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[A]roile hóclach ro baei a n-abduine Druimenaigh

Bhí ógfhear áirithe ina ab ar Dhroimeanach

A certain young man who held the abbacy of Drimnagh

tríallthar lais fled mórcaín móradh do dénam do fritheólad na Cásc.

agus bheartaigh sé ar fhleá mhór thaitneamhach a eagrú chun an Cháisc a cheiliúradh.

decided that he would arrange a great festive assembly to celebrate Easter.

Íar n-ullmadhadh na fledhi,

Tar éis dó an fhleá a ullmhú,

After preparing the festivities,

téid an t-óglach amach asin mbruidhin

chuaigh an t-ógfhear amach as an mbruíon

the young man went out of the banqueting hall

ocus suidhidh for cnoc ardmór úraíbhind baí os cinn [in] baile

agus shuigh sé ar úrchnoc ard aoibhinn a bhí os cionn an bhaile

and sat down high on a beautiful and verdant hill overlooking the settlement.

ocus is amlaidh ro buí an t-óclach

agus is mar seo a bhí an t-ógfhear gléasta:

Thus was the young man attired:

ocus at lánmaisech lín ’ma cend

hata lánmhaiseach línéadaigh ar a cheann

a most luxuriant linen hat on his head

ocus léine don tsróll ríghdha re gustal a gheilcnis

agus léine den sról ríoga lena ghealchneas glanmhín,

and a smock of royal silk next to his strikingly beautiful skin.

ocus inar súaichnech somaisech tairsi sin anechtair

ionar suaithinseach snáthgheal thairis sin

Over that he wore an eye-catching, elegant tunic

ocus bratt don scarlóid dubhdhuinn ar tondghail ina timcill

agus brat den scarlóid dúdhonn go foluaineach ina thimpeall

and a flowing cloak of dark brown scarlet around him,

ocus cloidhemh órdhuirn inaonaigh ina láimh.

agus claíomh órdhoirn álainn ina láimh.

and in his hand he carried a splendid gold-hilted sword.

Ocus ar rochtain arin tulaig dó,

Agus ar shroicheadh an tulaigh dó,

And on reaching the hill,

tuc a uille fri lár ocus ro codail.

shín sé é féin ar an talamh, chuir a lámh faoina cheann agus thit codladh air.

he rested his head on his arm and fell asleep.

Et íar muscladh dó asa collud,

Agus nuair a dhúisigh sé as a chodladh

And when he awoke from his sleep

an tan rob áil leis a chloidhimh do ghabáil,

agus nuair ab áil leis breith ar a chlaíomh,

and thought to take hold of his sword,

ní úair acht arm mná ’na inadh .i. cuigel,

ní bhfuair ach uirlis mhná ina ionad – cuigeal,

he found only a woman’s implement − a distaff − in its place;

et is amlaid ro buí ocus scuird léine mná uime co talmain

agus is amhlaidh a bhí gúna mná air síos go talamh

he was dressed in a woman’s frock that reached fully to the ground

ocus is ed baí ara cenn frithlacht mná

agus ar a cheann bhí ciabh mná:

and his hair had become like that of a woman,

.i. folt fada fathmandchaol forórdha fíormhaisec fo cleith a cinn

folt fada, fathmhainnchaol, forórga, fíormhaiseach óna bhaithis anuas

for exquisitely beautiful, long, graceful, golden locks now adorned his head.

ocus an úair tuc lám tara oigedh,

Nuair a chuir a lámh lena aghaidh

When he felt his face with his hand,

ní úair finna n-ulchan ná fésóige fair

ní bhfuair ansin ulcha ná féasóg

he found no whiskers or beard,

ocus do-rad a lámh iter a shlíastoibh

agus nuair a chuir a lámh idir a dhá shliasaid,

and when he put his hand between his thighs,

ocus fúair comartha bandachta ann.

fuair ansin comhartha na bandachta.

he discovered there the proof of womanhood.

 Araí sin, nír creid an t-hóclach dona comarthaib égsamla sin

Fós, níor chreid an t-ógfhear fianaise na gcomharthaí éagsúla sin

For all that, the young man could not believe in these various signs

ar roba dóigh leis is fúathugadh ocus draoidhecht ro himredh fair.

mar ba dhóigh leis gur de bharr draíochta a imríodh air a tharla an claochlú.

for he thought that it was a magic transformation that had been wrought on him.

