batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l3587-l3751
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l3587-l3751
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 3587-3751
start: '3587'
end: '3751'
translation: Heroic Romances of Ireland
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: '"Emer! noble lady! / Take thy man to thee: / Though my arms resign him,
/ Longing lives in me."'
summary: The passage praises Cuchulain, has him recount a battle in which he unknowingly
killed Echaid Juil, then narrates his month with Fand, their planned tryst, Emer's
armed arrival with fifty women, Cuchulain's protection of Fand, Emer's complaint
of dishonor, and Fand's decision to depart while lamenting her continued longing.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage opens with a praise poem hailing Cuchulain as lord, ruler of Murthemne,
battle-victorious, glorious, and firm in skill.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Liban asks Cuchulain to tell of his deeds, and Cuchulain answers in verse.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Cuchulain says he threw a dart or javelin through the host of Stream-Yeogan
without knowing at first who had been struck.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Cuchulain says the slain person was hidden in mist and did not depart alive.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Cuchulain says foes from Manannan, the Son of the Sea, and from Stream-Yeogan
closed around him with red steeds.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Cuchulain says that when his weakness had passed and his strength returned,
he fought alone against three thousand foes.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Cuchulain says he heard Echaid Juil groan near death and calls the cast no
valiant deed.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: After these events, Cuchulain sleeps with the lady, stays with her for a month,
and arranges a tryst at the Strand of the Yew-Tree's Head.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Emer learns of the tryst, whets knives to slay the lady, and comes to the
trysting place with fifty women.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Cuchulain and Laeg are playing chess when Emer and the women approach, and
they do not perceive the women at first.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: Fand sees the approaching women and alerts Laeg.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: Fand describes the approaching women as well-ranked, wearing gold clasps,
and carrying whetted knives with green edges.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:13
text: Cuchulain tells Fand not to fear, offers her a place in his strong car, and
says he will guard her from harm against the women of Ulster.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:14
text: Cuchulain tells Emer that her spear and knife cannot injure him and calls
her wrath weak.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:15
text: Emer asks why Cuchulain would shame her before the women of Ulster, the women
of Ireland, and people who love honor.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: obs:16
text: Cuchulain answers that the lady is fair, bright, skilled, of lofty race, able
to ride the ocean billows, skilled at needlework, firm-minded, and wealthy in
steeds and cattle.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: obs:17
text: Emer says the lady is not better than herself and states that she and Cuchulain
once dwelled together in honor and could do so again if she found favor with him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
- id: obs:18
text: Cuchulain tells Emer that she does find favor and will continue to do so while
he lives.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:17
- id: obs:19
text: Fand says she must be the one to go and that danger rushes upon her from afar.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:18
- id: obs:20
text: Fand laments that she must depart, says it would be sweeter to rest guarded
by Cuchulain than to find marvels in Aed Abra's bower, and tells Emer to take
her man.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:19
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Cuchulain
description: Praised warrior and ruler of Murthemne; recounts his battle deeds,
stays with Fand, protects her from Emer, and later reassures Emer of his favor.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:12
- ev:17
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Liban
description: Speaker who asks Cuchulain to tell of his deeds.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Fand / the lady
description: The lady with whom Cuchulain stays for a month; she arranges a tryst,
sees Emer's armed party, is defended by Cuchulain, and finally departs while lamenting.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- ev:12
- ev:18
- ev:19
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Emer / Forgall's daughter
description: Cuchulain's wife or partner in honor in this passage; she learns of
the tryst, approaches with fifty women and knives, complains of dishonor, and
is told by Cuchulain that she still has favor.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- ev:14
- ev:16
- ev:17
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Laeg
description: Companion of Cuchulain who is present at the trysting place and is
addressed by Fand when she sees the approaching women.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Echaid Juil
description: Figure whose groan Cuchulain hears near death after the cast of the
spear or dart.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Manannan, the Son of the Sea
description: Named source of foes who come against Cuchulain in his battle account.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Fifty women / women of Ulster
description: Armed women accompanying Emer, described with gold clasps and whetted
knives.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: praised warrior-ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The opening hail describes Cuchulain as ruler, battle-victorious, glorious,
and firm in skill.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: battle narrator
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Cuchulain answers Liban by recounting his spear-cast and fight against many
foes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: protector of beloved
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Cuchulain tells Fand to enter his car and says he will guard her from harm.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:4
label: questioner
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Liban asks Cuchulain to tell of his deeds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: beloved or tryst partner
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Cuchulain stays with the lady for a month and arranges a tryst with her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: departing lover
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Fand says she must go and laments while yielding Cuchulain to Emer.
