batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l6379-l6462
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l6379-l6462
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER II. FINN'S HOUSEHOLD / CHAPTER III. BIRTH OF BRAN. / CHAPTER IV.
OISIN'S MOTHER. / CHAPTER V. THE BEST MEN OF THE FIANNA; lines 6379-6462
start: '6379'
end: '6462'
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: Caoilte gathers hounds, horses, birds, and other creatures to win Finn's
freedom, struggles to keep them contained, and is remembered for this feat. The
passage also recounts Caoilte's running, hearing, and herbal knowledge, then introduces
Lugaidh's Son, his fostering, his joining of Finn's service, and the Fianna's
complaint against him.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Caoilte brings ten hounds of the Fianna and a horse and mare of Manannan's
beautiful horses along with the other gathered beings or animals.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: When Caoilte tries to keep the gathered troop together, they scatter; he pursues
and recaptures a raven and a wild duck.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Caoilte gathers the creatures so that he may set Finn free.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: At Teamhair, the king makes Caoilte keep the troop overnight in a house with
nine doors; the creatures screech and try to escape through openings admitting
light.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: After Finn gains freedom, the gathered troop scatters from Teamhair, with
no two taking the same road.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Caoilte is described as a notable runner, and his son Colla wins a backwards
race against three battalions of the Fianna before going into the sea.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Caoilte hears and correctly describes several hunts before Blathmec verifies
the account by going out to see them.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Caoilte gives Druid herbs to two women; after they put the herbs in bath water
and wash, their husbands' love returns.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Lugaidh's Son is placed in Finn's arms as a child, fostered by Duban's daughter
until his twelfth year, given arms and armour, and then goes to where Finn and
the Fianna are.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Lugaidh's Son makes an agreement of service with Finn, but the Fianna later
complain that he is sluggish and mistreats servants and hounds.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Caoilte, son of Ronan
description: A member of Finn's circle who gathers and guards the unruly troop,
performs notable running and hearing feats, and knows the use of herbs.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Finn
description: Caoilte's master, whose freedom is won through Caoilte's gathering
of the troop; later receives Lugaidh's Son into service.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: King of Ireland
description: The king who sees the gathered troop and refuses to let Caoilte bring
them in before morning, assigning a house for the night.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Colla
description: Caoilte's son, described as a very good runner who wins a backwards
race against the Fianna.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Blathmec
description: A companion who asks Caoilte about the sounds of hunting and then goes
out to verify what Caoilte has reported.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Two downhearted women
description: Women whose husbands have left them for other wives; they receive Druid
herbs from Caoilte and bathe with them.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: The husbands of the two women
description: Men whose love returns to their wives after the women use the Druid
herbs in bath water.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Lugaidh's Son
description: A descendant of Finn's blood, fostered by Duban's daughter, armed at
age twelve, welcomed by Finn, and later complained against by the Fianna.
role_refs:
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Duban's daughter
description: The fosterer who has reared eight hundred fighting men of the Fianna
and raises Lugaidh's Son until his twelfth year.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: The Fianna
description: Finn's warrior band; their hounds are included in Caoilte's troop,
and they later complain against Lugaidh's Son.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: rescuer of Finn
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Caoilte gathers the troublesome troop in order to set Finn free.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: exceptional runner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:4
basis: Caoilte is remembered for a long run between waves, and Colla wins a backwards
race against the Fianna.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: knower of herbs
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage states that Caoilte understood the use of herbs and gives Druid
herbs to the women.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: captive or constrained master freed by follower
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Caoilte's difficult gathering is explicitly for the purpose of setting Finn
his master free.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: leader receiving service agreement
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Finn welcomes Lugaidh's Son, clasps hands with him, and receives his agreement
of service.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:6
label: royal examiner or withholder
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The king delays the presentation of the troop and has it housed for the night.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: witness to Caoilte's hearing
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Blathmec asks about the hunt and verifies Caoilte's description.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: recipients of herbal remedy
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The women receive Druid herbs and use them in bath water.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:9
label: fostered youth entering warrior service
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Lugaidh's Son is fostered until twelve, given arms and armour, and joins
Finn's service.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: problematic leader or companion
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The Fianna complain that under his leading few kills are made and that he
beats servants and hounds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:11
label: foster-mother of warriors
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Duban's daughter is said to have reared eight hundred fighting men and to
have raised Lugaidh's Son.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:12
label: warrior collective
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The Fianna appear as Finn's band, as owners of hounds, as racing battalions,
and as complainants against Lugaidh's Son.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: unruly gathered troop
literal_form: Hounds, horses, raven, wild duck, and other birds or creatures gathered
by Caoilte
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: nine-doored holding house
literal_form: A house having nine doors and fifty openings through which light enters
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: opposed waves marking a running feat
literal_form: The wave of Cliodna in the south and the wave of Rudraige in the north
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: Druid herbs
literal_form: Herbs given by Caoilte to be used in a bath
