“It is by no means worth,” say the warriors, “there is much of value there, without that.”  “There is naught of my jewels that will not go for the maid,” says Fraech, “because she brought me the sword for pledge of my soul.”

“There is not with thee anything of gems that should aid her unless she returns the ring from her,” says Ailill.

“I have by no means the power to give it,” says the daughter, “what thou mayest like do it in regard to me.”  “I swear to the god to whom my people swear, thy lips shall be pale (literally, shall perish) unless thou returnest it from thee,” says Ailill.  “It is why it is asked of thee, because it is impossible; for I know that until the people who have died from the beginning of the world.  Come, it comes not out of the spot in which it was flung.”  “It shall not come for a treasure which is not appreciated,"[FN#33] says the daughter, “the ring that is asked for here, I go that I may bring it to thee, since it is keenly it is asked.”  “Thou shalt not go,” says Ailill; “but let one go from thee to bring it.”

[FN#33] This is Windisch’s rendering (Irische Texte, I. p. 677:  s.v. main).

The daughter sends her maid to bring it.

“I swear to the god to whom my territories swear, if it shall be found, I shall by no means be under thy power any longer though I should be at great drinking continually.” (?)[FN#34] “I shall by no means prevent you from doing that, namely even if it were to the groom thou shouldst go if the ring is found,” says Ailill.  The maid then brought the dish into the palace, and the broiled salmon on it, and it dressed under honey which was well made by the daughter; and the ring of gold was on the salmon from above.

[FN#34] “dian dumroib for sar-ol mogreis.”  Meyer gives “if there is any one to protect me.”  The above is Crowe’s rendering.

Ailill and Medb view it.  After that Fraech looks at it, and looks at his purse.  “It seems to me it was for proof that I left my girdle,” says Fraech.  “On the truth of the sovereignty,” says Fraech, “say what thou did’st about the ring.”  “This shall not be concealed from thee,” says Ailill; “mine is the ring which was in thy purse, and I knew it is Find-abair gave it to thee.  It is therefore I flung it into the Dark Pool.  On the truth of thine honour and of thy soul, O Fraech, declare thou what way the bringing of it out happened.”

“It shall not be concealed on thee,” says Fraech.  “The first day I found the ring in front of the outer court, and I knew it was a lovely gem.  It is for that reason I put it up industriously in my purse.  I heard, the day I went to the water, the maiden who had lost it a-looking for it.  I said to her:  ’What reward shall I have at thy hands for the finding of it?’ She said to me that she would give a year’s love to me.

“It happened I did not leave it about me; I had left it in the house behind me.  We met not until we met at the giving of the sword into my hand in the river.  After that I saw the time thou open’st the purse and flungest the ring into the water:  I saw the salmon which leaped for it, so that it took it into its mouth.  I then caught the salmon, took it up in the cloak, put it into the hand of the daughter.  It is that salmon accordingly which is on the dish.”