Gilgamesh Chen Translation.pdf

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Tablet XII
Gilgamesh asked yet again: “Have you seen in the world below a man with seven sons?”
Enkidu spoke: “Yes I have seen the man with seven sons in the world below.”
Gilgamesh could not refrain: “How goes it in the world below with the man with seven sons?”
Enkidu replied: “The man with seven sons in the world below acts like a king sitting on his
throne listening to music.”
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Gilgamesh asked yet again: “Have you seen in the world below a sailor drowned?”
Enkidu spoke: “Yes I have seen the sailor drowned in the world below”
Gilgamesh could not refrain: “How goes it in the world below with the sailor drowned?”
Enkidu replied: “The sailor drowned in the world below is brought pure water all his days to
drink.”
Gilgamesh asked yet again: “Have you seen in the world below a warrior killed in battle glory?”
Enkidu spoke: “Yes I have seen the warrior killed in battle glory in the world below.”
Gilgamesh could not refrain: “How goes it in the world below with the warrior killed in battle
glory?”
Enkidu replied: “The warrior killed in battle in the world below has his head lifted up by his
parents and his wife grieves at the couch of death.”
Gilgamesh asked yet again: “Have you seen in the world below a man who died with no one to
mourn him?”
Enkidu spoke: “Yes I have seen the man who died with no one to mourn him.”
Gilgamesh could not refrain: “How goes it in the world below with the man who has no one to
mourn him?”
Enkidu replied: “The man who died with no one to mourn him wanders about with no home, and
he must eat what no starving dog would touch.”