BY TORSTEN SCHWANKE
„The wine verily swelled the spleen in her girdle...“
(Canaanese)
CANTO I
Daniel the seer,
The hero, the consecrated one of the god of thunder,
In linen robes he serves the gods
And offers sacrifices of food and drink.
He wore his pure robes
And lay in his pure robes
On the bed and wept
And sank into a deep sleep.
Behold, one day and another,
In linen garments he serves the gods,
In the holy of holies
Food and drink offerings.
Behold, a third day and a fourth,
In linen garments he serves the gods,
In the holy of holies
Food and drink offerings.
Behold, a fifth day and a sixth,
In linen garments he serves the gods,
In the holy of holies
Food and drink offerings.
He wore his pure robes
And lay in his pure robes
On the bed and wept
And sank into a deep sleep.
Behold, on the seventh day
In linen garments
He offers in the holy of holies
Food and drink offerings.
Then Baal came to his father El:
Do you not care what becomes of Daniel,
The seer, the hero,
The consecrated one of the god of thunder?
For he has no son like his brothers,
He has no heir like his kin.
Wilt thou not bless him, El Father?
Wilt thou not pour out blessings upon him,
O Creator of all creatures?
May there be a son in his house,
An heir in his residence,
That the son may tend the father's grave
And offer for the spirit of the father,
Offer incense to the spirit of the ancestors
As the guardians of the places and spirits of the earth,
Let him punish his father's enemies
And drive out his adversaries.
He shall sacrifice in the temple of Baal,
He shall worship in the temple of El.
The street is wet after the rainy day,
The garments are washed from the dirt.
El takes his cup in his hand,
The sacred cup in his right hand!
He blesses Daniel, the seer,
He blesses his servant,
Speaks words of blessing over the consecrated one:
I swear by my soul:
Daniel the seer shall live!
I swear by my strength:
The consecrated hero shall last!
He and no other rises from his bed
And mounts the bed of love!
As he kisses the beloved,
He bears witness to her beauty!
His breath becomes heated,
As he impregnates her!
He and no other
Will procreate in her womb
Full of passion,
He shall impregnate the seer's mistress!
Then shall be a son in his house,
An heir in his residence,
Who shall tend his father's grave
And sacrifice to the spirits of the ancestors
In the sanctuary, praying for the clan.
He will offer incense for the father,
He will punish his father's enemies
And drive out his adversaries.
He will take hold of his father's hand,
When he is drunk
Of noble, old, red wine!
Daniel's forehead was enlightened,
His brow was lifted on high,
His face was radiant with joy.
He laughed merrily,
He stretched out his feet on the stool,
Raised his voice and spoke:
I sit here and rest
And my soul has peace in its bosom.
Like my brothers, I will have a son,
An heir like all the clan.
He will erect my tombstone
Of light granite
And offer up to my soul
Prayers like incense in the sanctuary.
He will punish my enemies
And drive out my adversaries.
When I am drunk
Of noble, old, red wine,
Then almost the son will take the father's hand
And leadeth me when I stagger.
He will pray for me in the temple of Baal,
He will sacrifice for me in the temple of El.
The street is wet after a rainy day,
The clothes are washed of the dirt.
Daniel came home,
Daniel rested in his dwelling.
The holy harlots came to his house,
The radiant daughters of the moon.
Daniel, the seer,
The hero, the consecrated of the thunder god,
Slaughtered a calf for the sacred harlots
And made a meal for the holy harlots.
He poured wine into the cups
For the radiant daughters of the moon.
Behold, one day and another,
He made a feast for the holy harlots,
He poured wine into the cups
For the radiant daughters of the moon.
A third day, a fourth day passed,
He made a meal for the holy harlots,
He poured wine into the cups
For the radiant daughters of the moon.
A fifth day, a sixth day passed,
He made a meal for the holy harlots,
He poured wine into the cups
For the radiant daughters of the moon.
Behold, on the seventh day
The holy harlots left his house,
The radiant daughters of the moon took their leave,
The beloved and lovely attendants of the bed,
The comrades, beautiful attendants of the bed.
