TABLET XI THE STORY OF THE FLOOD

Gilgamesh spoke to Utanapishtim, the Faraway:
"I have been looking at you,
but your appearance is not strange--you are like me!
You yourself are not different--you are like me!
My mind was resolved to fight with you,
(but instead?) my arm lies useless over you.
Tell me, how is it that you stand in the Assembly of the Gods,
and have found life!"
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
"I will reveal to you, Gilgamesh, a thing that is hidden,
a secret of the gods I will tell you!
Shuruppak, a city that you surely know,
situated on the banks of the Euphrates,
that city was very old, and there were gods inside it.
The hearts of the Great Gods moved them to inflict the Flood.
Their Father Anu uttered the oath (of secrecy),
Valiant Enlil was their Adviser,
Ninurta was their Chamberlain,
Ennugi was their Minister of Canals.
Ea, the Clever Prince(?), was under oath with them
so he repeated their talk to the reed house:
'Reed house, reed house! Wall, wall!
O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubartutu:
Tear down the house and build a boat!
Abandon wealth and seek living beings!
Spurn possessions and keep alive living beings!
Make all living beings go up into the boat.
The boat which you are to build,
its dimensions must measure equal to each other:
its length must correspond to its width.
Roof it over like the Apsu.
I understood and spoke to my lord, Ea:
'My lord, thus is the command which you have uttered
I will heed and will do it.
But what shall I answer the city, the populace, and the
Elders!'
Ea spoke, commanding me, his servant:
'You, well then, this is what you must say to them:
"It appears that Enlil is rejecting me
so I cannot reside in your city (?),
nor set foot on Enlil's earth.
I will go down to the Apsu to live with my lord, Ea,
and upon you he will rain down abundance,
a profusion of fowl, myriad(!) fishes.
He will bring to you a harvest of wealth,
in the morning he will let loaves of bread shower down,
and in the evening a rain of wheat!"'
Just as dawn began to glow
the land assembled around me-
the carpenter carried his hatchet,
the reed worker carried his (flattening) stone,
... the men ...
The child carried the pitch,
the weak brought whatever else was needed.
On the fifth day I laid out her exterior.
It was a field in area,
its walls were each 10 times 12 cubits in height,
the sides of its top were of equal length, 10 times It cubits each.
I laid out its (interior) structure and drew a picture of it (?).
I provided it with six decks,
thus dividing it into seven (levels).
The inside of it I divided into nine (compartments).
I drove plugs (to keep out) water in its middle part.
I saw to the punting poles and laid in what was necessary.
Three times 3,600 (units) of raw bitumen I poured into the
bitumen kiln,
three times 3,600 (units of) pitch ...into it,
there were three times 3,600 porters of casks who carried (vege-
table) oil,
apart from the 3,600 (units of) oil which they consumed (!)
and two times 3,600 (units of) oil which the boatman stored
away.
I butchered oxen for the meat(!),
and day upon day I slaughtered sheep.
I gave the workmen(?) ale, beer, oil, and wine, as if it were
river water,
so they could make a party like the New Year's Festival.
... and I set my hand to the oiling(!).
The boat was finished by sunset.
The launching was very difficult.
They had to keep carrying a runway of poles front to back,
until two-thirds of it had gone into the water(?).
Whatever I had I loaded on it:
whatever silver I had I loaded on it,
whatever gold I had I loaded on it.
All the living beings that I had I loaded on it,
I had all my kith and kin go up into the boat,
all the beasts and animals of the field and the craftsmen I
had go up.
Shamash had set a stated time:
'In the morning I will let loaves of bread shower down,
and in the evening a rain of wheat!
Go inside the boat, seal the entry!'
That stated time had arrived.
In the morning he let loaves of bread shower down,
and in the evening a rain of wheat.
I watched the appearance of the weather--
the weather was frightful to behold!
I went into the boat and sealed the entry.
For the caulking of the boat, to Puzuramurri, the boatman,
I gave the palace together with its contents.
Just as dawn began to glow
there arose from the horizon a black cloud.
Adad rumbled inside of it,
before him went Shullat and Hanish,
heralds going over mountain and land.
Erragal pulled out the mooring poles,
forth went Ninurta and made the dikes overflow.
The Anunnaki lifted up the torches,
setting the land ablaze with their flare.
Stunned shock over Adad's deeds overtook the heavens,
and turned to blackness all that had been light.
The... land shattered like a... pot.
All day long the South Wind blew ...,
blowing fast, submerging the mountain in water,
overwhelming the people like an attack.
No one could see his fellow,
they could not recognize each other in the torrent.
The gods were frightened by the Flood,
and retreated, ascending to the heaven of Anu.
The gods were cowering like dogs, crouching by the outer wall.
Ishtar shrieked like a woman in childbirth,
the sweet-voiced Mistress of the Gods wailed:
