Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet 11
‘This plant… is the “Plant of Heartbeat”, with it a man
can regain his vigour…. ‘Its name shall be “Old Man
Grown Young”, I will eat it myself, and be again as I was
in my youth!’… Gilgamesh found a pool whose water
was cool, down he went into it, to bathe in the water. Of
the plant’s fragrance a snake caught scent, came up [in
silence], and carried off the plant. As it turned away it
shed its skin. Then Gilgamesh sat down and wept, down
his cheeks the tears were coursing. — S T E P H A N I E DA L L E Y,
M Y T H S F R O M M E S O P OTA M I A (OX F O R D W O R L D C L A S S I C S ) , P. 119.
