¶1] Long has Fódla had a claim upon Alba, now is the time to urge it; provided she get her own rights it is not likely that Ireland will be loft mateless.
¶2] For a long space of time that land of Alba has owed a due to Cobhthach's lime-visaged castle; a cause of dissension to the Scots.
¶3] Alba of the shallow streams should deliver her dues to the isle of Ireland, indulating land of rippling waterfalls, lest there be disagreement between them.
¶4] What new claim to-day has the land of the Children of Míl, tell me if thou knowest—, whereby she sues the isle of Alba?
¶5] The heavy tribute which Balor imposed upon Ireland —it would be an awakening of conflict for her to do it— is that what Banbha would claim?
¶6] Or is it the isles in the east between Fódla and Alba, and each tract of the fair plain of Islay, or ancient Cantire with its limpid streams?
¶7] The land of Eber is not thinking of any of those things you suppose, but of something more difficult to levy, something about which she has been in want.
¶8] The three Collas, children of haughty Eachaidh Doimlén, this is the end of their story: they went to the land of Alba, three with whom it were unfitting to vie.
¶9] Two of the three came hither to Bregia's land of fairy hills, the choicest of the host have ever since remained away from us in the Plain of Monadh.
¶10] It is strange that Colla himself and his ancient race, stately men with perilous weapons, from that time suffered their inheritance to be lacking to them.
¶11] Why should the Children of Colla, for whatever arose between them, render allegiance to a strange, foreign land rather than to Banbha plain of brightly-waving, crops ?
¶12] Who is the lord of the blood of keen-sworded Colla whom Banbha is expecting ? If she has chosen one of the race of Alba, it were fitting that she should be freed from rivalry (?)
¶13] The best-beloved of Conn's Dwelling, Sorley, son of MacDonnell, the expected mate from Monadh's Plain, he for whom Ireland is waiting.
¶14] Fruitful branch of Tara of the Fair Folk, bright sun after a downpour, fortunate spray from the apple-trees of Islay, star of favorable summer weather.
¶15] Most favored offspring of Colla's seed, arm that banishes foreigners, fruit of the apple-plant of Bregia's soil, sustainer of the five fifths.
¶16] [...] cause of grief, until she sued Sorley, the land of Banbha under a burden of barbarians, their (her?) claim has remained unsettled.
¶17] Ireland, in brief, will separate the best warrior of Domhnall's race, fierce, fair, splendid heroes, from the ancient, wondrous plain of Alba.
¶18] I have read in an ancient parchment a story which touches the race of Colla, the curious tale which will be unfolded will be fresh unto the end.
¶19] The hero of the story which will be unfolded to thee—Caesar, the famed high-king—departed from the land of Italy with an army of splendid warriors.
¶20] Westwards from Rome they travelled to Spain's yew-treed soil, a goodly band of adventurers, they had not come on an embassy (?)
¶21] Caesar of the scatheless hosts loved the west of Europe, he consented to remain away from Rome, yet separation was not agreable to both.
¶22] When he had remained away for some time, one day after retiring to repose he beheld a wondrous vision, it was a prospect of help for the king to behold it.
¶23] It seemed to him that he found beside him, in the guise of a lovely, graceful woman, Rome, recounting her hardships, matter for condemnation.
¶24] Rome with streams of tears down her bright cheek, with locks dishevelled in sorrowful aspect, was bewailing her wrong, fitting was it to lament over what she said.
¶25] It should not seem fitting to thee, said Rome, for me to be as I am now in thy absence, with no prospect of succour, overcome by outlandish men.
¶26] To defend a fortress that is not thine own is astonishing for thee, thou keen-weaponed soldier, whilst thine own and, after being ravaged, is being wrested from thee by barbarians.
¶27] These were the words of Caesar: O Rome of the smoothly-fashioned rampart, whether I be brought eastwards or remain here, I have striven to be obedient to thee.
¶28] I would say to thee, said Rome, bring with thee the full muster of thy following, gather thy splendid warriors to invade the soil of Italy.
¶29] Hesitate no longer, shameful for thee is thy chamber of slumber since foreigners have arranged it(?) though it be terrifying to face them.
¶30] He took with him eastwards the warriors of Greece, the soldiery of Europe, it was a time for display (?}, to defend stately Rome, a most righteous action when considered.
¶31] I Caesar, in brief, after the tyrannies she had suffered, delivered the wondrous limewashed castles of Rome from the power of the wicked host of barbarians.
¶32] Banbha spouse of Conn, like Rome of old, will bring her own man from the Plain of Monadh, that is the meaning of what ye have heard.
¶33] MacDonnell's son sees before him in a vision, ere he falls into slumber, fair and generous Banbhabewailing her oppression.
¶34] Even as Caesar came the son of Alastar will come now to the Bregian Boyne to aid everyone, with a following difficult to number.
¶35] Even as Caesar's hosts won to Rome, through Lorc's Field, with, the full muster of his following, will come the Caesar of Colla's race, the pick of a choice gleaning.
¶36] From the playful, melodious Moy, so famed for treasure (?) as far as the Peak of Éadar, son of Éadghaoth, there will spring forth from the edges of the strands a veritable forest of sail-trimmed masts of majestic ships.
¶37] He will discharge the debt of his forefathers to the land of Bregia, following in their wake he will occupy the plain of smooth standards and many [...]{?} eastwards to the ancient castle of Tara.
¶38] Though Eber's land submitted not to that Colla Uais from whom thou art sprung, the ancient line of Colla possessed her, she is an inheritance unfit for division.
¶39] Do we count a single king, from Colla back to Gaedheal Glas, who did not seize the headship of Ireland, if that knowledge prove an exhortation to them ?
¶40] Without leave from us, the three Collas, champions from Baoi's clear, sail-bright bay, surrendered Ireland through envy, for one day's hard-won victory in battle.
¶41] Sorley, timely it is, will speedily issue a ban, he will not fulfil the ancient contract of the Collas about the land of Frewin.
¶42] About Cashel, about Croghan of Aoi, about the brightly-wooded Hill of Alien, and Oileach with its faultless steeds, the ancient covenant of all will be revoked.
¶43] Because of the ban which Sorley shall declare, Banbhais about to mate, a troop hath come to levy her, the Boyne will rejoice at that ban.