vanished the garment;
     Again he commanded, and the garment appeared. 
     When the gods, his fathers, saw thus his word fulfilled,
     Joyful were they and did homage:  Marduk is king. 
     On him conferred sceptre and throne.... 
     Gave him invincible arms to crush them that hate him. 
     Now go and cut short the life of Tiamat,
     May the winds into a secret place carry her blood. 
     The ruler of the gods they made him, the gods, his fathers,
     Wished him success and glory in the way on which he went. 
     He made ready a bow, prepared it for use,
     Made ready a spear to be his weapon. 
     He took the ... seized it in his right hand,
     Bow and quiver hung at his side,
     Lightning he fashioned flashing before him,
     With glowing flame he filled its body,
     A net he prepared to seize Tiamat,
     Guarded the four corners of the world that nothing of her
          should escape,
     On South and North, on East and West
     He laid the net, his father Anu’s gift. 
     He fashioned the evil wind, the south blast, the tornado,
     The four-and-seven wind, the wind of destruction and woe,
     Sent forth the seven winds which he had made
     Tiamat’s body to destroy, after him they followed. 
     Then seized the lord the thunderbolt, his mighty weapon,
     The irresistible chariot, the terrible, he mounted,
     To it four horses he harnessed, pitiless, fiery, swift,
     Their teeth were full of venom covered with foam.

* * * * *

     On it mounted Marduk the mighty in battle. 
     To right and left he looked, lifting his eye. 
     His terrible brightness surrounded his head. 
     Against her he advanced, went on his way,
     To Tiamat lifted his face.

* * * * *

     They looked at him, at him looked the gods,
     The gods, his fathers, looked at him; at him looked the gods. 
     And nearer pressed the lord, with his eye piercing Tiamat. 
     On Kingu her consort rested his look. 
     As he so looked, every way is stopped. 
     His senses Kingu loses, vanishes his thought,
     And the gods, his helpers, who stood by his side
     Saw their leader powerless.... 
     But Tiamat stood, not turning her back. 
     With fierce lips to him she spake:—­

* * * * *

     Then grasped the lord his thunderbolt, his mighty weapon,
     Angry at Tiamat he hurled his words:—­

* * * * *

     When Tiamat heard these words,
     She fell into fury, beside herself was she. 
     Tiamat cried wild and loud
     Till through and through her body shook. 
     She utters her magic formula, speaks her word,
     And the gods of battle rush to arms.