batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l3241-l3435
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l3241-l3435
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 3241-3435
start: '3241'
end: '3435'
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 is urged to wake from a debilitating sleep. He rises and meets
Liban, who tries to lead him into a fairy hill and describes Labraid's dwelling.
Cuchulain refuses to go at a woman's call and sends Laeg with Liban. Laeg visits
an otherworldly region, is welcomed by Fand, learns that the message came from
her and that battle is set for that day, then reports to Cuchulain with a detailed
description of Labraid, his household, trees, well, unfailing ale-vat, and a surpassingly
fair lady.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A speaker calls Cuchulain, named as hero and champion of Ulster, to wake from
sleep and stand up.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The speech invokes Conor, the Ulstermen, war-cars, chiefs, maidens, kings,
queens, winter cold, weariness, and the danger of weakness.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Cuchulain stands up, passes his hand over his face, casts away heaviness and
weariness, and goes to an enclosure where Liban appears.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Liban attempts to lead Cuchulain into the fairy hill, and Cuchulain asks where
Labraid dwells.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Liban describes Labraid's home as a pure lake reached by easy paths, with
troops of women coming and going.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Liban describes Labraid as a warrior with a sword, shields, battle prowess,
gold-like locks, wine-scented breath, and a house with crystal and silver columns
and a roof.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Cuchulain refuses to go at a woman's call and agrees that Laeg should go with
Liban to bring back tidings.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Laeg and Liban travel to named places including the Plain of Speech, the Tree
of Triumphs, the festal plains of Emain and Fidga, and a place where Aed Abra
and his daughters are present.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Fand welcomes Laeg, asks why Cuchulain did not come, confirms that the message
was from her, and asks that Cuchulain come swiftly because the strife is set for
that day.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Laeg returns to Cuchulain and says the quest is favorable because the battle
is set for that day.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Laeg reports seeing yellow-haired Labraid by his cairn, with spears around
him and bright locks gathered around an apple of gold.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Laeg describes a house shared by Failbe and Labraid with retainers, couches,
copper frontings, golden posts, and a jewel used as a light.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: Laeg describes grey and purple-brown steeds, three purple trees with birds'
songs, a silver and gold-shining tree in the fore-court, sixty trees dropping
food, a well with cloaks, and an unfailing vat of ale.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: Laeg describes a fair lady whose hair is like gold and whose words cause love
and longing; she asks about Laeg and about Cuchulain, son of Dechtire.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Cuchulain
description: Hero and champion of Ulster, also called Him of Murthemne and associated
with Dechtire; he wakes, meets Liban, declines to go at a woman's call, and receives
Laeg's report.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Liban
description: Female figure who appears to Cuchulain, tries to lead him into the
fairy hill, describes Labraid's dwelling, and guides Laeg.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Labraid / Labra
description: Figure dwelling in a pure lake; described as a powerful sword-wielding
warrior with a splendid household and as attended with Failbe by retainers.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Laeg
description: Cuchulain's messenger or servant who travels with Liban, meets Fand,
and reports what he has seen to Cuchulain.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Fand
description: Female figure who welcomes Laeg, confirms that the message came from
her, and summons Cuchulain because strife is set for the day.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Aed Abra
description: Figure present with his daughters at a place reached by Laeg and Liban.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Daughters of Aed Abra
description: Daughters present with Aed Abra at a place reached by Laeg and Liban.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Failbe
description: Figure said to dwell in one house with Labraid, his friend.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Fair lady in Laeg's report
description: A lady from the hall, fair and well gifted, with hair like gold and
words that cause love and longing.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Conor
description: King named in the waking exhortation to Cuchulain.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Ulstermen
description: The Ulster people, chiefs, maidens, kings, queens, and fighters evoked
in the awakening speech.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
roles:
- id: role:1
label: sleeping hero awakened
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Cuchulain is addressed as a hero of Ulster and commanded to wake and stand.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: summoned champion
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Fand asks that Cuchulain come swiftly because the strife is set for that
