He sees the badges of rule,
     His royal crown, his raiment divine. 
     On the tablets of fate of the god Zu fixes his look. 
     On the father of the gods, the god of Duranki, Zu fixes his gaze. 
     Lust after rule enters into his soul. 
     I will take the tablets of fate of the gods,
     Will determine the oracle of all the gods,
     Will set up my throne, all orders control,
     Will rule all the heavenly spirits. 
     His heart was set on combat. 
     At the entrance of the hall he stands, waiting the break of day,
     When Bel dispensed the tender rains,
     Sat on his throne, put off his crown,
     He snatched the tablets of fate from his hands,
     Seized the power, the control of commands. 
     Down flew Zu, in a mountain he hid. 
     There was anguish and crying. 
     On the earth Bel poured out his wrath. 
     Anu opened his mouth and spake,
     Said to the gods his children:—­
     Who will conquer Zu? 
     Great shall be his name among the dwellers of all lands. 
     They called for Ramman, the mighty, Anu’s son. 
     To him gives Anu command:—­
     Up, Ramman, my son, thou hero,
     From thine attack desist not, conquer Zu with thy weapons,
     That thy name may be great in the assembly of the great gods. 
     Among the gods thy brethren, none shall be thy equal,
     Thy shrines on high shall be built;
     Found thee cities in all the world;
     Thy cities shall reach to the mountain of the world;
     Show thyself strong for the gods, strong be thy name! 
     To Anu his father’s command Ramman answered and spake:—­
     My father, who shall come to the inaccessible mound? 
     Who is like unto Zu among the gods thy sons? 
     The tablets of fate he has snatched from his hands,
     Seized on the power, the control of commands. 
     Zu has fled and hides in his mountain.

          [The rest is lost.]

     VIII.  ADAPA AND THE SOUTHWIND

     Under the water the Southwind blew him
     Sunk him to the home of the fishes. 
     O Southwind, ill hast thou used me, thy wings I will break. 
     As thus with his mouth he spake the wings of the Southwind
          were broken. 
     Seven days long the Southwind over the earth blew no more. 
     To his messenger Ila-Abrat
     Anu then spake thus:—­
     Why for seven days long
     Blows the Southwind no more on the earth? 
     His messenger Ila-Abrat answered and said:  My lord,
     Adapa, Ea’s son, hath broken the wings of the Southwind. 
     When Anu heard these words,
     “Aha!” he cried, and went forth.

[Ea, the ocean-god, then directs his son how to proceed in order to avert Anu’s wrath.  Some lines are mutilated.]