Montague House
18, September 1871.
My dear Sir
Many thanks for your communications, both the Eclipse and K 131. I envy your reading <cuneiform> and wish I had had it before my foolish article in p 907; I fear my habit is to follow-my-leader without thinking; but I think the meaning is still “mysterious” although you have cleared away part of the difficulty. As to K 131 I agree with you, to l. 8, except as to <cuneiform>: might it not rather be understood the march from Nineveh to Egypt was accomplished?</> has been marched. illillik would be a passive verb. I would read l. 9 & 10, as meaning that “none of the army right or left, is now sent” itappur cannot be “I send”. Lines 11 & 12 might probably. I doubt 13 and 14. I should read ki assá “when I brought” and ih<r?>elik, “he departed,” but I could understand the lines.
Your letter of the 16th was brought to me five minutes ago. many thanks for your Copy of 16 III. I am amazed at my blunder, but it is only one more. May kiru’-a adin be “my prayers I have given”?
I think <cuneiform> still doubtful; if the meaning is so common as “he who” we should find it oftener, but the word is of rare occurrence, except in the similar passages of Sardanapalus
I think I write better to-day, at least more easily.
Yours faithfully
Edwin Norris
H Fox Talbot Esq
&c &c &c