¶1] What now delays Edmund? Surely we shall not endure to be as we have been for some time, like any captive at the mercy of the foreigners.
¶2] Everyone has noticed the length of this delay of Edmund's, ere the man's pride was enkindled, ere he found a reason for rebellion.
¶3] I know not what has hitherto kept the prince of the soil of Umhall like a hostage in English fetters, under the treacherous enactments of the foreigners.
¶4] Not weariness of battle nor peril of conflict, not lack of army or following has ever restrained the hero of Bóroimhe from setting forth.
¶5] Not [...](?) days are responsible for (the delay of) the active, courageous one, hand by which the Fold of the Fair is overthrown, neither is it [...] (?) or bad weather.
¶6] When the man would be setting forth the prophecies of soothsayers or poets would not hinder his graceful form from spoiling or sacking Ireland.
¶7] Both to me and to himself has been known for some time past the sole reason for the delay of Edmund, chief of the people of Conn's spreading plain.
¶8] The amount of his riches and his wealth, the regality of his great princedom—these were protecting Ireland, warm bright-stoned Plain of the Three Fair Ones.
¶9] Edmund himself did not perceive—this certainly is the reason for the delay of his ruddy countenance—that there was a single thing lacking to him.
¶10] So long as he were permitted to be without trouble or hardship Ireland would be as a level pool from edge to edge.
¶11] As soon as he is attacked the English and the Gaels of Ireland will teem with treachery towards one another, with anger and discontent.
¶12] That which was never endured before let not the son of MacWilliam endure it; since there is a case for battle it is no day for Edmund to make peace.
¶13] Since conflict is kindling let him not leave it in doubt 10 but the hero of Bregia will requite their unjust deed.
¶14] The fight has been forced upon him without the leave of the dark-lashed youth, the more likely is he, pillar of battle of Corc's Plain, to avenge the matter.
¶15] Ever since days of old [...] the man [...] the man that begins the quarrel.11
¶16] What war has there ever been in which he that first started it was not vanquished? That is the way in wars.
¶17] Have we not witness enough in the assembly of Pompey, the hosting of Caesar? The descendant of the chieftain from the Plain of Cnodhbha is as in the case of the Civil War.
¶18] Pompey, if it be true, first made war against Caesar, and though victorious for a while, he was remorseful in the end.
¶19] Caesar, in fine, vanquished Pompey who first caused the conflict, and the valiant hosts from the eastern land, as they had begun the war.
¶20] Those who enkindle dissension are ever defeated in requital for making war, a work that does not meetly go unpunished.
¶21] Badly did it result for the Trojan warriors to make the first day's war; they provoked the Grecian heroes, who considered not an occasion of battle.
¶22] The people of Troy did not suppose at first that in that fierce, ardent conflict—it was not long till they felt the result of their wrong doing—the armies of the world would rout them.
¶23] [...] the mighty Grecian soldiery, of admirable deeds, a lasting example fit to be cherished.
¶24] Those that started the war—the Greeks did not yield to them, nor did any of their seed since settle in their native place.
¶25] Just such a war as that did Eber unjustly proclaim upon Eremon son of Míl about the green-pathed plain of the champion of Fál.
¶26] The end of their battling was that Eber fell by Eremon in his impetuous anger (fighting) for the bright centre of the sunset land.
¶27] Great Mugh Nuadhad and Mugh Néeid, well did they expiate such an act—first renouncing peace with Conn, a deed they could not maintain.
¶28] Conn beheaded both Mugh Néeid and venomous Mugh Nuadhad, ill did it result for the progeny of the chief of Fál that they did not uphold the law of battle.
¶29] May a like destruction, since it is he that is attacked, be told of Edmund; a sure result of all unjust dealings in war.
¶30] He hath been treacherously dealt with; against him the war hath been begun [...] 12
¶31] [...]13 spoiling in the midst of peace that is not a seeking of disturbance for Edmund, object of the glances of the noble English stock.
¶32] So long as they held from the son of MacWilliam the fertile portion of Connacht they would not need to pursue him to plunder the dangerous mountain ravines and morasses.
¶33] For the arrogant, stubborn band it would be putting the head into a lion's den to plunder the man of his ancestral land, or it were to approach a blazing house.
¶34] Or it would be plunging the bare hand into the griffin's nest in order to destroy her first brood, to meddle with his bright, softly-speaking countenance, or it would be plundering laden{?) bees.
¶35] Or it would be waging battle in spite of terms, or snatching treasure from fairy palaces or—woe to him that must face her—teasing a hound through her puppies.
¶36] Or it is handling the edges of naked weapons, or arousing a red bear, for the warmly-housed (?) soldiery from beyond the wave to attempt combat with Edmund.
¶37] Or does anyone suppose that when Edmund had been plundered he would leave anything of value in [...] smooth, beautiful land of [...]. . castles?
¶38] If any indeed so thought they had no justification; an evil not easy to repress is the surging of rapine from the kindling of Edmund's righteous anger.
¶39] [...]extent four lines.14