¶1] Towards the warlike man peace is observed, that is a proverb which cannot be outdone; throughout the fair forests of Banbha none save the fighting man finds peace.
¶2] If any one amongst the warriors of Bregia deem it well to pacify the Saxons, this will suffice for his protection, so it is said, let him spend a while in continually spoiling them.
¶3] The Gaels of civil behaviour will not get peace from the foreigners, such is the their warfare, these most valorous, royal hosts, that it is not worth a treaty of peace.
¶4] No object for pacification are the seed of Conall, or the seed of Eóghan of the standards, or yet Cathaoir's desendants, or the seeds of Sadbh, or the valiant race of Conchobhar.
¶5] The nobility of the blood of fair Gaedhel is vanished almost to a man; such hopeful quarry are they that pursuit of them is nothing to boast of.
¶6] They are being thrust on to the outskirts of Banbha, whilst regiments of foreigners are in the centre; of the seed of Eber and Eremon a one-sided [...](?) hath been made.
¶7] It is but fitting that the Saxon soldiery fulfil not terms of peace with the scattered band; it seems to them—alas that is should be so—that the hosts of Banbha are without a warranty.
¶8] It is because of their weakness in fighting men against the foriegn battalions that beyond those of any land in Europe ths wounded and unfairly—used people lack peace.
¶9] Lack of counsel it is that has rendered the people subservient to the wrathful, tyrannical band; alas that they do not find those who would exhort them through any single man of valour!
¶10] Great unfriendliness were it did none of the poets of the bright-knolled land say to the men of Fódla that they should declare war upon the foreigners.
¶11] Since our darling amongst the race of Míl is the son of Brian, lavisher of herds, with gentle utterances I shall counsel the scion of Limerick's vigourous, nimble host.
¶12] I would give counsel of a friend to the head of royal Fearghna's line, that he, ripe fruit of the vine, kindle a tiny spark in the embers.
¶13] I will moreover, with brief discourse—what is it but a kindling of righteous wrath?—give to the king of rivered Magh Sléacht an incitment to foray.
¶14] Easy it is for him to give battle, from the sympathy of five noble nations, from one coast to the other Ireland will join him in a united war.
¶15] Throughout fertile Banbha's plain, the rest, both kings and princes, will kindle sympathy with him, even as one house takes fire from another.
¶16] When the men of Ireland learn that the high-king of Aolmhagh is making war, throughout Banbha of the glistening showers there will not be a land without one to despoil it.
¶17] Eager for mischief are the men of Ireland, they will rise with him in their full strength; the Gaels will strive to unite so that Ireland may depend on a single surety.
¶18] Only by keen war for our plain of Úna can he wage them, his will be the profit or the blame there of—these forays on Úghaine's isle.
¶19] Let stone castles become couches for wild beasts, let grass so hide each road that he leave the bright surfaced plain of Tara over-run with wild deer and wolves.
¶20] Let them leave such famine in the valley of the Boyne, and by the long-branched shores of Birr, that the woman in Meath's rich plain eat of the heart of her firstborn.
¶21] Let the white-limbed hero of Gáirighe effect that there shall be nothing of their precious treasures, or at all events of their limewashed castles, save the saying that once upon a time they were.
¶22] Let their fruitful orchard be cut down, let their corn-crops be shorn by the defenders of Croghan's province, spirited, ruddy-bladed warriors.
¶23] Beside Teltown let great towers be pulverised by him, let him sweep utterly away their mills, their kilns, their granaries.
¶24] Throughout Ushnagh let the level borders of spreading plains become moorlands, so that the man beside Teathbha may not find a trace of the four roads.
¶25] Let it be treasured up for the passing guest as a marvellous thing if the lowing of a single cow be heard around Colt, or by green-swarded Usnagh.
¶26] From Naas of Leinster let powerful men carry away heavy burdens of massive (?) ancient gilt goblets and of the sides of their merchant's coffers.
¶27] Let, moreover, poor and friendless men become wealthy, and let wealthy and powerful noblemen be made poor.
¶28] After the deeds the seed of Ruarc slow to anger shall perform the foreigner's of Almha's fertile meadow will ask for a treaty of peace.
¶29] Messengers will come from them to seek a truce from the warriors of Banbha's land; they will ply the graceful, affable folk with sweet, honorable speeches.
¶30] Their robs of satin, their precious treasures, they will bring to the host of ancient Sligo, whose nobles will be plied with golden rings by the surly, impatient band.
¶31] They will ask the leader of peace of bright Ushnagh's meadow to come with them to court, and they will not yet seek requital for what the seed of Fearghna will have done on that raid.
¶32] Let them not with honeyed words beguile Brian son of Brian from Breffney, woe to him who would approach them, ravenous, destructive barbarians.
¶33] Does he know of the case of the lion, once when he attempted treachery? To no one yet born does he show gratitude(?), this king of all the animals.
¶34] He summoned to him the quadrupeds of the earth, they go at the first asking; many a proud, headstrong band attended the thronged gathering.
¶35] The chief of the fox tribe came not at the beginning of the party, but kept away for the time, until he found a suitable opportunity.
¶36] On the same path then the foxes go to him together—it was not meet to contend with them in their crafts—a wily, stealthy pack.
