THE   MAGICAL   TEXTS
 

THE  MAQLU  SERIES

FIRST TABLET

INCANTATION.    I cafl unto you, gods of the night.
Together with you I call unto the night, unto the
veiled mistress;
I cafl at evening, at midnight, and at dawn.
Because the sorceress has enchanted me (and)
The charmer has banned me.
My god and my goddess cry aloud over me.
I am in sore distress because of my deafness,
I stand upright, I do not lay me down night or day.
They have filled my mouth with cords.
They have stopped up my mouth with upuntu-weed.
They have denied me water to drink;
My mirth has become misery, my joy sadness.
Arise, great gods, hearken unto my complaint.
Plead my cause and look Into my behaviour!
I have made an image of my sorcerer and my sorceress.
Of my enchanter and my enchantress.
I cast myself at your feet and make my complaint:
Because they have done evil things, and have sought out

that which Is impure,
May every one of them die, but may I five!
May their sorcery, their witchcraft, their bewitchment be

loosed!
May the binu-tree, whose bark (?) is torn off (?), purify me!
May * * * loose me, may obstinacy of the mouth be cast

to the winds!

37*