Asa haithle sin, tic secha aroile ben mór ocus sí éidighi imodhur,

Ina dhiaidh sin, tháinig ina threo bean mhór in éide catha

Afterwards, along came a certain big woman clad in armour

úrgrándha ina harrocht ghrendach, glaislíath, glendshúilech ocus is edh ro ráidh:

agus í ina harracht buí, urghánna, guaireach, glasliath, gleannsúileach agus dúirt sí:

and altogether sallow and ugly, a bristly greyish apparition she was with deep-set eyes, and she said:

“Cidh duit, a ingen mín, macdhachta, mongbhuidhe,

“Cad faoi deara dhuit, a iníon mhín mhánla mhongnhuí,

“How is it, o gentle golden-haired young maiden,

beth a t’aonur arin tulaig so hi fescur laoi ocus a n-úrtosac oidhchi?”

bheith i d’aonar ar an tulach seo i ndeireadh lae agus in urthosach oíche?”

that you are alone on this hill, as night is falling?”

Et ba dubach  dérach  dobrónach  baí-simh dona scéloib sin ocus a-dubairt íar sin:

Agus ba dhubhach dheorach dhobrónach a bhí an duine eile mar gheall ar ar tharla agus dúirt ansin:

And the other who was depressed, tearful and sad over all that had happened said then:

“Ní fedar festa cidh rachad nó créd do-dén.

“Ní fheadar feasta cá rachad ná cad a dhéanfad.

 “I do not know now where I shall go nor what I shall do.

Uair cia dom-tigh [de] dhechar,

Mar cibé anachain a rinneadh orm,

For whatever change has come over me,

ní tipraid mo muinter aithne form

séanfaidh mo mhuintir mé,

my people will disown me

ocus mad imtecht do-ner,

agus ó tá sé i ndán dom imeacht le fuacht is le fán,

and, destined as I am to wander henceforth,

is baogal d’aon m[n]aí imthecht ina hénar.

is dainséarach an ní d’aon bhean bheith ag taisteal ina haonar.

it is dangerous for any woman to travel about alone.

Araí trá, is edh is ferr damh dol fon domun,

Mar sin féin, is fearr dom imeacht romham faoin domhan

Nevertheless, it is best that I journey forth through the world,

co ruca Dia breith form,

go dtabharfaidh Dia breith orm,

so that God may pass judgement on me,

ór is hÉ ro sháobh mo chruth ocus mo delbh

mar is É a d’fhág orm saobhchruth agus malairt deilbhe

for it is He who has altered my appearance and form,

ocus dom-rad a n-héccruth ocus a n-aindricht.

is a chuir as mo chló agus as mo riocht mé.

and has so marred and disfigured me.

Acht chena, cía dom-rad Dia a n-aitherruch hécaisc,

Ach cé gur chuir Dia as mo chruth ceart  mé,

But, though God has transformed my appearance,

do-beirim fom’ bréithir a bhfhíadhnaisi an Dúilim

dearbhaím i bhfianaise an Chruthaitheora

I give my word in the sight of the Creator

nár crochus duine ocus nár fhellus araon

nár chroch mé duine agus nach ndearna mé feall ar éinne

that I never hanged anyone, I never wronged anyone,

ocus nac tucus sár ar cloc iná ar mind iná ar bhachaill,

agus nár sháraigh mé riail an chloig ná na corónach ná na bachaille,

I never violated the rule of bell, crown or crozier,

ocus nár cráidhius cill

nach ndearna mé éagóir ar aon eaglais

I never persecuted any church,

ocus nach dubart olc fri nech

agus nár labhair mé olc as mo bhéal le duine ar bith

I never spoke evil to anyone,

ocus nac dechaid aoidhigh dimdhach óm’ treiph iná óm’ teghdhus ríam.”

agus nach ndeachaigh aíonna díomách riamh ó mo threibh ná ó mo theaghlach.”

and guests never went away disappointed from my kin or from my household.”

