Hades; 14 the Baron gates of Hades will open before thee, 15 Nin-ki-gal will see thee and be pleased with thee. 16 When, her mind shall be grown calm, and her anger shall be worn off 17 awe her with the names of the great gods! 18 Prepare thy frauds! On deceitful tricks fix thy mind ! 19 The chiefest deceitful trick ! Bring Forth fishes of the waters out of an empty vessel ![1] 20 This thing will please Nin-ki-gal: 21 then to Ishtar she will restore her clothing. 22 A great reward for these things shall not fail. 23 Go save her. Phantom ! and the great assembly of the people shall crown thee ! 24 Meats, the first of the city, shall be thy food ! 25 Wine, the most delicious in the city, shall be thy drink ! 26 To be the Ruler of a palace shall be thy rank ! 27 A throne of shall be thy seat ! 24 Magician and Conjuror shall bow down before thee.' " 29 Nin-ki-gal[2] opened her mouth and spoke ; 30 to Namtar her messenger a command she gave: 31'Go, Namtar! clothe the Temple of Justice[3] 32 Adorn the images (?) and the altars (?) ! 33 Bring out Anunnak [4] ! Seat him on a golden throne ! 34 Pour out for Ishtar the waters of life, and let her depart from my dominions !' 35 Namtar went, and clothed the Temple of Justice; 36 he adorned the images and the alters; 37 he brought out Anunnak; on a golden throno he seated him; 38 he poured out for Ishtar the waters of life, and let her go. 39 Then the first gate let her forth. and restored to her— the first garment of her body. 40 The second gate let her forth, and re- stored to her — the diamonds of her hands and feet. 4l The third gate let her forth, and restored to her — the central girdle of her waist. 42 The fourth gate let her forth, and restored to her— the small lovely gems of her forehead. 43 The fifth gate let her forth, and restored to her — the precious stones of her head. 44 The sixth gate let her forth, and restored to her—the earrings of her ears. 45 The seventh gate let her forth, and restored to her — the great Crown on her hand,"[5]
Having devoted so much space to the first volume, we can hardly do justice to the second somewhat larger one. devoted to Egyptian texts, with an interesting preface by the general editor, who also contributes the translations of the Inscription of Una, and four texts under the general heading of the Annals of Tothmes. The other papers are Instructions of Amenemhat, by G. Mas- pero ; the War of Barneses II. with the Khita, by Prof, Lushington; Inscription of Piuuchi Mer- Amon, by the Eev. Canon Cook ; Tablet of Newcr- Hotep, by P. Pierret ; Travels of an Egyptian, by Fr. Chabas ; Lamentations of l>is and fTephthj P. J. de Horrack ; Hymn to Amen-Ra, and Tale of the Doomed Prince, by C. W I loodwin ; and Tale of the Two Brothers — in which a story very like that Joseph and Znleika forms the turning point — by P. Le Page Renouf; with Calendar, Table of Dynasties, Weights and Measures ; and a list of further texts for translation, — tho Assyrian ar- ranged by G, Smith, and the Egyptian by P. LePage Renouf, — which lists sufficiently indicate tha large extent of these literatures as already known to us. A third volume is also announced, containing among other interesting tests the Deluge Tablet and the Assyrian Canon of Berosus. orge Smith. m the Lxovaoks, Litekytitre, and Religion of i r, and Tibet : together with farther papers on the
- mphy, Etymology, and Commerce of those countries.
By B. H. Hodgaon, Esq. Reprinted v»tth corrections and additions from " ninstrations of the Literature and Religion of the Buddhists," Serampore, 1841 > and "Selections from the Records of the Govonimem of Bengal," No. xxvii. 1867- London : Trubtier and Co. The anonymous editor of this volume informs us that the articles in it are reprints of the papers as first reprinted in tho Pin mix, consisting of the original essays in the "Illustrations" nod volume of " Selections," with numerous marginal notes, introduced into the text, from Mr Hodgson's own copies of these two volumes. To the papers that appeared in the Plmtiix only eight ; Dtplefi- ing the paper on the ' commerce of Nepal," have been added. Hence tho present volume wants three of the papers that appeared in the " Illustra- tions," viz. — ■ IX. Eemarks on an Inscription in the Kancha and Tibetan characters' ; ' X, Account of a visit to the ruins of Simrotin* ; and ' XII. Extract of Proceedings of tho Royal Asiatic Society " : and of those that appeared in the" Selections"— 'IV. Route from Kathraandu to Darjtlinp" ; ' V. Route of Nepalese mission to Pekin" ; 'Xil. 1, Some account of the systems of Law and Police as re- cognized in the state of Ne] AT ; and, ' 2, On the Law and Legal Practice of Nepal as regards familiar intercourse between a Hindu and an outcast.' Those are serious deficiencies, and all the in
- ↑ The present legend was probably a kind of Miracle Play which was actually performed in one of the temples. Juggling tricks, which have been known in the east from time immemorial (vide Pharaoh's magicians), were probably introduced for the amusement of the audience. Only one is related here, but there have been many more.
- ↑ The thing commanded are now supposed to have been successfully performed.
- ↑ This seems to be the final scene of the Play, representing a magnificent hall or jxtlaoe.
- ↑ A Genius, who is often mentioned. Here he seems to be part of a judge, pronouncing the absolution of Ishtar.
- ↑ There are 13 more lines, but they are much broken, and they appear not to relate to the above legend. At any rate they belong to another Chapter of it, which has not been hitherto alluded to. A satisfactory translation of them can therefore hardly be given.
