| 1 | The goddess Ana did wish to test the character of man, |
| 2 | That they be worthy of her continued favor and protection. |
| 3 | But as her husband did so love mankind, she called upon the lesser gods to petition him instead. |
| 4 | Upon the plaint of Shu and Danu and Kel, Lord Bel did say thus: |
| 5 | If be not unfair thee gods, I grant such test. That by the volition of equal men ye shall decide. |
| 6 | Whereupon Ana selected three orphaned brothers and commanded Luki, |
| 7 | That he bring the fortune of land near the sea to the brothers. |
| 8 | The goddess Bris did bathe lands in spring with life, |
| 9 | And the first brother said to the others: I care not for effort, |
| 10 | For these days surely are enough and life is without worry. |
| 11 | My home shall be spun from these fine tall grasses, |
| 12 | And not a moment shall be wasted on hard labor. |
| 13 | The second brother said to the others: I be not as care free as thee, |
| 14 | For times will change and the cold winds shall come. |
| 15 | So I shall make my house of wood, |
| 16 | And my efforts shall be rewarded with peace. |
| 17 | The third brother said to the others: My foolish brothers, |
| 18 | This land be near the sea and surely upon Autumn Lug and in winter Mene shall test us. |
| 19 | I shall begin building my home deeper into the earth of thick stones, |
| 20 | That neither storms, nor winter shall destroy me. |
| 21 | Thus when Autumn came and the god Lug did bring fierce storms, |
| 22 | And when Shu the god of wind and air did blow, the house of straw of the first brother was destroyed. |
| 23 | Then when Winter came, the goddess Mene did bring great snows and cold, |
| 24 | And Danu the goddess of rain and moisture did splinter and crush the house of wood of the second brother. |
| 25 | Only the house of the brother who made his home of stone survived. |
| 26 | Then Ana called upon Kel the goddess of the earth to rumble, |
| 27 | Yet as hard as she tried, the home of stone of the third brother stood. |
| 28 | Finally upon spring, the great Lord Bel called out to Ana and the lesser gods to cease. |
| 29 | And spoke thus:Though man is tested and many fail, |
| 30 | Enough remember the lessons of previous lives, |
| 31 | And choose by their own volition to be more than beasts. |
| 32 | For if but one chooses to be free, all are free, |
| 33 | And thus no god nor man may claim another to be slave or beast. |
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