batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l2813-l2910
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l2813-l2910
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
passage_locator:
label: FROM THE BOOK OF LEINSTER (TWELFTH-CENTURY MS.) / THE SICK-BED OF CUCHULAIN
/ INTRODUCTION / THE SICK-BED OF CUCHULAIN; lines 2813-2910
start: '2813'
end: '2910'
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: Cuchulain pursues two chained birds over a lake despite warnings, fails
to strike them cleanly, and wounds one before the birds go beneath the lake. He
then sleeps by a stone pillar and sees two women who laugh and whip him until
he is nearly dead. He lies sick and silent for a year. Near the next Summer-End,
a mysterious man comes to the Ulster men and recites a message involving Aed Abra's
daughters, Liban, Fand, and Cuchulain's healing. The man identifies himself as
Angus, son of Aed Abra, then departs mysteriously. Cuchulain wakes, recounts his
vision, and is told by Conor to return to the pillar.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Two birds fly over a lake linked by a chain of red gold and sing a gentle
song that causes sleep to fall on the men present.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Laeg and Ethne warn Cuchulain not to go against the birds, saying there is
an especial power behind them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Cuchulain misses two sling-stone casts at the birds and says he has never
missed a cast since first assuming arms.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Cuchulain casts a spear through the shield of one bird's wing, after which
the birds fly away and go beneath the lake.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Cuchulain rests against a stone pillar in anger, falls asleep, and sees two
women approaching him.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: One woman wears a green mantle, and the other wears a purple mantle folded
in five folds.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The two women laugh at Cuchulain and strike him in turn with a horsewhip until
he is almost dead.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Fergus tells the Ulster men not to move Cuchulain because he is seeing a vision.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Cuchulain asks to be carried to the sick-bed in Tete Brecc and remains there
for one year without speaking to anyone.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: A man enters the chamber where Cuchulain lies and says he has come to give
Cuchulain a greeting.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: The man sings that Aed Abra's daughters could come to heal Cuchulain's illness.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: In the song, Liban speaks of Fand's wish to sleep at Cuchulain's side and
says Liban will seek him on Samhain and cure his illness.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: obs:13
text: The visitor identifies himself as Angus, son of Aed Abra, and leaves without
anyone knowing whence he came or where he went.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: obs:14
text: After Angus departs, Cuchulain sits up, speaks, identifies the prior event
as a Samhain-night vision, and recounts what he saw.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: obs:15
text: Conor tells Cuchulain to rise and go back to the pillar where he had been
before.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Cuchulain
description: A warrior who pursues the birds, is struck in a vision, lies sick and
silent for a year, and later speaks after Angus's message.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:15
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Laeg
description: Cuchulain's companion who warns him not to go against the birds and
places stones in his sling.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ethne
description: A companion present at the lake who also warns Cuchulain not to go
against the birds; later positioned at Cuchulain's feet during his sickness.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:17
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Two birds
description: Two birds flying over the lake, linked by a red-gold chain, singing
a sleep-inducing song, and later going beneath the lake.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Woman in green mantle
description: A woman seen by Cuchulain in sleep; she laughs at him and strikes him
with a horsewhip.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Woman in purple mantle
description: A woman seen by Cuchulain in sleep; she wears a purple mantle folded
in five folds and strikes him in the same manner.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Men of Ulster
description: A group present around Cuchulain who observe his condition, welcome
the visitor, and ask Cuchulain what happened.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:15
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Fergus
description: A man of Ulster who says Cuchulain should not be moved because he is
seeing a vision.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Conall Cernach / Conall the Victorious
description: A man stationed at Cuchulain's head who questions the visitor.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:17
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Lugaid Red-Stripes
description: A man stationed at Cuchulain's pillow during his sickness.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:17
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Angus, son of Aed Abra
description: A visitor who sings a message about Cuchulain's cure, identifies himself,
and leaves mysteriously.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:14
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Aed Abra's daughters
description: Women named in the visitor's song as able to come and heal Cuchulain's
illness.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Liban
description: A figure in the visitor's song who sits at Labra's right hand and is
to seek Cuchulain on Samhain and cure his illness.