'The olden days have alas turned to clay,
because I said evil things in the Assembly of the Gods!
How could I say evil things in the Assembly of the Gods,
ordering a catastrophe to destroy my people!!
No sooner have I given birth to my dear people
than they fill the sea like so many fish!'
The gods--those of the Anunnaki--were weeping with her,
the gods humbly sat weeping, sobbing with grief(?),
their lips burning, parched with thirst.
Six days and seven nights
came the wind and flood, the storm flattening the land.
When the seventh day arrived, the storm was pounding,
the flood was a war--struggling with itself like a woman
writhing (in labor).
The sea calmed, fell still, the whirlwind (and) flood stopped up.
I looked around all day long--quiet had set in
and all the human beings had turned to clay!
The terrain was as flat as a roof.
I opened a vent and fresh air (daylight!) fell upon the side of
my nose.
I fell to my knees and sat weeping,
tears streaming down the side of my nose.
I looked around for coastlines in the expanse of the sea,
and at twelve leagues there emerged a region (of land).
On Mt. Nimush the boat lodged firm,
Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no sway.
One day and a second Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing
no sway.
A third day, a fourth, Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing
no sway.
A fifth day, a sixth, Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing
no sway.
When a seventh day arrived
I sent forth a dove and released it.
The dove went off, but came back to me;
no perch was visible so it circled back to me.
I sent forth a swallow and released it.
The swallow went off, but came back to me;
no perch was visible so it circled back to me.
I sent forth a raven and released it.
The raven went off, and saw the waters slither back.
It eats, it scratches, it bobs, but does not circle back to me.
Then I sent out everything in all directions and sacrificed
(a sheep).
I offered incense in front of the mountain-ziggurat.
Seven and seven cult vessels I put in place,
and (into the fire) underneath (or: into their bowls) I poured
reeds, cedar, and myrtle.
The gods smelled the savor,
the gods smelled the sweet savor,
and collected like flies over a (sheep) sacrifice.
Just then Beletili arrived.
She lifted up the large flies (beads) which Anu had made for
his enjoyment(!):
'You gods, as surely as I shall not forget this lapis lazuli
around my neck,
may I be mindful of these days, and never forget them!
The gods may come to the incense offering,
but Enlil may not come to the incense offering,
because without considering he brought about the Flood
and consigned my people to annihilation.'
Just then Enlil arrived.
He saw the boat and became furious,
he was filled with rage at the Igigi gods:
'Where did a living being escape?
No man was to survive the annihilation!'
Ninurta spoke to Valiant Enlil, saying:
'Who else but Ea could devise such a thing?
It is Ea who knows every machination!'
La spoke to Valiant Enlil, saying:
'It is yours, O Valiant One, who is the Sage of the Gods.
How, how could you bring about a Flood without consideration
Charge the violation to the violator,
charge the offense to the offender,
but be compassionate lest (mankind) be cut off,
be patient lest they be killed.
Instead of your bringing on the Flood,
would that a lion had appeared to diminish the people!
Instead of your bringing on the Flood,
would that a wolf had appeared to diminish the people!
Instead of your bringing on the Flood,
would that famine had occurred to slay the land!
Instead of your bringing on the Flood,
would that (Pestilent) Erra had appeared to ravage the land!
It was not I who revealed the secret of the Great Gods,
I (only) made a dream appear to Atrahasis, and (thus) he
heard the secret of the gods.
Now then! The deliberation should be about him!'
Enlil went up inside the boat
and, grasping my hand, made me go up.
He had my wife go up and kneel by my side.
He touched our forehead and, standing between us, he
blessed us:
'Previously Utanapishtim was a human being.
But now let Utanapishtim and his wife become like us,
the gods!
Let Utanapishtim reside far away, at the Mouth of the Rivers.'
They took us far away and settled us at the Mouth of the Rivers."
"Now then, who will convene the gods on your behalf,
that you may find the life that you are seeking!
Wait! You must not lie down for six days and seven nights."
soon as he sat down (with his head) between his legs
sleep, like a fog, blew upon him.
Utanapishtim said to his wife:
"Look there! The man, the youth who wanted (eternal) life!
Sleep, like a fog, blew over him."
his wife said to Utanapishtim the Faraway:
"Touch him, let the man awaken.
Let him return safely by the way he came.
Let him return to his land by the gate through which he left."
Utanapishtim said to his wife:
"Mankind is deceptive, and will deceive you.
Come, bake loaves for him and keep setting them by his head
and draw on the wall each day that he lay down."
She baked his loaves and placed them by his head
and marked on the wall the day that he lay down.
The first loaf was dessicated,
the second stale, the third moist(?), the fourth turned white,
its ...,
