The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn mac Cumhaill
There
befell a meeting of valor and a contest of battle about the
chieftaincy of the fian (national militia) and about the
high- stewardship of Ireland between Cumall son of Trenmor,
and Tirgriu son of Lugaid Corr of the Luagni. Cumall was of
the Corco Oche of Cuil Contuinn, for to these the Ui
Tairrsig, Cumall’s tribe, belonged. Torba, daughter of
Eochaman of the Erne, was the wife of Cumall, until he
married Muirne of the fair neck.
Then the battle of Cnucha was fought between them, between
CumalL and Urgriu. Daire the Red, son of Eochaid the Fair
son of Cairbre the Valorous son of Muiredach, and his son
Aed fought the battle along with Urgriu. Another name for
that Daire was Morna Wry-neck. Luchet and Aed, son of
Morna, met in the battle. Lucbet wounded Aed, and destroyed
one of his eyes, whence the name of Goll, the One-eyed,
stuck to him from that time forth. Luchet fell by Goll. The
man who kept Cumall’s treasure-bag wounded Gumall in the
battle. Cumall fell in the battle by Goll mac Morna, who
carried off his spoils and his bead, whence there was a
hereditary feud between Finn mac Cumaill and the sons of
Morna.
Hence sang the shanachie:
Goll,
son of Daire the Red, with fame,
Son of Eochaid the Fair, of valor excellent,
Son of Cairbre the Valorous with valor,
Son of Muiredach from Finnmag.
Goll slew Luchet of the hundreds
In the battle of Cnucha, it is no falsehood:
Luchet the Fair of prowess bright
Fell by the son of Morna.
By him fell great Cumall
In the battle of Cnucha of the hosts.
It is for the chieftaincy of Erin’s fian
That they waged the stout battle.
The children of Morna were in the battle
And the Luagni of Tara,
Since to them belonged the leadership of the men of Ireland
By the side of every valorous king.
Victorious Cumall had a son,
Finn, bloody, of weapons hard:
Finn and Goll, great their fame,
Mightily they waged war.
Afterwards they made peace,
Finn and Goll of the hundred deeds,
Until Banb Sinna fell
About the pig at Tara Luachra.
Aed was the name of the son of Daire
Until Luchet with glory wounded him:
Since the fierce lance had wounded him,
Therefore was he called Goll.
Cumall
left his wife Muiriie pregnant. And she brought forth a
son, to whom the name of Demne was given. Fiacal mac Con
chinn, and Bodball the druidess, and the Gray one of
Luachar came to Muirne, and carried away the boy, for his
mother durst not let him be with her. Muirne afterwards
slept with Gleor Red-hand, king of the Lamraige, whence the
saying, “Finn, son of Gleor.” Bodball, however, and the
Gray one, and the boy with them, went into the forest of
Sliab Bladma. There the boy was secretly reared. That was
indeed necessary, for many a sturdy stalwart youth, and
many a venomous hostile warrior and angry fierce champion
of the warriors of the Luagni and of the sons of Morna were
lying in wait for that boy, and for Tulcha the son of
Cumall. In that manner then those two women-warriors reared
him for a long time.
Then, at the end of six years, his mother came to visit her
son, for she had been told that he was in that place, and
besides, she was afraid of the eons of Morna for him.
However, she passed from one wilderness to another, until
she reached the forest of Sliab Bladma. She found the
hunting-booth and the boy asleep in it. And then she lifted
the boy to her bosom, and pressed him to her, and she
pregnant at the time. It was then she made the quatrains,
fondling her son:
Sleep in peaceful slumber, etc.
Thereupon the woman bade farewell to the women-warriors,
and told them to take charge of the boy till he should be
fit to be a fighter. And so the boy grew up till he was
able to hunt.
On a certain day the boy went out alone, and saw ducks upon
a lake. He sent a shot among them, which cut off the
feathers and wings of one, so that a trance fell upon her;
and then he seized her and took her with him to the
hunting-booth. And that was Finn’s first chase.
Later he went with certain cairds (men of art) to flee from
the Sons of Morna, and was with them about Crotta. These
were their names: Futh and Ruth and Regna of Mag Fea, and
Temle and Olpe and Rogein. There scurvy came upon him, and
there from he became scald-headed, whence he used to be
called Demne the Bald. At that time there was a robber in
Leinster, Fiacal, the son of Codna. Then in Feeguile Fiacal
came upon the cairds, and killed them all save Demne alone.
