So Ashera sets out toward El at the Flowing of the Two Rivers, near the Fountain of the Two Deeps. She arrives at the Field of El. She walks onto the platform of the KING the FATHER OF YEARS. She bends, then falls. She bows. She pays homage to him. As soon as El discovers her, his narrowed lips part, and he laughs. He puts his feet up on a footstool. He twiddles his thumbs. He raises his voice and calls, "What has Lady Ashera of the Sea come for? What has the Queen of the Gods come for? You must be hungry? You're surely thirsty? Have something to eat or drink. There is food on the tables, drink in the goblets, wine in a golden cup, trees' blood, if the affection of KING EL stirs you, if the BULL's love moves you." Lady Ashera of the Sea says, "EL your word is wise, eternal with wisdom: happiness and your word are one. Our King is Almighty Baal, our Judge, and there is none over him. So by our cry fill his jug, fill his cup as we cry to you. He calls loudly to BULL EL his father, EL his KING who made him. He calls to Ashera and her sons, to the goddess and her mass of offspring, 'Look, there is no house for Baal as the Gods have, and no court as Ashera's sons have. EL's home is a shelter for his son: the home of Lady Ashera of the Sea is a home for the untouched brides: Pidraya's home, the daughter of Light, Talaya's home, the daughter of Rain, the home of Artsaya daughter of Y'bdr.'" And EL of the GENTLE HEART says, "Am I to be an agent of Ashera, to carry hods? If Ashera will be a slave making bricks a house will be built for Baal as the other Gods have, with a courtyard fit for a son of Ashera." And Lady Ashera of the Sea says, "Lord of the Gods in wisdom, the grey of your beard has surely taught you something." Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368-0271, www.cc.press.org |