Daniel sat down
And bit his tongue.
One moon, two moons passed,
Three moons, four moons,
In the ninth moon it happened:
A child has appeared to us,
A son is born to us!
I will draw a bow
And have arrows in my quiver.
On the seventh day it came to pass
That Daniel the seer,
The hero, the consecrated one of the god of thunder,
Took his seat
In the gate of the congregation of the people,
In the circle of the elders of the congregation,
And he was judge of the widows
And cared for the orphans!
Then he lifted up his countenance
And behold, he saw:
A thousand angels he saw,
Ten thousand heavenly hosts!
Then he saw below the angels
The holy child, the dear son!
I will draw a bow
And have arrows in my quiver.
And Daniel, the seer,
The hero, the consecrated of the thunder god,
Spoke to his beautiful beloved:
Hear, O Lady Danty!
Take a lamb from the flock
And prepare it for the table
Of the holy child, the dear son.
Prepare it deliciously
For the great appetite
Of the seer, the artist.
Prepare the meal offering
And the drink offering to the gods!
Honour God with this service,
For El is the Lord of the Universe,
The God of all the earth!
Mistress Danty listened to the seer.
She took a lamb from the flock
And prepared the lamb for the table
Of the holy child, the dear son,
Delicious she prepared it
For the great appetite
Of the seer, the artist.
Now the son came to the table,
Kozhar-Hazi, the son
Of Daniel, the seer,
And the mistress Danty.
On the thighs of Daniel
He laid bow and arrow,
On Daniel's lap the quiver.
And the beautiful mistress Danty
Prepared the meal for God,
Bread and blood-red wine for God,
For El is the Lord of the Universe,
The God of all the earth!
Kozhar-Hazi went into his tent,
The son of the artist
Went into his bed of rest.
Daniel, the seer, the hero,
Took bow and arrow
And drew the bow
And put the arrow to the string
And looked over the land
And said to his son,
Behold, my dear son,
This is the beginning
Of your career as a great hunter before the Lord!
Now take bow and arrow
And hunt the chaste deer!
Daniel greeted his guests.
Daniel greets above all the goddess ANNA!
Eat meat, yes, eat meat,
Drink of the sparkling wine, comrades!
Suck on the full breasts, suckling!
Suck on the teats of the woman!
They drank wine from large cups,
Apple juice from wide cups,
They drank wine in immeasurable quantities,
Cup after cup.
Verily, ANNA took the cup,
Drank the wine from the cup,
The red wine went to her head!
The intoxicating potion loosened her belt!
ANNA's skin was transparent as ice!
Her eyes looked like lightning!
She was like a roaring sea,
Like a roaring wave.
She saw the taut bow
And looked at the pointed arrow.
Her eyes looked
Like the eyes of a snake!
Her cup fell from her hand,
Her cup fell to the ground.
She lifted up her voice and spoke:
Hear, my dear son!
Ask me for silver and I‘ll give it to you,
Ask me for gold, I'll give it to you.
But consecrate your tight bow
To the divine virgin ANNA!
But consecrate your pointed arrow
To the divine virgin ANNA!
Then said the dear son
Of the seer Daniel and the mistress Danty,
Take the finest Almuggim wood
From the mountains of Lebanon,
The strength of the horn of the wild bull,
The longest horn of the antelope,
The best reed from the great pond,
The testicles of a bull!
Give all this to Kozhar-Hazi
And he will consecrate his tight bow
To the divine virgin ANNA
And he will consecrate his pointed arrow
To the divine virgin ANNA!
The answer was given to him by the virgin ANNA,
Ask for life, for long life forever,
Ask me for eternal life, my son!
Immortality, I give it to you,
Eternity, I give it to you!
You will walk the earth with Baal,
You will live your life with the gods!
He who lives as Baal lives,
Life itself will serve him
And he shall eat life
And he shall drink eternal life!
He is celebrated in poems,
He is celebrated in epics,
He is celebrated in love songs,
He is celebrated in tragedies.
