"Alas, my maid, thy love to me is dear, And sad am I that I must go from here. I came from Erech by advice from one I loved more than thou canst e'er know, but gone From me is my Heabani, faithful seer. Across a desert waste have I come here, And he has there to dust returned,--to dust-- O how the love of my friend I did trust! I would that we had never started here, I now must find the great immortal seer."
The maiden turns her glowing eyes on him, Replies: "My King, thou knowest joy may gleam, Take courage, weary heart, and sing a song! The hour of sorrow can never be long; The day will break, and flood thy soul with joy, And happiness thy heart will then employ! Each day must end with all its sorrow, woe, Oh, sing with me, dear heart! I love thee so!" And lo! the curtains flung aside, now comes The joyous Sabitu from yonder rooms, And gathering round, a song they gayly sing, Oh, how with music the bright walls now ring! If evil thou hast done, my King,
Oh, pray! oh, pray! And to the gods thy offerings bring, And pray! and pray! The sea is roaring at thy feet, The storms are coming, rain and sleet; To all the gods, Oh, pray to them! oh, pray!
To all the gods, Oh, pray to them! oh, pray!
Thy city we will bless, O Sar! With joy, with joy! And prosper thee in peace and war With joy, with joy! And bless thee every day and night, Thy kingly robes keep pure and bright; Give thee bright dreams, O glorious king of war!
Give thee bright dreams, O glorious king of war!
And if thy hand would slay thy foes In war, in war! With thee returning victory goes In war, in war! We grant thee victory, my King; Like marshes swept by storms, we bring Our power to thee With victory in war!
And if thou wouldst the waters pass, The sea, the sea! We'll go with thee in every place, With thee, with thee! To Hea's halls and glorious throne, Where he unrivalled reigns alone, To Hea go Upon his throne of snow.
And if thine anger rules thy heart As fire, as fire! And thou against thy foes would start With ire, with ire! Against thy foes thy heart be hard, And all their land with fire be scarred, Destroy thy foes! Destroy them in thine ire!
Destroy thy foes! Destroy them in thine ire!
And lo! young Siduri hath disappeared, And with the Zisi crowned she now appeared; The corn-gods in a crescent round their queen, She waves before the king her Nusku[3] green, And sings with her sweet voice a joyful lay, And all the Zisi join the chorus gay: