16. From crossing the sea Samas the hero I the mother prevented; (yet) Samas crossed, whoever 17. his mouth the passage .... its road, 18. and the well of the waters of death which extend before it 19. I approach, and, Izdubar, thou crossest the sea. 20. When thou hast come round to the waters of death, thou contrivest how 21. for Izdubar there is Ur-Hea the boatman of Xisuthrus. 22. Precious stones with him in the midst of the forest .... 23. .... may they see thy face. 24. .... and to cross with him if it is not suitable hasten behind him 25. .... upon hearing this, 26. .... an axe in the hand. 27. .... to their well he returns. 28, 29, 30. .... 31. .... Izdubar 32. .... and his lower part 33. .... the ship 34. .... (the waters) of death 35. .... wide 36. .... the field 37. .... to the river 38. .... ship 39. .... the well 40. .... the boatman 41. .... he descended 42. .... to thee Here there are many lines lost, then recommencing the story proceeds on the third column. COLUMN III. 1. my friend whom I have loved made .... 2. I am not as he and would we had never gone up .... —–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–— 3. Izdubar to him also speaks, even to Ur-Hea; 4. Again, Ur-Hea, what (is the way to Xisuthrus?) 5. what are its signs explain to me; yea, explain (to me its signs). 6. If it be suitable the sea let me cross; if it be not suitable the desert let me traverse. —–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–— 7. Ur-Hea to him also speaks, even to (Izdubar): 8. Thy hand, Izdubar, it prevents .... 9. thou hidest among the precious stones thou ... 10. the precious stones (are) a hiding-place [or canopy] and they are not ... 11. Take, Izdubar, an axe in (thy hands) .... 12. go down to the forest and a clearing of five _gar_ (make). 13. Bury and make a tumulus; carry .... 14. Izdubar on his hearing this, 15. took the axe in his hand .... 16. he went down to the forest and a clearing of five _gar_ (made): 17. he buried and made a tumulus; he carried .... 18. Izdubar and Ur-Hea rode (in the ship); 19. the ship the waves took and they .... 20. a journey of one month and fifteen days. On the third day in their course 21. Ur-Hea also reached the waters of death .... COLUMN IV. 1. Ur-Hea to him also speaks, even to Izdubar: 2. The tablets O Izdubar .... 3. The waters of death smite; never mayest thou enter the dome of the house (of the abyss). 4. The second time, the third time, and the fourth time go, O Izdubar .... 5. the fifth, sixth, and seventh time go, O Izdubar .... 6. the eighth, ninth, and tenth time go, O Izdubar .... 7. the eleventh and twelfth time go, O Izdubar .... 8. on the one hundred and twentieth time Izdubar finished .... 9. and he struck the middle of it .... 10. Izdubar seized the ....... 11. on his wings an embankment he completed ... 12. Xisuthrus over him afar off pondered, 13. he counselled (this) plan within his heart.