Mythology & Folklore
Charm for Averting the Seven Evil Spirits
Translated by A. H. Sayce (Records of the Past, 1870s; repr. 1901) · From Babylonian and Assyrian Literature (1901)
Seven (are) they, seven (are) they!
In the channel of the deep seven (are) they!
(In) the radiance of heaven seven (are) they!
In the channel of the deep in a palace grew they up.
Male they (are) not, female they (are) not.
(In) the midst of the deep (are) their paths.
Wife they have not, son they have not.
Order (and) kindness know they not.
Prayer (and) supplication hear they not.
The cavern in the mountain they enter.
Unto Hea (are) they hostile.
The throne-bearers of the gods (are) they.
Disturbing the lily in the torrents are they set.
Baleful (are) they, baleful (are) they.
Seven (are) they, seven (are) they, seven twice again (are) they.
May the spirits of heaven remember, may the spirits of earth remember.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous Babylonian Poets. “Charm for Averting the Seven Evil Spirits.” Translated by A. H. Sayce. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-babylonian/20/.
Chicago
Anonymous Babylonian Poets. “Charm for Averting the Seven Evil Spirits.” Translated by A. H. Sayce. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-babylonian/20/.
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