The Return of "Thus Spoke the Platypus" Part XII

Now on the fortieth day, the great strength of Utnapishtim failed him and his foot stumbled, and Utnapishtim cried out. Then a great wind came from the East and drove a wall of sand between him and his pursuers, and Utnapishtim rose up and ran. A while later, his strength gave way again, and he stumbled in the way, and cried out with a loud voice. Then a great fire came across from the West and burned between him and his pursuers, and Utnapishtim rose up again and ran. When darkness came, his great strength was at its end, and he stumbled to the ground, and let out a great cry. Then a storm came from the North and the springs of the earth were opened and Wheels of Og's chariots, and the hooves of his horses, and the feet of his footmen were snared in the mud. Then Og lost Utnapishtim in the midst of the storm and great was the wrath of Og in that day when he lost Utnapishtim in the heart of the storm.

Then Utnapishtim found a tree and laid himself beneath it to die. And Wisdom spoke to Utnapishtim out of the storm: "Utnapishtim, wisest of men, man of the reed house! Now has Utnapishtim become a dog by the side of the road? Now has Utnapishtim become a dead dog?

And Utnapishtim spoke to the storm: "Now surely Utnapishtim is as a dog by the side of the road, now surely is Utnapishtim as a dead dog, for Og has come, and moved Utnapishtim from his place at the crossroads. How will men learn of Wisdom now? What wind can reach them in their stone houses?" And Utnapishtim put his face in the dust as one who dies.

And the voice of Wisdom answered Utnapishtim from out of the storm: "Indeed Og has come and driven Utnapishtim from his place at the crossroads, but who is Utnapishtim, and who is his father, and of what clan is he that Wisdom should need him? At what school did they study together that Utnapishtim knows all his secret thoughts? Does not the wind blow wherever it pleases? Will it not blow through every crack and chink in their stone houses? Will it not knock their houses down if it so wishes!"

And Utnapishtim had no answer and was silent. Then the voice of Wisdom left him, and Unapishtim lay beneath the tree as a deadman.

In the morning, the storm lifted, and the sun shown down, and life yet stirred in Utnapishtim. And Utnapishtim raised his head and cried out: "Ah! That Wisdom did not slay me, for shall I speak to Wisdom and live?" And he turned his face from the sun and lay down again to die, but Wisdom sent the animals of Utnapishtim to him, his raven and his dove, and they brought food and drink to him so that he ate and drank and was refreshed. So Utnapishtim arose and cut a branch from the tree to shield his face, and set out for his mountain, and each day his animals came to him with found and drink and so refreshed him.

Now this is the song of Utnapishtim that he sang at the rising of the sun between the mountain and the lake:

Out of the past does Wisdom speak, and out of the wasteland does it sing!
Seek ye the ancient way, for daylight is coming and will show the path.
O leave man's city and go out with anxious feet, for Wisdom comes with the dayspring.
The font of all our yesterdays, the font of our tomorrows: out of the same ocean
do they spring!

Now Utnapishtim will take a wife and father children,
For the Hope of men will come!
O that Wisdom would become a Man and speak with me!
For I love you, O Wisdom.
For I love you, O Wisdom.

Utnapishtim does not crown himself. Nay! He will fling his crown away!
For what can compare with Wisdom, who possesses us, and not we Wisdom?
Utnapishtim makes his crown an offering though it is but a paltry thing.
A coronet made all of thistles and water rushes, with faded water lilies!

Now Utnapishtim will take a wife and father children,
For the Hope of men will come!
O that Wisdom would become a Man and speak with me!
For I love you, O Wisdom.
For I love you, O Wisdom.

Join me in my merry dance! To the City of Man return, in the train of holy Wisdom!
Love Life, for Life is stronger than death. Love Love, for Love is stronger than the grave.
Oh Life, and death, and Love, and grave, we bring you into our city.
In the train of holy Wisdom each has as much good as each can hold!

Now Utnapishtim will take a wife and father children,
For the Hope of men will come!
O that Wisdom would become a Man and speak with me!
For I love you, O Wisdom.
For I love you, O Wisdom.

Thus Sang Utnapishtim