Scene II

Although yon sky be peaceful and serene, I pray you that the son-ne be not seen, And that instead, ye hear the thunder's roar, And lightning's flash, as ne'er ye've seen before, And rains descend as ye shall see no more.

Peace! (The noise stills.) Now forty days are fully gone, Send a dove I will anon, To see if aught of tree or stone Be dry in any place. And if this fowl come not again, It is a sign God stops the rain, And all is dry in hill and plain, By God, his grace. Go forth, O Dove, and quickly see If this flood yet doth cease; If so, return again to me With the olive branch of peace.(He lets dove loose.)

O father, in the east a dove is seen, And in his bill, an olive branch, right green.

O Lord, blessed be thou for aye, That us hath comforted this day, And turned toward us thy face. Yet once again, sweet dove, go forth, To the east, west, south and north, And find a resting place. If thou come not again to me, Then full plainly can I see The flood is over by God's piteous grace.

The dove returns not; it is gone for aye. Let us go forth out of the ark, I pray.

Ah, Lord, honored must thou be. All the earth's dry, I can see.

Son-nes, open wide the door; See the plank be shoved ashore; Lead the animals before Right merrily.

Sisters, come; dance and sing! The earth is all a-blossoming.

Sing and dance with glee and mirth; For the floods have left the earth.

Raise your voices with a shout:

We're out of the ark at last! We're out!

Peace! A psalm of thanks now raise, Unto God with hymns of praise, For his mighty and his wondrous ways.

Lord God in majesty, That such grace hath granted me Alone of mankind saved to be, Therefore make I offering meet, A sacrifice of savor sweet; And let the incense mount unto thy heavenly seat.

Noah, list ye God, his will: To obey is better still Than sacrifice; and thou hast God obeyed. God doth promise now through me, Never again a flood shall be. Thou hast done in all things as he said. My bow between you and me In the firmament shall be; By this token you shall see That man and woman shall nevermore Be wasted with water as hath been before.

Now when falleth fast the rain, I will bring the sun again; And this bow shall plain be seen As token that my wrath and spleen Shall never wakened be. The bow-string is turned towards you; And toward me is bent the bow. That such weather shall be no mo'e, I promise thee. God's blessing, Noah, I give thee here

For vengeance shall no more appear. And now farewell, my darling dear.