batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l2912-l3083
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l2912-l3083
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 2912-3083
start: '2912'
end: '3083'
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: 'Liban, the woman in the green mantle, brings Cuchulain a message from
Fand and Labraid: Fand loves Cuchulain, and Labraid will give her to him in exchange
for one day''s battle service. Because Cuchulain is not fit for combat, he sends
Laeg with Liban to learn about the land. Liban carries Laeg under her protection;
they reach a lake, cross in a bronze skiff to an island, enter a palace with many
women, and meet Fand. The passage explains Fand''s name through imagery of fire,
the eye, and a tear. Labraid arrives in a chariot; Liban praises him repeatedly,
but he rejects boasting and speaks of the grave battle threat posed by Eochaid
Juil and hostile hosts.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Cuchulain meets the woman in the green mantle at a pillar.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The woman identifies herself as Liban and says she has come from Fand, daughter
of Aed Abra.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Liban says Manannan the Son of the Sea has released Fand and that Fand has
set her love on Cuchulain.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Liban reports that Labraid will give Cuchulain the woman in exchange for one
day's battle service against named opponents.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:5
text: Cuchulain says he is not in a fit state to contend with men, and Liban says
he will be made whole and strengthened.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Liban says Labraid dwells in Mag Mell, the Plain of Delight.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Cuchulain sends Laeg with Liban so Laeg may learn about the land from which
she came.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: Liban sets Laeg upon her shoulder and says he would not go from there without
a woman's protection.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Liban and Laeg see a bronze skiff on a lake, enter it, cross to an island,
and come to a palace door.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Inside the palace are thrice fifty couches and three times fifty women, who
welcome Laeg as a guest.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Fand is in a chamber apart and welcomes Laeg in the same fashion as the other
women.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The passage explains Aed as fire, specifically the fire of the eye or pupil,
and Fand as the tear from the eye, likening her beauty to a tear.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Labraid approaches the island with the rattle of his chariot.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:14
text: Liban greets Labraid with several praise-songs describing him as swift, sword-bearing,
generous, victorious, and a ruler and fighter.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:15
text: Labraid rejects boasting and says lamentation fills his mind because many
armed enemies and Eochaid Juil's hosts threaten battle.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Cuchulain
description: Hero addressed by Liban; recipient of Fand's love and of Labraid's
proposed exchange; presently not fit for combat.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Liban / woman in the green mantle
description: Woman in a green mantle who brings messages from Fand and from her
spouse Labraid; guides Laeg to the other land and greets Labraid.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Fand
description: Daughter of Aed Abra; released by Manannan; has set her love on Cuchulain;
resides in a chamber apart and welcomes Laeg.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Labraid the Swift, the Sword-Wielder
description: Liban's spouse; dwells in Mag Mell; offers Fand in exchange for Cuchulain's
battle service; arrives by chariot and speaks of approaching war.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Laeg
description: Sent by Cuchulain with Liban to learn of her land; carried under Liban's
protection; welcomed in the palace and by Fand.
role_refs:
- role:11
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Manannan the Son of the Sea
description: Husband of Fand who has released her.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Aed Abra
description: Father of Fand; his name is glossed through fire imagery.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Senach the Unearthly
description: One of the opponents named in Labraid's requested battle service.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Eochaid Juil
description: One of the opponents named in the requested battle service; later described
as holding many hosts as king.
role_refs:
- role:15
- role:16
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:11
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Yeogan the Stream
description: One of the opponents named in Labraid's requested battle service.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: unnamed man at the palace or island
description: Man seen at the palace door who answers Liban's question about Labraid.
role_refs:
- role:17
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: women in the palace
description: Three times fifty women on couches in the palace who welcome Laeg.
