A copy of the cuneiform text will be found in the “Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia,” Vol. IV, pl. 15. M. Fr. Lenormant has translated a portion of it in “La Magie chez les Chaldeens" pp. 26, 27.
ACCADIAN POEM ON THE SEVEN EVIL SPIRITS
OBVERSE
1 (In) the earth their borders were taken, and that
god[1]
came not forth.
2 From the earth he came not forth, (and) their
power was
baneful.
3 The heaven like a vault they extended and that
which had
no exit they opened.[2]
4 Among the stars of heaven their watch they kept
not, in
watching (was) their office.
5 The mighty hero[3] to heaven they exalted, and
his father
he knew not.[4]
6 The Fire-god on high, the supreme, the first-born,
the
mighty, the divider of the
supreme crown of Anu!
7 The Fire-god the light that exalts him with himself
he
exalts.
8 Baleful (are) those seven, destroyers.
9 For his ministers in his dwelling he chooses (them).
10 O Fire-god, those seven how were they born, how
grew
they up?
11 Those seven in the mountain of the sunset were
born.
12 Those seven in the mountain of the sunrise grew
up.
13 In the hollows of the earth have they their dwelling.
14 On the high-places of the earth are they proclaimed.
15 As for them in heaven and earth immense (is) their
habitation.
16 Among the gods their couch they have not.
17 Their name in heaven (and) earth exists not.
18 Seven they are: in the mountain of the sunset
do they rise.
19 Seven they are: in the mountain of the sunrise
did they set.
20 Into the hollows of the earth do they penetrate.[5]
21 On the high places of the earth did they ascend.
22 As for them, goods they have not, in heaven and
earth they
are not known.[6]
23 Unto Merodach[7] draw near, and this word may
he say
unto thee.[8]
24 Of those baleful seven, as many as he sets before
thee,
their might may he give thee,
25 according to the command of his blessed mouth,
(he who
is) the supreme judge of Anu.
26 The Fire-god unto Merodach draws near, and this
word
he saith unto thee.
27 In the pavilion, the resting-place of might, this
word he
hears, and
28 to his father Hea[9] to his house he descends,
and speaks:
29 O my father, the Fire-god unto the rising of the
sun has
penetrated, and these secret
words has uttered.
30 Learning the story of those seven, their places
grant thou
to another.
31 Enlarge the ears, O son of Eridu.[10]
32 Hea his son Merodach answered:
33 My son, those seven dwell in earth;
34 those seven from the earth have issued.
[Footnote 1: That is, the god of fire.]
[Footnote 2: The Assyrian has, “Unto heaven that which was not seen they raised.”]