It was a belief among the poets of Ireland that the place of the revealing of poetry is always by the margin of water.

But Finegas had another reason for the place where he made his dwelling, for there was an old prophecy that whoever should first eat of the Salmon of Knowledge that lived in the River Boyne, should become the wisest of men.

Now this salmon was called Finntan in ancient times and was one of the Immortals, and he might be eaten and yet live.

But in the time of Finegas he was called the Salmon of the Pool of Fec, which is the place where the fair river broadens out into a great still pool, with green banks softly sloping upward from the clear brown water.

Seven years was Finegas watching the pool, but not until after Finn had come to be his disciple was the salmon caught.