the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh.
the seventh--suddenly he touched him and the man awoke.
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim:
"The very moment sleep was pouring over me
you touched me and alerted me!"
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
"Look over here, Gilgamesh, count your loaves!
You should be aware of what is marked on the wall!
Your first loaf is dessicated,
the second stale, the third moist, your fourth turned white,
its ...
the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh.
The seventh--suddenly he touched him and the man awoke.
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim:
"The very moment sleep was pouring over me
you touched me and alerted me!"
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
"Look over here, Gilgamesh, count your loaves!
You should be aware of what is marked on the wall!
Your first loaf is dessicated,
the second stale, the third moist, your fourth turned white,
its ...
the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh.
The seventh--at that instant you awoke!"
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim the Faraway:
"O woe! What shall I do, Utanapishtim, where shall I go!
The Snatcher has taken hold of my flesh,
in my bedroom Death dwells,
and wherever I set foot there too is Death!"
Home Empty-Handed
Utanapishtim said to Urshanabi, the ferryman:
"May the harbor reject you, may the ferry landing reject you!
May you who used to walk its shores be denied its shores!
The man in front of whom you walk, matted hair chains
his body,
animal skins have ruined his beautiful skin.
Take him away, Urshanabi, bring him to the washing place.
Let him wash his matted hair in water like ellu.
Let him cast away his animal skin and have the sea carry it off,
let his body be moistened with fine oil,
let the wrap around his head be made new,
let him wear royal robes worthy of him!
Until he goes off to his city,
until he sets off on his way,
let his royal robe not become spotted, let it be perfectly new!"
Urshanabi took him away and brought him to the washing place.
He washed his matted hair with water like ellu.
He cast off his animal skin and the sea carried it oh.
He moistened his body with fine oil,
and made a new wrap for his head.
He put on a royal robe worthy of him.
Until he went away to his city,
until he set off on his way,
his royal robe remained unspotted, it was perfectly clean.
Gilgamesh and Urshanabi bearded the boat,
they cast off the magillu-boat, and sailed away.
The wife of Utanapishtim the Faraway said to him:
"Gilgamesh came here exhausted and worn out.
What can you give him so that he can return to his land (with
honor) !"
Then Gilgamesh raised a punting pole
and drew the boat to shore.
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
"Gilgamesh, you came here exhausted and worn out.
What can I give you so you can return to your land?
I will disclose to you a thing that is hidden, Gilgamesh,
a... I will tell you.
There is a plant... like a boxthorn,
whose thorns will prick your hand like a rose.
If your hands reach that plant you will become a young
man again."
Hearing this, Gilgamesh opened a conduit(!) (to the Apsu)
and attached heavy stones to his feet.
They dragged him down, to the Apsu they pulled him.
He took the plant, though it pricked his hand,
and cut the heavy stones from his feet,
letting the waves(?) throw him onto its shores.
Gilgamesh spoke to Urshanabi, the ferryman, saying:
"Urshanabi, this plant is a plant against decay(!)
by which a man can attain his survival(!).
I will bring it to Uruk-Haven,
and have an old man eat the plant to test it.
The plant's name is 'The Old Man Becomes a Young Man.'"
Then I will eat it and return to the condition of my youth."
At twenty leagues they broke for some food,
at thirty leagues they stopped for the night.
Seeing a spring and how cool its waters were,
Gilgamesh went down and was bathing in the water.
A snake smelled the fragrance of the plant,
silently came up and carried off the plant.
While going back it sloughed off its casing.'
At that point Gilgamesh sat down, weeping,
his tears streaming over the side of his nose.
"Counsel me, O ferryman Urshanabi!
For whom have my arms labored, Urshanabi!
For whom has my heart's blood roiled!
I have not secured any good deed for myself,
but done a good deed for the 'lion of the ground'!"
Now the high waters are coursing twenty leagues distant,'
as I was opening the conduit(?) I turned my equipment over
into it (!).
What can I find (to serve) as a marker(?) for me!
I will turn back (from the journey by sea) and leave the boat by
the shore!"
At twenty leagues they broke for some food,
at thirty leagues they stopped for the night.
They arrived in Uruk-Haven.
Gilgamesh said to Urshanabi, the ferryman:
"Go up, Urshanabi, onto the wall of Uruk and walk around.
Examine its foundation, inspect its brickwork thoroughly--
is not (even the core of) the brick structure of kiln-fired brick,
and did not the Seven Sages themselves lay out its plan!
One league city, one league palm gardens, one league lowlands, the open area(?) of the Ishtar Temple,
three leagues and the open area(?) of Uruk it encloses.

