To tell from of old earthmen’s beginnings,

That Father Almighty earth had created,

The winsome wold that the water encircleth,

Set exultingly the sun’s and the moon’s beams

To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races,

And earth He embellished in all her regions

With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too

On all the kindreds that live under heaven.

So blessed with abundance, brimming with joyance,

The warriors abided, till a certain one gan to