Gilgamesh Part 2 Humbubba the Dragon Hello, this is Richard, and this is the second part of our epic story from

ancient Mesopotamia. Its hero is a king called Gilgamesh, and he has been joined by a wild man called

Enkidu, who is now his adopted brother.

Enkidu stayed at the Palace of Gilgamesh as an honored guest, and in the evening he joined

the feasting in the Great Hall while the musicians played on drums, flutes and trumpets. The two strongmen drank toasts to one another's

long life and health. Gilgamesh the king stood up and the banqueters fell quiet. He turned

to his friend and made the following speech.

Enkidu, you lived among the wild beasts, drunk at the animal's waterhole, and fought wolves

with your bare hands.

In a dream, I found a great axe that had fallen from the sky, and my wise mother,

Ninsan, the cow goddess goddess told me that you would come to the

glistening city of Uruk and that you would be a friend a brother and a protector to me and that

I would love you as a wife welcome Welcome, dear Enkidu, to our city and our family.

Now that we are united in strength, we must find some worthy quest to undertake,

for it is the fate of humans to live for a short time and then to die.

Only by performing some great feat can we live forever on the lips of poets and storytellers.

Now think, my brother, and tell me, for you have lived among the wild lands.

What challenge do you know of that would be worthy of two great men of strength, such as we?

While Enkidu listened to these words, he began to weep, prompting Gilgamesh to ask,

My brother, what troubles you so?

And Enkidu replied,

You asked if I knew of a feat of strength and courage we could attempt that would be worthy of everlasting glory.

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