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A balbale to Nanna (Nanna B): translation

1-26 (Ningal speaks:) "I ...... for the .......
approx. 19 lines missing
The embrace of my spouse ....... The young man ....... Among his cows ....... My beloved who ....... I shall go ......! There with the lord ......."

27-31 (Nanna addresses Ningal:) "My spouse, ......, Ningal who ......, ...... butter from the holy cows. Pure hands and ...... feet ....... My lovely .......

32-37"......, the reed-beds, the playground ....... I shall ...... sharp knives to the ...... and pointed reeds. I shall ...... to the beautiful young reeds. Mistress, ...... the treasures (?) of the ubi birds. I will gather their eggs for you, and I shall ...... the nest. High priestess of Nanna, ...... the ubi birds.

38-43"After I have ...... butter into the container, after I have ...... for cakes in the morning (?), after I have ...... carp in the great marsh, young lady, after I have ...... little kuda birds, then I will ...... your own mother Ningikuga. Ningal, I shall go with you to your house.

44-49"After I have led the cows into the stall ......, after I have ...... holy milk into the holy churn for you, after Cuni-du has done the churning, young lady, after I have given my ...... young calves milk ......, then I will ...... pats of butter and purified milk for you. Ningal, I shall go with you to your house."

50-59 (Ningal addresses Nanna:) "......, my beloved, if only I could come to you without my mother to ......! If only I could come to you without Ningikuga (?) ......!
approx. 1 line missing
Lord Nanna, bring it to me! In the dwelling of the shepherd, in the house of gleaned barley, my lord, I shall come to you in the storehouse! ......, wonder of the Land, I shall come to you! My Nanna, your chant is sweet; it is the chant of my heart."

60A balbale of Nanna.


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Revision history

01.viii.2000-03.viii.2000 : GC : adapting translation
28.ix.2000 : JAB : proofreading
04.x.2000 : GC : tagging
20.x.2000 : ER : proofreading SGML
20.x.2000 : ER : converting to HTML 4.0
7.ix.2001 : ER : header and footer reformatted; substantive content of file not changed