mpanion.

The tablet contained originally about fifty lines in each column, or 200
in all. About one-third of the first column is gone. The first melody
contained at least fifty lines and ended somewhere shortly after the first
line of Col. II of the obverse. It began by relating how Enlil had ordered
the glory of Nippur, and then had become angered against his city, sending
upon it desolation at the hands of an invader. When we take up the first
lines of Obv. II we are well into the second melody which represents
Ishme-Dagan mourning for fathers and mothers who had been separated from
their children; for brothers who had been scattered afar; for the cruel
reign of the savage conqueror who now rules where the dark-headed people
had formerly dwelled in peace.

At about the middle of Obv. II begins the third melody which consists of
38 lines extending to Rev. I 19. In this section the psalmist ponders upon
the injustice of his city's fate, and looks for the time when her woes
will cease, and Enlil will be reconciled.

The fourth section begins at line 24 of Rev. I and ended near the bottom
of this column which is now broken away. Here Ishme-Dagan joins with the
psalmists weeping for Nippur.

Section 5 began near the end of Rev. I, and ends at line 16 of Rev. II.
Here begins the phase of intercession to Enlil to repent and revenge
Nippur upon the foe. Section 6, beginning at Rev. II 17, probably
continued to the end of the column and the tablet. Here the liturgy
promises the end of Nippur's sorrow. Enlil has ordered the restoration of
his city and has sent Ishme-Dagan, his beloved shepherd, to bring joy unto
the people.

After sections 2 and 3 follows the antiphon of one or two lines. The ends
of sections 1 and 4 are lost but we may suppose that antiphons stood here
also. Section 5 does not have an antiphon. Since section 6 ended the
liturgy it is not likely that an antiphon stood there.

[Transcriber's Note: In the original book, throughout the book, all of the
transcriptions and translations were done in two columns. The left column
showed the transcription, and the right the English translation; each line
had the line number. In this e-book, the transcription and translation of
each line will be shown in succeeding lines.]

OBVERSE. COL. I

(About eighteen lines broken away.)

1. ... _tug ba-ra-pad-da_
1.

2. _d.__A-nun-na-ge-ne na-ba-an-ri-gi-es-am_
2. The Anunnaki he caused to take their seats.(29)

3.