To annoint it through all thy might.
Three hundred cubits it shall be long,
And so of breadth to make it strong,
Of height so, then must thou fonge,[21]
Thus measure it about.
One window work though thy might;
One cubit of length and breadth make it,
Upon the side a door shall fit
For to come in and out.
Eating-places thou make also,
Three roofed chambers, one or two:
For with water I think to stow[22]
Man that I can make.
Destroyed all the world shall be,
Save thou, thy wife, and sons three,
And all their wives, also, with thee,
Shall saved be for thy sake.

_Noah._ Ah, Lord! I thank thee, loud and still,
That to me art in such will,
And spares me and my house to spill
As now I soothly find.
Thy bidding, Lord, I shall fulfil,
And never more thee grieve nor grill[23]
That such grace has sent me till
Among all mankind.
Have done you men and women all;
Help, for aught that may befall,
To work this ship, chamber, and hall,
As God hath bidden us do.

_Shem._ Father, I am already bowne,[24]
An axe I have, by my crown!
As sharp as any in all this town
For to go thereto.

_Ham._ I have a hatchet, wonder keen,
To bite well, as may be seen,
A better ground one, as I ween,
Is not in all this town.

_Japhet._ And I can well make a pin,
And with this hammer knock it in;
Go and work without more din;
And I am ready bowne.[24]

_Noah's Wife._ And we shall bring timber too,
For women nothing else to do
Women be weak to undergo
Any great travail.

_Shem's Wife._ Here is a good hackstock;
On this you must hew and knock:
Shall none be idle in this flock,
Nor now may no man fail.

_Ham's Wife._ And I will go to gather slich,[25]
The ship for to clean and pitch;
Anointed it must be, every stitch,
Board, tree, and pin.

_Japhet's Wife._ And I will gather chips here
To make a fire for you, in fear,
And for to dight[26] your dinner,
Against you come in.

[_Here they make signs as though they were working divers instruments._

_Noah._ Now in the name of God I will begin,
To make the ship that we shall in,
That we be ready for to swim,
At the coming of the flood.
These boards I join together,
To keep us safe from the weather
That we may roam both hither and thither
And safe be from this flood.
Of this tree will I have the mast,
Tied with gables that will last
With a sail yard for each blast
And each thing in its kind.
With topmast high and bowsprit.
With cords and ropes, I hold all