(Source : Translated by Maureen Gallery Kovacs - Electronic Edition by Wolf Carnahan, I998)

Le récit du Déluge dans l'Epopée ninivite de Gilgamesh 

8 Uta-napishtim expliqua donc à Gilgamesh :
« Gilgamesh, je vais te révéler un mystère,

10 Je vais te confier un secret des dieux !
Tu connais la ville de Shuruppak,
Sise sur le bord de l’Euphrate,
Vieille cité, et que les dieux hantaient.
C’est là que prit aux grands-dieux l'envie
De provoquer le Déluge :

15 Les instigajteurs en étaient Anu, leur père;
Enlil-le-preux, leur souverain ;
Leur préfet, Ninurta,
Et Ennugi, leur contremaître.
Or, bien qu’ayant juré avec eux le secret,
Éa-le-prince

20 Répéta leur propos à la palissade d’Uta-napishtim :
« Palissade ! ô palissade ! Paroi! paroi!
Ecoute, palissade ! Rappelle-toi, paroi !
Ô roi de Shuruppak, fils d’Ubar-Tutu,
Démolis ta maison pour te faire un bateau ;

25 Renonce à tes richesses pour te sauver la vie ;
Détoume-toi de tes biens
Pour te garder sain et sauf !
Mais embarque avec toi
Des spécimens de tous êtres-vivants !
Le bateau que tu dois fabriquer
Sera une construction équilatérale :

30 A largeur et longueur identiques.
Tu le toitureras cornme l’Apsû ! »
Moi, lorsque j’eus compris, je dis à
monseigneur Ea :
«Monseigneur, l’ordre que tu viens de me
donner,
Je m’y appliquerai et l’exécuterai !

35 Mais comment faire face à ma ville :
Au peuple et aux anciens ?»
Alors Ea ouvrit la bouche, prit la parole
Et s’adressa à moi, son serviteur :
« Homme ! Tu leur diras ceci :
“ Je crains qu’Enlil ne m'ait pris en haine.

40 Je ne resterai donc plus en votre cité,
Je ne garderai plus les pieds sur le territoire
Mais je descendrai en l’Apsû d’Enlil,
Demeurer auprès de monseigneur Éa.
Alors, Enlil fera pleuvoir sur vous
l'abondance :
Oiseaux à profusion et poissons par corbeilles.

45 Il vous accordera les moissons les plus riches.
Sur vous il fera choir, des l’aurore, des
petits-pains,
Et des averses de grains-de-froment, au
crépuscule ! »
Au premier point du jour,
Tout le pays se rassembla autour de moi :

50 Les charpentiers avec leurs doloires,
Les roseleurs munis de leurs mailloches de
pierre.
[...] les hommes [...].
[...] le secret.
Les plus petits apportaient le bitume,

55 Les plus pauvres, le fourniment.
Au bout de cinq jours, j’avais monté
l’armature du bateau :
3 600 mètres carrés pour sa superficie,
60 mètres pour ses flancs,
Et son périmètre extérieur, carré sur
60 mètres de côté.
Puis j’en établis et aménageai le cadre interne,

60 Le plafonnant à six reprises,
Pour le subdiviser en sept étages,
Dont je décomposai le volume en neuf
compartiments.
Je plantai en ses flancs
Des chevilles à l’épreuve de l ’eau.
Puis je pourvus aux gaffes et mis l’armement
en place.

