The World's Progress Part 43

THE BABYLONIAN STORY OF THE DELUGE.

Pir-napishtim saith to him, even to Gilgamish; I will relate to thee, Gilgamish, a secret story, And the decision of the G.o.ds I will tell thee.

The city Shurippak, which thou knowest, Is situated on the sh.o.r.e of the Euphrates.

This city was old when the G.o.ds within it Were moved to produce a flood, even the great G.o.ds.

They were Anu, their father, The warrior Bel, their counsellor, Their throne-bearer, Ninib, Their leader, Ennugi, Ninigiazag (the G.o.d Ea) had spoken with them And their decree he repeated to the reed-house (saying): "Reed-house! reed-house! house-wall! house-wall![1]

Reed-house, hear! and house-wall, consider!

O man of Shurippak, son of Ubar-Tutu!

Construct a house, build a ship, Abandon possessions, seek life, Property despise, and life save, Put seed of life of every kind into the ship.

The ship which thou shalt build, even thou, Let be measured her dimensions: Let her breadth and length be equal, Upon the ocean launch her."

I understood, and said to Ea, my lord: "Behold, my lord, what thou hast commanded I hold in reverence, I shall do.

(But what) shall I answer the city, the people, and the elders?"

Ea opened his mouth and speaketh, Saith unto his servant, unto me: "O man! Thus shalt thou say unto them: Bel has rejected me and cursed me.

I shall dwell no more in your city, And upon Bel's ground I shall not set my face.

But to the ocean shall I descend; with Ea, my lord, I shall dwell.

Upon you he shall cause to pour out abundance, Game of birds and game of fishes, (Animals of all kinds); field-fruits in plenty, When in the evening the ruler of the darkness (?) Shall cause to rain upon you a heavy rain."

As soon as dawn began to appear, (Five or six lines wanting) The weak (?) ... ... ... . .

The strong brought to (the building-place) what was necessary.

On the fifth day I laid down her form.

_Ina Kar-Hi-Sa_ one hundred and twenty cubits high were her walls, One hundred and twenty cubits likewise was the extent of her roof.

Its outer frame I constructed, enclosed it.[2]

I ... ... her six times.

I divided ... . . seven times.

Its interior I divided nine times.

Water plugs I beat into it on its inside.

I provided a rudder (?) and what was needed I added.

Six _sars_ of bitumen I spread on the outside (?).

Three _sars_ of pitch (I spread) on the inside.

Three _sars_ of basket-bearers brought oil.

I left one _sar_ of oil which the offering consumed, Two _sars_ of oil the shipman stowed away.

For the people I slaughtered oxen, I killed ... . . every day.

New w(ine, sesame) wine, oil and wine, Like the waters of the river (I gave the people to drink) And (held) a religious feast like unto the New-Year's Feast.

I opened (?) ... of anointing oil, my hand applied (it).

(In the month) of Shamash, the great G.o.d, the ship was completed.

Because ... . . were difficult (Untranslatable) they brought above and below.

... ... two-thirds of it.

All that I had I put on board of it.

All that I had of silver I put on board of it.

All that I had of gold I put on board of it.

All that I had of seed of life of every kind I put on board of it.

I caused to go up into the ship all my family and relatives.

Cattle of the field, beasts of the field, all the craftsmen, I caused to go up.

A definite time the G.o.d Shamash had appointed: The ruler of the darkness (?) at even-tide shall cause to rain a heavy rain, Enter thou (then) within the ship and close thy door."

That appointed time came.

The ruler of the darkness (?) at eventide rained a heavy rain.

The appearance of that day I (fore)saw.

To behold the day I had fear.

I entered into the ship and closed my door.

For the control of the ship to Puzur-Bel The great-house I gave over together with its store.

With the first appearing of dawn There rises from the foundation of the heavens a black cloud, Ramman within it thunders.

Nebo and Marduk march in front; Over mountain and plain march the throne-bearers.

The _tar-kul-li_ the great Dibbarra tore away.

Ninib advances, ruin he pours out.

The Anunnaki bear aloft torches, With their brightness they set the land aflame.

The dread of Ramman reaches to heaven.

Everything bright he turneth to darkness.

... the land like ... he covered (?) One day the hurricane (raged), Violently it blew, the waters (covered?) the mountains.

Like the (onslaught of) battle over mankind (they) came.

Brother sees not (his) brother.

Men are not discerned in heaven (_i. e._, by the G.o.ds).

The G.o.ds were terrified by the flood, and Withdrew and ascended to the heaven of Anu.

The G.o.ds dog-like cower, crouch on the wall (of heaven).

Ishtar screams like a woman in travail.

She cries aloud the lady of the G.o.ds, the sweet-voiced: "Verily the former race is turned to clay.

Just as I in the a.s.sembly of the G.o.ds proclaimed evil, As I proclaimed in the a.s.sembly of the G.o.ds evil For the destruction of my people war I foretold, So, verily, will I bring forth my people Tho' like the fry of fishes they fill the sea."

The G.o.ds, the highest of the Anunnaki weep with her.

The G.o.ds are downcast, sit, and weep, Covered were their lips ...

Six days and nights The wind prevailed, flood and storm overwhelmed the land.

When the seventh day came the storm abated, the flood was overcome, Which had battled like a warring host; The sea calmed, the hurricane ceased, the flood was restrained, I beheld the sea, uttering a lamentation, Seeing that all mankind was turned to clay.

When the light had fully dawned I prayed.

I opened an airhole and light fell upon my cheeks.

I bowed myself, I sat down, I wept.

Over my cheeks ran my tears.

I looked upon the far-spread waters of the sea.

After twelve double-hours a peak arose, Towards the mountain of Nitsir the ship took its course.

The mountain of Nitsir held the ship and let it not rise.

One day, a second day, the mountain of Nitsir, _ditto_ A third day, a fourth day the " " " "

A fifth day, a sixth day " " " " "

When the seventh day arrived I brought forth a _dove_ and let it go.

The dove went forth, flew to and fro, but A resting-place there was not, so it returned.

Then I brought forth a _swallow_ and let it go, The swallow went forth, flew to and fro, but A resting-place there was not so it returned.

(Then) I brought forth a _raven_ and let it go.

The raven went forth, the disappearance of the waters he saw, He eats, caws, flies to and fro, and returns not.

(Then) I brought forth to the four winds, I offered a sacrifice.

I made an incense-offering on the top-most peak of the mountain.

Seven and seven _adagur_-vessels I placed.

Into them I cast reeds, cedar-wood, and The G.o.ds inhaled the good odour.

The G.o.ds like flies swarmed about the offerer.

As soon as the mistress of the G.o.ds arrived She lifted up the great jewels (?) that the G.o.d Anu had devised and made for her (and said) "These G.o.ds, by my _lapis lazuli_ necklace I shall not forget.

These days, verily I shall reflect upon and never forget.

The G.o.ds, let them go to the incense-offering.

(But) let not Bel go to the incense-offering, Seeing that he did not reflect but caused the flood.

And my people he counted for destruction.