batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l9748-l9800
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l9748-l9800
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER VIII. THE CAVE OF CRUACHAN / CHAPTER IX. THE WEDDING AT CEANN SLIEVE
/ CHAPTER X. THE SHADOWY ONE / CHAPTER XI. FINN'S MADNESS; lines 9748-9800
start: '9748'
end: '9800'
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: At a ford of the Slaine, Finn and the Fianna meet Daireann, daughter of
Bodb Dearg, who asks Finn to marry her under exclusive terms for a year and partial
terms afterward. Finn refuses. She gives him strong mead in a silver cup, which
he cannot refuse because of feast-bonds, and the drink makes him madly insult
the Fianna. The Fianna leave, but Caoilte repeatedly brings them back until Finn
recovers. A separate episode says Maer sends Finn nine charmed nuts to make him
love her; Finn refuses them as nuts of ignorance and buries them.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Finn and the Fianna sit at a ford of the Slaine and see a crowned young woman
on a round rock above the ford.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The young woman identifies herself as Daireann, daughter of Bodb Dearg, son
of the Dagda.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Daireann says she has come to be Finn's wife if he gives the bride-gift she
asks.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Daireann asks that Finn promise she will be his only wife for a year and have
half his time afterward; Finn refuses.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Daireann gives Finn strong mead in a white silver cup, and Finn drinks it
because he is bound not to refuse anything belonging to a feast.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: After drinking, Finn becomes like one mad and speaks accusations and misfortunes
against members of the Fianna.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The chief men of the Fianna leave Finn, each setting out for his own country.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Caoilte follows the Fianna thirteen times and brings them back, telling them
not to leave their lord because of the arts and tricks of a woman of the Sidhe.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: By nightfall Finn's bitterness leaves his tongue and his sense and memory
return.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Maer, wife of Bersa of Berramain, sends Finn nine nuts of Segair made with
love charms and tells him to eat them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: Finn refuses the nuts, calls them nuts of ignorance rather than nuts of knowledge,
and buries them a foot deep in the earth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Finn, son of Cumhal
description: Leader sought by Daireann; drinks the mead, falls into madness, later
recovers, and refuses Maer's charmed nuts.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: The Fianna of Ireland
description: Finn's company at the ford; they are insulted during Finn's madness
and begin to leave before Caoilte brings them back.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Daireann
description: Daughter of Bodb Dearg, son of the Dagda; appears crowned and richly
dressed, proposes marriage terms to Finn, and gives him strong mead.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Sciathbreac of the Speckled Shield
description: Member of the Fianna who first goes toward the young woman and asks
whom she wants.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Caoilte
description: Remains with Finn and repeatedly brings the Fianna back after they
leave.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Maer
description: Wife of Bersa of Berramain; falls in love with Finn and sends him nine
charmed nuts.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Bodb Dearg
description: Named as Daireann's father.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: the Dagda
description: Named as father of Bodb Dearg in Daireann's genealogy.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Bersa of Berramain
description: Named as Maer's husband.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: leader and target of marriage demand
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Daireann asks specifically for Finn, and Caoilte calls him the Fianna's lord
and leader.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: warband or followers
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Fianna sit with Finn, are addressed as the Fianna of Ireland, and leave
or return in relation to him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: Sidhe woman using arts and tricks
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Caoilte describes the disruption as caused by the arts and tricks of a woman
of the Sidhe.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: would-be wife demanding bride-gift
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Daireann says she has come to be Finn's wife if he gives the bride-gift she
asks.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: initial intermediary
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Sciathbreac first goes toward the woman and asks whom she wants.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: loyal restorer of the band
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Caoilte follows the departing Fianna thirteen times and brings them back
to Finn.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: sender of love charm
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Maer makes nine nuts with love charms and sends them to Finn.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: ford of the Slaine
literal_form: ford or water-crossing where Finn and the Fianna sit
