¶1] The race of Conall will praise the children of Tál, may hap that these plunderings of Conall's Plain be a token of fortune for the seed of noble Ros from the gently-flowing Maigue.
¶2] For sometime past the seed of Brian and that race of Conall have been coupled together; receiving praise and satire.
¶3] We poets of the North used to compose eulogies for the seed of red-speared Conall in provocation of the tribe of Cas, stems from the fair banks of the Fergus.
¶4] We poets of the seed of Hundred-battling Conn, have, whatever the reason, harmed the repute of the great and ancient race of Mugh Nuadhad, valor's inherited capital.
¶5] We used not to compose a long poem of praise, or even one humorous stanza, without corresponding dispraise of the race of Corc, stems most strange to attack.
¶6] Fearing that we may have to approach them, we are remorseful for what we used to do against the beloved seed of Cas, so famed in battle.
¶7] It was not for the sake of cattle or golden goblets, precious jewels or mantles of red satin, that we found reasons for satirizing the fair warriors of Fermoyle.
¶8] But that a short time ago—sorrowful indeed—a fine poet from the northern half went yonder to the west to study his art in Munster.
¶9] And it befell—most harmfully—that the foreign rulers of Mac Con's Munster arrested the poet of Ulster when he was perfected in his art.
¶10] The poet of O'Donnell of Donegal, by the dreadful rule of foreigners—to be brief, he was slain in the south, which caused the simultaneous ruin of the poets.
¶11] It was foreign tyranny that caused them to suffer his murder; the race of Sadhbh should not bear the blame, though it befell them to commit it.
¶12] However, from arrogance of mind I plied the edge of my just wrath on the tribe of Cas, mischievously and pridefully.
¶13] I, like every other man, acted as I should not have done towards the kindly, generous children of Tál, a proceeding which enhanced my unfairness.
¶14] It fell out, thereafter, that war arose between the Ulstermen and the hosts of firmly-walled Croghan; a cause of deep flushing in bright faces.
¶15] It was proclaimed by the race of Dálach that not even friends or comrades should be protected throughout the land of Oilill, dry, bright-stoned plain, watered by melodious streams.
¶16] Thereupon my kinsfolk, my own friends, oblige me to go and seek protection and surety from the stern, powerful kindred of Dálach.
¶17] Despite all they had lavished upon me, this I have to say of the tribe of Conall, they had no mind to undertake my protection; unhappy the condition of the friends.
¶18] I do not deny that it is the same to me as if the seed of Conall were plundering me, for the mighty champions of Beanna Boirche to refuse me in the matter of protection.
¶19] Having heard what they recited to me on thy behalf, Hugh O'Donnell, I am filled with wrath and impatience towards thy ruddy, bronzed, bright-cheeked countenance.
¶20] For thy public proscription of me, thou king of noble Conall's line, the powerfully attended host of Murbhach have no sufficing compensation to offer.
¶21] The hearts of king's children will bound, if I go from thee in enmity; fair faces will flame amongst Almhu's, keen-bladed host.
¶22] Though I am at war with the race of Dálach about my cattle, there went not from me into Ulster unjustly even the value of a single cow.
¶23] Nevertheless, I shall depose against the battalions of the haven of Duibhlinn that they plundered me of all that is in my home, O supple-bodied lord of Calry.
¶24] I shall say, O son of Manus, that thou hast wrought me harm, and requital for the harm thou hast not done me will be given, O lord of Bearnas.
¶25] It was in this fashion, O thick-haired one, that Maol Miolsgothach obtained of yore from the race of famous Niall that extraordinary award of goods.
¶26] One of the nobles of Niall's seed, thus the matter arose, met his death by Mac Coise; thereat they became incensed.
¶27] Upon the kindling of their resentment the road-skilled(?) warriors of Niall's line threaten to go and plunder the poet in return for the unseemly, woeful deed.
