Lucian of Samosata De Syria dea 12

[12] The more partie seyn, Deucalioun, the Scythe, ¹ founded the seyntuarye—that Deucalioun in the tyme thereof the grete Flode befel. Of Deucalioun Ihave herd a tale amonges Grekes, that thei tellen in mynde of him; and the storie is of this maner kynde.

This generacioun, the men of now a dayes, nas not the firste, but that firste generacioun al perissched, and thise ben of the seconde generacioun that cam of Deucalioun and multiplyed eftsones. Of tho firste men, thei seyn that thei were right felonouse and didde wikkede dedis, for thei ne kepten not non othes, ne herberweden no straungers, ne receyveden harno fugityves; and for that skylle the grete tribu- cause lacioun cam upon hem. Anon the erthe sent forthe moche water and grete reynes were made and the ryveres flowede gretli and the see wex wondur high, in to tyme that alle thinges weren chaunged to water and alle men weren dede, outtaken Deucalioun that was laft unto the seconde generacioun for his gode conseil and his gode werkes. And his deliveraunce cam in this wyse. In to a gret arke that he hadde he putte his children and his wyves, and thanne entrede, and at entrynge ther camen to him swyn and hors and lyouns kynd and serpentes and alle bestes that lyven on erthe, two and two. And he resceyvede as hem alle, and thei diden him non harm, but betwene hem was great charitee fro the goddes, and in oon; arke thei alle seyleden whyl the water prevayled. So seyn Grekes of Deucalioun. ²