and to convey on board everything necessary to sustain life, together
with all the different animals, both birds and quadrupeds, and trust
himself fearlessly to the deep. Having asked the Deity, whither he was
to sail? he was answered, 'To the Gods': upon which he offered up a
prayer for the good of mankind. He then obeyed the divine admonition;
and built a vessel 5 stadia in length, and 2 in breadth. Into this he
put everything which he had prepared; and last of all conveyed into
it his wife, his children, and his friends. After the flood had been
upon the earth, and was in time abated, Xisuthrus sent out birds from
the vessel; which, not finding any food nor any place whereupon they
might rest their feet, returned to him again. After an interval of some
days, he sent them forth a second time; and they now returned with
their feet tinged with mud. He made a trial a third time with these
birds; but they returned to him no more: from whence he judged that
the surface of the earth had appeared above the waters. He therefore
made an opening in the vessel, and upon looking out found that it was
stranded upon the side of some mountain; upon which he immediately
quitted it with his wife, his daughter, and the pilot. Xisuthrus then
paid his adoration to the earth, and, having constructed an altar,
offered sacrifices to the gods, and, with those who had come out of
the vessel with him, disappeared. They, who remained within, finding
that their companions did not return, quitted the vessel with many
lamentations, and called continually on the name of Xisuthrus. Him
they saw no more; but they could distinguish his voice in the air,
and could hear him admonish them to pay due regard to religion; and
likewise informed them that it was upon account of his piety that he
was translated to live with the gods; that his wife and daughter,
and the pilot, had obtained the same honour. To this he added that
they should return to Babylonia; and, it was ordained, search for
the writings at Sippara, which they were to make known to mankind: