batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l10471-l10576
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l10471-l10576
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
passage_locator:
label: PART II / TAIN BO FRAICH / PART II / LITERAL TRANSLATION; lines 10471-10576
start: '10471'
end: '10576'
translation: Heroic Romances of Ireland
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Fraech learns that his cows, wife, and three sons have been carried off
to the mountain of Elpa. Against his mother's warning, he sets out with companions,
meets Conall Cernach, and travels overseas. Local women guide them and warn of
a serpent guarding the Liss. Conall and Fraech attack the fort, the serpent enters
Conall's girdle without harming him, and they rescue the wife and sons, plunder
valuables, recover cattle among the Picts, and return so Fraech can join Ailill
and Medb for the cattle raid of Cualnge.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Fraech's mother reports that his cows, wife, and three sons have been stolen
and are associated with the mountain of Elpa, with three cows among the Picts
in northern Alba.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Fraech refuses his mother's advice not to seek them because he has pledged
to bring his cows to Ailill and Medb for the Spoil of the Cows from Cualnge.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Fraech travels with three nines, a hawk, and a hound, and meets Conall Cernach
at Benna Bairchi.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Conall joins Fraech, and the group travels overseas through named northern
and continental regions to the mountains of Elpa.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: A herd-girl says the land ahead is harsh and inhabited by warriors who carry
off cows and women as captives.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: A local woman of Ulster descent tells Fraech and Conall that the Liss is guarded
by a serpent and offers to leave it open at night.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The woman recognizes Conall Cernach as the hero prophesied to bring destruction
to the dun.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Fraech and Conall attack the Liss; the serpent leaps into Conall's girdle,
and the dun is plundered.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: The wife and three sons are rescued, valuables are taken, and Conall releases
the serpent without mutual harm.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: The party recovers three cows among the Picts and drives them through named
places, where explanatory place-name details are given.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: Fraech returns to his territory with his wife, sons, and cows, then goes with
Ailill and Medb for the cattle raid of Cualnge.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Fraech
description: Owner of the stolen cows; his wife and three sons are also taken; he
leads the recovery quest.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Fraech's mother
description: Warns Fraech that seeking the stolen people and cattle will bring trouble
and offers replacement cows.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Conall Cernach
description: Ulster hero who joins Fraech, is recognized by the local woman, attacks
the Liss, and carries the serpent in his girdle without harm.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Herd-girl
description: A woman tending sheep who identifies herself as partly of Irish descent
and gives information about the land and captives.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Ulster-descended woman who frequents the cows
description: A woman of Ulster origin who welcomes Fraech and Conall, warns them
about the serpent, and arranges to leave the Liss open.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Fraech's wife
description: Taken captive and held in the Liss; later rescued by Fraech and Conall.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Fraech's three sons
description: Taken captive with their mother and later rescued.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Serpent at the dun
description: Creature guarding the Liss/dun; it leaps into Conall's girdle and later
is released without harming him.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Ailill and Medb
description: Rulers to whom Fraech says he has pledged to bring his cows for the
Spoil of the Cows from Cualnge.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:10
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Bicne son of Loegaire
description: Conall's gillie who dies during the driving of the cows; the passage
links his death to the place-name Inver Bicne.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: questing cattle-owner and husband
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Fraech seeks his stolen cows, wife, and sons and personally joins the attack
and recovery.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:2
label: warning mother
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She warns that the journey will bring trouble and advises Fraech not to seek
the stolen people and cattle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: heroic ally
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Conall agrees to go with Fraech and participates decisively in the attack
on the Liss.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: local informant
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: Both women provide information or guidance about the country, captives, cattle,
and defenses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: inside helper and gate-opener
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: She says she will leave the Liss open and absent herself from milking the
cows.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: captives to be rescued
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: The wife and sons are stolen and later saved from the dun.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: serpent guardian
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The serpent is explicitly described as guarding the Liss or dun.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: recipients of Fraech's pledged cattle-service
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Fraech says he has pledged hospitality and his soul to go to Ailill and Medb
with his cows.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: mountain of Elpa
literal_form: mountain
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: stolen cows