65 Je jetai au creuset 10 800 litres d'asphalte,
Ce qui donna autant de bitume.
Les porte-baquets ayant chargé
Ces 10 800 litres d’huile,
Déduction faite des 3 600 nécessaires au calfatage,
Le capitaine en mit donc 7 200 en réserve.

70 Pour les artisans, je fis abattre quantité de boeufs,
Et sacrifiai chaque jour des moutons :
Cervoise, bière fine, huile et vin,
Ces mêmes ouvriers en consommèrent
Autant qu’eau de rivière !
On fit enfin une fête comme pour l’Akîtu,

75 Et moi, au coucher du soleil, je fis toilette.
Le soir du septièmje jour, le bateau était achevé.
Mais, comme sa mise à l’eau
Etait difficile à assurer,
On amena, du haut en bas, des rondins de
roulage
Jusqu'à ce que ses flancs,
Eussent immergés aux deux tiers.

80 Le lendemain matin, tout ce que je possédais,
Je l'en chargeai :
Tout ce que j’avais d'argent,
Tout ce que j'avais d’or,
Tout ce que j'avais de spécimens d’êtres-vivants.
J’embarquai ma famille et ma maisonnée
entières,

85 Ainsi que gros et petits animaux-sauvages,
Et tous les techniciens.
Shamash m ’avait fixé le moment, me disant :
«Lorsque, dès l’aurore, je ferai choir des
petits-pains,
Et des averses de grains-de-froment au
crépuscule,
Entre dans le bateau et obtures-en l’écoutille ! »
Et ce moment arriva :

90 Dès l’aurore, il chut des petits-pains,
Et des averses de grains-de-froment au
crépuscule.
J’examinai l’aspect du temps :
Il était effrayant à voir!
Je m’introduisis donc dans le bateau
Et en obturai l’écoutille :
Celui qui la ferma, Puzur-Amurru, le nocher,

95 Je lui fis cadeau de mon palais, avec ses
richesses.
Au premier point du jour, le lendemain,
Monta de l’horizon une noire nuée
Dans laquelle tonnait Adad,
Précédé de Shullat et de Hanish,

100 Hérauts divins qui sillonnaient monts et plaines.
Nergal arracha les étais des vannes célestes,
Et Ninurta se précipita
Pour faire déborder les barrages d’en-haut,
Tandis que les Anunnaki, brandissant leurs
torches,
Incendiaient de leur embrasement
Le pays tout entier.

105 Adad étendit dans le ciel son silence-de-mort,
Réduisant en ténèbres tout ce qui avait été
lumineux !
[...] brisèrent la terre comme un pot !
Le premier jour que souffla la tempête,
Si fort elle souffla que [...],

110 Et l’Anathème passa comme la guerre sur
les hommes.
Personne ne voyait plus personne :
Les foules n’étaient plus discernables
Dans cette trombe-d’eau.
Les dieux étaient épouvantés par ce Déluge :
Prenant la fuite,
Ils escaladèrent jusqu’au ciel d’Anu,

115 Où, tels des chiens, ils demeuraient pelotonnés
Et accroupis à terre.
La Déesse criait comme une parturiente —
Bêlet-ilî à la belle voix se lamentait, disant :
«Ah ! s’il pouvait n'avoir jamais existé, ce
jour-là
Où, parmi l’assemblée des dieux,
Je me suis prononcée en mauvaise part !

120 Comment ai-je pu ainsi déparler
Dans l’assemblée des dieux ?
Comment ai-je pu décider ce carnage
Pour faire disparaître les populations ?
Je n’aurai donc mis mes gens au monde
Que pour en remplir la mer, comme de
poissonnaille ! »
Et les Anunnaki divins de se lamenter avec
elle !

125 Tous les dieux demeuraient prostrés,
En larmes, en désespoir,
Lèvres brûlantes et dans l'angoisse.
Six jours et sept nuits durant,
Bourrasques, pluies-battantes, ouragans et
Déluge
Ne cessèrent de saccager la terre.
Le septième jour arrivé,
Tempête, Déluge et hécatombe stoppèrent,

130 Après avoir distribué leurs coups, au hasard,
Comme une femme dans les douleurs.
La mer se calma et s'immobilisa,
Ouragan et Déluge s’étant stoppés !
Je regardai alentour : le silence régnait :
Tous les hommes avaient été retransformés
en argile,
Et la plaine-liquide semblait un toit-terrasse !