Mter that he was with Fiacal, the son of Codna, in his
house in Sescenn Uairbeoil. The two women-warriors came
southwards to the house of Fiacal, the son of Codna, in
search of Demne, and be was given to them. And then they
took him with them from the south to Sliab Bladma.
One day he went out alone until he reached Mag Life, and a
certain stronghold there; and he saw the youths playing
burly upon the green of the stronghold. He went to contend
in running or in hurling with them. He came again the next
day, and they put one-fourth of their number against him.
Again they came with one-third of their number against him.
However, at last they all went against him, and he won his
game from them all.
“What is thy name?” they said.
“Demne,” said he.
The youths told that to the chief of the stronghold. “Then
kill him, if you know how to do it-if you are able to do
it,” said he.
“We should not be able to do anything to him,” said they.
“Did he tell you his name?” asked he.
“He said,” said they, “that his name was Demne.”
“What does he look like?” said he.
“A shapely fair (finn) youth,” said they.
“Then Demne shall be named Finn, ‘the Fair,”’ said he.
Whence the youths used to call him Finn.
He came to them on the next day, and went to them at their
game. All together they threw their hurlies at him. He
turned among them, and threw seven of them to the ground.
He went from them into the forest of Sliab Bladma.
Then, at the end of a week, he came back to the stronghold.
The youths were s~ imming in a lake that was close by. The
youths challenged him to come and try to drown them.
Thereupon he jumped into the lake to them, and drowned nine
of them. After that he went to Sliab Bladma.
“Who drowned the youths?” everybody asked.
“Finn,” said they.
So that henceforth the name Finn stuck to him.
Once he went forth across Shah Bladma, and the two women-
warriors together with him, when a fleet herd of wild deer
was seen by them on the ridge of the mountain. “Alas!” said
the two old women, “that we cannot get hold of one of
those!”
“I can,” said Finn, and he dashed upon them, laying hold of
two bucks among them, and brought them with him to their
hunting-booth. After that he would hunt for them
constantly.
“Go from us now, lad,” said the women-warriors to him, “for
the sons of Morna are watching to kill thee.”
Alone he went from them until he reached Loch Lone, above
Luachar, and there he took military service with the king
of Bantry. At that place he did not make himself known.
However, there was not at that time a hunter his equal.
Thus said the king to him:
“If Cumall had left a son,” said he, “one would think thou
wast he. However, we have not heard of his leaving a son,
except Tulcha son of Cumall, and he is in military service
with the king of Scotland.”
Later he bade farewell to the king, and went from them to
Carbrige, which at this day is called Kerry, where he took
military service with the king of that land. Then, on a
certain day, the king came to play chess. He was prompted
by Finn, and won seven games one after another.
“Who art thou?” said the king.
“The son of a peasant of the Luagni of Tara,” said he.
“No,” said the king; “thou art the son whom Muirne bore to
Cumall; stay here no longer, lest thou be slain while under
my protection.”
Then he went forth to Cullen of the Iii Cuanacb, to the
house of Lochan, a chief smith, who had a very beautiful
daughter, Cruithne by name. She fell in love with the
youth.
“I shall give thee my daughter, though I know not who thou
art.” Thereupon the girl slept with the youth.
“Make spears for me,” said the youth to the smith. So
Loeban made two spears for him. He then bade farewell to
Lochan, and went away.
“My boy,” said Lochan, “do not go upon the road on which is
the sow called the ?Beo.” She it was that devastated the
mid lands of Munster. But what happened to the youth was to
go upon the very road on which the sow was. Then the sow
charged him; but be thrust his spear at her, so that it
went through her, and left her without life. Then he took
the head of the sow with him to the smith as a bridal gift
for his daughter. Hence is Sliab Muck (Pig Mountain) in
Munster.
After that the youth went onwards into Connacht to seek
Crimall, the son of Treninor. As he was on his ‘way, he
heard the wail of a woman. He went towards it, and saw a
woman; and now it was tears of blood, and now a gush of
blood, so that her mouth was red. “Thou art red-mouthed,
woman!” said he.
“Good cause have I,” said she, “for my only son has been
slain by a tall, very terrible warrior who came in my way.”
“What was thy son’s name?” said he.
“Glonda was his name,” said she. Hence is the Ford of
Glonda and the Causeway of Glonda on Moinxnoy, and from
that redness of mouth the Ford of the Red Mouth has been so
called ever since. Then Finn went in pursuit of the
warrior, and they fought a combat, and Finn slew the
warrior. This is how he was: he had the treasure-bag with
him, the treasures of Cumall. He who had fallen there was
the Gray one of Luachar, who had dealt the first wound to
Cumall in the battle of Cnucha.
