The Epic of Kret

Chapter 1

1	Regarding Kret
2	[. . . king. . .
3	[. . . . El. . . .
4	[. . . . . . . river
5	The clan of Kret died out;
6	the house of the king was destroyed,
7	though there were seven brothers,
8	eight sons of a mother.
9	Kret, his children wiped out,
10	Kret is devoid of an estate.
11	He had taken his wife,
12	his destined bride.
13	He took a wife, but she departed.
14	Progeny by a mother had been his:
15	1/3 died though healthy,
16	1/4 of disease,
17	1/5 Reshef carried off,
18	1/6 by the Lads of Yamm,
19	1/7 fell by the sword.
20	Kret sees his progeny,
21	sees his progeny ruined,
22	greatly depleted of his power.
23	And in its totality a family has died off,
24	and in its entirety the succession.
25	He enters his room, he weeps.
26	While uttering words, he sheds tears.
27	His tears are poured like sheqels on the ground,
28	like 1/5-sheqels on the bed.
29	As he cries, he falls asleep;
30	while he sheds tears—sleep.
31	Sleep overcomes him;
32	he lies in sleep
33	and is startled.
34	And in his dream, El descends,
35	in his vision, the Father of Humanity.
36	And he draws close, asking Kret,
37	"Who is Kret that he should cry
38	the Good One, the Lad of El,
39	that he should shed tears?
40	Does he desire the monarchy of theBull, his father,
41	or sovereignty like the Father of Humanity?"
42	—approximately 6-7 lines missing—
43	"Why do I need silver,
44	and yellow gold together with its place,
45	and perpetual slaves,
46	teams of three horses,
47	chariots from the courtyard of a handmaid’s son?
48	Grant that I may get sons;
49	grant that I may increase offspring"
50	Bull, his Father El, answers,
51	" . . . . . while weeping, Kret,
52	while shedding tears, O Good One, Lad of El,
53	you shall wash
54	and redden yourself.
55	Wash yourhands (to) the elbow

The Epic of Kret Index