Page:Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry - Meyer.djvu/129

 accustomed to slander, stubborn in a quarrel, not to be trusted with a secret, ever intent on pilfering, boisterous in their jealousy, ever ready for an excuse, on the pursuit of folly, slanderers of worth, scamping their work, stiff when paying a visit, disdainful of good men, gloomy and stubborn, viragoes in strife, sorrowful in an ale-house, tearful during music, lustful in bed, arrogant and disingenuous, abettors of strife, niggardly with food, rejecting wisdom, eager to make appointments, sulky on a journey, troublesome bedfellows, deaf to instruction, blind to good advice, fatuous in society, craving for delicacies, chary in their presents, languid when solicited, exceeding all bounds in keeping others
 * waiting,

tedious talkers, close practitioners, dumb on useful matters, eloquent on trifles. Happy he who does not yield to them! They should be dreaded like fire, they should be feared like wild beasts. Woe to him who humours them!