The flood was sinking; the sea-farers, the heroes and their wives, longed [for the time] when they might venture to step out of their straitened quarters over the well-nailed side out on the bank, and take their goods 1435 out of their crowded home.  So the guardian of the ship tried to find out whether the waters were still sinking under the clouds:  accordingly, after many days from the time the high mountain-sides received the possessions 1440 and persons of the races of earth, the son of Lamech let a black raven fly out of the Ark over the high flood.  Noe believed that if it found no land in its flight, it 1445 would zealously seek him again on the ship over the wide water.  But this hope failed him; for the evil [bird] alighted upon a floating corpse:  the dark-feathered fowl would not seek [further].  Then again after a week he sent from the Ark a purple dove to fly over the high water 1450 after the dark raven, for the purpose of finding out whether the foamy sea, the ocean, had given up any portion of the green earth, as yet.  Widely she sought 1455 her desired object, and flew afar:  nowhere did she find a resting-place, since she could not settle on land on foot because of the flood, nor alight on a leaf of a tree because of the waves; for the steep mountain-sides were 1460 hidden by the waters.  The wild bird set out in the evening to seek the Ark over the dusky flood, and sank weary and famished in the hands of the pious hero.  Then after a week the wild-dove was again sent out 1465 from the Ark:  she flew far, until greatly rejoicing she found a fair place for rest and settled with her feet on a tree; she exulted glad at heart, because exceedingly weary [as she was] she could sit in the bright branches 1470 of a tree:  she shook out her wings and started to fly back again with her gift, [for she] brought in her flight an olive twig, green leaves, into the hands of one [on board].  Then quickly the leader of the voyagers per- 1475 ceived that solace had come, relief from their perilous experience.  So again after a third week the happy man sent out a wild dove; it did not come flying back to the ship, for it found land, green groves:  the glad 1480 creature did not wish to show itself ever again under the pitch-smeared roof on the Ark, when there was no need.

XVIII.

Then to Noe spoke our Preserver, Ruler of Heaven, with holy voice: 

“For you is a dwelling-place again appointed, fair 1485 on the dry land, joys on earth and rest after your voyage.  Depart in peace out of the Ark, and lead forth upon the bosom of the earth out of this lofty structure your com-panions and all the creatures which I mercifully preserved 1490 from the peril of the flood, while the deluge held sway [and] covered your home with its abundance.[19]”