1. Siduri and Sabitu (who in the land beside the sea)
7. he had the brand of the gods on (his) ....
9. to go on the distant path his face (was set).
11. she counselled to her heart (this) plan.
12. Within herself also she (considered):
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:)
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.
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.
16. From crossing the sea Samas the hero I the mother prevented; (yet) Samas crossed, whoever
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 ....
24. .... and to cross with him if it is not suitable hasten behind him
Here there are many lines lost, then recommencing the story proceeds on the third column.
2. I am not as he and would we had never gone up .... —–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–———–—