Ilimilku the Scribe · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Bull [El] [our father(?).'] [And] [Lady] Athira[t] [of the Sea] [answered:]
['Hear,] [O Qadesh-]
and-Amra[r,] [fisherman] [of Lady]
Athirat of the Sea: [saddle] [the donkey,]
harness the stallion; se[t on] [the trappings] [of]
silver, the golden [bridle(?);]
prepare the trappings of [my] she-ass!'
Qadesh-and-Amrar obeyed:
he saddled the donkey, harnessed the stallion,
set on the trappings of silver,
the golden bridle(?);
he prepared the trappings of her she-ass.
Qadesh-and-Amrar embraced her
and set Athirat on the donkey's back,
on the splendid place of the stallion's back.
Qadesh took hold of a torch(?);
Amrar went like a star before her —
behind came the Virgin Anat,
while Baal made off for the heights of Sapan.
Then indeed she set her face
toward El at the springs of the two rivers,
amid the channels of the two deeps.
She came to the mound of El and entered
the dwelling of the King, the Father of Years.
At the feet of El she bowed and fell,
prostrated herself and honored him.
As soon as El saw her,
he parted his jaws(?) and laughed;
his feet he set on the footstool, and he twirled
his fingers. He lifted his voice and cr[ied:]
'How is it Lady Athira[t] [of the S]ea has come?
How has the Creatress of the g[ods] arrived?
Are you truly hungry, having wan[dered far(?)] —
or truly thirsty, having pres[sed on(?) through the night(?)?]
Eat — or drink! E[at]
bread from the tables; drink
wine from the flagons — from a cup of gold,
the blood of vines. Or does the love(?) of El the King
stir you — the affection of the Bull arouse you?'
And Lady Athirat of the Sea answered:
'Your decree, El, is wise — wise
unto everlasting; a life of good fortune,
your decree. Our king is Mightiest Baal —
our judge, and there is none above him!
Together let us ca[rr]y his cha[lice;]
together let us carry his cup!'
[Groan]ing, Bull El his father indeed cries out —
[E]l the King who established him; Athirat cries out,
and her sons — the goddess, and the band of
her kin: 'So Baal has no house
like the gods', no court like the sons of Athirat's!
The dwelling of El is the shelter of his sons;
the dwelling of Lady Athirat of the Sea
is the dwelling of the honored brides —
the dwelling of Pidray, Daughter of Light,
the shelter of Tallay, Daughter of Rain,
the dwelling of Arsay, Daughter of the Wide World.'
And the Kindly One, El the Compassionate, answered:
'Am I a slave, then — an attendant of Athirat?
Am I a slave, to take up the trowel(?) —
or Athirat a serving-girl, to mold
the bricks? A house shall be built for Baal