¶1] Subdue thine arrogant spirit, Myler, forbear, thou joyous countenance, to be perpetually plundering the children of Conn, thou accomplished, gracious one.
¶2] The disputes of Ulster, the wars of Connacht, are severally laid to thy reproach, thou fair and bright of face.
¶3] Thou art blamed respectively for what is despoiled in Leinster, or in Munster, land of gently flowing rivers, O clustering, ringletted tresses.
¶4] On thy account, thou broad, lean, gentle countenance, many a time, when thou art in repose, there are flights from thy reavings one after another in the four quarters of Ireland.
¶5] Because of the spoilings thou hast wrought thyself, thou son of Walter, thou art accused in every part of Ireland—noble land of sweetly murmuring streams— that is devastated.
¶6] No wonder that young and uncouth band which follows thee in time of stress should be blamed for forays, thou shapely, sleek, smooth head.
¶7] Men to whom a quilt of snow is a bed of down, amorous, ardent youths; a bright, adventurous, agile throng, wondrously equipped.
¶8] In no place are they so long settled, the young and spirited drove, the lawless, barbarian band, as in the gloomy cliffs of the heights of Banbha.
¶9] Alas for him who is king over them, according to the look of this roving, active band; their couch grass, their feast cold water, these armies of the field of the Gael.
¶10] Thy followers are scarcely unlike thyself, thou son of Walter; troublesome, careless-minded men, scouting-parties of fierce warriors.
¶11] They sleep not, they eat not a meal, without discussing a battle or an encounter: continual pondering on forays and wars has dimmed the brightness of their glowing cheeks.
¶12] The time will come, Myler, when thou wilt regret the ways of thy followers, these warriors of keen, sadly-wounding spears; a company that will be intolerable.
¶13] As it is destined, if it be right to credit prophecy, thou wilt forcibly wrest the kingship of Connacht of the bright harbors from the hands of the foreign tribe.
¶14] They will continue, according to their wont, in wars, in roguish exploits, in doing hurt, O bright face, beyond any of the host of Croghan's dyked meadow.
¶15] As a king thou wilt not be able to suffer injustice or disturbance; then will thy dear face regret thy forbearance towards thy followers.
¶16] Thou wilt make all desist from their wars, thou, O waving tresses, wilt defend the Connachtmen from the might of reavers, and from the excessive burden of the foreign soldiery.
¶17] The soothsayers of Fódla were assuring the possession of the blue isle of the Gael, the fragrant soil of Bregian Tara, to thy father.
¶18] Thou, O bright, soft countenance, wilt fulfil what the druids foretold; thou wilt rescue the country of Banbha from the great oppression of the foreign hosts.
¶19] Of thee, O slender form, is foretold that which Aoibheall prophesied to the noble children of Brian Bóromha, three fair stems from the soil of Lugh's land.
¶20] Three sons of Brian, three lions of Maicnia's Munster, three royal heirs from the House of Tara; gracious, comely men.
¶21] Murchadh, son of Brian, he of the bright hair, Tadhg, son of Brian, Murchadh's brother—let one plant be chosen above the forest—nobly-born Donnchadh was their elder.
¶22] Murchadh, son of Brian, and Brian himself—these fell together, battling with the warriors of Lochlainn for bright, fertile Cliú and its smooth castles.
¶23] Those children of Brian, flower of the vine from fair Cliú, favorers of the sweet prophetess, were wont to obtain tidings from Aoibheall.
¶24] After a space Donnchadh son of Brian goes forth to speak with Aoibheall concerning the lovely Boyne, of smooth yew-trees.
¶25] O woman, said Donnchadh, declare to me who shall be king over the bright western plain in succession to Brian? it is not a curious thing to ask.
¶26] Tadhg, son of Brian, thine own brother, said Aoibheall thereupon, to him has the House of Tara, dwelling with varied vestures, been promised.
¶27] After this converse Donnchadh became filled with envy of Tadhg of Banbha; it is hard to bridle a woman's foolish speech, the hero's reason became subverted.
¶28] Therefore he fratricidally slew the heir to the kingship of Fódla, and said that he had refuted Aoibheall regarding that descendant of Tál and Éibhear Fionn.
¶29] Aoibheall came to reproach him when Donnchadh was left alone in [...](?) Kincora, by the bright, fair, blue-streamed rampart.
¶30] It is unjust for thee to say that my prophecy was false, said Aoibheall, my words regarding the noble mate of Bregia's castle are certain, said the maiden.
¶31] For the heir of a high-king and for the heir's son the prophecy is the same, it is said; have faith in what I say regarding the pleasant, flowery plain of swaying yews.
¶32] What I promised to Tadhg of Tara, Tadhg's son Turlogh shall receive; stag of the royal flock of the noble line of Cas, finest vinestalk of the Fergus.
¶33] Turlogh, son of Tadhg, assumed sovranty over every part of Ireland—fair, pleasant land of graceful streams—even as Aoibheall had foreseen.
¶34] Even thus it will befall thee as regards this land, thou gracious form, thou wilt win supremacy over Meadhbh's Country, thou stately, white-footed youth.
¶35] Aoibheall promised the Country of Lugh to Tadhg, son of Brian Bóroimhe, and Turlogh—sustaining pillar of Tara's stead—had the profit thereof.
¶36] The druids of Banbha have ever been prophesying that Cobhthach's Plain—restful land of firm forest trees— would come to Walter, son of Mac William.
¶37] Walter, O crimson lips, died as he was about to become king, for thee, thou defending arm of Meath's hill, will the prophecy be fruitful.
¶38] The province, thou graceful form, was full, of dissensions upon Walter's death, full of wars and battles and wrong and harm.
¶39] Since thou hast gotten warrior's weapons the rest have not dared to think of their enmities, to speak of war, or to use force, thou ripe fruit of the vine.
¶40] It was thy fathers death that hid the fruits of the forests, the fish of the bay; and it is the reason wherefore the moon and sun were fettered.
¶41] There come with thee, as thou hast come, the flowering of those woods, the corn of the tilth, the produce of the streams; each element recognizing thy tokens.
¶42] Behold the fully sprung corn, behold the moon shining brightly, why should there be any distrust of thy claim to the bright-walled land of Connacht?
¶43] Moon and wind and sun, stars of heaven and clouds of the sky are favoring thee, thou lord of Gorumna, the sea is about proclaim thee.