The Counsel of Gilgamesh

‘Gilgamesh, why dost thou wander around? Life, which thou seekest, thou canst not find.’ Epic of Gilgamesh.

Why wander round, Gilgamesh? The sun that set to-night Shall climb the sky to-morrow, And bake the world with light. Throughout undying ages The sun shall set and rise As it hath set and risen From dim eternities. Why wander round, Gilgamesh? Why vainly wander round? What canst thou find, O seeker, Which hath not long been found? What canst thou know, O scholar, Which hath not long been known? What canst thou have, O spoiler, Which dead men did not own? The camel of the desert, The wild ape of the wood, Tread the white bones of heroes Who in thy place once stood; Like thee, they felt the sunshine, Like thee, they loved the day, Like thee, they sought and suffered— And thou shalt be as they. And other men, Gilgamesh, Shall seek what thou dost seek, And to their youth and ardour Thy rotting bones will speak. They will not heed thy counsel, They too will wander round, And waste their years in seeking That which hath long been found. Why wander round, Gilgamesh? Why vainly wander round? What canst thou find, O seeker, Which hath not long been found? What canst thou know, O scholar, Which dead men did not know? And this was asked in Nineveh Thousands of years ago.