Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

CHAPTER VI: TALES OF THE OSSIANIC CYCLE 227Tests of the FiannaIn the time of Finn no one was ever permitted to be one of theFianna of Erin unless he could pass through many severe testsof his worthiness. He must be versed in the Twelve Books ofPoetry, and must himself be skilled to make verse in the rimeand metre of the masters of Gaelic poesy. Then he was buriedto his middle in the earth, and must, with a shield and a hazelstick, there defend himself against nine warriors casting spearsat him, and if he were wounded he was not accepted. Then hishair was woven into braids, and he was chased through the forestby the Fians. If he were overtaken, or if a braid of his hair were [265]disturbed, or if a dry stick cracked under his foot, he was notaccepted. He must be able to leap over a lath level with his brow,and to run at full speed under one level with his knee, and hemust be able while running to draw out a thorn from his foot andnever slacken speed. He must take no dowry with a wife.Keelta and St. PatrickIt was said that one of the Fians, namely, Keelta, lived onto a great age, and saw St. Patrick, by whom he was baptizedinto the faith of the Christ, and to whom he told many tales ofFinn and his men, which Patrick's scribe wrote down. And oncePatrick asked him how it was that the Fianna became so mightyand so glorious that all Ireland sang of their deeds, as Ireland hasdone ever since. Keelta answered: “Truth was in our hearts andstrength in our arms, and what we said, that we fulfilled.”This was also told of Keelta after he had seen St. Patrickand received the Faith. He chanced to be one day by Leyney,in Connacht, where the Fairy Folk of the Mound of Duma werewont to be sorely harassed and spoiled every year by pirates fromoversea. They called Keelta to their aid, and by his counsel andvalour the invaders were overcome and driven home; but Keeltawas sorely wounded. Then Keelta asked that Owen, the seer ofthe Fairy Folk, might foretell him how long he had to live, for hewas already a very aged man. Owen said: “It will be seventeen