¶1] The land of Banbhais but swordland: let all be defied to show that there is any inheritance to the Land of Fál save that of conquest by force of battle!
¶2] No one man has any lawful claim to the shining land of the ancient Gaels. The law of this territory is that it shall be subjugate to him who is strongest.
¶3] The father does not bequeath to the son Fódla's Isle of noble scions; until it be obtained by force it cannot be occupied.
¶4] Neither the Sons of Míl of Spain nor any who have conquered her have any claim to the land of Fál save that of taking her by force.
¶5] The spreading-branchéd forests of Fál's Plain were taken forcibly from the guileful race of Nemhedh— most courtly line.
¶6] By force, moreover, such their tale, were the wondrous hills of Ireland—the best dispellers of sorrow— captured from the Fir Bolg.
¶7] By force, again, was the land won from the kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann, when the noble Children of Míl wrested from them the dewy plain of Bregia.
¶8] Forcibly was the Land of Fál taken from the Sons of Spanish Míl; the Hill of The Three Men is not wont to be obtained save by force.
¶9] Although the Gaels conquered the spacious, kindly land, it was reconquered in despite of them, and has passed into the power of foreigners.
¶10] There come across the sea in three battalions the warriors of France, the soldiery of Greece and the mercenaries of the eastern land, the wondrous youth of England.
¶11] The Greeks of swift steeds, the men of England, the nobles of France—bright, wonderful warriors—divide Ireland in three parts.
¶12] The men from fair Greece and the foreigners from bright, fierce England wrest from the war-seasoned race of Eber the share of Mugh Néid's son.
¶13] The warriors of the seed of Charles conquer from Limerick to Lecale, Conn the Hundredfighter's share of the ancient, green-isled land.
¶14] The descendants of Charles conquered from Cashel to the Ards, from ancient Tory yonder to the flock-strewn Caol of Aran.
¶15] Where is there, from the Boyne to Limerick of the ships, a single quarter of land from which they derive not a certain portion?
¶16] I forbear for a space, from fear of reproach, to recount their tributes, until their defender come.
¶17] Should any say that the Burkes of lion-like prowess are strangers—let one of the blood of Gael or Gall be found who is not a sojourner amongst us.
¶18] Should any say they deserve not to receive their share of Ireland—who in the sweet, dew-glistening field are more than visitors to the land ?
¶19] Though the descendants of Gaedheal Glas used speak of the race of Charles, set stones of Banbha's hills, as foreigners—foreigners were they who spoke thus.
¶20] Ireland cannot escape from them, for four centuries and ten years has the warm, ancient, humid land been under the fair warriors of the seed of Charles.
¶21] It is they who are the noblest in blood, it is they who have best won the heritage; from them—nobles to whom homage is meet—the Bregian Boyne can hardly be wrested.
¶22] There will not be, nor has there ever been a line equal in power to the race that sprang from William, rulers of the Dwelling of Tara.
¶23] As far east as the stream of Jordan there is no field that was not conquered by them; if the fair Plain of Flann should be overcome we need not wonder.
¶24] Of them was he who conquered London from the Saxons, although they were watching for him in a bitter, furious mass.
¶25] Of them was he who took Jerusalem by force— many things are related thereof—the centre of the fourfold world.
¶26] Twenty-one battles, moreover, as I know, they waged over Ireland, wresting the bright centre of the Gaels from the seed of Eremon of Bregia.
¶27] By Richard the Great was gained the Battle of the Cinders, the battle of Calgach, the famous conflict of Trim, the fray of the castle by Frewen.
¶28] Richard, moreover, gave in one month three battles to the blood of noble Conall and the race of Niall, stems from a single cluster.
¶29] The same man it is that fought the battles of Loch Cuain and of Beannchor, and—long has the result of the conflict been a benefit—the battle of Annla against the Ulstermen.
¶30] At Ros Guill by northern Tory, moreover, he gave battle to Ó Maol Doraidh and overthrew the race of Conall, it was a conflict of strength.
¶31] It is that Richard who divided Leath Cuinn with boundary ditches and into smooth acres yonder at his dwelling including Connachtmen and Ulstermen.
¶32] Under the favored offspring Sir Richard, him of the fair-browed, generous countenance, not a fastness or a hunting mound of victorious Leath Cuinn was left un tilled.
¶33] From the Strand of Baile, son of Buan, to the shores of the Suir in its pleasant valley was his; his from the blue, sunny-banked Suir to the western Head of Erris.
¶34] He was lord over Shannon and Suir, over the murmuring waters of Cong, over the Moy, the babbling streams of the Bann, and all the rivers between them.
¶35] Salmon from Assaroe, from the pleasant shore of the Bann, and from Cashel's slender stream, used to be served on the same spit to that earl.
¶36] On one dish of ruddy gold the nuts of Seaghais, fragrant fruit of Derry, and apples from the banks of the Bóroimhe, would be served to Sir Richard.
