take part in a quarrel; have no dealings with a bad man or a foolish man.  Let two-thirds of your gentleness be showed to women and to little children that are creeping on the floor, and to men of learning that make the poems, and do not be rough with the common people.  Do not give your reverence to all; do not be ready to have one bed with your companions.  Do not threaten or speak big words, for it is a shameful thing to speak stiffly unless you can carry it out afterwards.  Do not forsake your lord so long as you live; do not give up any man that puts himself under your protection for all the treasures of the world.  Do not speak against others to their lord, that is not work for a good man.  Do not be a bearer of lying stories, or a tale-bearer that is always chattering.  Do not be talking too much; do not find fault hastily; however brave you may be, do not raise factions against you.  Do not be going to drinking-houses, or finding fault with old men; do not meddle with low people; this is right conduct I am telling you.  Do not refuse to share your meat; do not have a niggard for your friend; do not force yourself on a great man or give him occasion to speak against you.  Hold fast to your arms till the hard fight is well ended.  Do not give up your opportunity, but with that follow after gentleness.”

That was good advice Finn gave, and he was well able to do that; for it was said of him that he had all the wisdom of a little child that is busy about the house, and the mother herself not understanding what he is doing; and that is the time she has most pride in him.

And as to Lugaidh’s Son, that advice stayed always with him, and he changed his ways, and after a while he got a great name among the poets of Ireland and of Alban, and whenever they would praise Finn in their poems, they would praise him as well.

And Aoife, daughter of the King of Lochlann, that was married to Mal, son of Aiel, King of Alban, heard the great praise the poets were giving to Lugaidh’s Son, and she set her love on him for the sake of those stories.

And one time Mal her husband and his young men went hunting to Slieve-mor-Monaidh in the north of Alban.  And when he was gone Aoife made a plan in her sunny house where she was, to go over to Ireland, herself and her nine foster-sisters.  And they set out and went over the manes of the sea till they came to Beinn Edair, and there they landed.

And it chanced on that day there was a hunting going on, from Slieve Bladhma to Beinn Edair.  And Finn was in his hunting seat, and his fosterling, brown-haired Duibhruinn, beside him.  And the little lad was looking about him on every side, and he saw a ship coming to the strand, and a queen with modest looks in the ship, and nine women along with her.  They landed then, and they came up to where Finn was, bringing every sort of present with them, and Aoife sat down beside him.  And Finn asked news of her, and she told him the whole story, and how she had given her love to Lugaidh’s Son, and was come over the sea looking for him; and Finn made her welcome.