I released a dove from the boat,
It flew off, but circled around and returned,
For it could find no perch.
I then released a swallow from the boat,
It flew off, but circled around and returned,
For it could find no perch.
I then released a raven from the boat,
It flew off, and the waters had receded:
It eats, it scratches the ground, but it does not circle around and return.
I then sent out all the living things in every direction and sacrificed a sheep on that very spot.

The gods were amazed that I had escaped the flood
And some were enraged at the breaking of their oath
But Ea convinced them to be merciful
And from that moment on they made us immortal
And told us to live at the source of all the rivers

But you want more than a story
You want me to give what was given me
Well I'll give it -on one condition
That you stay awake for six days and seven nights"

How simple, how luring this seems to the weary one
Who agrees but falls instantly asleep
And squanders what will be his only chance

Doomed man this is your fate
And you cannot escape it
Death devours you and invades your soul
This is your fate you cannot escape it
So you wake and cry

What do I do now, where do I go now?
Death has devoured my body,
Death dwells in my body,
Wherever I go, wherever I look, there stands Death!

His wailing wakes sorrow and compassion
The immortal's wife pleads with her husband
Give him a consolation, make him young again

He agrees and Gilgamesh agrees
And is offered a plant at the oceans' bottom
Which will make him young again

So he ties stones to his feet
And sinks into the ocean
Sees the plant and plucks it
But does not use it