batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l7989-l8140
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l7989-l8140
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
passage_locator:
label: PAGE 93 / PAGE 95 / PAGE 97 / PAGE 98; lines 7989-8140
start: '7989'
end: '8140'
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: Editorial notes identify correspondences among figures in versions of the
tale and introduce a literal translation of Deirdre's lament. In the poem, Deirdre
contrasts Conor's courtly pleasures with her memories of Naisi and the sons of
Usnach, recalls their voices, food, clothing, weapons, and journeys, laments Naisi's
death and burial, blames Conor and Fergus for separating her from him, and declares
sleepless grief and an expectation of an early grave.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: An editorial note says Fiacha, son of Fergus, corresponds to Illan in a better-known
version, and that this version has no figure corresponding to the traitor son
Buinne.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage introduces the poem as the 'Lament of Deirdre' and says the supplied
rendering is a literal translation adopted as nearest to the original.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The speaker contrasts a band of heroes marching into Emain with the more stately
return home of the three heroic sons of Usnach.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Naisi is remembered with hazel-nut mead and as being bathed by the speaker
at the fire; Ardan is remembered with an ox or boar; Aindle is remembered carrying
a faggot.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The speaker says the voices of the sons of Usnach were sweeter to her than
Conor's pipers and horn-blowers.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Naisi's voice is compared to the sound of a wave; Ardan is called a good barytone,
and Aindle's tenor is said to ring through the dwelling-place.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Naisi is said to be laid in his tomb, and the nation by which he was reared
is said to have poured out the cup of poison by which he died.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The speaker says she does not sleep, does not stain her nails red, has no
joy in wakefulness, does not eat, and does not smile.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The speaker addresses Conor and says he has prepared only sorrow for her and
that his love for her will not last.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: The speaker says Conor has torn from her the man under heaven who was fairest
and dearest to her, so that she will not see him until she dies.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: The speaker imagines a dark hill above Naisi's white body and describes his
cheeks, lips, eyebrows, teeth, clothing, sword, spears, shield, and shield-boss.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: The speaker says Fergus harmed them by inducing them to cross the sea and
says he sold his honour for ale.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:13
text: The speaker says she would give up all the warriors of Ulster in Conor's presence
for the companionship of Naisi.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:14
text: The speaker asks Conor not to break her heart, says she will soon reach her
early grave, and says her grief is stronger than the sea.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Deirdre
description: Named in the title of the poem as the lamenting speaker.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Naisi
description: One of the sons of Usnach; remembered as the speaker's beloved, as
a singer, as a richly equipped warrior, and as dead and buried.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ardan
description: One of the sons of Usnach; remembered with an ox or boar and described
as a good barytone.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Aindle
description: One of the sons of Usnach; remembered carrying a faggot and described
as having a tenor voice.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Sons of Usnach
description: The three heroic sons named as Naisi, Ardan, and Aindle, whose return,
voices, and absence are central to the lament.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Conor
description: King and son of Ness; associated with Emain, courtly music, and the
speaker's accusation that he tore Naisi from her.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Fergus
description: A figure said by the speaker to have harmed them by inducing them to
cross the sea and to have sold his honour for ale.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Fiacha
description: Son of Fergus; identified in an editorial note as corresponding to
Illan in a better-known version.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Illan
description: Figure in a better-known version to whom Fiacha is said to correspond.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Buinne
description: A traitor son in another version; the note says no one in this version
corresponds to him.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
roles:
- id: role:1
label: lamenting speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The poem is introduced as Deirdre's lament, and the first-person speaker
describes her grief, sleeplessness, and accusations.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: role:2
label: dead beloved
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The speaker calls Naisi the fairest and dearest man to her, says he was torn
from her, and describes his tomb and body under a dark hill.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:3
label: heroic sons of Usnach
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The poem names the three heroic sons of Usnach and recalls their return,
provisions, voices, and absence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: king
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Conor is called the king and is associated with pipers and horn-blowers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: accused separator
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The speaker tells Conor that he tore the dearest man from her and prepared
sorrow for her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: dishonored inducer of sea-crossing
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The speaker says Fergus induced them to cross the sea, brought injury on
them, and sold his honour for ale.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:7
label: remembered companions
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The speaker repeatedly remembers the sons of Usnach through shared food,
music, travel, and companionship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:12
- id: role:8
label: version-correspondent figure
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: The editorial note says Fiacha corresponds to Illan in a better-known version.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:9
label: absent counterpart from this version
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The editorial note says no one in this version corresponds to the traitor
son Buinne.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fire at bathing or hearth
literal_form: fire and cooking-hearth
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: hazel-nut mead
literal_form: mead of delicious hazel-nuts
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: meat brought by Ardan
literal_form: an ox or boar of excellence
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: faggot carried by Aindle
literal_form: a faggot on his stately back
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: wave-like voice
literal_form: voice of Naisi likened to the sound of the wave
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: tomb and dark hill over body
literal_form: Naisi's tomb and a dark hill above his white body
