¶1] Here is the guarantee, Cormac, take this hand in thy supple grasp, knit this heart to thine, thou forest tree of Bóromha's shore.
¶2] Take this body upon thine own, thou chief of royal Cian's race, against the law of the king of the bright isle of the English, let this life be guaranteed by thy life.
¶3] Accept me, upon thy mercy and thine honor, against both friend and enemy—O hand that rulest the race of Conn—thou art capable of protecting me.
¶4] Do not leave me to contend alone with any, thou kindly, royal presence, since thou, O bright cheek, art our one friend amongst the lean-bodied host of Teltown.
¶5] In short, thou grandson of Onóra, that thou be with me in a rightful cause is no benefit from thy rosy countenance if thou do not also support me in wrong.
¶6] I am continually in the jaws of danger, because of all the gossip that has been made about me, having no one. to protect me, unless thou canst undertake it.
¶7] To-day new laws are being imposed on the Sons of Míl by the noble, bright-handed English host, through-out the green-maned land of Frewen.
¶8] They summon the territories to them, and require from all in general, until they arc all ascertained (?), a knowledge of every man, and of his native place.
¶9] Having assembled the territories the English of Eremon's Field write the names of their hosts, one after another, in a large, clean roll of parchment.
¶10] And when they have been assembled before them, each of the men of Ireland, thou warrior of Tál's Dwelling, with manly following, must acknowledge an overlord.
¶11] They require that everyone under-heaven have a guarantor, or else—piteous the strait which has been wrought for them—die forthwith.
¶12] In brief, thou king of Leyney, on thee I set my security, in all my days, as is meet, thy book shall be my book.
¶13] Not because my inclination is towards thee, or because I am thy poet, thou fruit of Eaghras cluster, do I choose thee as lord.
¶14] For this have I chosen to be with thee, thou royal star of Cashel's plain, both Gaels and English have agreed to give thee the title of righteous king.
¶15] Because thou art full of kindness and generosity, righteous and prudent—plentiful reasons for goodwill towards thee—therefore art thou loved, Cormac.
¶16] In thine own books, thou high-king of noble Cian 's line, under the knot that has never been loosened by me, let the name of each of us poets be written.
¶17] Let the name of every man of my kindred, mine own name in particular, thou precious treasure from the ancient plain of Tál, be kept in those books.
¶18] Be thy gentle eye assured, since I have thine affection, thou strong-aled scion from the waters of Duff, that I shall merit it from thee.
¶19] I call thyself as witness to it if I live for the space of a year during which thy love towards me will not be beneficial to me or to thee.
¶20] I shall compose for thee the artistic, well-wrought lay, the laboriously wrought (?) poem, and another time the single stanza, thou noble chief of Bóromha's shore.
¶21] I shall give thee, as is due, knowledge of thy genealogical branches, of the tribute taken by thy forbears from the plains of Ireland, the course of their triumphs and their exploits.
¶22] I shall tell thee, thou slender form, of thy nobility transcending that of the rest of the men of Ireland, and of every homage that were due to thee—the price of our friendship, Cormac.
¶23] In order to raise the envy of the rest, to thee, thou son of Úna, I shall devote the best portion of my poesy, and the best part of my converse.
¶24] In requital thereof, thou chief of Cashel, it is not too much for me that thou offer thy life and body on my behalf if I be captured.
¶25] Even were one on trial for his life in a courthouse, while depending on thy honor neither he nor thou need tremble; here, Cormac, is the guarantee.
¶26] Undertake my protection, Mary, on behalf of the chieftain of bright Galey, thou fruitful scion of Suibhne's race, whose safeguard is not in danger of violation.
¶27] O Mary, daughter of Maol Muire , until I entrusted to thee my shepherding, almost every fastness which I reached was forced, thou lady of clinging tresses.