Tablet II — The Meeting of Gilgamesh and Enkidu
Enkidu sat before her.
...
“Why...”
She spoke what lay in his own heart, under her instruction. Who knows that heart? Shamhat stripped off her clothing; with one piece she clothed him, and clothed herself with the second. She took hold of him as the gods do, and brought him to the hut of the shepherds. The shepherds gathered all around him and said to one another in wonder:
“How this youth resembles Gilgamesh! Tall in stature, towering to the battlements over the wall! Surely he was born in the mountains; his strength is as mighty as the meteorite of Anu!”
They set food before him; they set beer before him. But Enkidu knew nothing of eating bread for food, and of drinking beer he had not been taught.
The harlot spoke to Enkidu:
“Eat the food, Enkidu—it is the way one lives. Drink the beer, as is the custom of the land.”
Enkidu ate the food until he was satisfied. He drank the beer—seven jugs!—and became expansive, and sang with joy! He was elated, and his face glowed. He splashed his shaggy body with water and rubbed himself with oil, turning into a human. He put on clothing and became like a warrior.
Then he took up his weapon and chased lions so the shepherds might eat. He routed the wolves, he chased the lions. With Enkidu as their guard, the herders could lie down at night. A wakeful man, a singular youth, he was twice the height of ordinary men.
...
Then he raised his eyes and saw a man. He said to the harlot:
“Shamhat, send that man away! Why has he come? I will call out his name!”
The harlot called to the man, went over to him and spoke:
“Young man, where are you hurrying? Why this furious pace?”
The young man spoke, saying to Enkidu:
“They have invited me to a wedding, as is the custom of the people. … the selection of brides… I have heaped up luscious delights on the ceremonial platter for the wedding! For the King of Broad-Marted Uruk the veil of the people is open for the choosing of a girl. For Gilgamesh, the King of Broad-Marted Uruk, the veil of the people is open for the choosing. He will lie with the destined wife first; her husband afterward. This is decreed by the counsel of Anu. From the moment his umbilical cord was cut, it was destined for him.”
At the young man’s words, Enkidu’s face flushed with anger.
...
Enkidu strode ahead; Shamhat followed after him.
He walked down the street of Uruk-Haven, and blocked the way through Uruk-the-Sheepfold. The land of Uruk stood around him, the whole land assembled about him, the populace thronged around him, the men clustered about him, and kissed his feet as if he were a tiny baby.
Suddenly a handsome young man appeared. For Ishara the marriage‑bed was ready; for Gilgamesh, as for a god, a counterpart had been set up.
Enkidu blocked the entry to the marital chamber, and would not allow Gilgamesh to enter. They grappled with each other at the doorway of the marriage chamber; in the street they locked together, in the public square of the land. The doorposts trembled, and the wall shook.
...
Gilgamesh bent his knees, the other foot planted on the ground; his fury ebbed, and he turned his chest away. Then Enkidu said to Gilgamesh:
“Your mother bore you ever unique— the Wild Cow of the Enclosure, Ninsun— your head is lifted above other men; Enlil has destined for you the kingship over the people.”
...
They kissed each other, and became friends.
“His strength is the mightiest in the land! His strength is as mighty as the meteorite of Anu.”
The mother of Gilgamesh spoke to Gilgamesh. Ninsun said to her son, plaintively:
“My son… …”
She went up into his gateway, and plaintively implored:
“Enkidu has no father or mother; his shaggy hair no one cuts. He was born in the wilderness; no one raised him.”
Enkidu stood there and heard the speech. He sat down and wept; his eyes filled with tears. His arms felt limp, his strength weakened.
They took each other by the hand.
Enkidu made a declaration to Gilgamesh.
...
“… in order to protect the Cedar Forest, Enlil assigned Humbaba as a terror to human beings. Humbaba’s roar is a Flood, his mouth is Fire, and his breath is Death! He can hear a rustling in his forest a hundred leagues away! Who would go down into his forest? Enlil assigned him as a terror to human beings, and whoever goes down into his forest—paralysis will strike!”
Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu, saying:
“What you say…”
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“Who, my friend, can ascend to the heavens? Only the gods can dwell forever with Shamash. As for human beings, their days are numbered, and whatever they keep trying to achieve is only wind! Now you are afraid of death— what has become of your bold strength? I will go before you, and your voice may call out: ‘Go on closer, do not be afraid!’ Should I fall, I will have established my fame. They will say: ‘It was Gilgamesh who locked in battle with Humbaba the Terrible!’ You were born and reared in the wilderness; a lion leaped at you, so you have lived it all!
…
I will undertake it, and I will cut down the cedar. It is I who will establish fame that lasts forever! Come, my friend—I will go to the forge, and we will have them cast the weapons before our eyes!”
Holding each other by the hand, they went to the forge.
...
The craftsmen sat and discussed with one another:
“We must fashion the axe… The hatchet should weigh a full talent… Their swords shall be one talent apiece… Their armor, one talent…”
Gilgamesh spoke to the men of Uruk:
“Listen to me, men…”
...
“You, men of Uruk, who know… I mean to make myself more mighty, and I will go on a distant journey! I will face fighting such as I have never known; I will set out on a road I have never traveled! Give me your blessing! I will enter the city gate of Uruk. I will devote myself to the New Year’s Festival. The New Year’s Festival will take place, with celebrations— and they will keep shouting ‘Hurrah!’”
Enkidu spoke to the Elders:
“Tell him: he must not go to the Cedar Forest— the journey is not to be made!”
The Noble Counselors of Uruk rose up, and delivered their advice to Gilgamesh:
“You are young, Gilgamesh; your heart carries you away. You do not know what you are saying! Humbaba’s roar is a Flood, his mouth is Fire, his breath Death! He can hear any rustling in his forest a hundred leagues away! Who would go down into his forest? Who, even among the Igigi gods, can confront him? In order to keep the Cedar safe, Enlil assigned him as a terror to human beings.”
Gilgamesh listened to the words of his noble counselors.
…