batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l3086-l3238
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l3086-l3238
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 3086-3238
start: '3086'
end: '3238'
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 tells Labraid that Laeg has come from Cuchulain and that Cuchulain
will join Labraid's hosts. Labraid welcomes Laeg and sends him home with Liban.
Laeg reports what he has seen to Cuchulain, whose mind is strengthened. After
an editorial note about a break and interpolation in the story, Cuchulain sends
Laeg to Emer, saying fairy women have destroyed his strength but that he improves.
Laeg exhorts Cuchulain not to remain sick and says witches or fairy women have
beaten down his strength. Laeg goes to Emer; she rebukes him and the men of Ulster
for failing to seek a cure, sings of searches through fairy hills and elf-mounds
for healing, and then goes to Cuchulain, reproaching him for lying prostrate for
a woman's love.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Liban tells Labraid that Laeg, Cuchulain's charioteer, is present and that
Cuchulain has sent word he will come to join Labraid's hosts.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Labraid welcomes Laeg and tells him to return to his own land accompanied
by Liban.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Laeg returns to Emain and reports what he has seen to Cuchulain and others.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: After Laeg's report, Cuchulain rises, passes his hand over his face, greets
Laeg brightly, and is strengthened in mind.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: An editorial note states that a break in the story occurs, with an insertion
about the Bull-Feast and Lugaid Red-Stripes, and that two versions or hands appear
to be joined with a gap.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Cuchulain tells Laeg to go to Emer and say that fairy women have come upon
him and destroyed his strength, while also saying that he improves from hour to
hour.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Laeg speaks verses to hearten Cuchulain, saying that heroes should not lie
on a sick-bed and that witches or fairy dwellers have beaten down his strength
and made him captive.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Emer rebukes Laeg for wandering in fairy lands without bringing back a healing
virtue for Cuchulain.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Emer rebukes the men of Ulster for not seeking to heal Cuchulain and contrasts
this with Cuchulain's expected efforts to save other heroes if they were afflicted.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Emer's song names the fairy hill, elf-mounds, solid earth, sleep, sickness,
and healing as images connected with Cuchulain's condition and possible cure.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Emer goes to Emain, sits in the chamber where Cuchulain is, and reproaches
him for lying prostrate for a woman's love.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Liban
description: A lady who speaks to Labraid, announces Laeg's arrival, and is to accompany
Laeg back to his own land.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Laeg
description: Cuchulain's charioteer, who has come to Labraid, returns to Emain,
reports to Cuchulain, exhorts him, and carries Cuchulain's message to Emer.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Cuchulain
description: The hero on a sick-bed whose strength has been destroyed by fairy women;
he sends Laeg to Emer and is later reproached by her.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Labraid / Labra
description: A ruler or host-leader who welcomes Laeg and is referenced in Laeg's
exhortation as having sent a message.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Emer
description: Cuchulain's real wife in the editorial note; she rebukes Laeg and Ulster,
sings about seeking a cure, and goes to Cuchulain's chamber.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Fairy women / witches / Shapes / elves
description: Supernatural female or fairy beings described as having come upon Cuchulain,
destroyed or beaten down his strength, bound him in slumber, and raised a bar
to him.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Men of Ulster
description: A collective group rebuked by Emer for not seeking a great deed to
heal Cuchulain.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Other named Ulster heroes
description: Conor, Fergus, Conall, Laegaire, Celthar, and Furbaid are cited by
Emer as examples of heroes for whom Cuchulain would have sought healing if they
were afflicted.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Druid
description: A healer figure in Emer's hypothetical example, who could raise a magical
load of sleep from Fergus.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: announcing lady
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Liban announces Laeg's presence and Cuchulain's message to Labraid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: return escort
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Labraid says Liban shall accompany Laeg back to his own land.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: charioteer messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Laeg is identified as Cuchulain's charioteer and carries reports and messages
between figures.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: exhorter of the sick hero
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Laeg speaks verses to hearten Cuchulain and urge him to rise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: sick-bed hero
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Cuchulain is on a sick-bed, weakened by fairy women, and described as prostrate.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: potential rescuer-healer
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Emer says Cuchulain would have ridden or scoured the world to heal other
heroes if they were similarly afflicted.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: welcoming host-leader
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Labraid welcomes Laeg and is connected with a message telling Cuchulain to
rise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: wife and reprover
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The editorial note identifies Emer as Cuchulain's real wife, and she reproaches
Laeg, Ulster, and Cuchulain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: seeker of cure
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Emer wishes Cuchulain's cure to be wrought by her and goes to seek him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: supernatural afflicters
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Fairy women, witches, Shapes, or elves are described as weakening, binding,
or obstructing Cuchulain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:11
label: failed companions
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Emer shames the men of Ulster for not seeking to heal Cuchulain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:12
label: hypothetical afflicted heroes
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Emer names these heroes in examples of people Cuchulain would have tried
to heal if they had been sick, wounded, or asleep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:13
label: magical healer
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Emer's song mentions a Druid who could raise the load of magical sleep from
