Mac Lughach was the great grandson of the hero Finn. The youth had been a year in the Fianna, but had shown little prowess. A young man of many faults, he would beat his hounds and his servants. The Fianna complained to their chief, Finn, who called Mac Lughach to him and gave him counsel, as follows; afterwards Mac Lughach became the most Chivalorous of the Fianna.
Mac Lughach! Says Finn,
If armed service by thy design,
In a great man’s household be quiet,
Be surly in the rugged pass.
Without a fault of his
Beat not thy hound;
Until thou ascertain her guilt
Bring not a charge against thy wife;
In battle meddle not with a buffoon,
For, O Mac Lughach, he is but a fool.
Censure not any if he be of grave repute;
Stand not up to take part in a brawl;
Neither have anything to do with
Either a mad man or a wicked one.
Two-thirds of thy gentleness be shewn
To women and to children on the floor,
Likewise to men of art that make the duans;
And be not violent to the common people.
With thy familiars, with them that are of thy counsel,
Hasten not to be the first into bed;
Perverse alliance shun, and all that is prohibited;
Yield not thy reverence to all.Utter not swaggering speech,
Nor say that thou wilt not render the thing that is right;
For a shameful thing it is to speak too stiffly
Unless that it be possible to carry out thy words.
So long as in the universe thou shalt exist,
Thy lord forsake not;
Neither for gold nor for other earthly valuables
Abandon thou thy guarantee.
To a chief utter not harsh criticism of his people;
For it is not a ‘god man’s occupation
To abuse a great lord’s people to their chief.
Be not a frequenter of the drinking-house,
Nor given to carping at an ancient man;
The conduct thou hearest recommended, that is the right;
Meddle not with a man of mean estate.
Deal not in refusing of thy meat,
And any that is penurious have not for a familiar;
Force not thyself upon a chief,
Nor give a chief lord occasion to speak ill of thee.
Stick to thy raiment,Hold fast to thine armature,
Until the stern with its weapon-glitter be well ended;
Never renounce to back thy luck,
Yet follow after gentleness, Mac Lughach.