literal_form: cows/cattle
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:3
label: sea crossing
literal_form: sea
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: Liss or dun
literal_form: fortified enclosure/dun
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: serpent guardian
literal_form: serpent
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: girdle holding the serpent
literal_form: girdle
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: horns cast from the cows
literal_form: cow horns
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Mother reports the theft and warns Fraech
summary: Fraech's mother tells him his cows, wife, and sons have been stolen and
warns that pursuing them will bring trouble; Fraech insists he must recover the
cows because of his pledge to Ailill and Medb.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Fraech recruits Conall and travels to Elpa
summary: Fraech sets out with followers and animals, meets Conall Cernach, gains
his aid, and travels overseas to the mountains of Elpa.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Encounters with local women
summary: A herd-girl describes the dangerous land and recent abduction, and another
woman of Ulster descent warns that the Liss is protected by a serpent and promises
to leave it open.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Attack on the Liss and serpent encounter
summary: Fraech and Conall attack the Liss, the serpent leaps into Conall's girdle,
the dun is plundered, the captives are saved, and the serpent is released without
harm.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Recovery of cattle and return
summary: The group recovers three cows among the Picts, drives the cattle through
named places connected with Bicne's death and the casting of horns, and Fraech
returns home before joining Ailill and Medb.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: quest to recover stolen wife, children, and cattle
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
- return
basis: The passage begins with the theft of Fraech's wife, sons, and cows, follows
his journey to recover them, and ends with his return with them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference 'stolen_beloved' fits the abducted wife; the cattle
and children are also central but are not fully covered by that label.
- id: motif:2
label: heroic expedition despite warnings
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Fraech's mother and Conall warn of trouble, but Fraech departs and continues
the quest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents practical warnings rather than a formal ritual departure
pattern.
- id: motif:3
label: serpent-guarded stronghold
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: The Liss/dun is guarded by a serpent that must be faced during the rescue
and plundering of the fort.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The serpent does not fight Conall in the excerpt; it enters and leaves
his girdle without harm.
- id: motif:4
label: inside helper enables entry to enemy fort
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A woman connected with the fort promises to leave the Liss open and avoid
the milking, enabling the attack.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No listed taxonomy reference directly matches this helper-and-open-gate
pattern.
- id: motif:5
label: place-name aetiology during cattle-driving
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage explains names such as Inver Bicne and Tracht Benchoir through
events during the return with the cows.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: This is a local etiological pattern rather than one of the supplied motif-family
taxonomy entries.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 10471-10483
quote_or_summary: Fraech's mother tells him his cows, wife, and three sons have
been stolen and taken toward the mountain of Elpa, with three cows among the Picts
in northern Alba.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 10483-10493
quote_or_summary: The mother advises Fraech not to go seeking them and offers replacement
cows; Fraech refuses because he has pledged to go to Ailill and Medb with his
cows for the Spoil of the Cows from Cualnge.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 10495-10499
quote_or_summary: Fraech sets out with three nines, a hawk, and a hound, and meets
Conall Cernach at Benna Bairchi.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 10500-10509
quote_or_summary: Conall agrees to accompany Fraech; the party travels over sea
through named regions until they reach the mountains of Elpa.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 10510-10528
quote_or_summary: A herd-girl of partial Irish descent describes the land as grim
and says its warriors carry off cows and women; she reports the latest theft as
Fraech's cows, wife, and three sons.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 10529-10552
quote_or_summary: A woman of Ulster descent welcomes them, warns that the serpent
guarding the Liss is most troublesome, and says she will leave the Liss open at
night.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 10543-10552
quote_or_summary: The woman embraces Conall and says destruction has come because
it was prophesied that he would destroy the dun.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 10558-10566
quote_or_summary: Fraech and Conall attack the Liss; the serpent leaps into Conall's
girdle; they plunder the dun, rescue the woman and three sons, take gems, and
release the serpent without either harming the other.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 10566-10574
quote_or_summary: They find three cows among the Picts and drive them through named
places; Bicne son of Loegaire dies during the cattle-driving, and the casting
of horns explains another place-name.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 10575-10576
quote_or_summary: Fraech returns to his territory with his wife, sons, and cows,
and then goes with Ailill and Medb for the Spoil of the Cows from Cualnge.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal plot extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif
labels are candidate analytical tags and should be checked by a human reviewer;
no external comparison claims were made.
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 supplied passage and metadata. Taxonomy references are limited to the provided lists.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l10471-l10576
passage_sha256=a94a7c818f9aeeb794abc1b1742372f8275cd7675f5393a3c8d9566687ad136e