24. let me go and thy speech repeat to the queen Ninkigal.
25. The keeper entered and called to Ninkigal:
26. this water thy sister Ishtar . . . .
27. . . . . of the great vaults . . . .
28. Ninkigal on her hearing this
29. like the cutting off of . . . .
30. like the bite of an insect it . . . .
31. Will her heart support it, will her spirit uphold it;
32. this water I with . . . .
33. like food eaten like jugs of water drank . . .
34. Let her mourn for the husbands who forsake their wives.
35. Let her mourn for the wives who from the bosom of their husbands depart.
36. for the children who miscarry let her mourn, who are not born in their proper time.
37. Go keeper open thy gate
38. and enclose her like former visitors.
39. The keeper went and opened his gate,
40. on entering lady may the city of Cutha be . .
41. the palace of Hades is rejoicing at thy presence.
42. The first gate he passed her through and drew her in, and he took away the great crown of her head.
43. Why keeper hast thou taken away the great crown of my head.
44. On Entering lady, the goddess of the lower regions does thus with her visitors.
45. The second gate he passed her through and
