"Knowing he was doomed, Humbaba cried out,
"I curse you both. Because you have done this,
may Enkidu die, may he die in great pain,
may Gilgamesh be inconsolable,
may his merciless heart be crushed with grief."
Gilgamesh dropped his axe, appalled.
Enkidu said, "Courage, dear friend.
Close your ears to Humbaba's curses.
Don't listen to a word. Slaughter him! Now!"
Gilgamesh, hearing his beloved friend,
came to himself. He yelled, he lifted
his massive axe, he swung it, it tore
into Humbaba's neck, the blood
shot out..."
From Book V of Gilgamesh, A new English version by Stephen Mitchell
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