2. After chanting is he not wretched?

3. I see only a student,

4. a man with grass for a beard

5. in the place of chanting. Who is this Fíle, a contentious Fíle?

6. The nature of the son of Adnai is not (for) the corner of secrets,

7. nor for the corner of ready knowledge.

8. I swear by the letters of my Ogham²³ that Néde is in error in his sitting."

9. Then Néde made an honorable speech to Ferchertne.

10. "Ancient one, my senior, a sage on the path is a true sage

11. the reputation of all sages is to question.

12. Oh! you should see what lies throughout, who questions what juice is within.

13. Intellect, though it is tribulating, is everlasting.

14. Slight is the blemish of the young man unless his art is questioned.

15. Chief, I step (in the honorable path).

16. You give a bad appearance, you have given bad appearance.

17. You have been silent to me of the food of wisdom.

18. I have nursed at the breast of a man of good skill."

19. "A question my youth, from where have you come?"

20. "Is not the answer; from the beam of a Sage.

21. from his prudent essence,

22. from his worthy perfection,

23. from the splendor of sunrise,

24. the nuts²⁴ (fruits) of his art,

25. the circuits he keeps,

26. man is measured by his appearance,

27. by teaching the just law,

28. by ending falsehood,

29. by making colors without stain,²⁵

30. by creating poetry.