[Footnote 2: "Mid-an-nu," carnivorous animal, supposed to be a lion, the
pet of the seer.]

[Footnote 3: This feat of Izdubar is portrayed on the bas-relief in the
Louvre Museum, Paris, from the Khorsabad sculpture, and is also copied in
Sayce's edition of Smith's "Chaldean Account of Genesis." opposite p.
175.]



TABLET IV[1]--COLUMN I

THE ANNUAL SALE OF THE MAIDENS OF BABYLON


Hail holy union! wedded love on earth!
The highest bliss which crowns us from our birth,
Our joy! the mainspring of our life and aims,
Our great incentive when sweet love inflames
Our hearts to glorious deeds and ever wreathes
Around our brows, the happy smile that breathes
Sweet fragrance from the home of holy love,
And arms us with a courage from above.

O Woman! Woman! weave thy love around
Thy chosen lover, who in thee hath found
A loveliness and purity so sweet,
That he doth watch for coming of the feet
That brings him happiness and thrill his heart--
For one, of all thy kind who can impart