This I will give you, my son,
My beloved hero Kozhar-Hazi!
Then said the hero Kozhar-Hazi,
Tell me no fairy tales, O maiden,
For to a hero like me
Thy tales are like thorns of the rose:
A sharp thorn in my heart!
What will be after death?
What does a man take with him to the other world?
A sweat shroud will cover my face,
A linen cloth will cover my body.
I shall die like all men,
Verily, all men must die.
With your permission, Our Lady,
I will speak again,
The bow and arrow is the weapon
Of a warrior on earth,
But is hunting a woman's business?
The goddess ANNA smiled,
But inside she was angry!
Go on, take leave of me,
My hero Kozhar-Hazi,
Take leave of me and go,
You foolish boy!
I see you on the road of arrogance,
I see you on the road of pride.
I trample you with my bare feet,
You wisest of all the sons of men!
She leapt to her feet
And made the ground tremble.
ANNA rushed to God El
Across the Jordan
And the riverbed of the underworld.
She saw the dwellings of God,
She reached the throne room of God,
The Father of the thrones of the gods.
She knelt before El
And paid homage to the Lord.
She wanted to humble Kozhar-Hazi,
The favourite of Daniel, the seer.
Then the virgin ANNA spoke,
She raised her voice
And spoke in fierce anger,
I will cast down the hero!
The virgin ANNA spoke to the god El,
In the height of thy house, El,
Play not in thy house,
Do not play in the lovely dwelling!
I'll knock the crown off your head,
Your snow-white hair
I will smear with blood!
Your snow-white whiskers
I will spit saliva on it!
Call the boy to your aid,
Daniel the seer's favourite,
May he save you
From the wrath of the goddess ANNA!
Then the merciful God said,
I know, O my daughter,
That thou canst be hard as a man!
I know that none of the goddesses all
Has such an angry temper as thou!
But let the excitement leave your heart,
Let the anger in thy breasts cease!
He who angers thee
Shall be cast down.
The virgin ANNA departed from El
And came to the hero Kozhar-Hazi,
A thousand, ten thousand miles away.
The virgin ANNA smiled,
She raised her voice and spoke,
Hear, O hero Kozhar-Hazi,
You are my brother,
I am your sister-bride!
I love the fullness of your passion!
I love the fullness of thy milk in the olives!
You have testicles like the wild bull!
You have potency like the almighty El!
I am now a whore to you!
I am now your mistress!
Walk by my side, beloved man!
Listen, blissful man,
Open your ears, beloved,
I'll teach you to hunt.
I'll meet you at the castle of Abitim.
Abitim is the castle of His Majesty.
There stands a strong tower,
A river flows to the right of the tower.
Ah! and her nakedness (...)
And the goddess ANNA went away again.
She went to Ytipin, the warrior.
Then she raised her voice and said,
Go, Ytipin, you warrior,
Go to Abitim, the castle of the moon.
When the moon is new,
When the horn of the moon glows,
When the horn of the moon shines,
Then the light appears
On the forehead of the god of the moon.
The hero Kozhar-Hazi will come
To the castle of Abitim, the castle of the moon.
He will hold a bow and arrow in his hands,
A sharp arrow in his right hand!
I will strike him
Because of his sharp arrow,
I will strike him down
Because of his tight bow,
I will smite the gentle hero down,
His arrow shall be broken by me!
Ytipin the warrior said,
Thou shalt smite him down
Because of his sharp arrow,
You will strike him down
Because of his tight bow,
You will break the arrow
Of the gentle hero!
And Yitipin prepared a meal
Of meat in his tent
And gave the cup of wine.
Then the virgin ANNA said,
Sit down, Ytipin, be still!
I will put you like a hawk
In my girdle!
I will put you like a kite
In my skirt!
The gentle hero will eat,
The favourite of Daniel the seer.
Above him will fly vultures,
A host of vultures,
Amidst the vultures
I will soar!
I'll strike him twice on the head,
I'll strike him three times on the ear,
I'll spill his blood like water
And sacrifice him like a sacrificial lamb!