day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: guide toward fairy hill
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Liban appears and strives to lead Cuchulain into the fairy hill, then travels
with Laeg.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: describer of Labraid's dwelling
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Liban answers Cuchulain's question by describing Labraid's home and qualities.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: otherworldly warrior ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Labraid is described as dwelling in a remarkable place, fighting as first
of fairy men, and having a splendid house and retainers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: emissary and eyewitness reporter
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Laeg is sent to bring tidings, travels with Liban, meets Fand, and reports
to Cuchulain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:7
label: sender of summons
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Fand confirms that the message was from her and asks Cuchulain to come swiftly.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: house-companion of Labraid
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Laeg says white Failbe dwells in one house with Labraid, his friend.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:9
label: enchanting woman
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Laeg describes the lady as uniquely fair in Erin, with golden hair and words
that break hearts with love and longing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: king invoked in exhortation
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The waking speech tells Cuchulain to look on Conor the king.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:11
label: martial community invoked
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: The speech evokes Ulstermen's shoulders, trumpets, war-cars, chiefs, kings,
queens, and battle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fairy hill
literal_form: Fairy hill into which Liban tries to lead Cuchulain.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: pure lake dwelling
literal_form: Labraid's home described as a pure lake reached by easy paths.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: Tree of Triumphs
literal_form: Named tree on the route traveled by Liban and Laeg.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: splendid palace or house
literal_form: Labraid's or Labraid and Failbe's house with crystal and silver columns,
copper frontings, golden posts, couches, retainers, and a jewel for light.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: apple of gold
literal_form: An apple of gold associated with Labraid's gathered bright locks.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: otherworld trees
literal_form: Three purple trees with birds' songs, a silver and gold-shining fore-court
tree, and sixty trees dropping food.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: well with cloaks
literal_form: A well near the palace where gay cloaks with gold fastenings lie spread
out.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:8
label: unfailing ale-vat
literal_form: A vat of glad ale ordained never to fail.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:9
label: golden hair
literal_form: Hair like gold of the fair lady described by Laeg.
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:10
label: winter cold
literal_form: Clear winter and cold invoked in the exhortation to wake Cuchulain.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:11
label: milk proverb
literal_form: The saying likening the ill long slumber to milk for the full.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- milk
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Exhortation to wake Cuchulain
summary: A speaker urges Cuchulain to wake and stand, invoking Ulster's king, warriors,
battle readiness, winter cold, and the harm of his long slumber.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:10
- sym:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Cuchulain rises and meets Liban
summary: Cuchulain wakes, throws off weariness, reaches an enclosure, and encounters
Liban, who attempts to lead him into the fairy hill.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Liban describes Labraid's dwelling
summary: In response to Cuchulain's question, Liban describes Labraid's lake-home,
women, warrior power, distant riding and sailing, and splendid architecture.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Laeg sent as emissary
summary: Cuchulain refuses to go at a woman's call, so Laeg goes with Liban through
named places to where Aed Abra and his daughters are present.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Fand confirms the summons
summary: Fand welcomes Laeg, asks why Cuchulain did not come, confirms that she
sent the message, and urges Cuchulain to come because the day's battle is appointed.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Laeg reports the otherworldly household
summary: Laeg tells Cuchulain that the quest is timely and describes Labraid, Failbe,
their richly furnished house, horses, singing and food-bearing trees, well, unfailing
ale-vat, and a beautiful lady.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:8
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: hero awakened from debilitating sleep for a summons
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Cuchulain is urged to wake from a long harmful sleep, then rises and proceeds
toward the encounter with Liban and the ensuing mission.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives an awakening and movement toward a quest, but the larger
narrative context of departure lies beyond this excerpt.
