(As for) the _glorious house, the house of the gods_, its seat had not been made, The whole of the lands were _sea_. Str. II (beginning), When within the _sea_ there was a stream In that day Eridu was made, Ê-sagila was constructed, etc. Str. II (end), The _gods_ were to be caused to sit in a _seat of joy of heart_, _He made mankind._ Str. III (beginning), Aruru _had made the seed of mankind_ with him. He made the beasts of the field and the living creatures of the desert; etc. The age of this Babylonian story of the Creation probably goes back to at least the middle of the second millennium of our chronology, and in this very ancient specimen of Semitic poetry we find this poetic form fully developed. EXAMPLES FROM THE KORAN It seems hardly possible to believe that the Arab prophet, who regarded it as an insult to be described as a poet, should have employed definite literary forms, and more particularly the strophe combined with the responsion, in his revelations. Yet such is the fact. In most cases the strophes rise and fall in harmony with his abrupt and agitated style (similar strophes occur in the prophetic books), but regular strophes are to be found, and in those that rise and fall we can trace a definite law which altogether excludes the idea of chance. The occurrence of the strophe combined with the responsion in the _Koran_, is a point of the utmost importance to the hypothesis of strophic composition, because the correctness of the arrangement of the _Koran_ in lines seems to be assured both by the rhyme and by tradition. I will bring to your notice in this place an example of the regular strophe from the _Koran_. In the thirty-sixth _surah_ we come upon a passage framed, as it were, between two verses, which form the inclusion. v. 28. There was only one _cry_ (of Gabriel from heaven), and behold, they became utterly extinct. v. 49. They only wait for one _sounding_ (of the trumpet), which shall overtake them while they are disputing together. Between these two lie five strophes of four lines each. Str. I, begins (v. 29), Oh, the misery of men! no apostle cometh unto them but they laugh him to scorn. Str. II, begins (v. 33), _One sign [of the resurrection] unto them_ is the dead earth, we quicken the same, etc. Str. III, begins (v. 37), _The night also is a sign unto them_, we withdraw the day from the same, etc. Str. IV, begins (v. 41), _It is a sign also unto them that_ they carry off their offspring in the ship filled with merchandise, etc. Str. V (v. 45), takes up the burden of the first, and begins, And if it is said unto you, Fear that which is before you and that which is behind, It may be ye shall find mercy, etc. I will also subjoin an example of the falling strophe combined with the responsion, from _sura_ 56, vv. 57-72. 57) _We have created you_, will ye not therefore believe.…