135 J’ouvris une lucarne
Et l'air vif me sauta au visage.
Je tombai à genoux, immobile, et pleurai,
Les larmes me dévalant sur les joues.
Puis du regard je cherchai les côtes, à l’horizon.
À quelques encablures, une langue de terre
émergeait :

140 C'était le mont Nisir, ou le bateau accosta.
Le Nisir le retint, sans le laisser repartir :
Un premier, un second jour, le Nisir le retint,
De même ;
Un troisième, un quatrième jour, le Nisir le
retint,
De même ;
Un cinquième, un sixième jour, le Nisir le
retint,
De même.

145 Lorsque arriva le septième jour,
Je pris une colombe et la lâchai.
La colombe s’en fut, puis revint :
N’ayant rien vu où se poser, elle s’en retournait.
Puis je pris une hirondelle et la lâchai :

150 L'hirondelle s’en fut, puis revint :
N’ayant rien vu où se poser, elle s’en retournait.
Puis je pris un corbeau et le lâchai.
Le corbeau s’en fut,
Mais, ayant trouvé le retrait des eaux,
Il picora, il croassa, il s’ébroua,
Mais ne s’en revint plus.

155 Alors je dispersai tout aux quatre-vents
Et fis un sacrifice,
Disposant le repas sur le faîte de la montagne !
Je plaçai de chaque côté sept vases-rituels à boire,
Et, en retrait, versai dans le brûle-parfums
Cymbo <pogon>, cèdre et myrte.
Les dieux, humant l’odeur,

160 Humant la bonne odeur,
S’attroupèrent comme des mouches
Autour du sacrificateur !
Mais, dès son arrivée, la princesse-divine
Brandit le collier de grosses mouches
Qu’Anu lui avait fait au temps de leurs
amours
Et s ’exclama :
« O dieux ici présents, je n'oublierai jamais
Ces lazulites de mon collier :

165 Jamais je n’oublierai, non plus, ces jours
funestes :
J’en ferai toujours mémoire !
Les autres dieux peuvent venir prendre part
au repas,
Mais Enlil n'y devrait point paraître,
Puisque, inconsidérément, il a décidé le Déluge
Et livré mes gens à l’extermination ! »

170 Enlil, pourtant, aussitôt arrivé,
Aperçut le bateau et entra en fureur,
Plein de courroux contre les Igigi ;
« Quelqu'un a donc eu la vie sauve,
Alors qu'il ne devait pas rester un seul
survivant? »
Ninurta ouvrit alors la bouche, prit la parole
Et s'adressa à Enlil-le-preux :

175 « Qui donc, hormis Ea,
Pouvait mener a bien une pareille opération,
Puisque Ea sait tout faire ?»
Ea ouvrit donc la bouche, prit la parole
Et s’adressa à Enlil-le-preux :
Mais toi, le plus sage des dieux, le plus vaillant,
Comment donc as-tu pu, aussi inconsidérément,
Décider le Déluge ?

180 Fais porter sa coulpe au seul coupable,
Et son péché au seul pécheur !
Ou alors, ne les supprime point : pardonne-leur !
Ne les anéantis pas : sois-leur clément !
Plutôt que le Déluge,
Mieux eussent valu des lions, pour décimer
les hommes !
Plutôt que le Déluge,
Mieux eussent valu des loups, pour
décimer les hommes !
Plutôt que le Déluge,
Une disette eût mieux valu, pour débiliter
le pays !

185 Plutôt que le Déluge,
Une épidémie eût mieux valu
Pour frapper ça et là les hommes !
Non ! Je n’ai pas dévoilé le secret
Juré par les grands-dieux :
J’ai seulement fait voir à Supersage un songe,
Et c’est ainsi qu’il a appris ce secret !
A présent, décidez de son sort!»
Alors Enlil monta sur le bateau,
Me prit la main et me fit monter avec lui,
Et fit monter et s'agenouiller avec moi ma
femme.
Il nous toucha le front,
Et, debout entre nous, nous bénit en ces
termes :
« Uta-napishtim, jusqu’ici, n'était qu'un être-
Désormais, lui et sa femme humain :
Seront semblables à nous, les dieux!

195 Mais ils demeureront au loin :
A l’Embouchure-des-fleuves ! »
C’est ainsi qu’on nous enleva,
Pour nous installer au loin,
A l'Embouchure-des-fleuves ! »

(Source: Lorsque les dieux faisaient l'homme: Mythologie mésopotamienne ; p: 569-575)