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]"

He did so, and obeyed the Lord, stood forth upon the
strand, as the Voice bade him, and with great joy led 1495
out of the ship the survivors of these perils.

Then Noe began to institute a sacrifice to our Preserver,
and immediately took a part of all his possessions which
the Lord had given to him for his comfort, and then, 1500
zealous for the offering, even to God Himself, King of
the Angels, the clear-souled man proffered the sacrifice.
Certainly our Saviour let it be known, when he blessed 1505
Noe and his sons too, that [the patriarch] had given Him
this offering acceptably and in his youth had merited
by his good deeds that Almighty God, Glorious in
Splendor, should be gracious to him with all blessings. 1510
Then again the Lord, Ruler of Glory, spoke a word to
Noe:

"Increase now and multiply, enjoy your honor, with
the gladness of peace: fill the earth, make all things teem.
Into your possession is given a noble heritage, the produce 1515
of the sea, the fowls of heaven, and the wild beasts,--
the verdant earth and every treasure. You shall
never dishonorably procure your food through bloodshed,