batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l10618-l10723
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l10618-l10723
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: 'BOOK SIX: DIARMUID. / CHAPTER I. BIRTH OF DIARMUID / CHAPTER II. HOW DIARMUID
GOT HIS LOVE-SPOT / CHAPTER III. THE DAUGHTER OF KING UNDER-WAVE; lines 10618-10723'
start: '10618'
end: '10723'
translation: Gods and Fighting Men
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: A wild and ugly woman seeks shelter from Finn and Oisin and is refused,
but Diarmuid admits her under his covering and later by the fire. She becomes
a beautiful young woman, causes a great furnished house to appear on a hillside,
and lives there with Diarmuid under a promise that he will not remind her three
times of her original appearance. While Diarmuid visits the Fianna, Finn and Oisin
each obtain one of the pups of Diarmuid's greyhound from the woman; Diarmuid reproaches
her twice by recalling how she first came to him. Caoilte then approaches and
seeks the remaining pup.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A woman described as wild, ugly, strange-looking, and with hair hanging to
her heels comes to the Fianna at midnight on a snowy winter night.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Finn and Oisin each refuse the woman's request for shelter under the border
of their covering.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Diarmuid allows the woman under the border of his covering despite her appearance.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The woman says she has travelled over sea and ocean for seven years without
receiving shelter until that night.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Diarmuid brings the woman to the fire, and the other Fianna move away because
of her appearance.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: After Diarmuid lets the woman under his covering, he sees a beautiful young
woman beside him.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The woman asks where Diarmuid would like the best house ever built to be,
and he chooses the hillside.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: In the morning, a great house is seen on the hill where no house had been
before.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: The woman agrees to go with Diarmuid to the house if he promises not to say
three times what way she was when she came to him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The house is ready with food, servants, and everything Diarmuid and the woman
could wish for.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Finn receives one of the pups of Diarmuid's greyhound bitch from the woman.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: When Diarmuid finds one pup gone, he angrily reminds the woman of her former
appearance, and then asks pardon.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: Oisin receives another pup, and Diarmuid again says that the woman would not
have let it be taken if she had remembered the way she came to him.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:14
text: Caoilte approaches the woman and wants the promise of one of the pups before
entering for a drink.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Diarmuid
description: Member of the Fianna who gives shelter to the strange woman and later
lives with her in the newly appearing house.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: the strange woman / Queen
description: A woman first appearing wild and ugly with hair to her heels, later
seen as a beautiful young woman; Finn addresses her as Queen.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Finn, son of Cumhal
description: Leader figure among the Fianna who refuses the woman shelter and later
asks her for one of Diarmuid's greyhound pups.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:11
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Oisin
description: Member of the Fianna who refuses the woman shelter and later asks her
for another greyhound pup.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:13
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: the Fianna
description: The company present in the house after hunting; they move away from
the woman at the fire and later welcome Diarmuid back.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:15
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: greyhound bitch and her three pups
description: Diarmuid's greyhound bitch and her pups; two pups are given away to
Finn and Oisin, and Caoilte seeks one.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Caoilte
description: Member of the Fianna who approaches the woman after Finn and Oisin
and seeks the promise of one of the pups.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: two men of the Fianna
description: Two unnamed men who report seeing the great house on the hill where
no house had been before.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: welcoming host
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Diarmuid admits the woman under his covering when Finn and Oisin refuse her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: rejected guest seeking shelter
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The woman asks Finn, Oisin, and Diarmuid for shelter; Finn and Oisin refuse
her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: transformed woman
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She is first described as ugly and wild, then seen as a beautiful young woman
beside Diarmuid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: promise-maker who breaks taboo twice
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Diarmuid promises not to say three times how the woman came to him, then
twice recalls her former state after pups are taken.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: role:5
label: giver of house and keeper of household
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: After asking where the best house should be, the woman directs Diarmuid to
the newly appearing house, which has food and servants.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:6
label: requester of greyhound pup
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
basis: Finn, Oisin, and Caoilte each seek a pup from the woman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:13
- ev:14
- id: role:7
label: witnessing company
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The Fianna witness the woman by the fire and later react to Diarmuid's good
fortune.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:15
- id: role:8
label: valued animals subject to loss
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Diarmuid is concerned over the greyhound bitch and pups, and reacts angrily
when pups are gone.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: role:9
label: reporting witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The two men report the sudden appearance of the great house on the hill.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fire
literal_form: the warmth of the fire in the Fianna's house
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: water journey
literal_form: sea and ocean crossed for seven years
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: new hillside house
literal_form: a great house appearing on the hillside where none had been before
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: sym:4
label: three pups
literal_form: the three pups of Diarmuid's greyhound bitch
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
- id: sym:5
label: forbidden reminder
literal_form: the promise not to say three times what way the woman was when she
came to Diarmuid
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:12
- ev:13
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Midnight request for shelter
summary: On a snowy winter night, the strange woman enters the Fianna's house and
asks Finn, Oisin, and Diarmuid for shelter; only Diarmuid admits her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Fire and transformation
summary: Diarmuid brings the woman to the fire, the Fianna move away, and after
she lies under Diarmuid's covering he sees her as a beautiful young woman.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:3
label: House on the hill and promise
summary: The woman asks Diarmuid where he would like the best house built; by morning
a great house is on the hillside, and she requires a promise that he will not
remind her three times of her first appearance.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:4
label: Diarmuid returns to the Fianna
summary: After three days, the woman sends Diarmuid back to his comrades; the Fianna
welcome him but are envious of his house and the woman's love.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: scene:5
label: Finn takes a pup and first reminder
summary: Finn obtains one of the greyhound pups from the woman; when Diarmuid returns
and discovers the loss, he recalls the way she looked when she came to him and
then asks pardon.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: scene:6
label: Oisin takes a pup and second reminder
summary: Oisin obtains another greyhound pup; Diarmuid returns, knows another pup
is gone, and again says the woman should have remembered the way she came to him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: scene:7
label: Caoilte seeks the remaining pup
summary: Caoilte comes toward the woman and will not enter for a drink until he
has the promise of one of the pups like the others.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: loathly woman transformed after hospitality
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: The woman is first described as wild, ugly, and strange, is refused by Finn
and Oisin, is admitted by Diarmuid, and is then seen as a beautiful young woman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage shows a change in appearance but does not explain the mechanism
of transformation.