His soul will vanish like a breath,
His strength will wither like the crocus flower,
Smoke will rise from his nose,
When his corpse will turn to dust,
Then I shall triumph!
And the goddess ANNA took Ytipin
And put him like a hawk
In her belt
And put him like a kite
In her skirt!
But the gentle hero dined,
The favourite of Daniel the seer.
Vultures will fly above him,
A host of vultures,
Among the vultures flies ANNA.
She will strike him twice on the head,
She will strike him thrice on the ear,
She will spill his blood like water,
She will sacrifice him like a sacrificial lamb,
His soul will vanish like a breath,
His strength will wither like the crocus flower,
Smoke will rise from his nose.
ANNA saw how the hero died!
Then she wept for him
Like a mother on her only infant!
I am sad because of your bow,
I'm sad because of your arrow.
You did not live long enough!
You were plucked like a flower,
The leaves have fallen from the tree.
The virgin ANNA hurried,
She sank into deep water.
His bow hung on her hip,
The bow broke.
Like a broken lyre
Was the glory of the hero Kozhar-Hazi.
The virgin ANNA returned home
To her holy mountain.
She climbed the mountain like a chamois!
Her hands shone like lightning!
Her feet glowed like flames of fire!
She put rubber in his mouth!
She put a crown on his head
In accordance with the earth gods
And according to the instruction of the gods of death.
From his grave
Went the hero Kozhar-Hazi
To the heart of the dark night...
Ah woe, the hero has died!
CANTO II
How glorious is this beautiful soul
To the gatekeeper of the horizon!
Open to the goddess ANNA,
Prepare her the way,
That she may pass by,
For she is divinised!
Open to her the mysterious place
And have reverence for her,
You who speak to her,
Sing praise to the goddess ANNA,
For she is risen!
Whose face hangs to the earth,
Such is the name of the keeper of the first gate,
The interrogator guards the first gate,
He with the plaintive voice
Announces ANNA to the first gate.
Who stretches out his breast,
Such is the name of the guardian of the second gate,
Whose face shines forth, who guards the gate,
The glowing one reports to the goddess ANNA.
Who feeds the flesh,
Such is the name of the guardian of the third gte,
The watchful one guards the third gate,
The blessing one reports to the goddess ANNA.
The son of the father
Is the guardian of the fourth gate,
He with the swift heart, he guards the gate,
The one with magnanimity in his face,
He announces ANNA to the fourth gate.
He who lives from bread,
He is the keeper of the fifth gate,
The fiery one guards the gate,
The fierce one announces ANNA the goddess.
He who speaks with a clear voice,
He is the guardian of the sixth gate,
Who takes the flame from the altar,
Who guards the sixth gate,
He with the sharp eyes,
Who announces the goddess ANNA at the sixth gate.
The sharpest of all,
He is the guardian of the seventh gate,
The one with the beautiful voice,
He guards the seventh gate,
The guardian announces the goddess.
O ye seven gates
And you who stand in the seven gates
And serve the goddess ANNA,
Who reports to her the state of the lands,
To the goddess ANNA every day,
The goddess ANNA, she knows you,
Knows each one by name.
The goddess ANNA is newborn,
Transfiguration is bestowed upon her
By the Lord of Heaven
And her dignity is her purity.
The goddess ANNA receives
The other dead in heaven
And lives in the circle of the other gods,
The goddess ANNA rules
The court of the goddesses and gods,
The goddess ANNA is now one of them.
The goddess ANNA is a transfigured one,
Mistress of the transfigured,
The goddess celebrates the spring moon festival
And the winter sun festival.
The goddess now has eagle eyes
And beholds the divine sun.
The god of wisdom
Has set the sun in the dark night.
The goddess ANNA now travels through heaven
In triumphant exultation!
Let the goddess ANNA travel in peace,
As she rides in the gondola of the sun.
The protective power of the goddess ANNA
Is the protecting power of the gondola of the sun.
Goddess ANNA, so we call
The deity who created human children.
Goddess ANNA is greater than you,
She walks in the way of truth.
