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Proverbs: collection 5

Segment A


5.1

1-5. {The elephant spoke to himself: "There is nothing like me among all the creatures of Šakkan!" The wren (?) answered him: "But I, in my own small way, was created just as you were!"} {(1 ms. has instead:) The elephant spoke to himself: "Among all the creatures of Šakkan, the one that can defecate like me has yet to be created!" The wren (?) answered him: "But I, in my own small way, can defecate just as much as you!"}


5.2

6. {You go like an elephant to raise a sunken boat.} {(1 ms. has instead:) An elephant is led to a sunken boat to raise it.}


5.3

7. (cf. 6.1.03.14) The wild bull is taboo for the plough.


5.4

8. "Like the wild bull, you only do what pleases you."


5.5

9. The wild bull wanders about amid the rushes.


5.6

10. The wild bull is free from the plough (?).


5.7

11. The wild bull …… I abandon the claim.

{(1 ms. adds 4 proverbs:)
5.8

11A-11B. The wild bull …… enveloped …… above …….


5.9

11C. Wild bull, you …… your strong limbs.


5.10

11D. The wild bull …… aggressively.


5.11

11E. The wild bull …….}


5.12

12. An ox will catch you in your path.


5.13

13. Like an ox, you do not know how to turn back.


5.14

14. The dog snarls at an ox scrubbed with soap.


5.15

15. The ox has been tamed; its tamers are great.


5.16

16. The ox …….


5.17

17. (cf. 6.1.02.86, 6.1.26.d6) The furrows seem pleasant to an ox on the threshing floor.


5.18

18-19. The ox …….
1 line fragmentary
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B


5.25

1-2. The ox ……
1 line fragmentary


5.26

3. From so many oxen, is there no dung?


5.27

4. If you make the oxen multiply, you may collect their dung.


5.28

5. O ox, you wander about in the street like a commissioner.


5.29

6. The owner of an ox is also happy at being the emissary at the city gate.


5.30

7. The cow jumps to her heart's content, but she does not gore.


5.31

8. O cow, like a cat you walk behind the man carrying the food basket.


5.32

9. No one will give away even a barren cow for nothing.


5.33

10.
1 line fragmentary


5.34

11. Like a cow that has not given birth, you are looking for a calf of yours that does not exist!


5.35

12. The cow walks in the marsh, the calf on the dry ground.


5.36

13-17. A calf entered ……. It did not know how to get out. When the herdsman came to inspect, he hurled the churn towards it, smashing the churn. When the calf came out, it cowered -- but the churn was still smashed.


5.37

18. Like a horse you paw the ground where you drink.


5.38

19-21. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 287) The horse, after throwing off his rider, said: "Were my load to be like this forever, how weak I would become!"


5.39

22-23. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 283) The donkey, after he had thrown off his packs, said: "Now I can forget the burdens of former days!"


5.40

24. The donkey …….
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment C


5.41

1. The donkey stumbled, and the dog …….


5.42

2-3. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 315) While the donkey was swimming in the river, the dog was busy gathering food: "When will he climb out and eat?"


5.43

4-5. He who rents a donkey for a whole year kindles a fire in the moonlight.


5.44

6. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 236) Make the donkey sit like this! Make it lift its shrivelled penis!


5.45

7. A donkey is being used to transport one shekel of silver.


5.46

8. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 234) Using a donkey in place of sheep will not provide you with an omen.


5.47

9-11. A donkey ……: "In order to grow powerful, don't let your …… dwell in the house of your brother-in-law! When you are able to support a ……, then you may choose a wife."


5.48

12-13. If you keep beating a donkey on its back, what ……?


5.49

14-15. When the donkey, walking in the desert, met ……, it roused it from where it sat.


5.50

16-17. A …… donkey came across a …… man: "Do it and then go!"


5.51

18-22. A sick donkey went up ……: "How long have you not felt well? If until now you have not felt well, …… there is a canal inspector ……. Let him come to you, and your bones will feel well again.
unknown no. of lines missing
"

Segment D


5.52

1. The donkey …… plenty of urine …….


5.53

2. A donkey …….


5.55

3-11. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 212) The lion had caught a helpless she-goat: "Let me go! I will give you my fellow ewe in return!" "If I am to let you go, tell me your name!" The she-goat answered the lion: "You do not know my name? 'I-am-cleverer-than-you' is my name!" When the lion came to the fold, {he} {(1 ms. has instead:) the lion} cried: "I release you!" She answered him from the other side: "You released me, but were you clever? As for the sheep, none live here!"