- id: motif:2
label: supernatural reward for receiving the unwanted guest
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: After Diarmuid gives shelter to the rejected woman, a great house with food,
servants, and all desired things appears for him and the woman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly state that the house is a reward, though
the sequence strongly links it to Diarmuid's hospitality.
- id: motif:3
label: conditional promise not to speak of a hidden former state
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The woman requires Diarmuid not to say three times how she was when she came;
he later recalls her former appearance twice after pups are taken.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:12
- ev:13
confidence: high
cautions: The passage segment ends before the consequence of a third statement is
shown.
- id: motif:4
label: threefold taking of valued animals
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Diarmuid has a greyhound bitch with three pups; Finn and Oisin each take
one, and Caoilte seeks one like the others.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage records two completed takings and the beginning of a third
request, but not its outcome in the supplied excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: jealous companions after hero receives woman and house
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Fianna welcome Diarmuid but are envious because he obtained the great
house and the woman's love after they had turned her away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
confidence: medium
cautions: The envy is stated, but its narrative consequences are only partially
shown in this passage.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 10618-10627
quote_or_summary: At midnight on a snowy winter night, a very wild and ugly woman
with hair hanging to her heels enters the Fianna's house.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 10624-10632
quote_or_summary: The woman asks Finn and then Oisin for shelter under the border
of their covering; both refuse her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 10632-10637
quote_or_summary: 'Diarmuid says she is strange, wild, and ugly, but adds: “But
come in for all that.”'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 10640-10644
quote_or_summary: The woman tells Diarmuid she has travelled over sea and ocean
for seven years and had not received shelter before that night.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 10643-10649
quote_or_summary: Diarmuid brings the woman to the fire; the Fianna sitting there
move away because she is ugly and dreadful to look at.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 10655-10661
quote_or_summary: After the woman comes under Diarmuid's covering, he sees a beautiful
young woman asleep beside him, and the others agree she is beautiful.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 10663-10668
quote_or_summary: The woman asks Diarmuid where he would like to see the best house
built; he chooses the hillside and falls asleep.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 10669-10675
quote_or_summary: Two men of the Fianna report a great house on the hill where no
house had been before; Diarmuid sees it ready.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 10675-10680
quote_or_summary: The woman says she will go with Diarmuid if he promises not to
say three times what way she was when she came to him; he promises never to say
it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 10682-10685
quote_or_summary: The house is ready for Diarmuid and the woman, with food, servants,
and everything they could wish for.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 10700-10712
quote_or_summary: Finn comes to the woman, calls her Queen, asks for one of Diarmuid's
greyhound pups, and receives one.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 10714-10721
quote_or_summary: Diarmuid returns, the greyhound yells, one pup is gone, and Diarmuid
tells the woman that if she remembered the way she was when he let her in, she
would not have let the pup be taken; he then asks pardon.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 10723-10731
quote_or_summary: Oisin asks for and receives another pup; when Diarmuid returns,
the greyhound cries out twice and Diarmuid again says the woman would not have
let the pup be taken if she had remembered the way she came to him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 10732-10736
quote_or_summary: Caoilte comes toward the woman and will not enter for a drink
until he has the promise of one of the pups like the others.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:15
type: summary
locator: lines 10686-10699
quote_or_summary: After three days the woman sends Diarmuid back to the Fianna;
they welcome him but are envious that he got the grand house and her love after
they had turned her away.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The main narrative actions and figures are explicit. Motif labels are candidate
classifications and require human review, especially where the passage implies
but does not state supernatural causality.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly compare this episode to other traditions or motif families beyond internal recurring patterns.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l10618-l10723
passage_sha256=93460a7bb2926130b507e5f2ec325d443ef1e0bf808de6b6c48a12bbb4938d88