role_refs:
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Fand
description: A figure in the visitor's song whose heart wishes to sleep at Cuchulain's
side.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Labra
description: A figure named in the song as one beside whom Liban sits.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Conor
description: Addressed by Cuchulain as Father Conor; he tells Cuchulain to go to
the pillar where he had been before.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
roles:
- id: role:1
label: wounded or afflicted hero
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Cuchulain is struck in the vision until nearly dead and remains sick and
silent for a year.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:2
label: pursuer of enchanted birds
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Cuchulain rises to pursue the birds and attacks them with sling-stones and
a spear.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: warning companion
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Laeg and Ethne advise Cuchulain not to go against the birds because an especial
power is behind them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: sleep-inducing birds
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The birds sing a gentle song, and sleep falls on the men present.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: vision attackers
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
basis: The two women appear in Cuchulain's sleep, laugh at him, and strike him repeatedly.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: witnessing community
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The men of Ulster observe Cuchulain's condition, interact with the visitor,
and later ask what happened.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:15
- id: role:7
label: attendant or guardian at sick-bed
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:3
basis: Fergus, Conall, Lugaid, and Ethne are named as positioned around Cuchulain
while he lies sick.
evidence_refs:
- ev:17
- id: role:8
label: mysterious messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Angus comes to give Cuchulain a greeting, recites a message, and departs
without known origin or destination.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:14
- id: role:9
label: healing female figure
assigned_to:
- fig:12
- fig:13
basis: Aed Abra's daughters and Liban are associated in the song with healing Cuchulain's
illness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:13
- id: role:10
label: appointed seeker
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: The song says Liban shall seek Cuchulain on Samhain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: role:11
label: desiring beloved or bed-companion
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: The song states that Fand wishes to sleep at Cuchulain's side.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:12
label: advisor
assigned_to:
- fig:16
basis: Conor answers Cuchulain's question about what should be done and directs
him to return to the pillar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: linked birds
literal_form: Two birds linked together by a chain of red gold
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: red-gold chain
literal_form: A chain of red gold linking the two birds
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: lake water
literal_form: The lake over which the birds fly and beneath which they go
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: sleep-inducing song
literal_form: A gentle song sung by the birds, after which sleep falls on the men
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:5
label: stone pillar
literal_form: A stone pillar against which Cuchulain rests and to which Conor later
tells him to return
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:16
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:16
- id: sym:6
label: green mantle
literal_form: A green mantle worn by one woman in Cuchulain's vision
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: purple mantle folded in five folds
literal_form: A purple mantle folded in five folds worn by the second woman
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: horsewhip
literal_form: A horsewhip used by the women to strike Cuchulain
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: Samhain timing
literal_form: Samhain night of the vision and the future Samhain meeting named in
the song
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:13
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- ev:15
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Birds over the lake
summary: Two red-gold-chained birds fly over the lake, sing a song that brings sleep,
and draw Cuchulain's pursuit despite warnings from Laeg and Ethne.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Failed casts and wounded bird
summary: Cuchulain misses two sling-stone casts, laments the unprecedented failure,
then wounds one bird's wing with a spear before the birds descend beneath the
lake.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Vision at the stone pillar
summary: Cuchulain sleeps against a stone pillar and sees two women in distinctive
mantles who laugh and strike him with a horsewhip until he is almost dead.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Sick-bed and silence
summary: The Ulster men recognize Cuchulain's condition; Fergus says he is seeing
a vision, and Cuchulain is carried to Tete Brecc where he remains silent for a
year.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:5
label: Angus's message at the sick-bed
summary: A visitor comes to Cuchulain's chamber, is welcomed, and sings of Aed Abra's
daughters, Liban, and Fand in connection with Cuchulain's healing and a Samhain
encounter.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:9
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: scene:6
label: Cuchulain wakes and is directed back
summary: After Angus departs mysteriously, Cuchulain sits up, speaks, identifies
his former experience as a Samhain-night vision, and Conor instructs him to return
to the pillar.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:11
- fig:16
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- ev:15
- ev:16
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Enchanted birds lure or provoke the hero
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The linked birds sing a sleep-causing song, are said to have an especial
power behind them, and draw Cuchulain into pursuit and attack.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not explicitly identify the birds' nature or origin.
