he lifting up of my hands pay attention;
29 eat his food, receive the victim, give his god (for a support) to
his hand!
30 By his order let his shortcomings be pardoned! let his
transgressions be blotted out!
31 May his trouble leave him! may he recover from his disease!
32 Give back life to the King![4]
33 Then, on the day that he revives, may thy sublimity envelop him!
34 Direct the King who is in subjection to thee!
35 And me, the magician, thy humble servant, direct me!

[Footnote 1: There is no Assyrian version of this line; we have only the
Accadian.]

[Footnote 2: The invalid on behalf of whom the invocation is recited.]

[Footnote 3: The pious man.]

[Footnote 4: From this verse onward the Assyrian version is wanting.]

FIFTH HYMN [Footnote: Cf. also "Chaldean Magic," pp. 185, 186.]

1 Magical incantation.
2 I have invoked thee, O Sun, in the midst of the high
heavens.
3 Thou art in the shadow of the cedar, and
4 thy feet rest on the summits.
5 The countries have called thee eagerly, they have directed
their looks toward thee, O Friend;
6 thy brilliant light illuminates every land,
7 overthrowing all that impedes thee, assemble the countries,
8 for thou, O Sun, knowest their boundaries.
9 Thou who annihilatest falsehood, who dissipatest the evil
influence
10 of wonders, omens, sorceries, dreams, evil apparitions,
11 who turnest to a happy issue malicious designs, who annihilatest
men and countries
12 that devote themselves to fatal sorceries, I have taken
refuge in thy presence.
13 ...[1]
14 Do not allow those who make spells, and are hardened, to
arise;
15 Frighten their heart...[2]
16 Settle also, O Sun, light of the great gods.
17 Right into my marrow, O Lords of breath, that I may rejoice, even I.
18 May the gods who have created me take my hands!
19 Direct the breath of my mouth! my hands
20 direct them also, Lord, light of the legions of the heavens,
Sun, O Judge!
21 The day, the month, the year...[2]
22 ...[2] conjure the spell!
23 ...[2] deliver from the infirmity!

[Footnote 1: Here I am obliged to omit a line, which I cannot yet make
out.]

[Footnote 2: Lacunae.]

TWO ACCADIAN HYMNS

TRANSLATED BY REV. A.H. SAYCE, M.A.

The two following hymns, both of which are unfortunately mutilated, are
interesting from their subject-matter. The first is addressed to the
sun-god Tammuz, the husband of