The glittering pillars stand with gold o’erlaid
In rows throughout the room to the arcade,
Within the entrance from a columned hall. 
The ivory-graven panels on the wall
On every side are set in solid gold. 
The canopy chased golden pillars hold
Above the throne, and emeralds and gems
Flash from the counsellor’s rich diadems. 
In silence all await the monarch’s sign: 
“This council hath been called, the hour is thine
To counsel with thy King upon a plan
Of conquest of our foes, who ride this plain,
Unchecked around; these Suti should be driven
From Sumir’s plain.  Have ye our wrongs forgiven? 
Khumbaba hath enjoyed great Accad’s spoils
Too long; with him we end these long turmoils. 
What sayest thou, Heabani?—­all my seers? 
Hath Accad not her chariots and spears?”

Then one among the wisest seers arose
“To save our precious tune which hourly flows,
He should our seer, Rab-sak-i[1] first invite
To lay his plans before the Sar, and light
May break across our vision.  I confess
Great obstacles I see, but acquiesce
In any plan you deem may bring success. 
The gods, I feel our cause will gladly bless.” 
Another spoke, and all agree at last
To hear the seer whose wisdom all surpassed.

Heabani modestly arose and said,
And gracefully to all inclined his head: 
“O Sar! thy seer will gladly counsel give
To thee, and all our seers; my thanks receive
For thy great confidence in my poor skill
To crush our foes who every country fill. 
I with the Sar agree that we should strike
A blow against the rival king, who like
Our Sar, is a great giant king, and lives
Within a mountain castle, whence he grieves
All nations by his tyranny, and reigns
With haughty power from Kharsak to these plains. 
I’ll lead the way, my Sar, to his wild home;
’Tis twenty kas-pu[2] hence, if you will come. 
A wall surrounds his castle in a wood,
With brazen gates strong fastened.  I have stood
Beneath the lofty pines which dwindle these
To shrubs that grow in parks as ornate trees. 
The mighty walls will reach six gars[3] in height,
And two in breadth, like Nipur’s[4] to the sight. 
And when you go, take with you many mules;
With men to bring the spoils, and needed tools
To break the gates, his castle overthrow: 
To lose no time, to-morrow we should go. 
To Erech, pines and cedars we can bring
With all the wealth of Elam’s giant king,
And Erech fill with glorious parks and halls,
Remove these man-u-bani,[5] ruined walls. 
Take to your hearts, ye seers, poor Erech’s wrongs! 
Her fall, the bards of Elam sing in songs. 
I love dear Erech, may her towers shine!”
He seized his harp, thus sung the seer divine: 

    “O Erech! thy bright plains I love;
    Although from thee thy seer did rove,
          My heart remained with thee! 
    The foe destroyed thy beauteous towers,
    Sa-mu forgot to rain her showers,
          And could I happy be?