evidence_refs:
- ev:18
- ev:19
- id: role:7
label: jealous or offended wife/partner
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Emer learns of the tryst, comes armed, and asks why Cuchulain would dishonor
her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:14
- id: role:8
label: armed challenger
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Emer whets knives to slay the lady and approaches with fifty women.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: companion-witness
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Laeg is with Cuchulain at the chess-play and is alerted by Fand.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:10
label: slain opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Cuchulain hears Echaid Juil's groan as Echaid nears his end.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:11
label: source or patronymic source of foes
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Cuchulain says foes came from Manannan, the Son of the Sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:12
label: armed female retinue
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The women accompany Emer and carry whetted knives.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: mist-hidden victim
literal_form: a victim hidden in mist from Cuchulain's spear-cast
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: red steeds
literal_form: red steeds ridden by foes closing around Cuchulain
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: Strand of the Yew-Tree's Head
literal_form: trysting place named as a strand associated with a yew-tree head
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: whetted knives
literal_form: knives with green edges, whetted and carried by Emer's party
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: chess-play
literal_form: Cuchulain and Laeg engaged in chess-play at the trysting place
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: protective car
literal_form: Cuchulain's strong car with sunny bright seat, offered as shelter
to Fand
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: sym:7
label: ocean billows
literal_form: billows of ocean that Cuchulain says the lady can ride
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: sym:8
label: Aed Abra's bower
literal_form: a place of marvels named in Fand's lament
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:19
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Praise of Cuchulain
summary: A praise poem hails Cuchulain as a glorious, battle-victorious lord of
Murthemne.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Cuchulain recounts battle deeds
summary: At Liban's request, Cuchulain tells how he cast a dart or javelin, slew
an unseen victim, faced foes connected with Manannan and Stream-Yeogan, fought
alone after regaining strength, and heard Echaid Juil groan near death.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:3
label: Month with Fand and tryst arranged
summary: Cuchulain stays with the lady for a month, comes to bid farewell, and agrees
to meet her at the Strand of the Yew-Tree's Head.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Emer's armed approach
summary: Emer learns of the tryst, whets knives to slay the lady, arrives with fifty
women, and finds Cuchulain and Laeg unaware because they are playing chess.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:5
label: Fand warns Laeg
summary: Fand sees the women approach and describes their ranks, gold clasps, whetted
green-edged knives, and Emer's changed face.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: scene:6
label: Cuchulain promises protection
summary: Cuchulain tells Fand she need not fear, offers her his car, and promises
to guard her against Emer and the women of Ulster.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: scene:7
label: Emer and Cuchulain dispute honor and desire
summary: Cuchulain dismisses Emer's threat, Emer complains of dishonor, Cuchulain
praises Fand's qualities and wealth, and Emer says Fand is not better than herself.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- ev:14
- ev:15
- ev:16
- id: scene:8
label: Fand departs
summary: After Cuchulain reassures Emer of his favor, Fand decides that she must
go, says danger approaches from afar, and laments that she yields Cuchulain to
Emer while still longing for him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:17
- ev:18
- ev:19
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Hero recounts uncertain or regretted slaying
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Cuchulain narrates a spear-cast made through mist, says he did not know who
the victim was, and later calls the cast no valiant deed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives the episode only as Cuchulain's retrospective speech
and does not fully narrate the prior combat context.
- id: motif:2
label: Warrior regains strength and fights alone against many
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Cuchulain says that when his weakness had passed and full strength returned,
he fought alone against three thousand foes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The number and battle are reported in verse rather than narrated in prose.
- id: motif:3
label: Tryst threatened by armed wife and female retinue
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Emer learns of Cuchulain's tryst with Fand, whets knives to slay her, and
arrives with fifty women.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: No broader taxonomy reference is assigned because the supplied taxonomy
does not include a direct love-triangle or jealous-wife category.
