In Mr. George Smith’s _History of Assyria from the Monuments_, there is a translation of an Assyrian tablet from Assur-bani-pal’s library. The tablet is on the charms to expel evil curses and spells. “It is supposed in it,” says Mr. Smith, “that a man was under a curse, and Merodach, one of the gods, seeing him next to the god Hea, his father, enquired how to cure him. Hea, the god of wisdom, in answer related the ceremonies and incantations for effecting his recovery, and these are recorded in the tablet for the benefit of the faithful in after times.”
1. The evil curse like a demon fixes on a man 2. a raging voice over him is fixed 3. an evil voice over him is fixed 4. the evil curse is a great calamity 5. that man the evil curse slaughters like a lamb 6. his god from over him departs 7. his goddess stands angry at his side 8. the raging voice like a cloak covers him and bears him away 9. the god Merodach saw him and 10. to his father Hea into the house he entered and said 11. My father, the evil curse like a demon fixes on a man 12. And a second time he spake to him 13. To cure that man I am not able, explain to me how to do it. 14. Hea to his son Merodach answered 15. My son, thou knowest not how, I will recount to thee how to do it, 16. Merodach, thou knowest not how, I will reveal to thee how to do it, 17. What I know, thou shalt know. 18. Go my son Merodach. 19. pure — — — carry to him 20. that spell break, and that spell remove. 21. From the curse of his father 22. from the curse of his mother 23. from the curse of his elder brother 24. from the curse of the incantation which the man does not know 25. the spell in the words of the lips of the god Hea 26. Like a plant break 27. like a fruit crush 28. like a branch split. 29. For the spell the invocation of heaven may he repeat the invocation of earth may he repeat 30. Thus: Like unto this plant which is broken may be the spell. 31. In the burning flames it burns 32. in fragments it shall not be collected 33. together or divided it shall not be used 34. its fragments the earth shall not take 35. its seeds shall not produce and the sun shall not raise them 36. for the festival of god and king it shall not be used 37. — — — — — — — — — — — — — 38. the evil invocation, the finger pointing, the marking, the cursing, the sinning, 39. the evil which in my body, my limbs and my teeth is fixed, 40. like this plant may it be broken and 41. in this day may the burning flames consume, 42. may it drive out the spell and I shall be free 43. Thus: Like unto this fruit which is crushed may be the spell, 44. in the burning flames it burns 45. to its severed stalk it shall not return 46. for the banquet of god and king it shall not be used 47. — — — — — — — — — — — — — 48. the evil invocation, the finger pointing, the marking, the cursing, the sinning. 49. the evil which in my body, my limbs and my teeth is fixed 50. like this fruit may it be crushed and 51. in this day may the burning flames consume, 52. may it drive out the spell and I shall be free 53. Thus: Like unto this branch which is split may be the spell, 54. in the burning flames it burns 55. its fibres to the trunk shall not return 56. to satisfy a wish it shall not come 57. — — — — — — — — — — — — — 58. the evil invocation, the finger pointing, the marking, the cursing, the sinning. 59. the evil which in my body, my limbs and my teeth is fixed 60. like this branch may it be split and 61. in this day may the burning flames consume, 62. may it drive out the spell and I shall be free 63. Thus: Like unto this wool which is torn may be the spell, 64. in the burning flames it burns 65. to the back of the sheep it shall not return 66. for the clothing of god and king it shall not be used 67. — — — — — — — — — — — — — 68. the evil invocation, the finger pointing, the marking, the cursing, the sinning. 69. the evil which in my body, my limbs and my teeth is fixed 70. like this wool may it be torn and 71. in this day may the burning flames consume 72. may it drive out the spell and I shall be free 73. Thus: Like unto this flag which is torn may be the spell, 74. in the burning flames it burns 75. on to its mast it shall not return 76. to satisfy a wish it shall not come 77. — — — — — — — — — — — — — 78. the evil invocation, the finger pointing, the marking, the cursing, the sinning. 79. the evil which in my body, my limbs and my teeth is fixed 80. like this flag may it be torn and 81. in this day may the burning flames consume 82. may it drive out the spell and I shall be free 83. Thus: Like unto this thread which is broken may be the spell, 84. in the burning flames it burns 85. the weaver into a cloak shall not weave it 86. for the clothing of god and king it shall not be used 87.