50. "He fixed the destinies for the gods, his sons, [saying]: 51. "'Open your mouths, let the Fire-god be quenched. 52. "'He who is glorious in battle and is most mighty shall do great deeds.' 53. "'I sent the god Anu, but he could not prevail against her. 54. "'Nudimmud (i.e., Ea) was afraid and turned back, 55. "'Marduk, your son, the envoy of the gods, hath set out. 56. "'His heart is stirred up to oppose Tiamat. 57. "'He opened his mouth, he spoke unto me [saying]: 58. "'Should I as your avenger 59. "'Slay Tiamat, and bestow life upon you, 60. "'Summon a meeting, proclaim and magnify my position, 61. "'Sit ye down together in friendly fashion in Up-shukkinaku. 62. "'Let me issue decrees by the opening of my mouth even as ye do, 63. "'Whatsoever I bring to pass let it remain unaltered. 64. "'That which my mouth uttereth shall neither fail nor be brought to nought.' 65. "Hasten ye therefore, issue your decrees speedily 66. "That he may go to meet your mighty enemy." 67. Gaga departed and hastened upon his way 68. To the god Lakhmu and the goddess Lakhamu, the gods his fathers, reverently 69. He did homage, and he kissed the ground at their feet. 70. He bowed down, stood up, and spake unto them [saying]: 71. "[O ye gods], Anshar your son hath charged me, 72. "The intention of his heart he hath made me to know in this wise:-- 73. "Mother Tiamat who gave us birth hath sown these things, 74. "She hath set in order her assembly, she rageth furiously. 75. "All the gods have joined themselves to her. 76. "They march by her side together with those whom ye have created, 77. "They formed a band and went forth to battle to help Tiamat. 78. "They were exceedingly wroth, they made plans by day and by night without ceasing. 79. "They offered battle, foaming and raging. 80. "They set the battle in array, they uttered cries of defiance. 81. "Ummu-Khubur, who formed all things, 82. "Set up the unrivalled weapon, she spawned huge serpents, 83. "Sharp of tooth, pitiless in attack (?) 84. "She filled their bodies with venom instead of blood, 85. "Grim, monstrous serpents, arrayed in terror, 86. "She decked them with brightness, she fashioned them in exalted forms, 87. "So that fright and horror might overcome him that looked upon them, 88. "So that their bodies might rear up, and no man resist their attack. 89. "She set up the Viper, and the Snake, and the god Lakhamu, 90. "The Whirlwind, the Ravening Dog, the Scorpion-man, 91. "The Storm-wind, the Fish-man, the Horned Beast, 92. "They carried the Weapon which spared not, nor flinched from the battle. 93. "Most mighty were Tiamat's allies, they could not be resisted. 94. "Thus she caused Eleven [monsters] of this kind to come into being. 95. "Amongst the gods, her first-born son who had collected her company, 96. "That is to say, Kingu, she set on high, she made him the great one among them. 97. "Leader of the hosts in the battle, disposer of the troops,