TRANSLATION by K. C. Hanson Adapted from Gordon 1977; Gibson 1977; Greenstein 1996 |
(1.14, col. 1, lines 1-21) [Regarding K]ret [. . . . . . . . . . . ] [. . . ki]ng [. . .] [. . . .] El [. . . .] [. . . . . . .] river The clan [of Kret] died out; the house of the [k]ing was destroyed, though there were seven [br]others, eight sons of a mother. Kret, his children wiped out, Kret is devoid of an estate. He had taken his wife, his destined bride. He took a wife, but she departed. Progeny by a mother had been his:
1/4 of disease, 1/5 Reshef carried off, 1/6 by the Lads of Yamm, 1/7 fell by the sword. (1.14, col. 1, lines 21-35) Kret sees his progeny, sees his progeny ruined, greatly depleted of his power. And in its totality a family has died off, and in its entirety the succession. He enters his room, he weeps. While uttering [w]ords, he sheds tears. His tears are poured like sheqels on the ground, like 1/5-sheqels on the bed. As he cries, he falls asleep; while he sheds tears—sleep. Sleep overcomes him; he lies in sleep and is startled. (1.14, col. 1, lines 35-43) And in his dream, El descends, in his vision, the Father of Humanity. And he draws close, asking Kret, "Who is Kret that he should cry the Good One, the Lad of El, that he should shed tears? Does he desire the monarchy of the [B]ull, his father, or sovereign[ty] like the Father of Humanity?" —approximately 6-7 lines missing— (1.14, col. 1, lines 52-) ["Why do I need silver,] [and yellow gold] together with its place, [and] perpetual slaves, teams of three [horses], chariots from the courtyard of a handmaid’s son? [Grant] that I may get [sons]; [grant] that I may increase [offspr]ing" Bull, his Father El, [answers], [" . . . . .] while weeping, Kret, while shedding tears, O Good One, Lad of El, you shall wash and redden yourself. Wash your [ha]nds (to) the elbow |