(SILVA GADELICA, Engl.transl., p.

115.) And the son of Luga, it is written, heeded these counsels and gave up his bad ways, and he became one of the best of Finn's men.
Such-like things also Finn taught to all his followers, and the best of them became like himself in valour and gentleness and generosity.
Each of them loved the repute of his comrades more than his own, and each would say that for all noble qualities there was no man in the breadth of the world worthy to be thought of beside Finn.
It was said of him that "he gave away gold as if it were the leaves of the woodland, and silver as if it were the foam of the sea," and that whatever he had bestowed upon any man, if he fell out with him afterwards, he was never known to bring it against him.
Sang the poet Oisin of him once to St Patrick:-- "These are the things that were dear to Finn-- The din of battle, the banquet's glee, The bay of his hounds through the rough glen ringing.
And the blackbird singing in Letter Lee, "The shingle grinding along the shore When they dragged his war-boats down to sea, The dawn-wind whistling his spears among, And the magic song of his minstrels three." In the time of Finn no one was ever admitted to be one of the Fianna of Erinn unless he could pass through many severe tests of his worthiness.

He must be versed in the Twelve Books of Poetry and must himself be skilled to make verse in the rime and metre of the masters of Gaelic poesy.

Then he was buried to his middle in the earth, and must, with a shield and a hazel stick, there defend himself against nine warriors casting spears at him, and if he were wounded he was not accepted.

Then his hair was woven into braids and he was chased through the forest by the Fians.