- id: motif:2
label: Vision assault produces prolonged sickness
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Cuchulain sees women in sleep who whip him until he is almost dead, after
which he lies sick and silent for a year.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The initiation taxonomy connection is interpretive; the passage itself
states vision and sickness but not initiation.
- id: motif:3
label: Mysterious messenger announces cure and summons
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: Angus arrives without clear origin, sings that named women can heal Cuchulain
and that Liban will seek him on Samhain, then departs mysteriously.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:13
- ev:14
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage has not yet narrated a completed quest; it only gives the
directive and promised healing.
- id: motif:4
label: Beloved or desired bed-companion as catalyst
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
basis: The song says Fand wishes to sleep at Cuchulain's side, linking desire with
the message about his healing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
confidence: low
cautions: The passage does not explicitly call Fand divine in this excerpt; the
taxonomy reference is tentative.
- id: motif:5
label: Return to the site of the original vision
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: After recounting the Samhain-night vision, Cuchulain is instructed by Conor
to go back to the pillar where he had been before.
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- ev:16
confidence: medium
cautions: Only the instruction to return is present in this passage; the outcome
is not included.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 2813-2817
quote_or_summary: "“two birds flying over the lake, linked together by a chain of
red gold”; they sang, and “a sleep fell upon all the men.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 2817-2821
quote_or_summary: Laeg and Ethne warn Cuchulain not to go against the birds because
“behind those birds is some especial power.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 2821-2828
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain orders Laeg to place a stone in his sling, misses the
birds twice, and laments that he has never missed a cast before.
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: quote
locator: lines 2828-2831
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain's spear goes through “the shield of the wing of one
of the birds,” and the birds go “beneath the lake.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 2833-2836
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain departs, rests his back against a stone pillar, grows
angry in soul, falls asleep, and sees two women come to him.
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: quote
locator: lines 2835-2837
quote_or_summary: One woman has “a green mantle,” and the other has “a purple mantle
folded in five folds.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 2837-2842
quote_or_summary: The two women laugh at Cuchulain and strike him in turn with a
horsewhip until he is nearly dead, then depart.
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: quote
locator: lines 2844-2847
quote_or_summary: Fergus says not to move Cuchulain, “for he seeth a vision.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 2847-2854
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain asks to be carried to the sick-bed in Tete Brecc, not
to other places, and remains there for one year speaking to no one.
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: lines 2856-2868
quote_or_summary: A man comes into the house where Cuchulain lies, sits near the
chamber entrance, answers Conall, and says he has come to give Cuchulain a greeting.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: quote
locator: lines 2871-2874
quote_or_summary: The song says “Aed Abra's daughters” would come “to heal thine
ill.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:12
type: quote
locator: lines 2875-2878
quote_or_summary: "“Liban” is named at “swift Labra's right hand,” and Fand wishes
“To sleep at Cuchulain's side.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:13
type: quote
locator: lines 2887-2890
quote_or_summary: The song says Liban shall seek Cuchulain “on Samhain” and “By
her shall be cured his ill.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 2893-2897
quote_or_summary: The visitor identifies himself as Angus, son of Aed Abra, then
leaves; no one knows where he came from or where he went.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:15
type: summary
locator: lines 2897-2902
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain sits up and speaks; when asked what happened, he says
he saw a vision on the previous Samhain night and tells all he had seen.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:16
type: quote
locator: lines 2902-2910
quote_or_summary: 'Conor tells Cuchulain: “rise, and go until thou comest to the
pillar where thou wert before.”'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:17
type: summary
locator: lines 2856-2860
quote_or_summary: At Cuchulain's sick-bed, Fergus is at the side-wall, Conall Cernach
at his head, Lugaid Red-Stripes at his pillow, and Ethne Inguba at his feet.
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 extraction is strong because the passage is explicit. Motif taxonomy
assignments are cautious, especially where the passage does not explicitly define
the beings or the full outcome of the summons. No comparison claims were made
because the passage itself does not supply an explicit comparative frame.
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: |-
All observations and motif candidates are based only on the supplied passage and metadata.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l2813-l2910
passage_sha256=dc129ae9a02699a40e5267727c9e38f67a407a5d6c60e8f231eb00028d96a8e9