And far to fet,
'Twas ever yet
Dear'st ware of all.
George Turberville
"Far to fetch" it certainly is; but here is a little counsel to this end from the old Irish Instructions of King Cormac (of the ninth century). Of Carbery I know no more, but doubtless there is much to hear:
"O Cormac, grandson of Conn," said Carbery, "what is the worst for the body of man?"
"Not hard to tell," said Cormac. "Sitting too long, lying too long, long standing, lifting heavy things, 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, biestings [very new milk], 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 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 Carbery, "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, nor too foolish,