On the fifth day [the two sides of the bark] were raised.--In its
covering fourteen in all were its rafters--fourteen in all did it
count above.--I placed its roof and I covered it.--I embarked in it on
the sixth day; I divided its floors on the seventh;--I divided the
interior compartments on the eighth. I stopped up the chinks through
which the water entered in;--I visited the chinks and added what was
wanting.--I poured on the exterior three times 3,600 measures of
asphalte,--and three times 3,600 measures of asphalte within.--Three
times 3,600 men, porters, brought on their heads the chests of
provisions.--I kept 3,600 chests for the nourishment of my
family,--and the mariners divided amongst themselves twice 3,600
chests.--For [provisioning] I had oxen slain;--I instituted [rations]
for each day.--In [anticipation of the need of] drinks, of barrels and
of wine--[I collected in quantity] like to the waters of a river, [of
provisions] in quantity like to the dust of the earth.--[To arrange
them in] the chests I set my hand to.-- .... of the sun .... the
vessel was completed.-- .... strong and--I had carried above and below
the furniture of the ship.--[This lading filled the two-thirds.]
All that I possessed I gathered together; all I possessed of silver I
gathered together; all that I possessed of gold I gathered--all that I
possessed of the substance of life of every kind I gathered
together.--I made all ascend into the vessel; my servants male and
female,--the cattle of the fields, the wild beasts of the plains, and
the sons of the people, I made them all ascend.
Shamash (the sun) made the moment determined, and--he announced it in
these terms:--"In the evening I will cause it to rain abundantly from
heaven; enter into the vessel and close the door."--The fixed moment
had arrived, which he announced in these terms: "In the evening I will
cause it to rain abundantly from heaven."--When the evening of that
day arrived, I was afraid,--I entered into the vessel and shut my
door.--In shutting the vessel, to Buzurshadirabi, the pilot,--I
confided this dwelling with all that it contained.
Mu-sheri-ina-namari[102]--rose from the foundations of heaven in a
black cloud;--Ramman[103] thundered in the midst of the cloud--and
Nabon and Sharru marched before;--they marched, devastating the
mountain and the plain;--Nergal[104] the powerful, dragged
chastisements after him;--Adar[105] advanced, overthrowing before
him;--the archangels of the abyss brought destruction,--in their
terrors they agitated the earth.--The inundation of Ramman swelled up
to the sky,--and [the earth] became without lustre, was changed into a
desert.
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