Thereupon Finn went into Connacht, and found Crimall as an
old man in a desert wood there, and a number of the old
flan together with him; and it is they who did the hunting
for him. Then he showed him the bag and told him his story
from beginning to end; how he had slain the man of the
treasures. Finn bade farewell to Crimall, and went to learn
poetry from Finneces, who was on the Boyne. He durst not
remain in Ireland else, until he took to poetry, for fear
of the sons of Urgriu, and of the sons of Morna.
Seven years Finneces had been on the Boyne, watching the
sahnon of Fec’s Pool; for it had been prophesied of him
that he would eat the salmon of Fee, after which nothing
would remain unknown to him. The salmon was found, and
Demne was then ordered to cook it; and the poet told him
not to eat anything of the salmon. The youth brought him
the salmon after cooking it. “Hast thou eaten any of the
salmon, my lad?” said the poet.
“No,” said the youth, “but I burned my thumb, and put it
into my mouth afterwards.”
“What is thy name, my lad?” said he.
“Demne,” said the youth. “Finn is thy name, my lad,” said
he; “and to thee was the salmon given to be eaten, and
indeed thou art the Finn.” Thereupon the youth ate the
salmon. It is that which gave the knowledge to Finn, so
that, whenever he put his thumb into his mouth and sang
through teinm laida,’ then whatever he had been ignorant of
would be revealed to him.
He learnt the three things that constitute a poet: teinm
laida, imbas forosna, and dichetul dichennaib. It is then
Finn made this lay to prove his poetry:
May-day,
season surpassing! Splendid is color then. Blackbirds sing
a full lay, if there be a slender shaft of day.
The dust-colored cuckoo calls aloud: Welcome, splendid
summer! The bitterness of bad weather is past, the boughs
of the wood are a thicket.
Summer cuts the river down, the swift herd of horses seeks
the pool, the long hair of the heather is outspread, the
soft white bog-down grows.
Panic startles the heart of the deer, the smooth sea runs
apace-season when ocean sinks asleep-blossom covers the
world.
Bees with puny strength carry a goodly burden, the harvest
of blossoms; up the mountain-side kine take with them mud,
the ant makes a rich meal.
The harp of the forest sounds music, the sail
gathers-perfect peace. Color has settled on every height,
haze on the lake of full waters.
The corncrake, a strenuous bard, discourses; the lofty
virgin waterfall sings a welcome to the warm pool; the talk
of the rushes is come.
Light swallows dart aloft, loud melody reaches round the
hill, the soft rich mast buds, the stuttering quagmire
rehearses.
The peat-bog is as the raven’s coat, the loud cuckoo bids
welcome, the speckled fish leaps, strong is the bound of
the swift warrior.
Man flourishes, the maiden buds in her fair strong pride;
perfect each forest from top to ground, perfect each great
stately plain.
Delightful is the season’s splendor, rough winter has gone,
white is every fruitful wood, a joyous peace in summer.
A flock of birds settles in the midst of meadows; the green
field rustles, wherein is a brawling white stream.
A wild longing is on you to race horses, the ranked host is
ranged around:
A bright shaft has been shot into the land, so that the
water-flag is gold beneath it.
A timorous tiny persistent little fellow sings at the top
of his voice, the lark sings clear tidings: surpassing
May-day of delicate colors!
However,
Finn went to Cethern, the son of Fintan, further to learn
poetry with him. At that time there was a very beautiful
maiden in Bri Ele, that is to say, in the fairy-knoll of
Bri Ele, and the name of that maiden was Ele. The men of
Ireland were at feud about that maiden. One man after
another went to woo her. Every year on Samain the wooing
used to take place; for the fairy-mounds of Ireland were
always open about Samain; for on Samain nothing could ever
be hidden in the fairy-mounds. To each man that went to woo
her this used to happen: one of his people was slain. This
was done to mark the occasion, nor was it ever found out
who did it.
Like everybody else, the poet Cethern went to woo the
maiden. However, Finn did not like the poet’s going on that
errand. As they went to the wooing they formed themselves
into three bands. There were nine in each band. As they
went towards the fairy-mound, a man of their people was
slain between them; and it was not known who had slain him.
Oircbel the poet was the name of the man that was slain
there. Hence is Fert Oircbeil, the Grave of Oircbel, in
Clonfad. Thereupon they separated, and Finn went from them.
