6. The scorpion-man opened his mouth (and spake);
10. for twelve kaspu (84 miles) [is the journey];
11. on the boundary of the field did he carry himself, and (there is) no light.
In this mutilated passage, the monster describes the journey to be taken by Izdubar; there are now many lines wanting, until we come to the fourth column.
9. the mountains, the path (of the Sun) ....
17. he was not able (to look behind him).
This is the bottom of the fourth column; there are five lines lost at the top of the fifth column, and then the narrative reopens; the text is, however, mutilated and doubtful.
11. he was not able (to look behind him).
13. on the boundary of the field did he carry himself (and there is no light).
14. He was not able (to look behind him).
16. on the boundary of the field was it situated and not ....
19. on the boundary of the field (did he carry himself and) there is no light.
23. (on the boundary of the field did he carry himself and) there is no light;
24. (he was not able) to look behind him.
30. to the forest of the trees of the gods in appearance it was equal.
[Illustration: IZDUBAR AMONG THE TREES OF THE GODS (?) FROM A BABYLONIAN CYLINDER FOUND IN CYPRUS BY GEN. DI CESNOLA.]
32. the branch refuses not to support a canopy.
34. fruit they carry, and to the sight it is glistening.
Some of the words in this fragment are obscure, but the general meaning is clear. In the next column the wanderings of Izdubar are continued, and he comes to a country near the sea. Fragments of several lines of this column are preserved, but too mutilated to translate with certainty. The fragments are:—
3. not sweeping away the sea .... jet stones
4. like the tree of Elam and the tree of the prince .... emeralds
6. jet stone, ka stone .... the goddess Istar
11. Izdubar [saw this] in his travelling,
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: