19. . . . . . . thy resting place
20. . . . . . . thy feet
21. . . . . . . may they destroy
22. . . . . . . thee may they invoke
23. . . . . . . they gave
. . . . . . .
After many lines destroyed, the story recommences in the fourth column.
Column IV.
1. [To Hades the country unseen] I turn myself,
2. I spread like a bird my wings.
3. I descend, I descend to the house of darkness, to the dwelling of the god Irkalla :
4. To the house entering which there is no exit,
5. to the road the course of which never returns:
6. To the house in which the dwellers long for light,
7. the place where dust is their nourishment and their food mud.
8. Its chiefs also are like birds covered with feathers
9. and light is never seen, in darkness they dwell.
10. In the house my friend which I will enter,
11. for me is treasured up a crown;
12. with those wearing crowns who from days of old ruled the earth,
13. to whom the gods Anu and Bel have given terrible names.
14. The food is made carrion, they drink stagnant water.
