Celtic Mythology: the Salmon of Knowledge

Dans la mythologie celtique irlandaise, le Saumon de la sagesse, plus souvent appelé Saumon du savoir, est à l'origine un saumon ordinaire, qui mange les neuf glands tombés depuis l'arbre du savoir dans le fleuve Boyne - ou parfois la rivière Shannon. Ce faisant, le saumon devient énorme et acquiert tout le savoir du monde, devenant plus sage que les Hommes. De plus, la première personne qui mangerait sa chair entrerait en possession de ce savoir.

     Once upon a time, long long ago in Ireland, there lived a famous poet called Finegas. In those days, poets were important, respected people because they were very wise (sage). They often had disciples and passed on secrets from generation to generation.

     Finegas lived alone in a little stone hut, near a river, far away from other men. He knew there was a magic fish known as the Salmon of Knowledge in that river. Many years before his master had explained: "To catch the fish you mustn't look at its eyes, or you will fall asleep. Then if you are the first to eat of it, you will become the wisest man in Ireland". So Finegas wanted to catch the magic salmon and eat it.

      One day, he received the visit of a tall young man: "My name is Finn. My father, the king, has taught me how to fight and how to rule men. I want to be a good wise king, so I've come to learn how to write poetry and how to tell stories. Wil you teach me?"  Finegas liked the young man at once and accepted to become his master.

     Time went by. Finn was learning and getting wiser every day. And every day Finegas threw his net into the river, hoping to catch the salmon. One day, at last, Finegas saw the fish. It was a lovely golden colour, enormous and had shining eyes which Finegas tried not to look at. He called his disciple and said: "I've just seen the fish! Bring me a piece of cloth (tissu), tie it round my eyes, and leave me alone".

     With his eyes protected, Finegas fought for long hours trying to bring the fish out of the water. During all that time, Finn was in the hut, studying. Finally he heard the victorious cry: "I've got it!". He ran to the river and found his master, who asked him to prepare the fish. "Cook it over the fire, please but don't taste or eat any part of it".

     The young Finn made a fire and started grilling the fish. Suddenly a drop of burning oil splashed onto his finger, and instinctively, Finn put his finger into his mouth. When the salmon was cooked, he brought it to Finegas. The old man looked at his disciple and said: "You haven't eaten  any part of the salmon, have you?" "No", said the prince, whose eyes were growing bigger and brighter. "You haven't even tasted it?" insisted the old man. "Well, " Finn suddenly remembered, "some of the oil splashed onto my finger, so I put into my mouth without thinking."

Slowly Finegas cut the fish and gave some to hisdisciple. "Start eating, "he said, "you are the wisest man in Ireland, and you'll be a good king."