.. However, Finn thought it a grievance and a great
disgrace.
He went until he came to the house of the champion Fiacal
mac Conchinn, at Shah Mairge. It is there his dwelling was
at that time. To him, then, Finn made his complaint, and
told him how the man had been slain among them in the
fairy-mound. Fiacal told him to go and sit down by the two
Paps of Anti, behind Luachar. So he went and sat down
between the two strongholds which are between the two Paps
of Anu.
Now, when Finn was there between them, on Samain night, be
saw the two fairy-mounds opened around him, even the two
strongholds, their ramparts having vanished before them.
And be saw a great fire in either of the two strongholds;
and he heard i voice from one of them, which said: “Is your
sweet-root good?”
“Good, indeed!” said a voice in the other fairy-mound.
“Question: shall anything be taken from us to you?”
“If that be given to us, something will be given to you in
return.” While Finn was there he saw a man coming out of
the fairy- mound. A kneading-trough was in his hand with a
pig upon it, and a cooked calf, and a bunch of wild garlic
upon it. The time was Samain. The man came past Finn to
reach the other fairy- mound. Finn made a cast with the
spear of Fiacal mac Conchinn. He hurled it southward from
him towards Sliab Mairge. Then said Finn: “If the spear
should reach any one of us, may he escape alive from it! I
think this a revenge for my comrade.”
That passed, till forthwith he heard a lament, and a great
wail, saying:
On
the Barrow, by a sharp-pointed spear,
Aed, Fidga’s son, has fallen:
By the spear of Fiacal,
Finn has slain him.
Then
Fiacal came to Finn, and was at the two Paps of Anti.
Fiacal asked him whom he had slain. “I know not,” said
Finn, “whether any good has come from the cast which I have
thrown.”
“‘Tis likely, indeed,” said Fiacal, “that some one has been
slain. It seems to me if thou dost not do it to-night, thou
wilt not do it to the end of another year.” However, Finn
said that he had sent a cast, and that it seemed likely to
him that it had reached some one. And he heard a great
wailing in the fairy- mound, saying:
Venom
is this spear,
And venomous he whose it is,
Venomous whoever threw it,
Venom for him whom it laid low.
Outside
the fairy-mound of Cruachan Bri Ele Finn seized a woman in
pledge for his spear. The woman promised to send out the
spear if he released her. Finn let the woman from him into
the knoll. Then, as she went into the knoll the woman said:
Venom
the spear,
And venom the hand that threw it
If it is not cast out of the knoll,
A murrain will seize the land.
Thereupon
the spear was thrown out, and Finn took it with him to
where Fiacal was.
“Well,” said Fiacal, “keep the spear with which thou hast
done the famous deed.” Then Fiaeal said the occasion was
for tunate, since the man had been slain who had killed
Finn’s comrade.
“He whom thou hast slain here,” said he, “‘tis he who used
to kill every man that came to woo the maiden, because it
is he who loved the maiden.”
Thereupon Finn and Fiacal went onward. Now, Thacal had a
tryst with the fian at Inber Colptha. Then he said to Finn
that they should go home . . . since their business was
finished. Said Finn: “Let me go with thee,” said he.
“I do not wish thee to go with me,” says Fiacal, “lest thy
strength should fail thee.”
“I shall find out,” said Finn.
Then they went forth. Twelve balls of lead were round the
neck of Fiacal to restrain his vigor, such was his
swiftness. He would throw one ball after another from him,
and Finn took them with him, and yet Thacal’s running was
no swifter than Finn’s.
They reached Inber Colptha. Then Finn brought all the
twelve balls of lead to him, and he was pleased. That night
they slept there. They made Finn keep watèh that night, and
he was told to wake the warrior if he heard any cry of
outrage. Now, one hour of the night, as Finn was watching,
he heard a cry from the north, and did not wake the
warrior. He went alone in the direction of the cry to Sliab
Slanga. While Finn was there, among the men of Ulster, at
the hour of midnight, he overtook three women before him,
at a green mound, with cloaks of fairy-women.
As they were wailing on that mound, they would all put
their hands on the mound. Then the women fled into the
fairy-mound before Finn. Finn caught one of the women as
she was going into the fairy- mound of Slanga, and snatched
her brooch out of her cloak. The woman went after him, and
besought Finn to give her back the brooch of her cloak, and
said it was not fit for her to go into the fairy-mound with
a blemish, and she promised a reward for her release.