I am that Eolus, the son of Enar, the son of Airt, of the race of Calma, from Ardfear, who write down these words, for the instruction of those that now be, and of those who are yet to come.

To teach man to rule himself, that his reason may keep his passions in subjection continually, to tell to the chiefs, and the heads of the Gaal, and to the Gaal of their race, the renowned of the earth.

And these words have I written, as they have been repeated from mouth to ear, from generation to generation, and these times have I noted from the marks of the rings of Baal, and these words are true, according to the traditions of man as believed; but more correct are the times, being according to the revolutions of Baal, which cannot err.

But I, Eolus, have not set down the words said by the Priests, to have been delivered to the nine Priests by Baal, from the beginning, because my understanding cannot give entertainment thereunto; my senses admit not the belief, that Baal hath at any time held talk with one of the children of this earth.

Afore priests were, have we not heard of the words spoken by the fathers to their children, as they listened to their voice, beneath the covering of the tents, each of his dwelling, ere the congregations were gathered together, round the habitations of the priests. (bb)

Then did each father declare unto those descended from his loins.

Give praise and thanks to Baal, the author of light and life.

Shed not the blood of thy fellow, without just

cause.

Take not aught belonging unto another secretly. Keep falsehood from thy lips-falsehood perverts justice.

Keep envy from thy heart-envy corrodes the spirit.

Keep flattery from thy tongue-flattery blinds the judgment.

Pay respect to thy father, conform thyself unto his will, be thou a sure prop to his old age.

Love, honor, and cherish thy mother, let thy hand wait on her eye-thy foot move in obedience to her voice; for the first pain that you causest to her, she was quit for the joy at thy coming forth, beware of bringing grief to thy mother's heart, the thought will sting thy spirit in the time to come. Contend not with thy brother-unity becometh brethren.

Be loving and protecting unto thy sister

Cherish the widow, nourish the orphan, deprived of his father, his staff, never more to hear a tender mother's voice.

Relieve the poor, the needy, and distressed, be kind, and minister unto the stranger far from the dwelling of his kindred.

Be merciful to every living creature.

Be watchful to keep thy passions in obedience to thy reason, in the first place, thereby wilt thou avoid doing unto another, what thou wouldst not have another do unto thee.

Preserve the glory of thy race, die, or live free. (c) What have these things to do with feeding fires, and looking after portions of the land.

And when Eolus had ruled nine rings, he placed

Dalta his brother in his seat, and he did go to Sgadan, and he did abide there for one ring, and he did make a covenant with Ramah, chief of the land of Aoimag.

And Ramah did send Olam to abide amongst the Gaal in Gael-ag, and the teachers of Aoimag did give knowledge unto the nobles instructing them to hold talk one with another, from the land of Aoimag even unto Gael-ag.

Moreover men of Aoi-mag taught the Gael to form ships, wherein to move on the face of the deep. And the Gael do help the children of Feine; in the bowels of the earth, in the land of Eisfeine, for the children of Ib-er were cunning workmen in the land of their fathers, in searching for brass. (d)

And Eolus did send nine of the sons of Ib-er, even the most wise of the children of the land, to make addition to the knowledge they had aforetime,

And the men did return at the set time of three rings, and Eolus called together the chiefs of the Gael, to the great congregation, (e) and he spake unto them saying,

"Man differeth nothing from the beast of the field, save in reason, but whereto serveth reason, if it receiveth not a right direction?

"Hath man passions in common with all other animals, which oft consume him, reason instructed will controul them.

"Teachers are now amongst us-what if a portion, of the land were assigned to each of the Olam in divers quarters, that they may live free from care, save that of instructing the youth in the ways of

Ꭰ

knowledge.-Gael-ag hath hitherto contained too few of the wise men of the earth."

And it was so.~

And the Olam had their portions, and they did chuse from amongst them one; Tarlat the son of Leir, to be Ard-olam.

And Tarlat sware in the presence of the congregation to guard the writing, which Eolus did place within his hands, to set down words of the Gaal, to keep falsehood therefrom, and to preserve them during his days.

Now when Eolus had ruled for the course of eighteen rings, it came to pass that Ramah, chief of the children of the land of Aoi-mag died, and Amram his brother's son took his place. (f)

And Amram sent letters unto Eolus-in this wise "The children of Iber within Eis-feine have neglected to pay their tribute.--Doth Eolus desire that servants of Amram should go thither, rather than that Eolus send his servants therewith to Sgadan-so be it."

And Eolus called together all the chiefs, and of the heads of the people, one from every ninth of the tents of Gael.

And Tarlat was in his place, and he read aloud the words of Amram, whereupon a loud murmur ran through the congregation:

And when the air was still, Eolus rose in the midst, and he did put into the hands of Tarlat, words for Amram, and these are they :

"Eolus the son of Enar from Calma of the race of Ard-fear, chief of the Gael of Sciot of Ib-er, within Gael-ag unto Amram, chief of Aoimag,

"Seven score rings and one have been marked since Calma and Ron-ard did hither come with children of the Gael of Sciot of Iber in ships of Feine, for a price fixed, and paid, from which time to this, we have lived free, no mention made of tribute all these days.

Have we not this land from our fathers, and shall we not so leave it to our children?

Gael-ag is not, nor ever was Eisfeine.

When Lonrac thought to put Ib-er under tribute, did not File answer

"The men of Ib-er will no tribute pay,

"Should Lonrac hither come,

"The way is far, and perhaps❞—

So answereth Eolus, and the host of Gael-ag now. And the words were good.

And the servant of Amram, with the words of Eolus, and Morlat a chief of Gael-ag, took their departure for Aoi-mag.

And Morlat returned in due season, with letters from Amram, saying,

"Eidar, servant of Amram, hath erred, the letters for tribute were for Meorl, chief of the children of Ib-er in Buas-ce."

Now messengers came from Meorl unto Eolus, saying, "Amram of Aoi-mag demandeth tribute of us. The children of Feine are covetous, they are deceitful; should we submit unto them, short time will pass, till the Gaal of Sciot will be afflicted.

Let the men of Ib-er, Naoimaideis, Oigeageis, be all of one mind, neither Amram, nor all the nations of the earth, will be able to trouble them."