¶37] Never was there found the equal of his kinsman, Sir William, he continued the triumphs of the man, like to his father in disposition.
¶38] Eight battles are reckoned to William Óg, high-king of the Burkes, gained over the Leinstermen, over Leath Cuinn, by the imperious hero of Umhall.
¶39] The battles of Liffey, of Magh Máil against Leinster, unkindly enough! The battle of Loch Neagh in Ulster, and four battles against Connacht.
¶40] The famous battle of Slievemurry, the battle of Inny, in the Annaly, the celebrated battle of Athenry, gained by the valor of the highking (or were amongst the exploits of the highking).
¶41] As for Scottish Edmund, none dared to oppose him ; not so much opposition did he find as an attempt to speak disobediently.
¶42] Thomas, son of Edmund, was, in short, of the same bearing, and his valorous son Edmund, blue-eyed, smooth handed warrior.
¶43] Richard, son of another Edmund—no likely opponent was the fiery dragon—the fruit of the orchard from London did not receive homage from the blood of Conn.
¶44] There was no lair of the wild deer, in dangerous passes, or on the slopes of valleys, in Richard's day, that he did not despoil, so that he disquieted the isle of Ireland.
¶45] Richard—great was the power—a man by whom Conn's Tara was laid low, gave the spoils of Meath, the tribute of Kells, as wages to the men of Umhall.
¶46] In those days, of which ye have heard, the star of the Plain of the Champions brought the gates of Bregian Tara to Loch Mask on Magh Tuireadh.
¶47] The caldron of the king of Man across the sea, the smooth-framed harp of Beann Éadair, were brought to his house by the hero(?) of Tara, together with the chess from Eamhain in Ulster.
¶48] Long did great John, son of Richard, follow in his path, harassing the men of Ireland for possession of the bright, fresh-swarded Dwelling of the Fair.
¶49] Oliver, son of John, got John's heritage of the land of Fál; of those that took the grassy Field of Fionntan, no man's son excelled him.
¶50] John Burke, son of Oliver, is the man that will spend and defend the ruddy-nutted plains of the blood of Cas, and the boundaries of the shore of Bearnas.
¶51] The blossom of the apple-tree from Eamhain surpasses all his forbears, from Oliver back to William; to each man is his destiny apportioned.
¶52] An unfathomable ocean bed, a heart not to be doubted, a steed from the swift brood of Eamhain's rampart, a pious, subtle mind.
¶53] A brimming well in sultry days, a magnifier of every good, a resolve no less firm than are planted rocks, tokens of an adventurous prince.
¶54] The object of his enemies' blessings, instructor of the lords, expected mate for the plain of Meath, herdsman of his enemies' cattle.
¶55] Battle-stay of the land of Bregia, gate of death to the race of Míl; smooth-fingered hand most unyielding in battle, most precious treasure of the Burkes.
¶56] Mac William Burke, enemy of evil, capable to banish unseemly customs; strong is his hand against their wickedness, a prince like royal Caesar of the Romans.
¶57] There is no son of Gael or Englishman, from the Ards in Ulster to Achill, that is not full of the same affection for him concerning the possession of Úghaine's fair-swarded Plain.
¶58] John, grandson of John, has no enemy or friend who has any reason to doubt his claim to Cobhthach's bright-walled castle.
¶59] From childhood's days until now, I defy each learned man to show that the scion of Bregia's citadel committed any deed of which his heart might repent.
¶60] In earnest or in play, in assurance or timidity the star of Sligo's host never meditated anything which would need confession afterwards.
¶61] The mischief-maker (even) is witness that he never said, nor was there ever said of him—bright cheek like the berry—anything he would conceal in a whisper.
¶62] Never was there said of his radiant face anything which would be fitting to hide from him, and he never concealed from anyone the reason of his foe's conspiracy.
¶63] Should it happen that a man were able to slay those who surrounded him, once he submit to him he need not fear vengeance.
¶64] Steeds have not been shod, nor has blade or corslet been hasped since he, gentle grey eye, from which the sea is calm, gained lordship.
¶65] There is no going into camp in his days, no weapon stirred from its rack; no one under heaven in dread, no rumours of ravaging parties to be heard.
¶66] No asking for tidings, no expeditions or hostings, no spoiling, no destruction, no conflict, no plundering of anything from an enemy.
¶67] Nothing which might make a woman tremble, no Gael committing injustice against any Englishman, nor any Englishman despoiling a Gael, no wrong of any man permitted.
¶68] From the prosperity of the peaceful kingship there is entrancing fairy music in the speech of each man to his fellow, around the defender of Curlews' plain.
¶69] Conn O'Donell—may God protect him! Precious scion of the race of the highkings; a man without lack of courage in exploits, leader of the warriors from Lifford.
¶70] Four score, five hundred and one thousand since the birth of Christ is remembered—the [...] sorrow was destined—until the [...] death of John.