¶37] When the host, not numerous enough for battle, had gone to look at the lion's cave, they filled with fear for their lives, a weak and spiritless hosting.
¶38] The first fox who approached the lime-white entrance of the gorgeous cavern bid those on the outer threshold return with one accord.
¶39] 'Clearly can I see coming up to this track of every quadruped, but there is no track leaving it, ye modest, youthful, prudent band.'
¶40] 'Did we go into that fortress', said the leader of the guileful company, 'never would our returning tracks from the smooth, artful rampart be found'.
¶41] Those foxes, then, turned away from the greedy cave, in brief, what they said is conceived by us to apply to the white-breasted swan of the Finn.
¶42] This court of the foreign battalions is the cave of the nimble lion, and the hosts of the Irish territory are the slain quadrupeds.
¶43] Let Brian, son of Brian, son of Owen, understand that none of the bright Banbha's warriors come from the foreigners safe from treachery or betrayal.
¶44] With such terror has the uniting thread of this land of Lugh inspired the Saxons that even if the rest surrendered him into their custody it would not be easy to capture him.
¶45] It is in his power, the chief of royal Fearghna's race, to defend Tara; the rest cannot but guard him, blossom of the vine tendrils.
¶46] The nobles BaBanbha could not rescue generous Brian, son of Brian, yet it were not difficult for the well-followed hero of the Duff to succour all the Gaels.
¶47] The hatred of the foreigners for him is his testimony (?); all have been proclaiming for long that she is his—he holds Fódla by the bridle.
¶48] It is easy for him to defend her against them, many are his allies, far and wide lie his forces, while he has naught to protect save Ireland.
¶49] The races from which his mother came will be around the son of Brian in phalanxes(?); each tribe like a precipitous flood (?), the seed of Niall Caille and the race of Conall.
¶50] The three Luighne will be around the chief of Breffney, a broad-shielded, numerous throng; the men of Tireragh, the men of Carbury, the men of Corran, will be with him in the fighting without delay.
¶51] The three MacSweeneys from the march of Bearnas will also join him in one band; come weal come woe let them not part from him, steel of the bright host of the Gael.
¶52] The Hy Many will join the son of Gráinne, with crimson, blue-headed javelins—they will leave the foreign women wet-cheeked—and the haughty line of Fearghus.
¶53] From the Inny to Loch Erne all are with him, both freemen and wanderers, and from Boyle to stormy Loch Oughter, the men of Fermanagh, the O'Rourkes, the O'Reillys.
¶54] The three chieftains of Connacht will go with him in a bannered mass, three stately, mighty regiments, the valiant line of Conchobhar.
¶55] The Clann Domhnaill will be with him in their full strength, like oaks towering above the groves, a gay and wondrous band of the soldiery of Fódla, the mercenaries of Islay.
¶56] The lords of the Gail will then march to Dublin at the outset, many a stone castle will be laid in ruins by the stubborn, headstrong fighters.
¶57] From the generous seed of Ruarc the valley of the Boyne will be a mass of lightning, the foreign tribes from Cliú to Croghan [...]9.
¶58] The fierce, heroic swarm will have many an ornamented goblet and basin, many sledges for shattering walls, many vats and shining cans.
¶59] Many a spit and hook will they have, and many heavy corded bundles, many tables and pots, and plenty of other booty.
¶60] The slopes of Meath will be covered by them with the vastness of the spoils from the cities, the powerful, cunning host will make many a road about the bright-trouted Boyne.
¶61] At sleeping time, after spoiling Magh Ceóil, the children of kings will have in their camps plenty of half-cooked flesh for griddles.
¶62] The foreigners about Ushnagh's field will then say to the people of fair Boyle that they will not allow the blood of Cairbre to take their kine, their spoils and their manifold wealth.
¶63] The nobles of the Gael will not respect the utterance of the fair, splendid warriors, the children of Cobhthach will marvel greatly that the foreigners should contend with them.
¶64] Then will the Saxon battalions and the hosts of royal Tara take the field of battle, many deaths will the wondrous, fortunate host wreak upon them.
¶65] Then will they hack at one another till even; many foreigners, many Gaels will perish by the numerous, irrestible host.
¶66] Many a keen, razor-edged arrow from the bow will pierce the flesh of a nobleman; many a cold blade and javelin, and slender, shining battle-axe.
¶67] The land of Meath will be flooded with ruddy pools from the two vigorous bands, until blood rises above the shoulders on that bright-surfaced plain of Tara.
¶68] Then will the Saxon tribe be vanquished by the seed of keen-weaponed Gaedheal, so that from the proclamation of war there will never be any save Irishmen over the land of Fódla.
¶69] On the night following the battle on the hill above the beguiling streams of the Boyne there will be many a noble, comely body in death-throes(?) from the hero of the Maigue's fertile valley.
¶70] There will be many a scaldcrow tearing the flesh of stout-weaponed warriors, and many will be the ravens and wolves around bright, fertile, salmon-abounding Cliú.
¶71] On the slopes of Meath many will be the wet-eyed queens over their dead, from (the deeds of) the host of the Erne many will be the keen, ardent cries over them.