And when they came to that country they found a great plain with many gatherings of people on it, and they went to the gathering that looked the best, and the people asked where did they come from, and they said they were come from Ireland.  “Have you hounds with you?” they asked them then, for it was the custom at that time, when strangers came to a gathering, to give them some friendly challenge.  “We have hounds,” said Bres.  So the hounds were matched against one another, and the hounds of the Tuatha de Danaan were better than the hounds of the Fomor.  “Have you horses for a race?” they asked then.  “We have,” said Bres.  And the horses of the Tuatha de Danaan beat the horses of the Fomor.

Then they asked was any one among them a good hand with the sword, and they said Bres was the best.  But when he put his hand to his sword, Elathan, his father, that was among them, knew the ring, and he asked who was this young man.  Then his mother answered him and told the whole story, and that Bres was his own son.

There was sorrow on his father then, and he said:  “What was it drove you out of the country you were king over?” And Bres said:  “Nothing drove me out but my own injustice and my own hardness; I took away their treasures from the people, and their jewels, and their food itself.  And there were never taxes put on them before I was their king.”

“That is bad,” said his father; “it is of their prosperity you had a right to think more than of your own kingship.  And their good-will would be better than their curses,” he said; “and what is it you are come to look for here?” “I am come to look for fighting men,” said Bres, “that I may take Ireland by force.”  “You have no right to get it by injustice when you could not keep it by justice,” said his father.  “What advice have you for me then?” said Bres.

And Elathan bade him go to the chief king of the Fomor, Balor of the Evil Eye, to see what advice and what help would he give him.

BOOK TWO:  LUGH OF THE LONG HAND.

CHAPTER I. THE COMING OF LUGH

Now as to Nuada of the Silver Hand, he was holding a great feast at Teamhair one time, after he was back in the kingship.  And there were two door-keepers at Teamhair, Gamal, son of Figal, and Camel, son of Riagall.  And a young man came to the door where one of them was, and bade him bring him in to the king.  “Who are you yourself?” said the door-keeper.  “I am Lugh, son of Cian of the Tuatha de Danaan, and of Ethlinn, daughter of Balor, King of the Fomor,” he said; “and I am foster-son of Taillte, daughter of the King of the Great Plain, and of Echaid the Rough, son of Duach.”  “What are you skilled in?” said the door-keeper; “for no one without an art comes into Teamhair.”  “Question me,” said Lugh; “I am a carpenter.”  “We do not want you; we have a carpenter ourselves, Luchtar, son of Luachaid.”