[Footnote 7:  “Nus-ku,” the gate-keeper of thunder.]

[Footnote 8:  “Gibil,” the god of fire and spells and witchcraft.]

[Footnote 9:  “Ner-gal,” director of the storms, the giant King of War, the strong begetter.]

[Footnote 10:  “Rimmon,” the god of storms and hurricanes.]

[Footnote 11:  “Nin-a-zu,” the goddess of fate and death.]

[Footnote 12:  “Zi-pis-au-ni,” spirits of the papyri, or reeds.]

[Footnote 13:  Mountain range of Zu.  The ancient name is unknown, but as Susa takes its name from Zu, the divine bird of the storm-cloud, we have given the mountains of Susiana their probable ancient name.]

[Footnote 14:  “Dib-bara” ("the darkening one"), the son of Nuk-khu.  He is supposed to have been the viceroy of Khumbaba, and led the attack upon Erech.]

[Footnote 15:  “Nuk-hu,” or “Nuk-khu,” the god of darkness and sleep.  He is sometimes called “Cus-u.”]

[Footnote 16:  “Suk-ha,” wood or grove, or a forest.]

[Footnote 17:  “Hal-ca!” “Go!”]

[Footnote 18:  “Ca is-kab-bu! va kal-bu!” “Thou fool and dog!” “Ca” ("thou”) is the short form of “cat-ta” or “ca’a”; generally it appears as “at-ta.”]

[Footnote 19:  “Sar-dan-nu,” the great King.]

COLUMN III

IZDUBAR RELATES HIS SECOND DREAM TO HIS SEERS, WHO CANNOT INTERPRET IT

The counsellors assembled round the throne
Within the council halls of zam-at[1] stone,
Now greet their monarch, and behold his face
With trouble written on his brow, and trace
Uneasiness within that eagle eye,
While he with stately tread, yet wearily
His throne approached; he turned to the mu-di,[2]
And swept a glance upon his khas-iz-i.[3]
Uneasy they all eyed his troubled face,
For he had ridden at a furious pace. 
The abuli[4] had told them on that morn,
How he across the plains had wildly torn
To drive away some vision of the night. 
One asked, “Hath our Sardan-nu’s dreams been light? 
Or hath dread phantoms o’er thy pillow hung? 
For trouble on thy countenance hath clung.” 
The monarch startled at the question eyes
The councillor, and to him thus replies: 
“’Tis true, my counsellors and wisest men,
I dreamed a fearful dream Sat mu-si;[5] when
I have disclosed it, if one clear reveals
Its meaning all and naught from me conceals,
On him will I the greatest wealth bestow: 
I will ennoble him, and the sib-zu[6]
A ku-bar-ra[7] for him shall rich prepare;
As my tur-tan-u[8] he shall be, and seer,
Decked with a golden chain shall next preside
At every feast, and break his bread beside
The King, and highest rank he shall attain
’Mong counsellors, and mine own favor gain;
And seven wives to him I will allow,
And a grand palace.  This as King I vow,
The scribe it shall enroll above my seal
As Erech’s Sar’s decree beyond repeal.