SAA 10 294. The Forlorn Scholar (ABL 1285) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Urad-Gula]. [The best of health to the king, my lord]! May Marduk and [Zarpanitu, Nabû and Tašmetu, Ištar of Nineveh and Ištar] of Arbe[la, Ninurta and Gula, Nergal and Laṣ] very greatly bless [the king my lord, the jus]t one! May they bestow [long days and everlasting years] upon the king, my lord!

(6) [May the great gods of Heaven and Earth] constantly bless your kingship, [may they love the pure] sacrifices you offer and [appreci]ate your priesthood, may they guard your steps [and straighten your path], may they defeat your enemies, slay your foes, dri[ve off your adversaries] and pick up their possessions; may they make your leadership as beneficial as choicest oil to the totality of all nations; may they keep the foundation of your throne firm as a rock forever; may Šamaš, the light of Heaven and Earth, be receptive to a just verdict concerning you.

(13) May the king, my lord, heed the case of his servant, let the king see the whole situation! Initially, in (the days of) the king's father, I was a poor man, son of a poor man, a dead dog, a vile and limited person. He lifted me from the dung heap; I got to receive gifts from him, and my name was mentioned among men of good fortune. I used to enjoy generous 'leftovers'; intermittently, he used to give me a mule [or] an ox, and yearly I earned a mina or two of silver.

(19) [In the days] of my lord's crownprincehood I received 'leftovers' with your exorcists; I stood [at] the window openings, keeping watch; all the days that I spent in his service I guarded his privileges, I did not enter the house of a eunuch or a courtier without his permission. I was looked upon as one who eats lion's morsels, I appeased your god. Now, following his father, the king my lord has added to the good name he had established, but I have not been treated in accordance with my deeds; I have suffered as never before, and given up the ghost.

(26) Improper conduct, whispering about and revealing a secret are detestable things; I guarded the privileges of the king my lord, but I did not find benefactors. I endured [...] words, [I made] (my) office (my) night's resting place, I taught the servants, the non-eunuchs and eunuchs alike, submission, toil and fear of the palace, and what did I get for it?

(31) If it is befitting that first-ranking scholars and (their) assistants receive mules, (surely) I should be granted one donkey; like[wise], (as) oxen are apportioned in Tebet (X), I too should [...] one ox!

(34) Two or three times within a month three to four [... are give]n to [...];

(35) [even ...an ap]prentice [of the] assistant [... ge]ts [... and] enjoys [a sh]eep [......]; but [me], [what (compensation) do I d]raw, or for what pur[pose do I w]ork?

(38) I cannot look at the [......] of the king, no[r ......]

(39) [......] Day and night I pray to the king in front of the lion's pit [...... which ...] are not ... with morsels [......] my heart amidst my colleagues [......]

(b.e. 42) (Break)

(45) [......] and likewise among my brothers [......]

(r 1) [......] a medical potion, ointment[s ......]

(r 2) [......] aren't ewes [......] in this manner?

(r 3) [......]... [I sent] a letter to the king my lord through Šarru-nuri the eunuch; but I (only) heaped up the grief of my heart, writing to the king, my lord.

(r 5) The very same evening [...] the king sent a letter to his servant, [saying "I did not k]now that you are having such a hard time; (for) I [......] did send for you." The word of the king my lord is as difficult as a mountain!

(r 8) I placed the letter in safekeeping at the throne of Nabû and guarded it like (my) only son; (but) if my distress has in any way slackened, the king my lord should be very happy indeed. He should have remembered his servant, saying "Let him receive my necklace while [I] am looking on." There is another saying, too: "He who has been stabbed in the back has (still) got a mouth to speak, but he who has been stabbed in the mouth, how can he speak?"

(r 13) It is two years now since the two be[asts of mine] died; I have walked three times to Arbela and once to the city of Assur, (but) who has showed me any compassion by taking me by the hand or [leading me] into the presence of the king my lord? Why did the king summon an exorcist from Ekallate, while I had to take to the back (lit. desert) roads because of people asking me: "Why do you go on foot?"

(r 18) People pass my house, the mighty on palanquins, the assistants in carts, (even) the juniors on mules, and I have to walk!

(r 20) Perhaps the king will say: "He is a citizen." The king can ask (anyone): My father portioned out 6 homers of field with his brother Nabû-zeru-lešir; I and my brother got three homers each, and in addition two souls! By the grace of the king my lord I have purchased 5 or 6 souls.

(r 23) I have visited the Kidmuru temple and arranged a banquet, (yet) my wife has embarrassed me; for five years (she has been) neither dead nor alive, and I have no son. This year three women have fallen to me; but I have no farmer, no farm equipment, no farm. By Anu, Enlil and Ea who are firmly implanted in the head of the king, my lord, I cannot (even) afford a pair of sandals or the wages of a tailor, I have not got a spare suit of clothes, and I have incurred a debt of almost six minas of silver, plus the interest.

(r 30) [Also], I am [50?] years (already) and they say: "Once you have reached old age, who will support you?" [The king] is not pleased with me; I go to the palace, I am no good; [I turned to] a prophet (but) did not find [any hop]e, he was adverse and did not see much. [O king] my [lord], seeing you is happiness, your attention is a fortune!

(r 34) May the kin[g's .... heart] soften, and may he at least send me the two beasts, [......]..., and a spare suit of clothes! Guarding [......]..., for the crownprincehood of the king, my lord [...]

(r 37) [The king my lord] knows me since the time he was a child; I have (always) said: "No [...]

(r 38) (Break)

(e. 1) [...] robbery [.....]... with whom will the king brighte[n ......]

(e. 2) who would see [......] and gra[sp] his [... will] not lif[t ......]