5.56

12. When the lion came to the sheepfold, there was a dog wearing a leash of spun wool.


5.57

13-16. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 211) When the lion caught a wild boar, he roared: "Your flesh has not yet filled my mouth, but your squeals have deafened my ears!"


5.58

17-19. A lion having fallen into a trap, a fox came up to him and said: "I'll take your sandals home to the other side for you!"


5.59

20. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 208 l. 1) O lion, your allies in the reedbeds are numerous.


5.60

21. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 208 l. 2) In the reedbeds the lion does not eat his acquaintance.


5.61

22-23. The lion …… the man who …… said: "I shall put in place a house without weapons."


5.62

24. The lion who lives a life of compassion will receive it.


5.63

25-26. When a lion roars, one says: "Don't drop your food!"


5.64

27. Is the lion accustomed to eating that which is milled?


5.65

28. Is the lion accustomed to performing the brewers' craft?


5.66

29-30. If the lion heats the soup, who would say "It is no good"?


5.67

31-32. No-one walks for a second time at the place where a lion has eaten a man.


5.68

33. He eats meat in the presence of a lion.


5.x1

34-35. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. A 69)
1 line missing
you drink water …….


5.x2

36-37. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. B 69) Were a lion to approach him, you would chase only the wolf away!


5.x3

38. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. A 70 = 5 Vers. B 76) You should not eat the flesh of a wolf. {(Vers. B adds:) Let me subdue it with all my might.}


5.x4

39. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. B 70) Loving the lion's fish (?), he did not know how to cut it (?).


5.x5

40-46. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. A 71 = 5 Vers. B 74) Nine wolves having caught 10 sheep, there was one too many and they did not know how to share out the portions. A fox came along and said: "Let me allocate the portions for you! The nine of you take one sheep. I by myself shall take nine -- this shall be my share!"


5.x6

47-49. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. B 71) Imagine a wolf is eating. Utu looks down on it and says: "Provided you praise me you will grow fat" would be the reply.


5.x7

50-54. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. A 72) The wolf …… the drain-pipe of a house's roof: "Last year we were nauseated (?) by your stench. Now this year we are still nauseated (?)! How much longer will we be cursed with your stench? -- Now, as for me, I am hungry! What can I eat?"


5.x8

55. (= Alster 1997 p. 133 P i 10')
1 line fragmentary


5.x9

56-57. (= Alster 1997 p. 133 P i 11') A wolf …… sat …… a lamb.


5.x10

58-64. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. B 72) While the wolf sat stuck in a trap, he said to Utu: "When I come out, let me henceforth eat no more sheep. When I am hungry, the sheep I've taken, whatever you mention -- what will they mean to me? I shall be bound by a righteous oath. -- Now, what can I eat?"


5.x11

65-66. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. A 73 = 5 Vers. B 73) The wolf wept before Utu: "The animals frisk around together, but I am all alone."


5.x12

67-68. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. A 74) He bites like a dog does when its tetherer …….


5.x13

69-70. (= Alster 1997 5 Vers. B 75) The shepherd cannot increase his flock where the wolf takes sheep.


5.75

71. Dog, you shouldn't …… bones.


5.76

72. To a dog a dream is a joy.


5.77

73-75. A dog entered a tavern and said: "I can't see a thing. I'll open this one!"


5.78

76-78. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 264) A dog said to his master: "If my pleasure is of no importance to you, then my loss should not be either!"


5.79

79. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 231 ll. 1-2) The dog does not let me sit down in his master's house.


5.80

80. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 231 ll. 3) A rabid dog hates …… the chain (?) …….


5.81

81-82. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 225) The dog understands "Take it!", but it does not understand "Put it down!"


5.82

83-84. The dog {wags his tongue (?) at a millstone} {(1 ms. has instead:) …… licks his tongue}, and says to his companion: " {(1 ms. adds:) It is an omen from heaven!} Let me clothe you in the lid of a measuring bowl!"


5.83

85-86. The dog recognises a man who loves him; as the dog is judge, so its tail acts (?) as commissioner!


