{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/celt/pt3/pt304.htm","path":"neu/celt/pt3/pt304.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/pt3/pt304.htm","text":"[Under the following numbers I have grouped together a few traditions, etc., relating to the Campbell legend of Diarmaid and the boar.]\nFrom Donald MacPhie (smith), Breubhaig, Barra, 1860.\nFionn would not marry any lady but one who could answer all his questions, and it appears that this was rather difficult to find. Graidhne, daughter of the King of the fifth of Ullin, answered them all, and proved herself the wisest as well as the handsomest of women. Fionn married Graidhne because she answered the questions. The reciter told me that there were a great many more, but that these were all that he could remember at the time.\"\nH. MACLEAN, October 20, 1860.\nCEISDEAN MINN.\n[Seo na ceisdean.\n Fionn. D\u00e9 's lionaire na'm feur?\n Graidhne. Tha 'n druichd; bidh moran bhoineachan deth air aon ghas feoir.]\nFionn. What is more plenteous than the grass?\n Graidhne. The dew; there will be many drops of it on one grass blade.\n[D\u00e9 's teotha na'n teine?\n Ciall mnatha eadar da fhear.]\nWhat is hotter than the fire?\n A woman's reasoning betwixt two men.\n[D\u00e9 's luaithe na ghaoth?\n Aigne mnatha eadar da fhear.]\nWhat is swifter than the wind?\n A woman's thought betwixt two men.\n[D\u00e9 's duibhe na 'm fitheach?\n Tha 'm b\u00e0s.]\nWhat is blacker than the raven?\n There is death.\n[D\u00e9 's gile na 'n sneachd?\n Tha 'n fhirinn.]\nWhat is whiter than the snow?\n There is the truth.\n[D\u00e9 's long ri gach luchd?\n Teanchair gobha; cumaidh i teith a's fuar.]\nWhat is a ship for every cargo?\n A smith's tongs; it will hold hot and cold.\n[D\u00e9 air nach gabh glas na slabhraidh cur?\n Rasg duine ma charaid; cha ghabh e dunadh na cumail ach ag amhare air.]\nWhat is it will not bide lock or chain?\n The eye of a man about his friend; it will not brook shutting or holding, but looking on him.\n[D\u00e9 's deirge na fuil?\n Gnuis duine choir nuair thigeadh coigrich an rathad 's gun bhiadh aige 'bheireadh e dhaibh.]\nWhat is redder than blood?\n The face of a worthy man when strangers might come the way, and no meat by him to give to them.\n[D\u00e9 's g\u00e9ire na claidheamh?\n Athais namhaid.]\nWhat is sharper than a sword?\n The reproach of a foe.\n[D\u00e9 's fearr do bhiadh?\n Bleachd; thig iomadh atharrachadh as, niotar im a's c\u00e0ise dheth, 's beathachaidh e leanabh beag a's seanduine.]\nWhat is the best of food?\n Milk; many a change comes out of it; butter and cheese are made of it, and it will feed a little child and an old man.\n[D\u00e9 's measa do bhiadh?\n Blianach.]\nWhat is the worst of meat?\n Lean flesh.\n[De 'n seud a's fhearr?\n Sgian.]\nWhat is the best jewel?\n A knife.\n[D\u00e9 's brisge na cluaran?\n Briathran torc muice.]\nWhat is more brittle than the sow thistle?\n The words of a boar pig.\nD\u00e9 's maoithe na cloimhteach?\n Dearn air an leaca.]\nWhat is softer than down?\n The palm on the cheek.\n[D\u00e9 'n gniomh a's fhearr do ghniomhabh?\n Gniomh ard a's uaill iseal.]\nWhat deed is the best of deeds?\n A high deed and low conceit.\nFrom this then it appears that Graidhne represents, quick wit and beauty, and her name seems to mean Gr\u00e0dh--love.\nFionn always represents wisdom.\nMature wisdom marries young love, and in the stories which follow, love runs away with young valour.\nThey followed the track which had been assigned to the Celtic race. They are married in Eirinn, and in the next story, the course of their wanderings is pointed out.","title":"Popular Tales of the West Highlands Vol. III: LIX. Fionn's Questions.","type":"page"}