ectera, one of the sisters of Conchubar Mac
Nessa, married a prince whose patrimony lay
along the shores of the Muirnict, and whose
capital was Dun Dalgan. They had one child,
a boy, whom they named Setanta.
As soon as Setanta was able to understand the stories and
conversation of those around him, he evinced a passion for arms
and the martial life, which was so premature and violent as to
surprise all who knew him. His thoughts for ever ran on the wars
and achievements of the Red Branch. He knew all the knights by
name, the appearance and bearing of each, and what deeds of
valour they had severally performed. Emain Macha, the capital
of the Clanna Rury, was never out of his mind. He saw for ever
before his mind its moats and ramparts, its gates and bridges, its
streets filled with martial men, its high-raised Duns and Raths, its
branching roads, over which came the tributes of wide Ulla to
the High King. He had seen his father’s tribute driven thither, and
had even longed to be one of the four-footed beasts that he
beheld wending their way to the wondrous city. But, above all, he
delighted to be told of the great school where the young nobles of
Ulster were taught martial exercises and the military art, under the
superintendence of chosen knights and of the High King himself.
Of the several knights he had his own opinion, and had already
resolved to accept no one as his instructor save Fergus Mac Roy,
tanist of Ulster.

f his father he saw little. His mind had become impaired, and he was confined in a secluded part of the Dun. But whenever he spoke to Dectera of what was nearest his heart, and his desire to enter the military school at Emain Macha, she laughed, and said that he was not yet old enough to endure that rough life. But secretly she was alarmed, and formed plans to detain him at home altogether. Then Setanta concealed his desire, but enquired narrowly concerning the partings of the roads on the way to Emania.

At last, when he was ten years old, selecting a favourable night, Setanta stole away from his father’s Dun, and before morning had crossed the frontier. He then lay down to rest and sleep in a wood. After this he set out again, travelling quickly, lest he should be met by any of his father’s people. On his back was strapped his little wooden shield, and by his side hung a sword of lath. He had brought his ball and hurle of red-bronze with him, and ran swiftly along the road, driving the ball before him, or throwing up his javelin into the air, and running to meet it ere it fell.

In the afternoon of that day Fergus Mac Roy and the King sat together in the part that surrounded the King’s palace. A chessboard was between them, and their attention was fixed on the game.

At a distance the young nobles were at their sports, and the shouts of the boys and the clash of the metal hurles resounded in the evening air.