- id: motif:2
label: female guide summons hero toward fairy hill or otherworldly place
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: Liban appears, tries to lead Cuchulain into the fairy hill, describes Labraid's
remarkable dwelling, and later guides Laeg through named places.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage itself uses fairy hill and extraordinary places, but does
not fully define their cosmology.
- id: motif:3
label: hero sends emissary before entering summoned realm
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Cuchulain refuses to go at a woman's call and sends Laeg with Liban to bring
back tidings.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level sequence rather than a taxonomy-specific motif.
- id: motif:4
label: marvelous otherworld household of abundance
taxonomy_refs:
- afterlife_journey_map
basis: Laeg's report describes richly furnished halls, jewel light, steeds, singing
and food-bearing trees, a well, cloaks with gold fastenings, and an unfailing
vat of ale.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage supports a marvelous mapped realm; labeling it as an afterlife
journey is uncertain because the excerpt calls it a fairy hill and does not explicitly
state it is the afterlife.
- id: motif:5
label: enchanting fair woman whose speech causes love-longing
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
basis: Laeg describes a lady, unmatched in Erin, with golden hair and words that
break hearts with love and longing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The lady is not explicitly named as divine or as Cuchulain's beloved in
this passage segment.
- id: motif:6
label: sacred or marvelous trees of song and food
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
basis: The route includes the Tree of Triumphs, and Laeg describes purple trees
with birds' songs plus many trees dropping food near the palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents remarkable trees but does not explicitly call them
sacred or an axis.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 3241-3276
quote_or_summary: A waking exhortation addresses Cuchulain as hero of Ulster, calls
him to look on Conor and the Ulstermen, evokes battle, winter cold, the harm of
long slumber, and urges him to stand.
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: 3277-3284
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain stands, passes his hand over his face, casts away heaviness,
reaches an enclosure, and Liban appears and tries to lead him into the fairy hill.
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: 3284-3312
quote_or_summary: Liban answers Cuchulain's question about Labraid by describing
Labraid's home as a pure lake reached by easy paths, with troops of women, and
portrays Labraid as beautiful, generous to friends, scarred, and foremost among
fairy fighters.
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: 3313-3336
quote_or_summary: Labraid is further described with gold-like locks, wine-scented
breath, overseas fame, riding and sailing near his isle, coursers with gold-red
bridles, and a house upheld by crystal and silver columns.
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: 3339-3349
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain says he will not go at a woman's call; Laeg is sent
with Liban and they travel to the Plain of Speech, the Tree of Triumphs, the festal
plains of Emain and Fidga, and the place of Aed Abra with his daughters.
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: 3350-3363
quote_or_summary: Fand welcomes Laeg, asks why Cuchulain has not come, confirms
the message was from her, says Cuchulain should come swiftly because strife is
set for the day, and Laeg returns to tell Cuchulain the quest is favorable.
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: 3364-3395
quote_or_summary: Laeg reports seeing yellow-haired Labraid by his cairn with spears
and an apple of gold, then describes Labraid and Failbe dwelling together with
thrice-fifty retainers, couches, copper frontings, golden posts, and a jewel used
as a torch.
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: 3396-3423
quote_or_summary: Laeg describes grey and purple-brown steeds, three purple trees
whose birds please the king's children, a silver and gold-shining tree, sixty
food-dropping trees, a well with cloaks and gold fastenings, and an unfailing
vat of ale.
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: 3424-3435
quote_or_summary: A fair gifted lady comes from the hall, unmatched in Erin, with
hair like gold and words that cause love and longing; she questions Laeg about
serving Him of Murthemne and about the son of Dechtire.
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 supported by the supplied passage. Motif labels involving
otherworld, afterlife mapping, sacred trees, or divine beloved remain cautious
because the excerpt does not fully define the cosmological or relational status
of the figures and places.
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 alone does not explicitly support a comparison beyond candidate motif-family classification.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l3241-l3435
passage_sha256=fd517b1972445e000b71a024ae23fcd8d2a8bf38a8b5be2253a5f180f826ea95