[30] Pronounced Fla’-haree—­accent on the first syllable.

“Thou art well acquainted, my son, with all the laws and customs of the Gael, and worthy to be the chief brehon of King Cormac.  But wisdom of life thou hast not yet obtained, for it is written in no law-book.  This thou must learn for thyself, from life itself; yet somewhat of it I can impart unto thee, and it will keep thee in the path of safety, which is not easily trodden by those who are in the counsels of great kings.  Mark now these four precepts, and obey them, and thou wilt avoid many of the pit-falls in thy way:—­

  “Take not a king’s son in fosterage,[31]
  Impart no dangerous secret to thy wife,
  Raise not the son of a serf to a high position,
  Commit not thy purse or treasure to a sister’s keeping.”

[31] The institution of fosterage, by which the children of kings and lords were given to trusted persons among their friends or followers to bring up and educate, was a marked feature of social life in ancient Ireland, and the bonds of affection and loyalty between such foster-parents and their children were held peculiarly sacred.

Having said this Fithel died, and Flahari became chief brehon in his stead.

After a time Flahari thought to himself, “I am minded to test my father’s wisdom of life and to see if it be true wisdom or but wise-seeming babble.  For knowledge is no knowledge until it be tried by life.”

So he went before the King and said, “If thou art willing, Cormac, I would gladly have one of thy sons in fosterage.”  At this Cormac was well pleased, and a young child of the sons of Cormac was given to Flahari to bring up, and Flahari took the child to his own Dun, and there began to nurture and to train him as it was fitting.

After a time, however, Flahari one day took the child by the hand and went with him into the deep recesses of the forest where dwelt one of the swine-herds who minded the swine of Flahari.  To him Flahari handed over the child and bade him guard him as the apple of his eye, and to be ready deliver him up again when he was required.  The Flahari went home, and for some days went about like a man weighed down by gloomy and bitter thoughts.  His wife marked that, and sought to know the reason, but Flahari put her off.  At last when she continually pressed him to reveal the cause of his trouble, he said “If them must needs learn what ails me, and if thou canst keep a secret full of danger to me and thee, know that I am gloomy and distraught because I have killed the son of Cormac.”  At this the woman cried out, “Murderer parricide, hast thou spilled the King’s blood, and shall Cormac not know it, and do justice on thee?” And she sent word to Cormac that he should come and seize her husband for that crime.

But before the officers came, Flahari took a young man, the son of his butler, and placed him in charge of his lands to manage them, while Flahari was away for his trial at Tara.  And he also gave to his sister a treasure of gold and silver to keep for him, lest it should be made a spoil of while he was absent.  Then he went with the officers to Tara, denying his offence and his confession, but when Cormac had heard all, and the child could not be found, he sentenced him to be put to death.