Ro éirigh íar sin don cnoc ocus don tulaig taitnemaigh taobhálaind

Ansin, d’imigh sé ón gcnoc agus ón tulach taitneamhach taobhálainn,

Then he went from the beautiful brow and sweet slopes of the hill,

ocus do-rinne núallghubha neimélach ocus caoi trom tuirsech

agus é ag géarghol agus ag osnaíl go trom agus ag caoi go crua,

lamenting piteously and crying sorely

ocus is ed ro ráidh, ac éirghe don cnuc:

agus is é a dúirt, agus é ag imeacht ón gcnoc:

and saying, as he went:

“Trúagh”, ar sé, “nach súighinn talam na tulcha-sa misi isin tan-so,

“Is trua”, ar sé, “nach súfadh talamh an chnoic seo síos anois mé

“It is a pity”, said he, “that the ground of this hill would not swallow me now,

ar ní fedar cidh do-dén.”

mar ní fheadar cad a dhéanfad.”

for I do not know what I shall do.”

Ro imidh roimpe íar sin tar fán an cnuic síar

Ansin d’imigh sí roimpi leaca an chnoic siar

She went away then westward along the hillside

co riacht faithchi Croimglinne

gur shroich sí faiche Chromghlinne,

until she came to the green of Crumlin,

.i. cell ro buí fri Druimenaigh aníar.

is é sin le rá cill a bhí ar an taobh thiar de Dhroimeanach.

that is to say the monastery west of Drimnagh.

Tecmaidh íar sin aroile hóclach mór mílita dhi ar faithchi an baile

Ansin bhuail sí le hógfhear mór míleata ar fhaiche an bhaile

Then on the green of the settlement she met a certain tall young man of military bearing,

ocus tuc an t-óclach grádh díchra dofolachta di

agus thug an t-ógfhear grá diachrach daingean di nárbh fhéidir a cheilt.

and that young man conceived an intense love for her that could not be hidden.

ocus ro gabh fora guidhe ocus nír gabh úaithe

Níor stad sé de bheith ag impí uirthi

He started to entreat her and did not desist

co ndechaid ina gnáis ocus ina caomhthach

go dtí gur ghlac sise leis mar leannán agus mar chompánach grámhar

until she accepted his affections and his company

 ocus íar feis dóibh,

agus, tar éis dóibh luí le chéile,

and, after they had made love,

ro fhíarfaidh an t-óclach don ingin gá crích asa táinic

d’fhiafraigh an t-ógfhear den bhean óg cárbh as í

the young man asked the young woman what country she came from

ocus cía hí féin d’folaidecht nó anúaisle an domuin.

agus cerbh í féin d’fholaíocht uasal nó anuasal an domhain.

and who she was, whether of noble or lowly birth.

Do ráidh an ingen fris nac fuigbed a fhis-sin úaithe

Dúirt an ógbhean nach bhfaigheadh sé a fhios sin uaithi,

The young woman said that he would not get that information from her,

dámad cían gairid dóibh a bhfhochair aroile.

ba chuma fada nó gearr iad i bhfochair a chéile.

however long or short a time they might be together.

“Misi,” ar in t-óclach, “do-dén mo shlonnadh dut-si,

“Cuirfidh mise mé féin in aithne duitse, áfach,” arsa an t-ógfhear,

“It is I,” said the young man, “who will introduce myself to you,

ór is mé aircinnech na cilli-si darbo comainm Croimglend

“mar is mise airchinneach na cille seo ar a dtugtar Cromghlinn

for I am the erenagh of the monastery which bears the name of Crumlin,

ocus testa mo bhen dá blíadain úadha

agus cailleadh mo bhean dhá bhliain ó shin

I lost my wife two years ago

ocus bidh tusa mo céile cubaid comaísi.”

agus beidh tusa agam mar bhean phósta; táimid ar comhaois agus mairfimid go socair sásta.”

and you will be my beloved wife as we are well-matched in age.”

Et do-chúadur maraon íar sin do thigh an oirchinnigh

Agus chuadar araon ansin go teach an airchinnigh,

And then they went together to the erenagh’s house

ocus ro feradur muinter an tighe fáilti midhcuir muintremhail fria-si

d’fháiltigh muintir an tí roimpi siúd go caoin cneasta

and the household afforded her a kindly and warm welcome,

ocus baí secht mblíadna aige ina mnaí ocus ina baincéile

agus bhí sí mar bhean chéile aige ar feadh seacht mbliana

and she lived with him as his wedded wife for seven years

ocus móirsheisir claindi ruc sí dó frisin ré-sin.

agus rug sí mórsheisear clainne dó i rith an ama sin.

and bore him seven children during that time.

