batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l10809-l10863
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l10809-l10863
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 10809-10863'
start: '10809'
end: '10863'
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: Diarmuid obtains a healing cup after defeating the King of the Plain of
Wonder's fighters. A red man who carries him over a river identifies himself as
a messenger from beyond the world and instructs him to mix well water and drops
of blood in the cup to heal the daughter of King Under-Wave, warning that Diarmuid's
love for her will end. Diarmuid heals her, loses his love, refuses reward, asks
only for a ship home to Ireland, and returns to the Fianna.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Diarmuid demands either the cup or champions to fight him, and large bodies
of fighters are sent against him and defeated.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The king says a prophecy made seven years before Diarmuid's birth foretold
that Diarmuid would come to destroy his men.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Diarmuid asks the king for the cup of healing, and the king gives it to him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: A red man carries Diarmuid over a river and gives directions concerning a
well, water, the cup, and three drops of blood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The red man says the healing will also remove Diarmuid's love for the daughter
of King Under-Wave.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The red man identifies himself as a messenger from beyond the world and says
he came to help Diarmuid because Diarmuid wished to help another.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The woman drinks three draughts from the prepared cup and is healed at the
third draught.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: After the healing, Diarmuid's love for the woman is gone, and both acknowledge
it.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Music replaces lamenting after the king's daughter is healed; Diarmuid refuses
reward, asks for a ship to Ireland, and is welcomed by Finn and the Fianna.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Diarmuid
description: A man of the Fianna of Ireland who seeks the cup of healing, receives
supernatural guidance, heals the daughter of King Under-Wave, and returns to Ireland.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: King of the Plain of Wonder
description: The king whose men are defeated by Diarmuid and who gives Diarmuid
the cup of healing.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Red man / messenger from beyond the world
description: A red man who carries Diarmuid across the river, gives healing instructions,
and identifies himself as a messenger from beyond the world.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Daughter of King Under-Wave
description: The woman Diarmuid loves and heals by means of the cup, well water,
and drops of blood.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: King Under-Wave
description: The father of the healed woman, expected by the messenger to offer
Diarmuid riches for healing his daughter.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Finn and the Fianna
description: Diarmuid's home company in Ireland, to whom he returns and from whom
he receives a joyful welcome.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Warrior challenger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Diarmuid demands the cup or champions and defeats the fighters sent against
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: Healing quester
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Diarmuid seeks the cup of healing and later applies the instructed cure to
the woman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: Returning hero
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Diarmuid refuses reward, asks only for a ship home, and returns to the Fianna.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: Donor of healing cup
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The king gives Diarmuid the cup of healing after acknowledging the prophecy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: Supernatural helper and guide
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The red man transports Diarmuid, gives precise healing directions, and identifies
himself as a messenger from beyond the world.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: Afflicted beloved / patient
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The messenger says Diarmuid is going to heal her, and she is healed after
drinking three draughts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: Reward-offering father
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The messenger says King Under-Wave will offer riches for the healing of his
daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:8
label: Home community
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Diarmuid asks to return to Finn and the Fianna, and they welcome him joyfully.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Cup of healing
literal_form: A cup requested by Diarmuid and given by the King of the Plain of
Wonder; used to hold water and drops of blood for the healing draughts.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: Well water
literal_form: Water from a well indicated by the messenger, brought by Diarmuid
and put into the cup.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: Three drops of blood
literal_form: Drops of blood placed in the cup with the water; the woman drinks
three times and is healed at the third draught.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: River crossing
literal_form: A river crossed when the red man takes Diarmuid's foot in his palm
and carries him over.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: Ship home to Ireland
literal_form: A ship requested by Diarmuid instead of riches as a means to return
to Ireland.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: Prophecy before birth
literal_form: A prophecy made seven years before Diarmuid was born that he would
destroy the king's men.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Winning the healing cup
summary: At the king's dun, Diarmuid demands the cup or fighters, defeats the fighters
sent against him, hears of a prophecy about his destruction of them, asks for
the cup of healing, and receives it.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: River crossing and otherworldly instruction
summary: The red man carries Diarmuid over the river and instructs him to get well
water, mix it with drops of blood in the cup, and give it to the daughter of King
Under-Wave, warning that Diarmuid's love will depart.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Healing and loss of love
summary: Diarmuid prepares the cup as instructed; the woman drinks three draughts,
is healed at the third, and Diarmuid's love for her disappears.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Refusal of reward and return
summary: The place celebrates the daughter's healing; Diarmuid refuses reward, asks
only for a ship to Ireland, and returns to Finn and the Fianna.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Quest for a healing object and cure
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: Diarmuid obtains the healing cup, follows the messenger's instructions to
gather well water and blood, and heals the afflicted woman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives only this episode of the quest, not its full prior departure.
