The Instructions of King Cormac

“O Cormac, grandson of Conn,” said Cairbre, “what are the dues of a chief and of an ale-house?”

“Not hard to tell,” said Cormac.

“Good behaviour around a good chief

Lights to lamps

Exerting oneself for the company

A proper settlement of seats

Liberality of dispensers

A nimble hand at distributing

Attentive service

Music in moderation

Short story-telling

A joyous countenance

Welcome to guests

Silence during recitals

Harmonious choruses.”

“O Cormac, grandson of Conn,” said Cairbre, “What were your habits when you were a lad?”

“Not hard to tell,” said Cormac.

“I was a listener in woods

I was a gazer at stars

I was blind where secrets were concerned

I was silent in a wilderness

I was talkative among many

I was mild in the mead-hall

I was stern in battle

I was gentle towards allies

I was a physician of the sick

I was weak towards the feeble

I was strong towards the powerful

I was not close lest I should be burdensome

I was not arrogant though I was wise

I was not given to promising though I was strong

I was not venturesome though I was swift

I did not deride the old though I was young

I was not boastful though I was a good fighter

I would not speak about any one in his absence

I would not reproach, but I would praise

I would not ask, but I would give

For it is through these habits that the young become old and kingly warriors.”

“O Cormac, grandson of Conn,” said Cairbre, “What is the worst thing you have seen?”

“Not hard to tell,” said Cormac. “Faces of foes in the rout of battle”.

“O Cormac, grandson of Conn,” said Cairbre, “What is the sweetest thing you have heard?”

“Not hard to tell,” said Cormac. “The shout of triumph after victory; Praise after wages; A lady’s invitation to her pillow.”

“O Cormac, grandson of Conn,” said Cairbre, “What is worst for the body of man?”

“Not hard to tell,” said Cormac.

“Sitting too long; lying too long;

exerting oneself beyond one’s strength; running too much; leaping too much; frequent falls;

sleeping with one’s leg over the bed rail;

gazing at glowing embers, wax, bestings, new ale, bull-flesh, curdles, dry food, bog-water;

rising too early; cold; sun; hunger;

drinking too much; eating too much; sleeping too much; sinning too much; grief; running up to a height; shouting against the wind; drying oneself by a fire;

summer-dew; winter-dew;

beating ashes;

swimming on a full stomach; sleeping on one’s back;

foolish romping.”

“O Cormac, grandson of Conn,” said Cairbre, “What is the worst pleading and arguing?”

“Not hard to tell,” said Cormac.

“Contending against knowledge

contending without proofs

taking refuge in bad language

a stiff delivery

a muttering speech

hair-splitting

uncertain proofs

despising books

turning against custom

shifting one’s pleading

inciting the mob

blowing one’s own trumpet

shouting at the top of one’s voice.”

“O Cormac, grandson of Conn,” said Cairbre, “Who are the worst for whom you have a comparison?”

“Not hard to tell,” said Cormac.

“A man with the impudence of a satirist

with the pugnacity of a slave-woman

with the carelessness of a dog

with the conscience of a hound

with a robber’s hand

with a bull’s strength

with the dignity of a judge

with keen ingenious wisdom

with the speech of a stately man

with the memory of an historian

with the behavior of an abbot

with the swearing of a horse-thief

and he wise, lying, grey-haired, violent, swearing, garrulous; when he says ‘the matter is settled, I swear, you shall swear’.”

“O Cormac, grandson of Conn,” said Cairbre, “I desire to know how I shall behave among the wise and the foolish, among friends and strangers, among the old and the young, among the innocent and the wicked.”

“Not hard to tell,” said Cormac.

“Be not too wise, be not too foolish

be not too conceited, nor too diffident

be not too haughty, nor too humble

be not too talkative, nor too silent

be not too hard, nor too feeble

If you be too wise, one will expect too much of you

If you be foolish, you will be deceived

If you be too conceited, you will be thought vexatious

If you be too humble, you will be without honour

If you be too talkative, you will not be heeded

If you be too silent, you will not be regarded

If you be too hard, you will be broken

If you be too feeble, you will be crushed.”

 

Translated by Kuno Meyer, “The Instructions of King Cormac mac Airt”, Todd Lecture Series vol. XV, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin 1909