role_refs:
- role:18
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: recipient of supernatural message
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Liban comes to Cuchulain with messages from Fand and Labraid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: requested battle-helper
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Labraid seeks one day's service from Cuchulain in battle, though Cuchulain
says he is presently unfit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Liban states she brings greetings from Fand and a message from Labraid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: guide to another land
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Liban takes Laeg onward to Fand's location, across water to an island and
palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: protective female escort
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Liban places Laeg on her shoulder and says he would not go from there without
a woman's protection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: beloved offered in exchange
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Liban says Fand loves Cuchulain and that Labraid will give the woman in exchange
for battle service.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:7
label: beautiful woman in separate chamber
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Fand is found in her chamber apart, and the text compares her beauty to a
tear.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: warrior ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Liban's praise-songs describe Labraid as sword-bearing, swift in fight, a
ruler, and a fighter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: maker of exchange proposal
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Liban reports Labraid's offer of the woman for one day's battle service.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:10
label: embattled speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Labraid says hard spears and hostile hosts threaten him and rejects pride.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:11
label: envoy or scout
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Cuchulain sends Laeg to learn about Liban's land.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:12
label: guest in other land
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The women of the palace and Fand welcome Laeg as a guest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:13
label: former or releasing husband
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Liban says Manannan, Fand's husband, has released her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:14
label: father of Fand
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Fand is identified as the daughter of Aed Abra.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: role:15
label: named battle opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
basis: Senach, Eochaid Juil, and Yeogan are named as opponents against whom battle
service is sought.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:16
label: king with many hosts
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Labraid says many hosts hold Eochaid Juil as their king.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:17
label: answering attendant or informant
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: The man at the palace answers Liban's question about where Labraid abides.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: role:18
label: welcoming female company
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: The women in the palace welcome Laeg in formal words.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: green mantle
literal_form: green mantle worn by the woman who comes to Cuchulain
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: pillar meeting-place
literal_form: pillar where Cuchulain meets the woman in the green mantle
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: Mag Mell, Plain of Delight
literal_form: named land where Labraid dwells
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: bronze skiff
literal_form: skiff of bronze lying on the lake, used to cross to the island
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: lake crossing
literal_form: lake crossed by Liban and Laeg in the bronze skiff
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: island palace
literal_form: island with a palace, couches, women, and Fand's separate chamber
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: fire of the eye
literal_form: Aed glossed as fire, specifically the fire of the eye or pupil
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:8
label: tear from the eye
literal_form: Fand glossed as the tear that runs from the eye, used as a comparison
for her beauty
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:9
label: war chariot
literal_form: Labraid's chariot, heard rattling as he approaches the island
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:10
label: spears and swords of approaching battle
literal_form: hard spears, red broadswords, and weapons associated with the threatened
contest
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Liban's message to Cuchulain
summary: At the pillar, Liban tells Cuchulain that Fand loves him and that Labraid
offers him the woman in exchange for one day of battle service; Cuchulain objects
that he is not fit for combat, and Liban promises restoration of strength.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Laeg sent toward Mag Mell
summary: Liban says Labraid dwells in Mag Mell, the Plain of Delight. Cuchulain
sends Laeg with her so he can learn about the land, and Liban carries him under
her protection.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Crossing to the island palace
summary: Liban and Laeg reach a lake, enter a bronze skiff, cross to an island,
and come to a palace where an unnamed man answers Liban's question about Labraid.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: scene:4
label: Welcome in the palace and meeting Fand
summary: Laeg enters a palace containing thrice fifty couches and three times fifty
women who welcome him; he then goes to Fand's separate chamber, where she also
welcomes him.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Name explanation for Fand
summary: The passage explains Fand's lineage and name through Aed as fire of the
eye and Fand as a tear from the eye, emphasizing the clearness of her beauty.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Labraid's arrival and refusal of praise
summary: Labraid approaches the island by chariot. Liban praises him in repeated
lays, but Labraid says she does not speak rightly, rejects pride, and speaks instead
of hostile forces and impending battle.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
- sym:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: woman offered in exchange for battle service
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Labraid, through Liban, offers Cuchulain the woman in exchange for one day's
service in battle against named opponents.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents an exchange involving a woman and military service;
the sacred or ritual status of the exchange is not explicitly stated in this excerpt.
