191 - Then once again at break of day did Gilgamesh conclude the silent night by being first to raise his hands and voice and he said: "Oh Enkidu, whose own mother's grace was every bit as sweet as any deer's and whose father raced just as swift and stood as strong as any horse that ever ran, accept all natural customs within the limitless confines of the wild where you were raised by those with tails, by those with hooves, by those with fur and whiskers.

192 - All the roads in and out of your great forest now lie silent, but for the sobbing done by your wild friends. The aged men and women of Uruk mourn today and raise their withered palms in prayer as we carry you by, toward Mount Kur.

193 - Grottos weep for you and valleys too and so do those great trees upon the shore where you loved to run. And also crying now are large bears, little dogs, baby cubs of lions and of tigers, and even the hyena now has ceased its laugh.

194 - Wild bull and the rapidest of deer All, all, all sigh, All, all, all cry for you.

195 - Ulay's lovely riverbanks are swollen on this day where you did walk as boys alone can do upon the banks of rivers that mother their young thoughts about life and death.

197 - They all weep tears today and those in Eridu, who loved your fame, and say your name aloud, they too weep tears today and all in days to come, even those who knew you not, all may weep tears someday for your sad lot.

198 - Your favorite aunt, your blessed servant, your first girlfriend, your inspiration, your companion, your darling dear and she you feared to be alone with, all women who ever sat and ate with you, all men you ever helped with food or drink, every one and all, lovers fast and strangers slow.

199 - Those you touched or who touched you and those who never knew just how you felt. All and every burst into tears today because they heard that you were suddenly dead."

201 - I cry now, Enkidu, like some crazed woman. I howl. I screech for you because you were the ax upon my belt and the bow in my weak hand; the sword within my sheath, the shield that covered me in battle; my happiest robe, the finest clothes I ever wore, the ones that made me look best in the eyes of the world.

202 - That is what you were; that is what you'll always be. What devil came to take you off from me? Brother, you chased down the strongest mule, the swiftest horse on mountains high, the quickest panthers in the flatlands.

203 - And they in turn will weep for you. Birds in the air cry aloud. Fish in the lake gather together near the shore. What else heeds this sorrow? The leaves of the trees and the paths you loved in the forest grow dark.

205 - When we met and fought and loved, we went up on mountains high to where we dared to capture god's own strength in one great beast and then to cut its throat, thus humbling Humbaba, green god of woodlands steep.

206 - Now there is a sleep-like spell on you, and you are dark as well as deaf."

207 - Enkidu can move no more. Enkidu can lift his head no more. "Now there is a sound throughout the land that can mean only one thing. I hear the voice of grief and I know that you have been taken somewhere by death.

208 - Weep. Let the roads we walked together flood themselves with tears. Let the beasts we hunted cry out for this: the lion and the leopard, the tiger and the panther. Let their strength be put into their tears.

209 - Let the cloud-like mountain where you killed the guardian of woodland treasures place grief upon its sky-blue top.

211 - Let the rain that makes us dream tell the story of your life tonight. Who mourns for you now, Brother? Everyone who knew you does.

212 - The harvesters and the farmers who used to bring you grain are standing alone in their fields. The servants who worked in your house today whispered your name in empty rooms.

213 - The lover who kissed every part of you touches her chilled lips with scented fingers. The women of the palace sit and stare at the queen of the city. She sobs and sobs and sobs.

214 - The men with whom you played so bold speak fondly of your name. Thus they deal with this misfortune. But what do I do? I only know that a cruel fate robbed me of my dearest friend too soon.

215 - What state of being holds you now? Are you lost forever? Do you hear my song?" "I placed my hand upon your quiet heart." One brother covered the set face of another with a bride-white veil. "I flew above you then as if I were an eagle."

217 - He commands many men to erect statues of honor, saying: "Make his chest a noble blue and on his honored body place a jewel as will allow all viewers then to see how great he was, how great he'll always be."

218 - Next day, Gilgamesh rose from a restless sleep.

219 - Then Gilgamesh continued with his bird-like words: "On a pedestal I will honor your corpse by setting you above all earthly princes who will celebrate you when people from all distant lands both rich and poor in spirit acclaim your memory.

220 - And when you are gone, never again to wear good clothes or care for food, I'll still remember how you dressed and how you ate.

221 - When day did break again next morn, Gilgamesh stripped off the lion's cloak and rose to say this prayer: "Your funeral is a precious gesture I made to hide my own guilt."