232. Three that are most difficult to talk to: a king about his booty, a viking in his hauberk, a boor who is under patronage.
233. Three whose spirits are highest: a young scholar after having read his psalms, a youngster who has put on man's attire,[114] a maiden who has been made a woman.
[114] Literally, 'who has doffed his (boy's) clothes.'
234. Four on whom there is neither restraint nor rule: the servant of a priest, a miller's hound, a widow's son, and a stripper's calf.
235. Three hard things[115]: to go security on behalf of a king or highly privileged person, for a king's honour is wider than any claim; to go security for battle, for no one is capable of any security for a battle save a king under whose yoke are seven tribes; to go security for captivity, except one who owns a serf.
Seven prohibitions: to go security for an outlaw, for a jester and for a madman, for a person without bonds, for an unfilial person, for an imbecile, for one excommunicated. Troublesome moreover is every security, for it is necessary for it to give sudden notice as regards every pledge which he gives, now beforehand, now afterwards.
[115] I do not understand the force of _dóib_, 'to them,' either here or below after _secht n-aurgarta_.
236. Three wonders of Glenn Dallan[116] in Tirowen: the boar of Druim Leithe. It was born there, and Finn was unable to do aught against it, until it fell in Mag Li[117] by a peasant who was kiln-drying. Whence Finn said:
[116] Now Glencar, six miles to the north of the town of Sligo.
[117] The territory of the Tir Lí, west of the river Bann.
"Not well have we fed our hounds, Not well have we driven our horses, Since a little boor from a kiln Has killed the boar of Druim Leithe."
The Beast of Lettir Dallan. It has a human head and otherwise the shape of a smith's bellows. The water-horse which lived in the lake by the side of the church cohabited with the daughter of the priest and begot the beast upon her.
The Ox of Dil[118] is the third wonder. Its father came out of the same lake, and went upon one of the cows of the landholder who lived near the church, and begot the ox upon her.
[118] The oxen of Dil, daughter of Míl or Legmannair, are mentioned in the Dindsenchas, No. 44 and 111 (Rev. Celt. xv.).