Fergus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sick-bed and prostration
literal_form: Cuchulain lying on a sick-bed or prostrate in sickness
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: sym:2
label: fairy hill and elf-mounds
literal_form: fairy hill and elf-mounds searched for healing
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: fiery plain
literal_form: Trogach's fiery Plain, associated with the dwellers or witches before
Cuchulain
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: enchanted sleep or slumber
literal_form: sleep, sickly sleep, and slumber binding Cuchulain or hypothetically
afflicting heroes
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: healing virtue or power
literal_form: virtue of healing, healing power, and cure sought for Cuchulain
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: journey through earth
literal_form: a rescue or healing journey imagined as passing through solid earth
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Labraid receives Laeg
summary: Liban announces Laeg and Cuchulain's message; Labraid welcomes Laeg and
sends him home with Liban.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Laeg reports at Emain
summary: Laeg returns to Emain and reports what he has seen; Cuchulain responds
with visible animation and strengthened mind.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Narrative break and joined versions
summary: The editor notes an intervening break and interpolation, with the later
story resuming from a different point and Emer replacing Ethne as the active wife
figure.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Cuchulain sends Laeg to Emer
summary: Cuchulain tells Laeg to inform Emer that fairy women have destroyed his
strength, that he is improving, and that she should come seek him.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Laeg exhorts Cuchulain
summary: Laeg urges Cuchulain not to remain in sickly sleep, describes fairy or
witch powers as having beaten down his strength, and calls him to rise.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Emer rebukes Laeg and Ulster
summary: Emer criticizes Laeg for not bringing healing from fairy lands and shames
the men of Ulster for not seeking Cuchulain's cure.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Emer's healing song
summary: Emer's song imagines journeys through fairy hills, the world, elf-mounds,
and solid earth in search of healing, and laments that elves have bound Cuchulain
in slumber.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:8
label: Emer confronts Cuchulain
summary: Emer goes to Emain, sits in Cuchulain's chamber, and reproaches him for
lying prostrate because of a woman's love.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: hero weakened by fairy women and confined to a sick-bed
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
basis: Cuchulain says fairy women have come upon him and destroyed his strength;
Laeg's poem says fairy or witch powers have beaten down his strength; Emer later
frames the condition as lying prostrate for a woman's love.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage names fairy women and woman's love, but the exact nature of
the relationship and affliction is not fully explained in this excerpt.
- id: motif:2
label: search for healing in fairy or otherworld places
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: Emer faults Laeg for entering fairy lands without obtaining a healing virtue
and sings of searches through fairy hills, elf-mounds, the world, and solid earth
to find a cure.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage emphasizes the need for a healing quest, but Laeg has not
actually brought back the cure in this excerpt.
- id: motif:3
label: messenger returns from supernatural court with strengthening news
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: Laeg returns from Labraid to Emain, reports what he has seen, and Cuchulain's
mind is strengthened by the news.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The otherworldly status of Labraid's place is implied by surrounding fairy
context but not fully described in this excerpt.
- id: motif:4
label: enchanted slumber or captivity imposed by elves
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Laeg describes Cuchulain as in sickly sleep and made captive by fairy or
witch powers; Emer's song says elves have bound their Hound in fast slumber.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage uses poetic language, so the exact mechanics of the slumber
or captivity are uncertain.
- id: motif:5
label: wife's reproach as summons to heroic recovery
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Emer rebukes Laeg and Ulster for failing Cuchulain, then comes to Cuchulain's
chamber and shames him for lying prostrate.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage shows reproach and confrontation, but the subsequent effect
on Cuchulain is outside the excerpt.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 3086-3097
quote_or_summary: Liban tells Labraid that Laeg has come from Cuchulain and that
Cuchulain will join his hosts; Labraid welcomes Laeg and sends him home with Liban.
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 3098-3103
quote_or_summary: Laeg returns to Emain, reports what he has seen, and Cuchulain
rises, passes his hand over his face, greets Laeg brightly, and is strengthened
in mind.
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 3104-3122
quote_or_summary: An editorial note describes a break and insertion concerning the
Bull-Feast and Lugaid, says the story resumes from another point, and notes that
Emer replaces Ethne as active wife figure.
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 3123-3131
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain calls Laeg and tells him to go to Emer, saying fairy
women have come upon him, destroyed his strength, that he improves hourly, and
that Emer should come seek 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:5
type: summary
locator: lines 3132-3150
quote_or_summary: Laeg's exhortation says heroes should not lie in sickly sleep,
describes witches or dwellers of Trogach's fiery Plain as beating down Cuchulain's
strength and making him captive, and urges him to rise.
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 3151-3167
quote_or_summary: Laeg goes to Emer; she rebukes him for wandering in fairy lands
without bringing back healing and shames Ulster for failing to heal Cuchulain,
saying Cuchulain would have saved other heroes.
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 3168-3228
quote_or_summary: Emer's song mentions the fairy hill, a Druid lifting magical sleep,
searching the world, elf-mounds, and solid earth for healing, and elves binding
Cuchulain in slumber.
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 3229-3238
quote_or_summary: Emer goes to Emain, sits in Cuchulain's chamber, and reproaches
him for lying prostrate for a woman's love.
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: The passage is clear on messenger actions, sickness, fairy affliction, and
Emer's reproach. Motif labels involving fairy love or otherworld status are cautious
because the excerpt is part of a broken and editorially complex narrative.
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 were left empty because no explicit cross-text comparison is made within the passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l3086-l3238
passage_sha256=824b5f7ebae7310cc62ffb5de7142fba2c812c211cdc783d1bbf825085334621