The goddess ANNA has a disgust
Of such people who harm others.
The protective power of goddess ANNA
Is the protecting power of the Son of God!
The goddess ANNA is not turned away
At the seven gates of heaven.
The goddess ANNA is a pure one
In the retinue of all the holy goddesses.
Her landscape brings offerings
Of golden bread and ruby wine
To the knowing, the wise,
Who gladden the heart of the goddess ANNA
With offerings of bread and wine.
The goddess ANNA is a muse
At the right hand of the scribe of God
And a help to those who sacrifice
The God who in the sacrifice commanded,
To offer a sacrifice to the goddess ANNA.
The goddess ANNA is the sublimity
Of the celestial horizon.
The goddess ANNA has announced the Most High
At the gates of the celestial horizon.
Now goddesses and gods rejoice
At the approach of the goddess ANNA,
For the sacred incense is due
To the newborn goddess ANNA
And the mischief-makers must flee!
The gatekeepers bless ANNA,
The goddess ANNA, she is
With veiled face
Inside the palace
Before the sanctuary of God
At that hour of eternity,
When ANNA, after her union
There by the love of God,
Is the highest Queen of Heaven!
The goddess ANNA is one,
Who brought the truth to God
And who destroys the power of evil!
The goddess ANNA opens the galaxies
And wards off the hail
And keeps the children of God alive.
The goddess ANNA has brought a sacrifice
Of the holy bread
To the place where she now lives.
The goddess ANNA has sailed
On the ship of the sun.
The way is prepared for the goddess ANNA,
That she may go forth to God.
The face of the goddess ANNA
Is that of the most beautiful!
The goddess ANNA has power,
The goddess ANNA is content!
The goddess ANNA has a strong will
And brings down the enemy!
You friends and girlfriends,
Prepare the way
Of the goddess ANNA to God!
This I say of the goddess ANNA,
When she comes to the weary heart,
Clear the way for me,
I know thee,
I know your name
And the name of God,
Who keeps you safe.
O Lady of Prayer
With thy strong castle wall,
Supreme Mistress,
Mistress of the invasion,
Who foreknows the future,
Who saves the poor,
Whether they be near or far!
More awesome, such is the name
Of the guardian of thy gate.
I am cleansed by the bath of water
In which the Lord hath bathed.
I am anointed with oil of myrrh,
I am clothed in white linen,
The sceptre in my right hand
Is of almuggim wood.
So go thither, for thou art pure.
This I say to the goddess ANNA,
When she comes to the weary heart,
Give me the way,
I know thee
And the name of God that keepeth thee.
O Lady of Heaven,
Mistress of the earth,
Mistress of the whole world,
Who exalts him who pleases thee.
Son of breath, such is the name
Of the guardian of thy gate.
I am cleansed by the bath of water,
In which the Lord hath bathed.
I am incensed with frankincense,
Clothed in the finest linen.
My sceptre in my right hand
Is of sandalwood.
So go thither, for thou art pure.
This I say to the goddess ANNA,
When she comes to the weary heart,
Give me the way,
I know thee
And the name of God that keepeth thee.
O mistress of the altar of great sacrifice,
Who brings forth bread and wine!
The gods make themselves a home for thee.
Day of great escape, such is thy name,
Light, such is the name of the guardian of thy gate.
I am purified by the bath of water,
In which the Lord hath bathed.
I am anointed with nard,
Clothed in soft linen.
My sceptre is of ivory.
So go thither, for thou art pure.
This I say to the goddess ANNA,
When she comes to the weary heart,
Give me way,
I know thee
And the name of God that keepeth thee.
Powerful by the sword of the word,
Mistress of the south and the north,
You destroy the enemy
And fulfil the desires of the pure!
Bull, such is the name of the guardian of thy gate.
I am purified by the bath of water,
In which the Lord has bathed.
I am watered with Tarshish wine
And clothed in white silk.
My sceptre is of ebony.
So go forth, for you are pure.
