¶1] Many privileges have the seed of Niall, it is long since they, the seed of the forest-tree from the Bregian Boyne, were ordained above the rest of Míl's mighty kin.
¶2] Even when they are not ruling the Land of the Fair, the high-king of Ireland is not entitled to any increase of homage from the goodly race of Eóghan, orchard-stems of Cobhthach's kindred.
¶3] When any other king rules the Plain of Úghaine no exchange of hostages is got from the goodly race of Nine-hostaged Niall.
¶4] But when one of the O'Neills is made king, then it is no matter of doubt that the keen-bladed race of noble Niall obtains pledges from every Irishman.
¶5] They, being the most excellent, have given hire to the men of Ireland, but the flower of Bregia's ever-roving host are not bound to accept hire.
¶6] O'Neill is entitled to the blood-price if any of his people be killed, but he gives no honor-price to any of the strongly fettering host of the Gael.
¶7] We know, moreover, that in no part of Ireland are their rights withheld, while these hosts so heroic in exploit hold the dues of all Ireland.
¶8] The descendants of Niall of the Nine Fetters, stems from the Hill of the Fair, there have not been, nor will there ever be any Irishmen such as they.
¶9] The kings of Ireland who were not of them, and the race of mighty Niall, son of Eachaidh—not more numerous in the regal list are kings from other stock than from them.
¶10] From them are the kings of hilly Banbha, from them the choicest of Ireland's noble saints; from the seed of royal Niall of the land of Bregia, the stainless, righteous ones of the Gael.
¶11] Mac Coise estimated the race of Niall, and in no respect did he find in them any traces of wickedness or transgression, any more than in the angels of the haven of paradise.
¶12] 'Whosoever is the worst of Niall's stock, I testify,' said Mac Coise, 'that he excels all others besides them, that company from Tuatha Teamhrach.'
¶13] The best of Niall's stock, these, palmtrees from the haven of Derry, he did not speak of as men, but as angels in fleshly body.
¶14] The judgment of Mac Coise of Cluain on the seed of Niall of red-weaponed Oileach has ever since had wide and enduring repute throughout the host of Fionntan's wine-abounding plain.
¶15] There are many other reasons whereby the descendants of Eóghan especially surpass in nobility the rest of Niall's saintly race, noble stems from a single root.
¶16] Eóghan, son of glorious Niall, branch above the forest of Macha's plain, obtained, beyond the other children of the high-prince, the blessing of the primate Patrick.
¶17] Patrick of the Haven of the Fair bequeathed to Eóghan, rather than to the rest of Niall's seed, and to his vigorous and noble stock, the honor and prowess of Ireland.
¶18] They ruled the descendants of Criomhthan, and never since, in virtue of the patron's legacy, has any one of the men of Ireland obtained power over Eóghan's, seed.
¶19] The seed of Niall is the outcome of the ancient blessings, the fruit of the holy man's prayer has now come to Turlogh, apple-branch of Tara's wood.
¶20] Son of Niall, son of Art Óg, son of Conn, descendant of the kings from Frewen, most righteous king that man ever saw of the mighty sons of Míl.
¶21] The difference between gold and copper, the difference between the moon and the stars, such is the difference whereby the lord of Bangor's fertile plain exceeds all other Irishmen.
¶22] A king who never allowed the men of Ireland to outdo the Ulstermen in anything, the king proven to be best, surpassing all Ireland.
¶23] A king through whom the men of Ulster are without war, without conflict; without envy, without resentment, without anger, without destruction of castles, without reaving.
¶24] A king who never broke his kingly word, the king to whom evildoers are most hateful: a king who will promise nothing under heaven save that which is certain to be done.
¶25] Even on the highway a ring of ruddy gold might be safely left for a year, such is the rigor of the law amongst the men of Ulster.
¶26] Under the glancing eye of the mighty hero of Macha the women of Fál's Plain might (each one) traverse Ulster singly, clad in garments of varied hue, broidered with gold.
