper! do not take off from me the last garment from my body. 62. Enter, Lady! for the queen of the land demands her jewels. 63. After that mother Ishtar had descended into Hades. 64. Nin-ci-gal saw her and derided her to her face. 65. Ishtar lost her reason and heaped curses upon her. 66. Nin-ci-gal opened her mouth and spake 67. to Namtar, her messenger, a command she gave: 68. Go, Namtar 69. Bring her out for punishment.[108] COLUMN II. 1. The divine messenger of the gods lacerated his face[109] before them. 2. He tore his vest (or vestments). Words he spake rapidly; 3. the Sun approached, he joined the Moon, his father.[110] 4. Weeping, they spake thus to Hea the king: 5. Ishtar descended into the earth and she did not rise again. (Here follow a few lines which are unworthy of repetition, as they very coarsely describe the pitiable condition of the world when forsaken by the goddess of love.) 11. Then the god Hea in the depth of his mind laid a plan; 12. he formed for her escape a figure of a man of clay. 13. Go to save her, Phantom! present thyself at the portal of Hades: 14. the seven gates of Hades will open before thee; 15. Nin-ci-gal will see thee and will come to thee. 16. When her mind shall be grown calm and her anger shall be worn off 17. name her with the names of the great gods! 18. Prepare thy frauds! On deceitful tricks fix thy mind! 19. The chiefest deceitful trick! Bring forth fishes of the waters out of an empty vessel. 20. This thing will astonish Nin-ci-gal, 21. Then to Ishtar she will restore her clothing. 22. A great reward for these things shall not fail. 23. Go save her, Phantom! and the great assembly of the people shall crown thee! 24. Meats the first in the city shall be thy food. 25. Wine the most delicious in the city shall be thy drink. 26. A royal palace shall be thy dwelling. 27. A throne of state shall be thy seat. 28. Magician and conjurer shall kiss the hem of thy garment. 29. Nin-ci-gal opened her mouth and spake 30. to Namtar her messenger, a command she gave: 31. Go Namtar! clothe the Temple of Justice! 32. Adorn the images and the altars. 33. Bring out Anunnaka.[111] Seat him on a golden throne. 34. Pour out for Ishtar the waters of life and let her depart from my dominions. 35. Namtar went; and clothed the Temple of Justice; 36. he adorned the images and the altars;