BEOWULF— MARDUK THE FIRST GASSER 393 



The terrible winds filled her belly, 



And her courage was taken from her and her mouth she opened 



wide. 

 His spear he seized, and broke through her belly. 

 He severed her inward parts, he pierced her heart." 



Then for a while Marduk rested but, arising, 



" He split her body up like a flat fish into two halves. 

 One half of her he set in place as a covering for the heavens. 

 He fixed a bolt, he stationed watchmen. 

 And bade them not to let her waters come forth." 



Finally to their hero and saviour the gods accord a 

 triumphant welcome, and 



" Presents and gifts they brought unto him." * 



working his wind-bags with all the concentration of a Hun working his 

 machine-gun. See G. Perrot — C. Chipiez, Histoire de I'Art dans I'antiquiti 

 (Paris, 1903), VIII. 368 and 375, fig. 172. 



* Cf. Babylonian Religion {op. cit.), pp. 62-85. 