¶27] If a ship laden with treasure were cast unguarded by the coast, such power does Turlogh wield that it would depart without infraction.
¶28] All the more wonderful is it for the man to have brought the Fifth into such a state, seeing that, save Ulster alone the whole of bright and fertile Banbha is one wave of depredation.
¶29] That deluge whereby God desolated the world, or else just such another, has been sent upon Bregia's dewy rampart; the happiness of Banbha has been extinguished.
¶30] In the land of the children of Rudhruighe there is another conspicuous Noah, stately presence, whose excellence is acknowledged, shielding it from the down-pouring of the flood.
¶31] Now, out of all Banbha, Turlogh keeps the fifth part of Tara's land unwetted by Ireland's deluge of lawlessness.
¶32] Even thus of yore did the King of Heaven bring Noah son of Lamech, fruitful scion, of word inviolate, across the heaving sea of the Flood.
¶33] In the days of great Noah son of Lamech the world lay beneath the darkness of mist through lack of reverence for creative God; a well-known matter ever since.
¶34] Save Noah himself and his three sons, the seed of Adam then, all the people of the world, it is said, were abounding in wickedness and sin.
¶35] The angel of God comes down from heaven on a certain day to the son of Lamech, to prophesy to him before the Flood, that most destructive downpour.
¶36] 'The fierce, dark streams of the flood,' said God's messenger to him, 'most able destroyers of them, will overwhelm all simultaneously.'
¶37] 'Let a firm, stout-flanked vessel be made by you,' said the angel, 'ere the black, scorching brine come across the solid plain of the earth.'
¶38] Upon the angel's entreaty the son of Lamech— what courage—makes a graceful, smooth-masted ark, a glistening watertight ship.
¶39] When the ark had been made ready the King of the elements, God the Father, sent the Flood upon the earth and laid it waste.
¶40] Until God in requital of their crimes had overwhelmed the whole world, save eight alone, He ceased not to harry them in His righteous anger.
¶41] It was not the comely, graceful ark that saved them from the wrath of the Deluge whilst the tide was rising, but the prayers and the saintliness of Noah.
¶42] The foreigners are the deluge, the Plain of Conchobhar is the ark, and the Noah of that land is Turlogh, noble, hospitable scion of Tara's fold.
¶43] Even as formerly Noah was chosen by Him, today, according to His wisdom, God has chosen beyond any of the warriors of the bright plain of the Gaels the heavenly countenance of O'Neill.
¶44] Amongst the Gaels of Tara's Field God Himself has chosen Turlogh, it is not easy to alter that choice of the God of the elements.
¶45] It is not to be wondered at though a fierce, powerful king such as he perform any of his actions, considering the number of kings of Ireland that were of his stock.
¶46] Twenty-six kings, in the reckoning of rulers, reigned over the Gaels' land of dark yewtrees, from Niall son of Eachaidh down to Turlogh to whom the forest bends.
¶47] Sixteen kings of Eóghan's race preceded him, no statement of an unlearned man, and ten kings, one after another, of the long-speared seed of Conall.
¶48] Seventy-two kings, reckoning up from Niall of the fair waving hair to proud Míl of Spain, ruled over the pleasant, cool and dewy Plain of Fál.
¶49] Eight kings and four score ruled before him over the field of the Gael; such is the resplendent pedigree of the high-king, the latest generation is the best.
¶50] And further, if, as is not the case, the rest were of equal estimation with the race of Eóghan, the homage of Bregian Banbha would of necessity be given to the hero of Annla.
¶51] It is no season for Irishmen to oppose the power of O'Neill; it is no disgrace not to withstand thee now, since thou wert not withstood as (simple) Turlogh.
¶52] O Turlogh, grandson of Art, little short of woeful were it for any one who should see the homage of one Gael begrudged thee about Flann's Field.