not remembered,
40 as a securely compacted edifice
41,42 I dedicated and set up as a preparation for war
43,44 by Imgur Bel, the fortress of invincible Babylon,
45 400 cubits in its completeness,
46 a wall of Nimitti-Bel
47 an outwork of Babylon
48,49 for defence. Two lofty embankments,
50 in cement and brick,
51 a fortress like a mountain I made,
52 and in their sub-structure
53 I built a brickwork;
54 then on its summit a large edifice
55 for the residence of My Royalty
56,57 with cement and brick I skilfully built
58 and brought it down by the side of the temple:
59 and in the exact middle, on the second day
60 its foundation in a solid depth
61,62 I made good and its summit I carried round;
63 and on the 15th day its beauty

_(Continued on Column IX_.)

COLUMN IX

1 I skilfully completed
2 and exalted as an abode of Royalty.
3,4 Tall pines, the produce of lofty mountains,
5 thick _asuhu_ wood
6,7 and _surman_ wood in choice pillars
8 for its covered porticos I arranged.
9 _ikki_ and _musritkanna_ woods
10 cedar and _surman_ woods
11 brought forth, and in heaps,
12 with a surface of silver and gold
13 and with coverings of copper,
14,15 on domes and arches, and with works of metal
16 its gates I strongly overlaid
17 and completely with _zamat_-stone
18 I finished off its top.
19,20 A strong wall in cement and brick
21 like a mountain I carried round
22,23 a wall, a brick fortress, a great fortress
24 with long blocks of stone
25,26 gatherings from great lands I made
27,28 and like hills I upraised its head.
29,30 That house for admiration I caused to build
31 and for a banner to hosts of men:
32 with carved work I fitted it;
33 the strong power of reverence for
34 the presence of Royalty
35 environs its walls;
36,37 the least thing not upright enters it not,
38 that evil may not make head.
39 The walls of the fortress of Babylon
40,41 its defence in war I raised
42 and the circuit of the city of Babylon.
43,44 I have strengthened skilfully.
45 To Merodach my Lord
46 my hand I lifted:
47 O Merodach the Lord, Chief of the gods,
48,49 a surpassing Prince thou hast made me,
50 and empire over multitudes of men,
51,52 hast intrusted to me as precious lives;
53 thy power have I extended on high,
54,55 over Babylon thy city, before all mankind.
56 No city of the land have I exalted
57,58 as was exalted the reverence of th