5.84

87-89. The dog gnawing on a bone says to his anus: "This is going to hurt you!"


5.85

90-91. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 228) A dog which …… sheep-fat -- "dog" is indeed its name.


5.86

92. A dog does not stand still on the ferry-boat!


5.87

93-94. A dog ……
1 line fragmentary


5.88

95-99. When the dog goes out into an orchard to get dates, the owner of the orchard chases him away. The thief …… goes out …… dates.
1 line fragmentary


5.89

100-101. A dog ……
1 line fragmentary


5.90

102. A dog …….


5.91

103-104. A dog ……
1 line fragmentary


5.92

105. Like a dog, he hates to grovel.


5.93

106. (cf. 6.1.03.95) He growls like a dog struck by a ball (?).


5.94

107. Control the dog, but love the puppy!


5.95

108. (cf. 6.2.2: MDP 27 102) An angry dog …….


5.96

109. To purchase a dog is within your sights; to purchase a waggon is to be destroyed.


5.97

110. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 223) A dog which is played with turns into a puppy.


5.98

111-112. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 324) He cried out like a dog in a frenzy; its reward was having its skin flayed.


5.99

113. Like rabid dogs, …… their paws in the moonlight.


5.100

114. Like a rabid dog …….


5.101

115. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 309) You behave like a rabid dog stretching his neck into the river (?) …….


5.102

116-125. A dog entered a warehouse. The merchant broke his leg with a wooden door-bolt: "Get out of here!" The dog questioned his tail: "Is there something behind me?" "Those things which make you happy!" it was told. "Well then, let me go back again tonight and receive something!" And so, upon his return, his leg was again broken. He dragged his tail and sat in the street. A second time he questioned his tail: "Did the bolt just come out from in front of you, like before?"


5.103

126-128. The dog …… winter ……:
1 line fragmentary "The start of summer will tease my nose!"


5.104

129-130. The dog …… a yoke does not adorn (?) anything: "…… behind you a fattened ox is being slaughtered."


5.105

131. The dog …… the shepherd …… his throat …….


5.106

132-133. (cf. 6.2.2: MDP 27 82, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 224) A chained dog starts a fight. Would you not roar at that dog ……?


5.107

134-135. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 222) If a dog snarls, throw a morsel into his mouth.


5.108

136-137. The dog has been taught to pay attention; as long as he pays attention, he may escape his chain.


5.109

138. A dog climbed up onto the roof.


5.110

139. Dog, you are counting sheep.


5.111

140. Like a dog you have nowhere to sleep.


5.112

141. He is a dog without a tail.


5.114

142-143. …… they roared at the dog …… cried out …….


5.115

144. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 230 ll. 1-2) The dog collects bones.


5.116

145-147. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 230 ll. 3-5) A dog went to a party. When he saw the bones there, he left, saying: "Where I am going, I shall get more to eat than this!"


5.117

148. When a bitch eats …… food and drink, the puppies will have no teeth.


5.118

149. When the bitch is weakened from ……, the puppies will not be able to open their eyes.


5.119

150-152. Bitches advise their young: "You should not eat the food from a funeral offering. When the person has brought it here, they will eat it."


5.120

153. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 232) Like a whelping bitch he bites the workmen.


5.121

154. Like a man's bitch you are walking behind a shaven-headed man.


5.122

155. Like the bitch of a scribe, he struts through the fields as though he were in charge (?).


5.123

156-157. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 313) Thus says the bitch to the kid goat: "Whether you are yellow or mottled, I still love my little ones."


5.124

158-159. The bitch is a fool: bread is the food ration for her mouth, and a …… is the judge for her anus!


5.125

160-161. When we have a bitch and have caught hold of her, only then will we give her a name.

Segment E

(unplaced)
5.e1

1. (= Alster 1997 p. 121 D i 1 = Gordon 1958 5.19)
1 line fragmentary


5.e2

2-3. (= Alster 1997 p. 121 D i 2 = Gordon 1958 5.20)
2 lines fragmentary



Revision history

29.iv.2002-07.iv.2002: JT, editor: adapting translation
15.x.2002: JAB, editor: proofreading
16.xii.2002: GC, editor: SGML tagging
20.vi.2003: JE, editor: web publication
01.vi.2003: GC/JE, editor/technical developer: XML/TEI conversion

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