Tic íar sin techta cusan oirchindech

Tamall ina dhiaidh sin, tháinig teachtaire go dtí an airchinneach

Some time afterwards, a messenger came to the erenagh

ó shámhadh ocus ó coimthinól Druimenaigh

ó mhuintir agus ó chomhthionól Dhroimeanaigh

from the community and congregation of Drimnagh

día cuiredh fon Cáisc

le cuireadh ar ócáid na Cásca,

to invite him on the occasion of Easter,

ocus téid sisi maraon frisin n-oirch[i]nnech

agus chuaigh sise in éineacht leis an airchinneach

and she went with the erenagh

cusan cnoc ar saobadh a cruth ar tús

go dtí an cnoc inar tháinig athrú ar a cruth ar dtús

to the hill where her form had first been changed,

ocus do-fuit a collud fuirri-si fo cétóir isin cnuc

agus thit codladh uirthi láithreach ar an gcnoc

and straight away she fell asleep on the hill

ocus téid an t-oirchindech cona muintir don chill

agus d’imigh an t-airchinneach agus a mhuintir rompu go dtí an chill.

and the erenagh and his familia went on to the monastery.

ocus íar mussclad don ingin asa collud,

Nuair a dhúisigh an bhean óg as a codladh,

When the young woman awoke from her sleep,

is amlaidh ro boí ina fior fon coimdeilbh céta ro baí ríamh

is amhlaidh a bhí sí ina fear arís faoin gcruth a bhí ar dtús air

she had become a man and had recovered her original form as it had been previously

ocus fúair a cloidem crosórdha cumdaigh fora glún

agus fuair a chlaíomh cosanta crosórga ar a ghlúin

and he discovered his trusty sword with its gold crossguard on his knee.

ocus is ed ro ráidh: “A Dhé cumachtaigh, is mór an cíach a fuilim,”

agus dúirt sé: “A Dhia chumhachtaigh, is ciachmhar mo chás,”

And he said: “O powerful God, I am in a terrible plight,”

ocus do-chóidh íarna caíne dérmhair día cétárus

ghoil go deorach agus ina dhiaidh sin chuaigh sé go dtí a chéad áras

and, when he had wept profusely, he went to his original dwelling

ocus as-pert a bhen fris íarum: “Is rófhada a-taí a n-hécmais do thighe.”

agus ansin dúirt a bhean leis: “Bhí tú rófhada amuigh.”

and his wife said to him then: “You have been too long away from your house.”

Is ann-sin ro baí an tegh n-óla arna oiregar

Faoin am sin bhíothas tar éis an proinnteach a fháil réidh

Seats had by then been placed in the drinking hall

ocus ro hinnsedh an scél inghnadh sin do lucht an tighe

agus insíodh an scéal neamhchoitianta sin do mhuintir an tí,

and that strange tale was told to the household,

ocus araoí nír creidedh an scél-sin úadha

ach níor creideadh an scéal sin uaidh

but his story was not believed

ar a-dubairt a bhen nach raibhe énúair do ló ’na hécmais.

mar dúirt a bhean nach raibh sí uair an chloig féin ina éagmais.

because his wife said that they had not been apart even a single hour.

Fo deoigh, íar tabairt na comhartha n-imdha n-hécsamail,

Faoi dheoidh, mar gheall ar na pointí iomadúla agus éagsúla fianaise a tugadh,

At length, after the many and various proofs had been adduced,

ferthar a scél-sum

léiríodh fírinne a scéil

his account was borne out

ocus berar breth etorra ocus airchinnech Croimglinne

agus tugadh breith eatarthu siúd agus airchinneach Chromghlinne.

and an adjudication was made between them and the erenagh of Crumlin.

ocus is í breth rucadh etorra in clann do roinn ar dhó

Is í breith a tugadh ná an chlann a roinnt ar a dó

The judgement that was reached was that the children be divided between the two

ocus an mac imarcaid baí ann do tabairt don airchinnech ar son an altroma

agus an seachtú mac a thabhairt ar altramas don airchinneach,

and that the seventh child be given as foster-son to the erenagh,

ocus is amhlaid-sin ro scarsad fri aroile et reliqua.

agus is amhlaidh sin a scaradar lena chéile agus aruile.

and so they parted from each other etc.