- id: motif:2
label: Supernatural helper at a boundary
taxonomy_refs:
- hero_descent
basis: A figure who is later identified as a messenger from beyond the world carries
Diarmuid across a river and provides decisive instructions for the cure.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage indicates otherworldly aid and a water crossing but does not
explicitly describe a descent journey.
- id: motif:3
label: Healing gained with personal loss
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The cure succeeds, but the messenger warns and the story confirms that Diarmuid's
love for the healed woman is lost as part of the outcome.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: No explicit bargain is made; the loss is a consequence of the healing
rather than a negotiated exchange.
- id: motif:4
label: Prophecy fulfilled by the hero
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The king states that a prophecy made before Diarmuid's birth foretold his
destruction of the king's men, which has just occurred.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: No matching taxonomy reference is available in the supplied list.
- id: motif:5
label: Refusal of riches and return home
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: Diarmuid refuses reward for the healing, asks only for a ship, and returns
to Ireland to Finn and the Fianna.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The return is described briefly and without further trials in this passage.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'The episode fits a quest-for-healing pattern at the motif-family level:
a hero obtains special objects and guidance, performs a prescribed cure, and restores
an afflicted royal woman.'
claim_level: same_motif
target: mystical_quest motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The claim is limited to motif-family classification; the passage itself
does not compare this episode with another named tale.
- id: claim:2
claim: The cure functions like a sacred exchange pattern because healing is achieved
together with the loss of Diarmuid's love for the patient.
claim_level: same_function
target: sacred_exchange motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: low
limitations: The exchange is not explicitly contracted, and no deity or ritual bargain
is named.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 10809-10818
quote_or_summary: Diarmuid comes to the king's dun, demands the cup or champions,
and defeats successive groups of fighters sent out against 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:2
type: summary
locator: 10818-10830
quote_or_summary: The king asks who has destroyed his kingdom; Diarmuid identifies
himself as one of the Fianna. The king says a prophecy made seven years before
Diarmuid's birth foretold this, and he gives Diarmuid the cup of healing.
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: summary
locator: 10831-10849
quote_or_summary: The red man reaches the river before Diarmuid, carries him across,
says Diarmuid is going to heal the daughter of King Under-Wave, and directs him
to use well water, the cup, and drops of blood; he warns that Diarmuid's love
will go away.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: 10850-10855
quote_or_summary: '"I am the messenger from beyond the world," he said; "and I came
to your help because your own heart is hot to come to the help of another."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief quotation.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 10856-10860
quote_or_summary: Diarmuid brings the water, cup, and drops of blood to the woman;
she drinks them and is healed at the third draught. Immediately Diarmuid's love
for her is gone.
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: 10861-10863
quote_or_summary: After the healing, music replaces lamenting. Diarmuid refuses
reward, asks for a ship home to Ireland, and receives a joyful welcome from Finn
and the Fianna.
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: low
notes: Literal extraction is strongly supported by the passage. Motif labels are
cautious and limited to the supplied taxonomy; comparison claims do not imply
historical contact or dependence.
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: |-
No external sources or unstated tradition-level assumptions were used.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l10809-l10863
passage_sha256=3350b1f0a28aec72bc06e1b248f67bc8191b2e95a22f62d065dcf170866b452c