When they finally got there It looked like a very nice place. Lovely forests, birdies chirping Melodies to Humbaba. At the gate of the battle Cedar trees stood deep in joy. Cicadas sang in innocence And the monkeys drummed. But the dark shadow of the cedars Fell into Gilgamesh’s soul like stone A chill of fear Coursed through his body Came to rest in his cowardly bones. And once again ’twas Enkidu Who tipped their swords with steely courage —Go forward! Fight the beast! Don’t let your insides turn to porridge! You have slain many men before, And will be the death of many more— As we stand together here upon ground We will bring the mighty beast Humbaba down Gilgamesh unleashed his tears In the fearful wails of battle Begged the God Shamash to bring The thirteen winds of hell— Prevent Humbaba from finding shelter Wrapped in the seven cloaks of dread, That kept his demon powers handy When conjuring the dead Humbaba rode the storm God forth, Challenged the two to war; Changed his shape, and shouted out Enkidu, you son of a whore! You brought the evil Gilgamesh To the foothills of my soul I will split his body open, Eat his heart, crush his balls Feed his flesh to insects And the vultures of the sky And as he changed his shape The clouds turned black, A rain of death descended— Humbaba begged for mercy But there was no mercy from the like of Gilgamesh— He preferred the meat Of his butchered monsters Fresh. And as Humbaba pleaded for his life Enkidu urged Gilgamesh to use the knife They cut off his head and pulled out his lungs Tore his tusks from his mouth, And thus the song is sung
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