¶1] The repute of two is as a wood to each of them; they spare not to dispense their cattle; two fruitful branches of a fragrant forest, scions are they who have earned homage.
¶2] Two full moons of Leath Mogha, Cian's two sons that never purchased peace; two palm-branches of the regal stock, choice ones of whom it is not apparent that either should be rejected.
¶3] Though the rewards of the first man were something to boast of, greater are the bounties that follow; until a poet obtained the wealth of Cormac, he glorified the # gifts of Brian.
¶4] Long is it remembered by Lughaidh's Country that the seed of Cian are no peaceable folk; either of them in ungentle mood was care enough for a land.
¶5] Whatever fight in which Cormac is is not believed to be wanting in forces; if he lacks a man he finds one in the house that is entered.
¶6] If a poet were leaving Cormac he would be coming to Brian; the company that did not depart from him last night will return as a fresh company to-night.
¶7] If it be that they avoid the rest of the seed of Eber that is no reproach to the excellent warriors, a pursuing party that has looked upon the children of Cian will not overtake even the most slowly-stepping women.
¶8] When Cormac joined the race of Lughaidh few believed that Brian would flinch, how many of the seed of Sadhbh abstained(?) from the conflict the number that were in the battle know not.
¶9] Through terror of Cormac under the shelter of night, through dread of Brian coming after him—they are both hidden by the hand of the foe—the grassy stalks have bent back.
¶10] As for spoils taken from the enemy, Cormac considered that what was in his keeping was not his own; only until a poet is seen does the hoarding of cattle trouble the race of Cian.
¶11] The gifts which Cormac keeps for travellers failed him at last; the guest is satisfied after his discontent, Brian's wealth hath made him so(?)
¶12] Oft of yore, in contending for the kingship of Leyney, has he sought his spears in the midst of slumber; he used to close the gates of his eyes when daylight came to his fastness.
¶13] Ú's son hath a bevy of warriors, of the hawk-like birds of the seed of Blod; in order to test the soldiery of Tulach in battle Brian allows a superiority over them.
¶14] Cormac only undertakes to get justice; Brian knows not contentment with justice, seizing a shield wrought with golden monsters, he seeks to levy claims which are not got.
¶15] No great regard had he for ancestral right(?) until she favored thee, Cormac; suffer poets to feast beside thee, that is an honor of which Brian thinks much.
¶16] Let those poets, too, be mentioned at the sewing of satin banners—it is difficult to abate the discontent of companies—utterances with the art(?) of gold rings.
¶17] Thou, Cormac, causing him to be forgotten, that is what his hindered the bestowal of her love; the woman who has sought thy companionship would not exchange Brian for any other man.
¶18] A word from thee is enough for a man, after that little doth he reck what place thou choose (?); a shattered flag of ice hath convicted thee of the foray.
¶19] People of means (?) after their discontent, if they rely on thee worthy is the support; all that the soldiery fear is lest their own king should wreck a tower.
¶20] Thou, Cormac, ruling a country, hath kept Brian from conquering it; thy stewards go beyond their limits to increase the liberties (?) of the kindred of Cian.
¶21] The warriors of Banbha's isle are in fault that they knew not the manner of thy weapons; a lance which thou didst ply against them as a dart fitted the spearshafts of the rest.
¶22] From the shafts of thy javelins, after a space, there springs a wood from a champion's grave; so that it were the easier for thy attacker to wound thee, thou didst send such a number of weapons into him.
¶23] She gave her love in turn to the children of Cian of the glowing spears; the maiden looked on thee after him so that she was ready to chose another than Brian.
¶24] Amongst the great drinking-horns of another castle they must needs divide its measure, the head of thy spear, when its shaft is removed, excels the goblets of thy dwelling.
¶25] Thou hast for poets, Cormac, an entertainment which is a cause of fame; in store for a passing guest thou keepest (but) a grass-green stream.
¶26] None the better does he like an attack in battle, since thou hast the supremacy in power; had Brian a longer cast he would not take the field of battle against thee.
¶27] Without its being red hot, without entering a forge, a feat none else ever could perform, thou wilt straighten—or it will break in pieces—a shoe [...](?) that never was worn by a horse.
¶28] It is he that first incurs the obligation, it were better for the lips to be silent, any king that reproached thee for thy slayings denies it, or seeks honorprice.
¶29] Thou, Cormac, art celebrated by those who travel the three continents; the schools are not accustomed to thy going into obscurity, they do not seek thee there.
¶30] The warmth of the early spring joins the branches of great trees to the roots of the sward; the fruits bend the trees so low that there would not be safety on top for the bird's nest.
¶31] Bending woods and shallow pools, sweet springs over pasture plains, honey [...](?) tincturing green streams from the earth throughout an hour (?)
¶32] Scarcely is there anything to equal it in the days of Cormac, save the wondrous (?) havens of Paradise; what he drank of the waters of Leyney's plains takes from the child the remembrance of the breast.
¶33] The heavy tribute which Cormac gathered did not protect the land of the reaver; Brian thought his share of the settlement too small, he knew what it was before going on foray.
¶34] Gold is not lasting with the warriors of Cashel amidst the sparkling of hot ales; such fumes arose from the goblet around Cormac that brown mantles smouldered.
¶35] Lion's whelp of Leath Mogha, fortunate salmon of the race of Cian; whatever place he was in yester-eve he is enough as a guard for it to-night.
¶36] To a chosen soldiery who have followed them it would not profit to oppose them—the race of Sadhbh is not a fence without a top-rail, they fight to, uphold Cormac's peace.
¶37] Her gray eyes flash crimson so that she cannot conceal her passion, because of him a woman can scarcely sleep, the branch of Deirc has confessed it.
¶38] For the castle of the champion of Leyney there is no danger that the complement of any house will excel it; all the mighty progeny of Eber the Fair arose from feasting along with our Cormac.
¶39] The spear-forest of Eber's race, scarcely is there a fruit that they have not won; it is not possible to rival them in battle, trees above the woods are they.