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: bath water used with herbs
literal_form: Water of a bath in which Druid herbs are placed
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: arms and armour at age twelve
literal_form: Arms and armour given to Lugaidh's Son when he leaves fostering
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: handclasp of service
literal_form: Lugaidh's Son strikes his hand in Finn's hand and makes an agreement
of service
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Caoilte gathers and pursues the scattered troop
summary: Caoilte assembles hounds, Manannan's horses, birds, and other creatures,
but they scatter and he must chase and recapture some of them in order to free
Finn.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Night guarding at Teamhair
summary: The king delays the troop's presentation and places the creatures in a
nine-doored house; they screech and try to escape while Caoilte watches until
morning.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Finn's freedom and the troop's dispersal
summary: The king gains only a single sight of the collected troop; once Finn is
free, the creatures disperse from Teamhair in different directions.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Feats of running and hearing
summary: Caoilte is credited with a great run between two waves, Colla wins a backwards
race, and Caoilte accurately identifies hunts by hearing before Blathmec verifies
them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Druid herbs restore marital love
summary: Caoilte gives herbs to two abandoned women; after they bathe with the herbs,
their husbands' love returns and the new wives are sent away.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Lugaidh's Son fostered and armed
summary: Lugaidh's Son is placed in Finn's arms as a child, reared by Duban's daughter
until twelve, supplied with arms and armour, and goes to Finn and the Fianna.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:7
label: Service agreement and complaint
summary: Finn welcomes Lugaidh's Son and receives his service agreement, but after
a year the Fianna complain of his poor leadership and mistreatment of servants
and hounds.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:8
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Difficult gathering of unruly creatures to free a leader
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Caoilte must gather and guard a mixed troop of animals and birds so that
Finn can be set free; the troop scatters once Finn gains freedom.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives no explicit broader taxonomy label for this feat.
- id: motif:2
label: Heroic follower performs ordeal for master's release
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Caoilte undergoes hardship with birds and animals specifically to set Finn
his master free.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The nature of Finn's captivity or legal constraint is not described in
this passage segment.
- id: motif:3
label: Extraordinary speed and reversed race
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Caoilte is remembered for running from a southern wave to a northern wave,
and Colla wins a race while running backwards.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No supernatural cause for the speed is stated.
- id: motif:4
label: Supernormal hearing identifies distant events
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Caoilte hears hunts and accurately distinguishes packs, animals, and followers
before Blathmec confirms his account.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference to wisdom is approximate; the passage emphasizes
hearing more than counsel or teaching.
- id: motif:5
label: Druid herbs restore love
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Caoilte's knowledge of herbs enables two women to restore their husbands'
love through herb-infused bath water.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage describes the effect literally but does not explain the ritual
or classify it.
- id: motif:6
label: Fostered youth armed and admitted to warrior service
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Lugaidh's Son is fostered until twelve, given arms and armour, welcomed by
Finn, and bound by a service agreement.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents a social transition but does not explicitly name
an initiation rite.
- id: motif:7
label: Warrior band rejects an unfit companion
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Fianna complain collectively that Lugaidh's Son is sluggish, ineffective
in hunting, and abusive, forcing Finn to choose between them and him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The outcome of the conflict is not included in this passage segment.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 6379-6380
quote_or_summary: Caoilte brings ten hounds of the Fianna and a horse and mare from
the beautiful horses of Manannan.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 6382-6393
quote_or_summary: Caoilte gathers the troop in one place, but the raven and wild
duck escape and must be pursued; he remembers the hardship of bringing birds together
to set Finn free.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 6395-6403
quote_or_summary: At Teamhair, the king makes Caoilte keep the troop overnight in
a nine-doored house; light enters through fifty openings, the creatures screech,
and Caoilte watches all night.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 6405-6412
quote_or_summary: The people call the group 'Caoilte's Rabble'; the king sees them
together only once, and after Finn's freedom they scatter by separate roads out
of Teamhair.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 6414-6420
quote_or_summary: Caoilte is credited with running from the wave of Cliodna to the
wave of Rudraige; Colla wins a backwards race against three battalions of the
Fianna for a chessboard and goes into the sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 6422-6434
quote_or_summary: Caoilte hears and identifies several hunts by animal and participants;
Blathmec goes out and finds the hunting exactly as Caoilte described it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 6436-6441
quote_or_summary: Caoilte gives Druid herbs to two women whose husbands have taken
other wives; after the women use the herbs in bath water, the husbands' love returns.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 6443-6450
quote_or_summary: Lugaidh's Son, of Finn's blood, is placed in Finn's arms as a
child, fostered by Duban's daughter until twelve, given arms and armour, and goes
to 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 text.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 6452-6458
quote_or_summary: Finn welcomes Lugaidh's Son; the youth clasps hands with Finn
and makes a service agreement, but over a year is sluggish, leads few successful
hunts, and beats servants and hounds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 6460-6462
quote_or_summary: The three battalions of the Fianna complain to Finn against Lugaidh's
Son and ask Finn to choose between the Fianna and Lugaidh's Son alone.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is high confidence. Motif labels are descriptive and should
be reviewed, especially taxonomy alignment for wisdom and initiation. No comparison
claims were added because the passage itself does not make an explicit comparative
claim.
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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used; comparison_claims intentionally left empty.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l6379-l6462
passage_sha256=3d48da4c1a685105282aeb235ec3f6e446aa18c65099b5a5abed63d0ac612f13