The following excerpt is taken from scroll fragment 92f, one of the most complete parchments. It has been enumerated for quick reference.
1 And in the days of the [rule of the] third Creticus, Metallius Minimus, there was turmoil in all the land.
2 At the instigation of Elyrosian zealots, many had come together [against] the capital city of Gortyna.
3 Thinking to put off the rule of the Romans they took up quills and [lived] outside the city gates writing unfavorably concerning the [rule of the] third Creticus, Metallius Minimus, and mocking those who traded at the gates.
4 This continued for days before the third Creticus, Metallius Minimus, formed [a committee] to investigate the matter.
5 As the dignitaries approached the Elyrosian zealots they were [accosted] with parchments and fled in fear.
6 The zealots considered this a victory until a large consort of soldiers were dispatched and levelled their [living area].
7 Most of their parchments were destroyed in this [onslaught] but one was spared.
8 The Holy Scroll of Libertina was hidden away and preserved and now resides in the palace of the Creticus, where the fourth Creticus, Metallius Averagius often [makes reference to it] with great admiration during his [bi-monthly] gathering of dignitaries.
9 (the Elyrosian zealots were later captured and executed, being tossed from the cliffs of Phaestus and dashed against the rocks below.)
10 As brother Festivian was once a dignitary before his conversion, he was [privy] to the contents of the scroll on several occasions.
11 He related to us their contents every year [after] the summer solstice celebrations [were completed.]
12 This is what he would say:
13 Libertina of the Hidden Truth declares, "The words of the lords, the amalgam, the effervescent, the plurality,
14 'Come and reason. The nature of the world and it's encasing shall be made known,
15 and the nature of the man shall be made known in it.
16 The world was given birth in simplicity,
17 Formed of clay and wind,
18 Given light and water,
19 And made to dwell in freedom.
20 This is the nature of the world.
21 Man is given birth in simplicity,
22 Formed from clay and wind,
23 Given light and water,
24 And made to dwell in freedom from his birth.
25 But man relinquishes his freedom,
26 And forfeits his light and water,
27 And his clay resides again in the earth and his wind breaks,
28 And he is complicated,
29 And complicates [all] around him.
30 This is the nature of man.'"
Our team of scholars has made every attempt to render the most direct translation of this passage. Several portions were repleat with erroneous spellings and poor grammar, which we have attempted to adjust with utmost care for the integrity of the text. These portions are indicated within the text by parenthesis.
