(click
here
for music.)The Speech of Gilgamesh
(click
here
for music.)
My friends, I fear that I might be a poor man to begin this speech. I have wandered to the ends of the earth, gone on many great adventures, and pushed myself to the very edge of my abilities. The most pointless of all these challenges was that of love.
In my life, I loved many times. I loved every woman in my kingdom. I loved my subjects. I have loved adventure. I have climbed to the tops of the tallest of the mountains and seen vistas whose memory still stirs me to feelings of love. But all of this is for naught. It’s all so sugarless (1), for nothing compares to the love I felt for my companion.
You are perhaps familiar with my faithful companion Enkidu. I was told that I would love Enkidu as I would love my wife. Indeed, I did love Enkidu as a man should love his wife. I stood by him. I made him my very equal. I bestowed upon him a name above all other names, that of my very companion. Together, we set out to conquer all that oppressed us. Aye, I loved Enkidu, and still, he rests in the arms of death all the same.
I gave for him all I could. Perhaps the Great Prophet says that
there is no greater love than for a man to lay down his life for his friend. I would have gladly done this
for Enkidu. For him, I would have sacrificed the very thing that I sought to make eternal. And what
has this gained me? Nothing! My life is nothing more than misery for my friend. If the greatest
love has brought me thus, can any of the lesser loves be any better?
 previous page |
