2. its nest of stone .... 3. not sweeping away the sea .... jet stones 4. like the tree of Elam and the tree of the prince .... emeralds 5. a locust .... 6. jet stone, ka stone .... the goddess Istar 7. like bronze and .... he carried 8. like .... obstacles 9. which .... the sea 10. it has, and .... may he raise 11. Izdubar [saw this] in his travelling, 12. on this sea he carried .... 13. Colophon. The women Siduri and Sabitu (who on the shore) of the sea dwelt. 14. .... tablet of the series: “When the hero Izdubar saw the fountain.” —–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–— This tablet brings Izdubar to the region of the sea-coast, but his way is then barred by two women, one named Siduri and the other Sabitu. His further adventures are given on the tenth tablet, which opens: TABLET X. 1. Siduri and Sabitu (who in the land beside the sea) 2. dwelt and .... 3. it was the moon, it was the moon .... 4. a covering of fire (?) ye accomplish. 5. Izdubar approached and .... 6. the ulcer covering (his) skin 7. he had the brand of the gods on (his) .... 8. there is shame of face on .... 9. to go on the distant path his face (was set). 10. Sabitu afar off pondered, 11. she counselled to her heart (this) plan. 12. Within herself also she (considered): 13. What is this message .... 14. May no one come straight in (his path). 15. When Sabitu saw him she entered (her gate); 16. her gate she entered and entered her .... 17. And he Izdubar had ears to (hear her); 18. he had struck his hands and made .... —–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–— 19. Izdubar to her also even said (to Sabitu:) 20. Sabitu what didst thou see (that) 21. thy gate thou barrest .... 22. I force the door .... The rest of this column is lost, but it must have described the meeting of Izdubar with a boatman named Ur-Hea or Lig-Hea, called Nes-Hea “the lion” or “dog of Hea” in Assyrian. In the second column they commence a journey by water together in a boat. But little of this column is preserved; two fragments only are given here. COLUMN II. 1. .... he the word of his friend .... 2. .... the word of Hea-bani .... 3. .... I traverse (the desert). 4. .... (in) the dust he had .... 5. (the friend whom I have loved declared) lovingly; Hea-bani the friend whom I have loved made .... 6. (I am not as he) and would we had never gone up .... 7. (I did not make) the fortress of .... —–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–— 8. (Izdubar to) her also speaks, even to Sabit: 9. (Again) O Sabit what is the way to Xisuthrus? 10. Explain the tokens of it to me; yea, explain the tokens of it to me. 11. If it be suitable the sea let me cross, 12. if it be not suitable the desert let me traverse. —–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–— 13. Sabit to him also speaks, even to Izdubar: 14. There was no crossing (of the sea), O Izdubar, at any time, 15. and no one from remote times onwards has crossed the sea.