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: sym:7
label: cup of poison
literal_form: cup of poison by which Naisi died
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: dark wood
literal_form: dark wood through which the speaker went with Naisi
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: sym:9
label: crimson and gold warrior dress
literal_form: crimson mantle with red-gold border, satin tunic, pearls, and white
bronze embroidery
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:10
label: warrior weapons
literal_form: gold-hilted sword, two green spears, shield with yellow-gold border
and silver boss
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:11
label: sea-crossing
literal_form: crossing the sea induced by Fergus
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:12
label: grief stronger than sea
literal_form: grief compared as stronger than the sea
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Editorial version note
summary: The passage notes figure correspondences and absences between this version
and a better-known version of the tale.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Introduction to Deirdre's lament
summary: The translator introduces the lament as an older Irish poem and presents
a literal translation.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Memory of the sons' return and provisions
summary: The speaker remembers the sons of Usnach returning home and recalls Naisi's
mead, Ardan's animal, Aindle's faggot, and fire or hearth imagery.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Contrasting court music with remembered voices
summary: The speaker contrasts Conor's pipers and horn-blowers with the more beloved
voices of Naisi, Ardan, and Aindle.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Death, burial, and grief
summary: The speaker states that Naisi is in his tomb, attributes his death to a
cup of poison, and describes her sleeplessness and joylessness because the sons
of Usnach do not return.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Accusation against Conor
summary: The speaker addresses Conor, says he has prepared sorrow for her, and says
he tore from her the man dearest to her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:7
label: Description of Naisi's body, clothing, and weapons
summary: The speaker recalls Naisi's physical beauty, splendid clothing, and warrior
equipment.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
- sym:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:8
label: Blame of Fergus and final grief
summary: The speaker says Fergus injured them by inducing a sea-crossing, values
Naisi above all Ulster's warriors, and tells Conor her grief is stronger than
the sea and that she will soon reach an early grave.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:11
- sym:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: lament for a dead beloved
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: The speaker says Conor tore from her the man dearest to her, grieves that
Naisi is dead and buried, and says she will not see him until she dies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy does not include a specific lament-for-the-dead
motif; 'stolen_beloved' fits only the separation language and not the whole lament.
- id: motif:2
label: heroic brothers remembered after fatal return
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: The poem contrasts the sons of Usnach's stately return with their later non-return
and the speaker's grief over their absence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
confidence: low
cautions: The passage is a lament, not a full narrative of return; the motif assignment
is based on remembered and failed return language.
- id: motif:3
label: treacherous or dishonorable escort across water
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: The speaker says Fergus brought injury on them by inducing them to cross
the sea and that he sold his honour for ale.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: low
cautions: The passage only reports the accusation briefly and does not narrate the
full departure or betrayal episode.
- id: motif:4
label: grief anticipating early death
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The speaker says she sleeps not, eats not, smiles not, has no joy, asks that
her heart not be broken, and expects to reach an early grave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: No matching taxonomy reference is supplied for this motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 7989-7993
quote_or_summary: 'Editorial note: Fiacha, son of Fergus, corresponds to Illan in
a better-known version; no one in this version corresponds to the traitor son
Buinne.'
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 7997-8005
quote_or_summary: The passage introduces the 'Lament of Deirdre' and states that
a literal translation nearest the original is being supplied.
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 8007-8010
quote_or_summary: The speaker says a band of heroes entering Emain may seem fair,
but the return home of the three heroic sons of Usnach was more stately.
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 8012-8023
quote_or_summary: Naisi is remembered with hazel-nut mead and fire-bathing; Ardan
with an ox or boar; Aindle with a faggot; the speaker recalls sweeter sustenance
and captured food around a cooking-hearth.
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 8031-8045
quote_or_summary: The speaker contrasts Conor's pipers and horn-blowers with the
sweeter voices of the sons of Usnach; Naisi's voice is like a wave, Ardan is a
barytone, and Aindle a tenor.
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 8047-8050
quote_or_summary: Naisi is laid in his tomb; the nation that reared him is said
to have poured out the cup of poison by which he died.
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 8064-8077
quote_or_summary: The speaker says she does not sleep, redden her nails, feel joy,
eat, or smile because the sons of Usnach do not return.
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 8084-8095
quote_or_summary: Addressing Conor, the speaker says he has prepared sorrow for
her and torn from her the man under heaven who was fairest and dearest to her.
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 8097-8106
quote_or_summary: The speaker says Naisi's absence causes grief, imagines a dark
hill over his white body, and describes his cheeks, lips, eyebrows, teeth, and
snow-like brightness.
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 8108-8122
quote_or_summary: The speaker recalls Naisi's crimson and gold-bordered mantle,
satin tunic with pearls and white bronze embroidery, gold-hilted sword, green
spears, and gold-and-silver shield.
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 8124-8127
quote_or_summary: The speaker says Fergus brought injury on them by inducing them
to cross the sea and sold his honour for 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:12
type: summary
locator: lines 8129-8140
quote_or_summary: The speaker would give all Ulster's warriors for Naisi's companionship;
she asks Conor not to break her heart, expects an early grave, and says her grief
is stronger than the sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 8052-8062
quote_or_summary: The speaker recalls Berthan, the sons of Usnach, and going with
Naisi through the dark wood at early morning.
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 figures, objects, and scenes are directly stated in the supplied passage.
Motif mapping is more cautious because the excerpt is a lyric lament rather than
a complete narrative episode, and the supplied taxonomy lacks several exact motif
labels.
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 gives only a version-correspondence note and does not itself develop a broader comparative motif claim.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l7989-l8140
passage_sha256=d8ba70b748da25bbf7d0553afb37aedef9de622d118c2ecf4724b809776d25b6