This I say to the goddess ANNA,
When she comes to the weary heart,
Give me the way,
I know thee
And the name of God that keepeth thee.
Protectress, mistress of praise,
Joyful one to whom who gives,
To whom no bald man may have access,
Who drives back the evildoer!
I am anointed with myron,
Clothed in the skin of panthers,
The sceptre in my right hand
Is of the wood of the thunder-oak.
So go thither, for thou art pure.
This I say to the goddess ANNA,
When she comes to the weary heart,
Give me the way,
I know thee
And the name of God that keepeth thee.
Lady of grace, full of glory,
Whose height, depth, length, breadth is unknown,
Who is not a creature,
Whose serpents are numberless,
Who was begotten in the beginning!
Brother, such is the name
Of the keeper of thy gates.
I am cleansed by the bath of water
In which the Lord hath bathed.
I am anointed with olive oil,
Clothed in fine gauze.
The sceptre in my right hand
Is from the thorn of the rose.
So go thither, for thou art pure.
This I say to the goddess ANNA,
When she comes to the weary heart,
I know thee
And the name of God who protects thee.
Fire that burns,
But that burns not the thorn-bush,
With swift embers,
Torment of love, such is thy name!
Who preserves his body,
Such is the name of thy guardian.
I am cleansed in the bath of water,
In which the Lord hath bathed.
I am anointed with aloes,
Clothed in garments of perfume.
My sceptre is of cypress wood.
So go thither, for thou art pure.
I greet the goddess ANNA
With bread and salt.
The goddess ANNA is anointed with myrrh,
Incense burned.
I am purified, pure
Through the transfigurations
Of the Word of God.
Pure am I as the plumage of the swan,
Chaste am I as the fish,
Chaste as the virgin in the temple!
Pure is the transfiguration of the goddess ANNA,
Beautiful is the venerable goddess ANNA!
God has shown mercy to her,
All the gods are favourable to her,
All the goddesses are well disposed towards her:
ANNA, your beauty
Is like a roaring, foaming sea,
Like the wave that washes the rock!
Thy beauty is like a banqueting hall,
In which the Lord is glorified.
Your beauty is like the pillar
In the temple of God.
The goddess ANNA has erected a pillar
And a vase for the love of God!
Know, ANNA, I‘m weeping!
Behold, ANNA, thou art transfigured,
Thou art exalted
By magic power!
Arise and rise up,
Rise up against your enemy!
Your enemy is overthrown,
God's enemy is overthrown!
Woman, you triumph over the evil one!
ANNA, they are obedient to your words
And carry out your commands.
You are justified before the court
By the grace of God.
Know that you are mourned,
Know thou art wept for!
Goddess ANNA, your forehead is anointed,
Thou wearest thy hair long,
Your face shines like the moon.
Thy breasts are of lapis lazuli,
Your hair is black as night,
Your hair frames your face
Like lapis lazuli frames the moon,
Your face is like pure gold.
Your fine eyebrows
Are like friendly sisters.
Your nose snorts anger.
Your eye looks at God's mountain.
Thy eyelashes are long.
Your eyelids are like lapis lazuli,
Thy eyelids full of make-up.
Thy lips kiss the truth
And speak truth before God.
Thy teeth are serpent's teeth,
Thy tongue flutters like the nightingale.
Your breasts leap,
Your breasts leap
When you rush through the meadows!
Your neck is golden,
With electrons draped around it,
Your throat is not laced,
Thy spine is a serpent,
Thy spine is gold,
Thy lungs are full of breath,
Thy eyes are like stars,
Thy ass, O thy ass
Is a double egg of carnelian!
Thy throat smells sweet,
Thy round belly is golden,
Thy breasts, O thy breasts
Are two eggs of carnelian,
Adorned with lapis lazuli,
Thy shoulders shine as faience,
Thy arms spread out,
Thy heart is ever gentle,
Thy two breasts, O thy two breasts
Are the masterpiece of the Almighty Creator,
Your muscles open and close,
Thy womb is heaven,
When you go to rest,
Thy navel is the beyond,
Your vulva is my paradise!