At the dawn of the seventh day I took a dove and sent it forth. Hither and thither flew the dove, No resting-place it found, back to me it came. A swallow I took and sent it forth, No resting-place it found, and back to me it came. A raven I took and sent it forth, Forth flew the raven and saw that the water had fallen, Carefully waded on but came not back. All the animals then to the four winds I sent. A sacrifice I offered, An altar I built on the mountain-top, By sevens I placed the vessels, Under them spread sweet cane and cedar. The gods inhaled the smoke, inhaled the sweet-smelling smoke, Like flies the gods collected over the offering. Thither then came Ishtar, Lifted on high her bow, which Anu had made:-- These days I will not forget, will keep them in remembrance, Them I will never forget. Let the gods come to the altar, But let not Bel to the altar come, Because he heedlessly wrought, the flood he brought on, To destruction my people gave over. Thither came Bel and saw the ship, Full of anger was he Against the gods and the spirits of heaven:-- What soul has escaped! In the destruction no man shall live. Then Adar opened his mouth and spake, Spake to the warlike Bel:-- Who but Ea knew it? He knew and all he hath told. Then Ea opened his mouth, Spake to the warlike Bel:-- Thou art the valiant leader of the gods, Why hast thou heedlessly wrought, and brought on the flood? Let the sinner bear his sin, the wrongdoer his wrong; Yield to our request, that he be not wholly destroyed. Instead of sending a flood, send lions that men be reduced; Instead of sending a flood, send hyenas that men be reduced; Instead of sending a flood, send flames to waste the land; Instead of sending a flood, send pestilence that men be reduced. The counsel of the great gods to him I did not impart; A dream to Hasisadra I sent, and the will of the gods he learned. Then came right reason to Bel, Into the ship he entered, Took my hand and lifted me up, Raised my wife and laid her hand in mine, To us he turned, between us he stepped, His blessing he gave. Human Hasisadra has been, But he and his wife united Now to the gods shall be raised, And Hasisadra shall dwell far off at the mouth of the streams. Then they took me and placed me Far off at the mouth of the streams. V. THE EAGLE AND THE SNAKE