rst month, and in twelve
paragraphs takes up in succession the months of the year. Choosing for
comparison the same three months, the third, fourth, and fifth, which we
selected in the case of the 22d tablet, it will be seen that, while the
references are again to public affairs, the prognostications are of a
more general character and of wider applicability.

If in the 3d month an eclipse takes place on the 14th day, rains
will descend and flood the canals. Storms will cause
inundations. The soldiery of Babylonia will destroy the country.
An eclipse on the 15th day indicates that king against king will
send troops[590]. The king of legions dies. An eclipse on the
16th day signifies that the king will be slain, and that some
one will seize the throne.[591] An eclipse on the 20th day means
that the king will hand his throne to his son. An eclipse
happening on the 21st day portends rain,[592] and an invasion of
the enemy's land.

For the 4th month an eclipse on the 14th day portends that rains
will descend and the canals will be flooded. Rains will cause
inundations. There will be famine. A large country will be
reduced to a small one. An eclipse on the 15th day portends that
rains will descend, canals will be flooded, and there will be
famine in the land. An eclipse on the 16th day portends famine
for a year. An eclipse on the 20th day portends destruction of
the king and his army. An eclipse happening on the 21st day
indicates that there will be a strong wind that will destroy the
riches of the sea.[593]

For the 5th month an eclipse on the 14th day portends rains and
flooding of canals. The crops will be good and king will send
peace to king.[594] An eclipse on the 15th day portends
destructive war. The land will be filled with corpses. An
eclipse on the 16th day indicates that pregnant women will be
happily delivered of their offspring. An eclipse on the 20th day
portends that lions will cause terror and that reptiles will
appear; an eclipse on the 21st day that destruction (?) will
overtake the riches of the sea.[593]

The vagueness of many of the prognostications is in all probabilities
intentional, just as we found to be the case in most of the oracles
announced to the kings. To predict rains during the rainy months was
comparatively safe. The storms which visited Babylonia annually brought
with