Then he saw in the enclosure a shining fountain, with five streams flowing out of it, and the host in turn drinking its water. Nine hazels of Buan grew over the well. The purple hazels dropped their nuts into the fountain, and the five salmon which were in the fountain severed them and sent their husks floating down the stream. Now the sound of the falling of those streams was more melodious than any music that men could sing…

“The fountain which thou sawest [said the warrior], with the five streams out of it, is the Fountain of Knowledge, and the streams are the five senses through which knowledge is obtained. And no one will have knowledge who drinks not a draught out of the fountain itself and out of the streams. The folk of many arts are those who drink of them both.”

*From Ancient Irish Tales, ed. by Cross and Slover