THE CELTIC CONNECTION • MARCH 1993
Page 37
A Leader is Rebuked
Some Ancient Maxims,
Still Relevant Today
The stories of Finn mac Cumhal belong to the Irish and the Scots. It is fitting that we remember the vast ancient literature of our ancestors. For it tells more perhaps, about their nature (and consequently our own), than even the remaining dazzling works of hand-wrought art they left to us.
Until next time, dear readers, I remain your enthusiastic reminder of the Celtic Word.
By KATHLEEN W. MARNEY
The Tales of the Fianna, or the Ossianic Cycle, fall mostly during the reign of Cormac mac Art, in the Third Century A.D. During his reign, the Fianna of Erin were a kind of military order composed mostly of Clans Bascna and Morna. The traditional author of these tales was Oisin, a warrior-poet and son of Finn mac Cumhal (pronounced "mac Cool"). Finn ("the Fair one") was the beloved and illustrious leader of the Fianna.
The spell of the Ossianic Cycle lasted through a condition of vital growth for 1,000 years, both in Scotland and Ireland. There are a number of these tales which we will explore, to our delight dear readers. We will do so in the spirit of the values of our Celtic rorebearers.
The Maxims of the Fianna are a list of behavioral instructions, given by Finn mac Cumhal. Anyone familiar with the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiasties in the Old Testament will find some stunning similarities!
The Maxims are recorded within a story. We are told of a group of Fians under the captaincy of Geena mac Luga, who complained bitterly to Finn of the untoward behaviour of their captain. He was slothful, selfish, and unjust, though of noble birth. Finn called mac Luga into his presence, and gave him the following teachings:
"Son of Luga, if armed service be thy design, in a great man's household be quiet, be surly in the narrow 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 Luga, he is but a fool.
"Censure not any if he be of grave repute; stand not up to take part in a brawl; have naught to do with a madman or a wicked one.
"Two-thirds of thy gentleness he shown to women and to those that creep on the floor (little children) and to poets, and be not violent to the common people.
THE CELTIC WORD
KATHLEEN W. MARNEY
"Utter not swaggering speech, nor say thou wilt not yield what is right; it is a shameful thing to speak too stiffly unless that it be feasible to carryout they words.
"So long as thou shalt live, thy lord forsake not; neither for gold nor for other reward in the world abandon one whom thou art pledged to protect.
"To a chief do not abuse his people, for that is no work for a man of gentle blood.
"Be no tale-bearer, nor utterer of falsehoods; be not talkative nor rashly censorious. Stir not up strife against thee, however good a man thou be.
"Be no frequenter of the drink-ing-house, nor given to carping at the old; meddle not with a man of mean estate.
"Dispense thy meat freely; have no niggard for thy familiar.
"Force not thyself upon a chief, nor give him cause to speak ill of thee.
"Stick to thy gear; hold fast to thy arms till the stern fight with its weapon-glitter be ended.
"Be more apt to give than to deny, and follow after gentleness, O son of Luga.
It is recorded that the son of Luga took heed of these counsels and became one of Finn's best men.
In a later legend of Saint Patrick and Keelta (a Fian who lived to such a great age that he met and was baptized by the Saint), Patrick asked Keelta how the Fianna became so glorious and beloved of Ireland. Keelta said, "Truth was in our hearts, and strength in our arms; and what we said, that we fulfilled."
Thanks to my resource, "Celtic Myths and Legends" by T.W. Rolleston.
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