- id: motif:2
label: journey to a delightful other land across water
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- mystical_quest
basis: Cuchulain sends Laeg with Liban to learn of her land; Liban identifies Labraid's
dwelling as Mag Mell, the Plain of Delight, and Laeg travels by bronze skiff across
a lake to an island palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage names Mag Mell and shows a water-crossing to an island palace,
but it does not explicitly call the journey an afterlife journey.
- id: motif:3
label: protective female guide escorts a male visitor
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: Liban guides Laeg, sets him on her shoulder, and says he would not go from
there without a woman's protection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is limited here to Laeg's guided visit, not Cuchulain's own
travel.
- id: motif:4
label: restoration of the weakened hero promised by otherworldly ally
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: When Cuchulain says he is not fit to contend, Liban says he will be whole
and that his lost strength will be increased through Labraid's boon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The actual restoration is promised but not enacted within this passage.
- id: motif:5
label: beloved from a supernatural or remote land summons the hero
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
basis: Fand, associated with Manannan and Mag Mell, sends greeting through Liban
and is said to have set her love on Cuchulain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage supports a beloved from a non-ordinary named land, but the
taxonomy label 'divine' is an interpretive fit rather than an explicit statement
in the excerpt.
- id: motif:6
label: warrior ruler refuses praise before impending battle
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Liban praises Labraid as a mighty warrior and ruler in several lays, but
Labraid rejects boasting and speaks of looming battle and enemy hosts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference clearly matches this motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 2912-2930
quote_or_summary: 'At the pillar, the woman in the green mantle identifies herself
as Liban, says Fand has been released by Manannan and loves Cuchulain, and reports
Labraid''s offer: the woman in exchange for one day''s battle service against
Senach, Eochaid Juil, and Yeogan.'
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: lines 2930-2935
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain says he is not fit to contend with men; Liban replies
that this will last only a little while and that he will be whole, with lost strength
increased by Labraid's boon.
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: lines 2936-2947
quote_or_summary: Liban says Labraid dwells in Mag Mell, the Plain of Delight; Cuchulain
sends Laeg with Liban so he may learn of the land from which she has come.
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: lines 2948-2959
quote_or_summary: Liban and Laeg travel onward; Liban sets Laeg on her shoulder
and says he would not go from there unless under a woman's protection.
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: lines 2960-2968
quote_or_summary: Liban and Laeg come opposite an island shore, see a bronze skiff
on a lake, enter the skiff, cross to the island, and come to a palace door where
a man comes toward them.
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: lines 2988-3000
quote_or_summary: In the palace are thrice fifty couches and three times fifty women;
the women welcome Laeg as guest and guide of his quest.
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: lines 3001-3008
quote_or_summary: Liban says Fand is in her chamber apart; Laeg and Liban go there,
greet Fand, and Fand welcomes Laeg like the other women.
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: lines 3009-3017
quote_or_summary: The text states that Fand is daughter of Aed Abra; Aed means fire,
the fire of the eye or pupil, and Fand means the tear from the eye, a comparison
used for the clearness of her beauty.
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: lines 2969-2987 and 3018-3021
quote_or_summary: A man answers Liban concerning Labraid's whereabouts in verse;
later the rattle of Labraid's chariot is heard as he approaches the island.
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 3022-3063
quote_or_summary: Liban greets Labraid with repeated praise-songs naming him swift,
sword-bearing, destructive in battle, generous, wise, ruling kindly, and raising
the weak while humbling the strong.
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: summary
locator: lines 3064-3083
quote_or_summary: Labraid tells Liban she does not speak rightly; he rejects boasting
and pride, says lamentation fills him, and describes hard spears, red broadswords,
Eochaid Juil's many hosts, and a dreadful contest.
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: high
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif labels involving
otherworldly or divine categories are cautious because the passage names Mag Mell
and supernatural-associated figures but does not explicitly analyze their mythic
status.
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 comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly compare these events to another text, tradition, or motif family beyond the candidate motif classification.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l2912-l3083
passage_sha256=8487796b3c7e551ab49326631d34ace1416f820f49a23ac29f59f1a3c2bbc2c7