Scotland's Storybook: stories in English (1.1 - Education Scotland

The Salmon of Knowledge
Fionn MacCumhail was just a lad when he was sent from home to the poet and
great master, Fineagas, for education in many subjects − above all, on how to
become a true heroic warrior. The old fellow had been living alone for many
years, in a little house he built himself, beside the River Boyne and he enjoyed
the company.
Fineagas kept a very close eye on the Boyne, day and night, should he spot a
unique fish ‘Bradan an Eòlais – The Salmon of Wisdom’. Apparently, the first
person ever to taste this fish would become the wisest in all Ireland. Everyone
who had so far tried to catch it had been disappointed, and Fineagas dearly
hoped that where others had failed he would be successful.
One day Fineagas and Fionn were sitting on the river bank enjoying a
stimulating lesson, when the tutor noticed a glorious big salmon swimming
towards them. ‘This surely is The Salmon of Knowledge’ he cried and rushed to
get a net – a fine strong one, to haul it in. He knew also that he mustn’t look into
the fish’s eyes or he would fall fast asleep, and he was careful not to do this as
he struggled to net the beast of a fish.
And then, without warning, the salmon leapt out of the water in his
direction. The old man panicked and looked straight into the eyes of the fish,
and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
Fortunately, young Fionn saw this and shook Fineagas awake. The old
teacher commanded Fionn to tear his dark-coloured shirt and tie it round his
eyes so that he could no longer see the fish. Fionn obeyed, and a blind-folded
Fineagas and a tenacious salmon quarrelled and fought for the rest of that
afternoon until the fish eventually gave up the struggle. Fineagas had caught
Bradan an Eòlais. ‘He would be the wisest person in all of Ireland.
As you’ll understand, this great effort had exhausted poor Fineagas and he
asked Fionn to cook the fish while he took a recuperative snooze. Fionn
promised not to taste the salmon.
The monster fish was placed on a spit above a good-going peat fire and it
wasn’t long until it was ready for eating. Fionn called Fineagas to come and taste
it, but as he did so a small drop of burning fish-oil splashed up onto his finger –
his thumb actually. Fionn simply stuck his finger in his mouth to quell the pain.
When Fineagas arrived he immediately noticed that Fionn MacCumhail
looked really quite different. He could see from the gleam in his eyes and the
glow from his cheeks that something had happened to him. ‘Did you have any of
the fish flesh?’ he demanded. Fionn had to tell the truth. ‘No’ he said’. ‘Did you
try any of it at all’ he asked. And with that Fionn remembered that he had
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