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King Gilgamesh and Enkidu,
the Sasquatch
Enkidu's body was rough, he had long golden hair like a woman;
it waved like the hair of Nisaba, the goddess of corn.
His body was completely covered with matted hair
like Samugan's, the god of cattle.
He was innocent of mankind; and knew nothing of cultivation.
Enkidu ate grass in the hills with the gazelle,
and lurked with wild beasts at the water-holes;
he had joy of the water with the herds of wild game.
But there was a famous young trapper
who met him one day face to face
at the drinking-hole, for the wild game
had entered the trapper's territory.
On three days the trapper met
the wild man face to face
and the trapper was frozen with fear.
He went back to his house with the game he had caught,
he was dumb-founded, and completely benumbed with terror.
His face was altered like that of one who has made a long journey.
With awe in his heart he spoke to his father:
"Father, there is a man, unlike any other, who comes down from the hills.
He is the strongest in the world,
he is like an immortal from heaven. He ranges over
the hills with wild beasts and eats grass; and
ranges through your land and comes down to the wells.
I am afraid, and dare not go near him.
He fills in the pits which I dig,
and tears up-my traps set for the game;
he helps the beasts to escape,
and now they slip through my fingers..."
His father opened his mouth and said to the trapper,
"My son, in Uruk lives Gilgamesh; no one has ever prevailed against him,
he is strong as a star from heaven. Go to Uruk, find Gilgamesh,
extol the strength of this wild man. Ask him to give you a temple Priestess.
Return with her, and let her woman's power
overpower this man."
Later, the Priestess chosen to cultivate and educate
the forest man into the arts of civilization,
took him by his hand, and led him like a child
to the sheepfolds, into the shepherds' tents.
There all the shepherds crowded round to see him,
they put down bread in front of him,
but Enkidu could only suck the milk of wild animals.
He fumbled and gaped at a loss of what to do,
or how he should eat the bread and drink the strong wine.
Then the woman said, "Enkidu, eat bread, it is the staff of life;
drink the wine, it is the custom of the land."
So he ate till he was full, and drank strong wine, seven goblets full,
He became merry, his heart exulted and his face shone.
He rubbed down the matted hair of his body
and anointed himself with oil.
Enkidu had become a man;
but when he had put on man's clothing
he appeared like a bridegroom.
He took arms to hunt the lion
so the shepherds could rest at night.
He caught wolves and lions,
and the herdsmen lay down in peace;
for Enkidu was their watchman,
that strong man who had no rival...
Short Excerpts from 'Epic of Gilgamesh' about 2,700 BC: Continued in Part 2
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