- id: motif:4
label: Hero shelters beloved from hostile women
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
basis: Cuchulain tells Fand to enter his car and promises to protect her from Emer
and the women of Ulster; Fand is presented as a beloved tryst partner with exceptional
attributes, including riding the ocean billows.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:15
confidence: medium
cautions: 'The taxonomy reference is tentative: the passage itself calls Fand a
lady and beloved, but does not explicitly define her as divine within this excerpt.'
- id: motif:5
label: Departing beloved yields the man to another woman
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Fand says she must go, tells Emer to take her man, and laments that longing
remains even though her arms resign him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:18
- ev:19
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is confined to the emotional departure in this passage; the
wider narrative cause is not supplied here.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 3587-3601
quote_or_summary: Opening praise hails Cuchulain as lord, ruler of Murthemne, battle-victorious,
glorious, and firm in skill.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 3602-3605
quote_or_summary: Liban asks Cuchulain to tell of his deeds, and he begins his reply.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 3606-3615
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain says his dart or javelin passed through the host of
Stream-Yeogan; he did not know who was struck, and the victim was hidden in mist
and did not live.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 3616-3619
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain says a host closed on him with red steeds, including
foes from Manannan, the Son of the Sea, and from Stream-Yeogan.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 3620-3623
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain says that after his weakness passed and he gained full
strength, he fought alone against three thousand until death came to the foes.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 3624-3628
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain says he heard Echaid Juil groan near death and adds
that the cast was no valiant deed if it was indeed thrown.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 3629-3634
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain sleeps with the lady, abides with her for a month, then
arranges a tryst with her at the Strand of the Yew-Tree's Head.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 3635-3637
quote_or_summary: Emer hears of the tryst, whets knives to slay the lady, and comes
to the place with fifty women.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 3637-3639
quote_or_summary: Emer finds Cuchulain and Laeg engaged in chess-play, unaware of
the women's approach.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 3639-3642
quote_or_summary: Fand sees the approaching women and tells Laeg to look.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 3643-3653
quote_or_summary: Fand describes wise, well-ranked women pressing near, gold clasps
on their bosoms, green-edged knives in their grasp, and Forgall's daughter with
changed face.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: 3654-3663
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain tells Fand not to fear, to enter his strong car, and
that he will guard her against Emer and women from Ulster's four quarters.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: 3664-3674
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain tells Emer that he avoids her as heroes avoid friends
in strife, and that her spear, knife, and wrath cannot frighten or injure him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: 3675-3686
quote_or_summary: Emer asks why Cuchulain would lay shame on her before the women
of Ulster, women of Ireland, and people who love honor.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:15
type: summary
locator: 3687-3707
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain says the lady is fair, bright, skilled, fit for a monarch,
able to ride ocean billows, of lofty race, skilled at needlework, firm-minded,
and wealthy in steeds and cattle.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:16
type: summary
locator: 3708-3716
quote_or_summary: Emer says the lady is no better than herself and reflects that
people value what is new or lacking more than what they already have.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:17
type: summary
locator: 3716-3720
quote_or_summary: Emer recalls that she and Cuchulain once dwelled together in honor,
and Cuchulain answers that she has favor and will have it while he lives.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:18
type: summary
locator: 3721-3727
quote_or_summary: Fand says she must be the one to go and that danger rushes on
her from afar; her shame and love for Cuchulain are described before her lament.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:19
type: quote
locator: 3728-3751
quote_or_summary: 'Fand laments that need compels her to go, says rest under Cuchulain''s
guard would be sweeter than marvels in Aed Abra''s bower, and tells Emer: "Take
thy man to thee" while longing remains in her.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; public domain short quote used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is strong for the named figures, objects, and sequence.
Motif labels are candidate-level and remain draft because the excerpt alone gives
limited wider mythological context for Fand and the otherworldly elements.
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 the episode to another tradition or motif family beyond the candidate motif taxonomy labels.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l3587-l3751
passage_sha256=126c062e7394917308f3141870a4fc7e47d1464aff0bbdf14bfd8331c7dff617