ping, on thee I wait.
Be merciful, my lady, pity take
And answer, "'Tis enough and be appeased".

How long must my heart sorrow and make moan
And restless be? How long must my dark home
Be filled with mourning and my soul with grief?
O lioness of heaven, bring me peace
And rest and comfort. Hearken to my pray'r!
Is anger pity? May thine eyes look down
With tenderness and blessings, and behold
Thy servant. Oh! have mercy; hear my cry
And unbewitch me from the evil spells,
That I may see thy glory... Oh! how long
Shall these my foes pursue me, working ill,
And robbing me of joy?... Oh! how long
Shall demons compass me about and cause
Affliction without end?... I thee adore--
The gift of strength is thine and thou art strong--
The weakly are made strong, yet I am weak...
O hear me! I am glutted with my grief--
This flood of grief by evil winds distressed;
My heart hath fled me like a bird on wings,
And like the dove I moan. Tears from mine eyes
Are falling as the rain from heaven falls,
And I am destitute and full of woe.

* * * * *

What have I done that thou hast turned from me?
Have I neglected homage to my god
And thee my goddess? O deliver me
And all my sins forgive, that I may share
Thy love and be watched over in thy fold;
And may thy fold be wide, thy pen secure.

* * * * *

How long wilt thou be angry? Hear my cry,
And turn again to prosper all my ways--
O may thy wrath be crumbled and withdrawn
As by a crumbling stream. Then smite my foes,
And take away their power to work me ill,
That I may crush them. Hearken to my pray'r!
And bless me so that all who me behold
May laud thee and may magnify thy name,
While I exalt thy power over all--
Ishtar is highest! Ishtar is the queen!
Ishtar the peerless daughter of the moon!

CHAPTER II.

THE LAND OF RIVERS AND THE GOD OF THE DEEP

Fertility of Ancient Babylonia--Rivers, Canals, Seasons, and
Climate--Early Trade and Foreign Influences--Local Religious
Cults--Ea, God of the Deep, identical with Oannes of Berosus--Origin
as a Sacred Fish--Compared with Brahma and Vishnu--Flood Legends in
Babylonia and India--Fish Deities in Babylonia and Egypt--Fish God
as a Corn God--The River as Creator--Ea an Artisa