| The Song of Silver |
pp. 48-50 |
1. Introduction
§1.1 [Among Tessub], the Sun God of the Sky, Sauska(?), Nineveh's(?) [Queen, and all the gods], no one worships(?) [him], (although) [his] mal [is greater than their mals]. His word [is greater(?)] than [their(?)] words,
his wisdom [is greater(?)] than [their(?)] wisdom, his battle [and his] glo[ry(?) are greater(?) than theirs, and their(?)] handatars [are not(?) greater(?)] for him than his handatars.
§1.2 It is Silver the Fine [...] whom I sing. Wise men [told(?)] me [the ... of] the fatherless [boy(?)]. It did not exist. Long ago Silver's [... had disappeared(?)]. And they do not know his [sp]lendor. [Heroic(?)] men ran to battle. [Abundance(?)] did not exist. And grain [did not grow(?)]. [...] hungry(?) [...].
2. The Birth of Silver(?)
§ 2.1 ... went.
§2.2 [...] fire [...] of alabaster [...] his eyes [...] they gave it [... . The first, second, third, and] fourth months passed; the fifth(?), [sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth months passed; and the tenth month] arrives.
§2.3 ... [His/her tears] flow [like streams]... .
3. Silver and the Orphan Boy
§3.1 In/with power(?)... .
§3.2 Silver [struck] an orphan boy [with] a stick. The orphan boy spoke an evil word against Silver: "My Silver, why [are you hitting us]? Why are you striking us? You are an orphan like us." [Now when Silver heard these words], he began to weep. Weeping, Silver went into his house. Silver began to repeat the words to his mother: "The boys I struck down in front of the gate are defying me."
§3.3 "I struck a boy with a stick, and he spoke an [evil] word back to me. Hear, Ο my mother, the words which the orphan boy said to me: 'Why are you hitting [us? Why are you striking] us? [You are an orphan like us.]'"
4. Silver's Quest for Kumarbi
[First three lines too fragmentary to translate.]
§4.1 [His mother(?)] took the stick away from [him. ... His mother] turned around [and] began to reply [to Silver, her son]: "Do [not hit me], Ο Silver! Do not strike me! The city(?) [you inquire about] I will tell/describe it to you. [Your father(?) is Kumarbi], the Father of the city Urkes. [He ... s], and he resides in Urkes. [...] the lawsuits of all the lands he [satisfactorily] reso1ves(?). Your brother is Tessub. He is king in heaven. And he is king in the land. Your sister is Sauska, and she is queen in Nineveh. You must [not] fear any [other god]; only one deity [must you fear. He (i.e., Kumarbi) stirs up(?)] the enemy land(s), and the wild animals. From top to bottom [he ... s]. From bottom to top [he ... s." Silver] listened to his mother's words. He set out for Urkes. He arrived in Urkes, but he did not find [Kumarbi] in his house. He (Kumarbi) had gone to roam the land(s). He wanders about up(?) in the mountains. [Text
of col. ii breaks off.]
5. Tasmisu and Tessub
§5.1 ... [Tasmisu began] to speak to Tessub: "[Is it] not [possible(?)] for you to thunder? Do you [not] know [how to ...] ? On(?) the ...[Silver(?)] has become king, and [now] he [drives(?)] all the deities with a goad(?) of pistachio wood."
§5.2 Tessub [began to] speak (back?) to his vizier: "Come, let us go and eat [...]. Our father, [Kumarbi(?)], did not defeat [Silver(?). Will we] now [defeat] Silver?"
§5.3 They took each other by the hand, [the two brothers, and to ...] they set out. In one stage they made [the trip]. At the city [of ...] they
arrived. They [... ed]. On the ... Silver is sitting like a [shaft(?). They/he] fear[ed(?) him, the ...], the violent [god ...].
§5.4 Tessub [and Tasmisu arrived in ...]. He saw him and [...]. [The text of col. iii breaks off here.]
6. About Old Man
§6.1 [...] the old [men ...] ... began to [...]. The tree which we will cut for ourselves, you ... will ... it up too. What ox you [...] in the midst of the vegetable garden, you, Ο ... [will ...] was of the heart. [...] by means of whose meadow [...] the owner of the meadow [...] and they [...] the old men [...].
7. Silver Threatens the Sun and Moon
§7.1 [...] sent: "Go down [to the Dark Earth and . . . ] him [with] a goad(?)" [...] began to [...].
§7.2 [...] he closed up his [...] with [...] judged [...]. And all the gods [...] they come/see(?). Silver [seized(?)] power with his hands. Silver seized the spear. He dragged the Sun and Moon down from heaven. The Sun and the Moon did reverence. They bowed to Silver. The Sun and the Moon began to speak to Silver:
§7.3 "[O Silver, our lord], do not strike/kill us! We are the luminaries [of heaven] and [earth]. We are the torches of what [lands] you [govern. If you strike/kill us], you will proceed to govern the dark lands personally." [His] soul within [him was filled with] love. [He had] pity on [...].
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