¶1] I shall leave Hugh to the men of Ireland, they are enough for the white-handed one of the fine, soft hair; save myself alone all Ireland is his; he is her comrade, her companion.
¶2] I should not find room by Hugh, the best poets of the Irishmen are around him on every side; they do not permit me to approach Criomhthan's descendant.
¶3] No matter, that is no harm; I shall look to Maguire to see if my king of Gowra will accept me since I am alone.
¶4] I must needs approach, even if it be wrong, the high-king of Fermanagh's soil; we have been forestalled with Hugh, supple-handed, foam-white form.
¶5] A curious little story concerning this I shall relate to Hugh Maguire—bright, fair-hued countenance fore which the wave ebbs—for which it were unjust to reproach me.
¶6] Seventeen of the poets of Ulster went to study their art, the destination of the fair Ultonian band being Kilcloney in Connacht.
¶7] They purchased a pig and a beef, and forthwith these people I have mentioned, each of them in quarrelsome humor, began to apportion their shares.
¶8] The man of the house asked which of the undistinguished, bashful company should be set down to the beef, and which to the long, fat, substantial pig.
¶9] Unanimously they make for the pork, out of that senseless band there was only one man got for the beef, though it was a crazy proceeding.
¶10] 'May I never come back alive,' said one of them, turning, 'it has parted me from this company of friends, I shall go to the sharp, bony thing.'
¶11] Of the seventeen men—keen the liking—none selected the clear, succulent beef in the end save a single man; it was not possible to restrain them.
¶12] Consider, thou soft and white of bosom, how abundant [...](?) caused only one man to forsake the pork, thou shepherd of Cormac's Plain.
¶13] Today, thou son of Maguire, it is no fault in me not to approach thee; I am loth to celebrate thy praises amongst all the poets of Ireland.
¶14] Not rumors of niggardliness, not disagreement with thee, or hatred or distrust of thee, thou smooth-cheeked, wondrous, graceful one, keeps thee perpetually cut off from me, but (my) sulkiness.
¶15] Good as thou art, I would not forsake for thee my own man, Cú Chonnacht; my strength, my love, my affection; he would never abandon me.