¶28] Mac Coise upon hearing this, went to the high-king of Oileach—generous hero for whom the sea was calm, helm of sovranty to Ulster.
¶29] Donnell grandson of Niall, then asked the poet for a story; the best of story-tellers was he, narrator of all Ireland's lore.
¶30] Mac Coise enquired if he had heard a number of entertaining stories; he named them, one after another, to the graceful, white-handed hero of Bóroimhe.
¶31] From the time that Ceasair took possession of the plain of Bregia, all the curious stories of the Field of the Gael were known by heart, he found, to the gallant hero of Maonmhagh.
¶32] About the destruction of his own house, then, the poet composed an original fable for his splendid, angelic countenance.
¶33] Iorard said, in short, that some of Donnell's kinsmen had destroyed his dwelling, homestead of bright, glittering stones.
¶34] Oileach's king, with braided locks, Donnell, son of Muircheartach, gave to the elfin, comely countenance requital for the damage he had not wrought.
¶35] The breadth of his face of pure gold he gave to the poet as an honor-price; and that is but a small part of the various payments he got from the powerful chief of Gáirighe.
¶36] In return for the falsehood he had composed about the kindred of Niall, the slender-handed youths of Bregia thereupon dispensed gifts more than he could reckon to the poet.
¶37] The choicest of their rings, of their goblets encrusted with precious stones, did Mac Coise, Maol Miolsgothach—well did his bluster succeed—get in payment for the hurt they had not wrought.
¶38] Mac Coise's claim against the kindreds of Niall, as I know, O cheery of face, is a sufficing pattern for a claim upon thee, thou lord of the fair Plain of Conchobhar.
¶39] The precious treasures, the gift of cattle, that Mac Coise got from Eóghan's kin—why should not such be dispensed to me, thou scion from the timbered House of Croghan?
¶40] It did not become me, thou lord of Line, either from affection or from fear of reproach, to be forbearing in the matter, thou wise and righteous of mien [sic].
¶41] In short, thou man of honorable intention—it is I myself that am patient; a buffet from a red fist in thy bright cheek is the sentence thou deservest from me.
¶42] Thou hast bidden me, thou smooth of hair, to guard my cattle from thee—my state is nothing but banishment, thou noble king of Frewen.
¶43] For the love of thine honor, tell me wouldst thou establish thyself there in my place, if I left my native territory?
¶44] To whom in the world wilt thou guarantee surety or respect, thou protecting shield of Ulster's shore, after thou hast banished me?
¶45] Hardly should I ever find again, after thy decree, thou slender scion from the Bregian Boyne, one friend with whom it were fitting to live.
¶46] O supple form, as it is with thee I was reared, thou son of Manus, this increases my depression—that the knee which nursed me should reject me.
¶47] Amongst them I was brought up, until I had spent the greater part of my life; great was the comradeship with me of every lord of Conall's curly-haired race.
¶48] Whenever the descendants of Tál, or the graceful, vigorous kindred of Niall were mentioned in my presence, thou prince of Iomghán, I used not to make (great) people of them.
¶49] I shall belie myself if I am for any time at odds with thy noble, crimson, melodious countenance; (my) praises of thee will be refuted by my censure.
¶50] I shall compose a refreshing piece of censure for thee after my lamentation; it shall be as a eulogy of the blood of Tál, thou dark-lashed chief of Iomghán.
¶51] It is a piece of fortune for the seed of Brian that I shall become resentful towards the nobles of Conall's line, offspring of a goodly seed from the City of Conn.
¶52] Wert thou remorseful for the hurt thou hast not done me, I would accept and give an honor-price, O blushing cheek.
¶53] All the greater is the guilt of Dálach's clan in opposing a comrade, since hitherto they have not been wont to plunder any man of letters.
¶54] From the side of either Core or Conn—there is no noble connection whom thou owest to resemble, O Hugh O'Donnell, that was not wont to show forbearance towards poets.