¶1] Well mayst thou use this weapon, Edmund, O bright, pearl-gray eye; may it be an omen of danger to the enemies of thy fair-cheeked, lime-bright countenance.
¶2] May this weapon which is bestowed on thee, thou youth to whom such as we are dear, be a sign of protection of friends, despoiling of foes.
¶3] May it portend the exaltation of thy kindred, may it render time and occasion propitious, thou strong hand in quelling hosts—may it be a sign of the debasement of foreigners.
¶4] This weapon of mine is not as the weapons of others, though one would be glad to obtain it, dangerous are the conditions which go with it, thou smooth-footed warrior of Bearnas.
¶5] Thou shouldst not—if thou wouldst do so—take a weapon thoughtlessly from my hand in return for gold and silver, thou war-sprite of Gabhrán's bright Plain.
¶6] It will not suffer thy broad face to be unwatchful, unprepared, or that thy splendid form heed not to be active and alert.
¶7] It likes not that its companions sleep where they eat their breakfast, it endures not a refusal of battle, hard it is to accept its prohibitions.
¶8] Be the host few or many, be there peace or disturbance, this keen-edged sword which no blade rivals desires not to be even for one night on the rack.
¶9] Desisting from foray is one of its prohibitions, and this weapon thou hast received, thou hero from Art's lime-washed Dwelling, may not take one step in retreat.
¶10] Didst thou take a prey with it even on the seventh day it were no harm; it is not possible for this weapon to abide for the time of a month without spoil, without trophies.
¶11] Were I thy suitor thou wouldst wreak, O bright face, in search of the treasure of Conn's bounded Field a hundred other injuries.
¶12] Thou wouldst not slumber on down or on quilt, wert thou answerable to me thou wouldst not dare consume a feast without a sentry keeping watch for thee.
¶13] Thou wouldst be one day beside the Duff, beside the sunny slopes of Aughty, another by Croghan of the battalions, and another at the borders of Tara's Dwelling.
¶14] Thou wouldst make conflagrations about Loughrea, thou wouldst spend a day in spoiling thy gilt bucklers (?) beside Bregia's plain, O bright form, or at ancient Loch Key, having made a foray on it.
¶15] If Walter, thou slender of hand, be feasting or playing chess, be thou in arms to win triumphs, until his men of means (?) are despoiled.
¶16] The function of [...](?) with ships, the function of the tongs in the smithy, O fruitful branch of Íor's Dwelling, is thine for thy high-king.
¶17] Unless thou do as I have said to thee thou wilt get from this weapon as regards the treasure and the booty of Conn's race naught but failure or death, O Edmund.
¶18] Their crimson mantles, their graceful hounds, their women, their rings, their chessmen, their golden drinking-horns are freely thine, their gifts of gold and silver.
¶19] If thou desire, thou warrior of Codhal, to be long-lived and prosperous, let the conditions of this weapon be maintained, never be they violated.