I perceived the sea making a tossing; and the whole of mankind turned to corruption; like reeds the corpses floated. I opened the window, and the light broke over my face; it passed. I sat down and wept; over my face flowed my tears. I perceived the shore at the boundary of the sea. To the country of Nizir went the ship. The mountain of Nizir stopped the ship; and to pass over, it was not able. The first day, and the second day, the mountain of Nizir the same. The third day, and the fourth day, the mountain of Nizir the same. The fifth and sixth, the mountain of Nizir the same. On the seventh day, in the course of it, I sent forth a dove, and it left. The dove went and turned, and a resting-place it did not find, and it returned.
I sent forth a swallow, and it left. The swallow went and turned, and a resting-place it did not find, and it returned.
I sent forth a raven, and it left. The raven went, and the decrease of the water it saw, and it did eat, it swam, and wandered away, and did not return.
I sent the animals forth to the four winds. I poured out a libation. I built an altar on the peak of the mountain.”—George Smith.
SPECIMENS OF ASSYRIAN SACRED POETRY.
A PRAYER FOR THE KING.
“Length of days,
Long, lasting years,
A strong sword,
A long life,