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: round rock above the ford
literal_form: round rock where the young woman appears
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: queenly crown
literal_form: golden crown that is the sign of a queen
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: white silver cup
literal_form: cup of white silver taken from under a covering
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: strong mead
literal_form: strong drink identified as very strong mead
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:6
label: nine charmed nuts
literal_form: nine nuts of Segair made with love charms
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: burial in earth
literal_form: the nuts are buried a foot deep in the earth
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Queenly woman at the ford asks for Finn
summary: Finn and the Fianna see a richly dressed crowned woman above the ford;
she calls for one of them, and Sciathbreac learns she wants Finn.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Marriage terms refused
summary: Daireann identifies her divine genealogy and asks to become Finn's wife
under terms requiring exclusivity for a year and half his time afterward; Finn
refuses.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Enchanted feast-drink causes Finn's madness
summary: Daireann gives Finn strong mead in a silver cup; because of feast-bonds
he drinks it, becomes mad, and speaks harmful accusations against the Fianna.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Caoilte restores the Fianna to Finn
summary: The Fianna leave Finn, but Caoilte repeatedly brings them back and names
the cause as the arts and tricks of a woman of the Sidhe; Finn recovers by nightfall.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Finn refuses love-charmed nuts
summary: Maer sends Finn nine charmed nuts to induce love; Finn rejects them as
nuts of ignorance and buries them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: refused supernatural marriage demand followed by enchantment
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
- sacred_marriage
basis: Daireann, identified through divine genealogy and later called a woman of
the Sidhe, asks to be Finn's wife under specific terms; after he refuses, she
gives him a drink that causes madness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames the proposal as a demanded bride-gift and subsequent
trick, not as a completed sacred marriage.
- id: motif:2
label: enchanted drink causing loss of reason
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: Daireann gives Finn strong mead that he cannot refuse because of feast-bonds;
immediately after drinking, he becomes like one mad and alienates his followers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy has no exact reference for magical intoxication,
so the taxonomy assignment is approximate.
- id: motif:3
label: loyal companion restores disrupted warband
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: After Finn's madness causes the Fianna to leave, Caoilte repeatedly brings
them back until Finn's sense and memory return.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage is more a restoration of social order than a journey-return
pattern.
- id: motif:4
label: love charm in food refused as false knowledge
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Maer sends nine nuts with love charms; Finn distinguishes them from nuts
of knowledge, calls them nuts of ignorance, and refuses to eat them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage explicitly contrasts knowledge and ignorance, but the charmed
nuts function primarily as a love enchantment.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 9748-9754
quote_or_summary: Finn and the Fianna sit at a ford of the Slaine and see a richly
dressed young woman with a green cloak, golden brooch, and golden crown on a round
rock above the ford; she calls for one of them to speak with her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 9755-9768
quote_or_summary: 'Sciathbreac asks whom the woman wants; she names Finn. She identifies
herself as Daireann, daughter of Bodb Dearg, son of the Dagda, and asks to be
Finn''s wife if he grants a bride-gift: exclusive wifehood for a year and half
his time afterward. Finn refuses.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 9769-9779
quote_or_summary: Daireann takes a white silver cup from under a covering, fills
it with strong drink, calls it very strong mead, and gives it to Finn. Because
Finn is bound not to refuse feast-items, he drinks and immediately becomes like
one mad, speaking harms, faults, and battle misfortunes against the Fianna.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 9780-9792
quote_or_summary: The chief men of the Fianna leave Finn. Caoilte follows them thirteen
times and brings them back, urging them not to abandon their lord because of the
arts and tricks of a woman of the Sidhe. By nightfall Finn's bitterness leaves
and his sense and memory return.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 9796-9800
quote_or_summary: Maer, wife of Bersa of Berramain, falls in love with Finn, makes
nine nuts of Segair with love charms, and sends them for him to eat. Finn refuses,
saying they are not nuts of knowledge but nuts of ignorance, and buries them a
foot deep in the earth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy
assignments are cautious because the available taxonomy does not include exact
labels for enchanted drink, geis-bound acceptance, or love-charms in food.
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; no external comparisons were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l9748-l9800
passage_sha256=ff9ee934bdac8842dfc4e3ae4bbdfd6834a4fd8e7ff65c749a45c2b655f3df60