‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘whence is
chieftaincy taken over tribes, and clans, and races?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘By virtue of shape and race
and knowledge, through wisdom and rank and liberality and honesty,
5] by virtue of hereditary right and eloquence, by the strength of fighting and an army it is taken.’