batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l2436-l2513
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l2436-l2513
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
passage_locator:
label: INTRODUCTION / C. E. G. / THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN / PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC;
lines 2436-2513
start: '2436'
end: '2513'
translation: The Mabinogion
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Peredur reaches a river valley, is sent to a king's palace, and is entertained
by the king's daughter. A page reports that the daughter favors Peredur, and the
king has Peredur imprisoned. The daughter visits him, gives him honorable treatment,
and later supplies him with horse and arms so he can enter battle against a powerful
Earl. Peredur repeatedly returns to prison after fighting anonymously in a scarlet
robe and with a yellow shield, ultimately killing the Earl. The king offers him
marriage to his daughter, half the kingdom, and the two Earldoms, but Peredur
says he seeks news of the Castle of Wonders. The maiden directs him over a mountain
to a lake with a castle in its middle.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Peredur rides to a valley containing a river and meets men going to hunt,
among whom is a man of exalted rank.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The exalted man offers Peredur either to join the chase or to go to his palace,
where his daughter will provide food and drink.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: At the palace, the lady salutes Peredur joyfully, seats him beside her, and
laughs loudly at what he says.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: A little yellow page tells the lady and then the king that Peredur appears
to be, or may soon become, the lady's husband.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: On the page's advice, the king has strong men seize Peredur and cast him into
prison.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: The maiden visits Peredur in prison and promises him treatment and a couch
no worse than the king's own, with the best entertainment the palace affords.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: When the king's forces gather for battle against a powerful Earl, Peredur
asks the maiden for horse and arms so that he may see the encounter, promising
to return to prison.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The maiden gives Peredur a horse, arms, a bright scarlet robe of honour over
his armour, and a yellow shield.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Peredur fights the Earl's men, overthrows those who encounter him, and returns
to prison before others know who he is.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: On the fourth day, Peredur kills the Earl; the maiden reveals to her father
that the victorious knight is the imprisoned man.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: The king offers Peredur his daughter in marriage, half his kingdom, and the
two Earldoms as a gift, but Peredur replies that he did not come to woo.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: Peredur says he seeks tidings of the Castle of Wonders, and the maiden directs
him over a mountain to a lake with a castle in its middle.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Peredur
description: A youth from Arthur's Court who is entertained, imprisoned, armed for
battle, anonymously defeats the Earl's forces, kills the Earl, refuses a marriage-and-land
reward, and seeks the Castle of Wonders.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: King / man of exalted rank
description: A high-ranking man met among hunters; he sends Peredur to his palace,
later imprisons him, and after Peredur's victory offers him marriage to his daughter
and lands.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The king's daughter / maiden
description: The woman at the palace who joyfully receives Peredur, supports him
in prison, provides him horse and arms, reveals his identity to the king, and
gives directions toward the Castle of Wonders.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Little yellow page
description: A page assigned as Peredur's attendant who reports that the maiden
seems attached to Peredur and advises the king to have him seized until the truth
is known.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: The Earl
description: A nearby ruler possessing two Earldoms and power like a king; he is
killed by Peredur on the fourth day of combat.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: The king's hosts and forces
description: Forces gathered in the town for an engagement with the Earl.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: The Earl's men
description: Combatants whom Peredur overthrows and slays during the engagement
before killing the Earl.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: guest
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Peredur is sent to the palace to be entertained with food and liquor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: prisoner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The king's men seize Peredur and cast him into prison, where he remains overnight
and later returns after fighting.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: anonymous victorious knight
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Peredur fights in a scarlet robe and with a yellow shield, and no one knows
at first who the successful fighter is.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: quester seeking the Castle of Wonders
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Peredur refuses the marriage-and-land reward and says he seeks tidings of
the Castle of Wonders.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: host
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The king offers Peredur hospitality through his daughter at the palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: captor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The king orders strong men to seize and imprison Peredur.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: reward-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: After the Earl is slain, the king offers Peredur his daughter, half the kingdom,
and the two Earldoms.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: supportive maiden
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The maiden visits Peredur in prison and arranges honorable treatment for
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:9
label: armorer-helper
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: She provides Peredur with horse, arms, a scarlet robe, and a yellow shield.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:10
label: guide-informant
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: She gives Peredur directions to the Castle of Wonders.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:11
label: suspicious messenger and adviser
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The page reports the maiden's apparent affection and advises the king to
seize Peredur.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:12
label: enemy ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The Earl is the king's military opponent and is killed by Peredur.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:13
label: assembled army
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The king's hosts and forces gather in the town for the engagement.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:14
label: opposing combatants
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The Earl's men encounter Peredur in combat and are overthrown or slain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: river valley
literal_form: valley with a river
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: prison
literal_form: place where Peredur is confined
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: scarlet robe of honour
literal_form: bright scarlet robe worn over armour
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: yellow shield
literal_form: yellow shield carried on Peredur's shoulder
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: mountain on the route
literal_form: mountain to be crossed on the way to the Castle of Wonders
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: lake around the Castle of Wonders
literal_form: lake with a castle in its middle
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: Castle of Wonders
literal_form: castle in the middle of a lake, called the Castle of Wonders
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Arrival and palace hospitality
summary: Peredur arrives in a river valley, meets the king among hunters, and is
sent to the palace to be entertained by the king's daughter.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Suspicion and imprisonment
summary: The yellow page interprets the maiden's behavior toward Peredur as a sign
of attachment and advises the king, who has Peredur seized and imprisoned.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Prisoner armed for combat
summary: Hearing of the impending battle, Peredur asks the maiden for horse and
arms and promises to return to prison; she equips him with arms, a scarlet robe,
and a yellow shield.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Anonymous victory over the Earl
summary: Peredur repeatedly defeats the Earl's men while his identity remains unknown,
then kills the Earl on the fourth day; the maiden reveals him to the king.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Rejected reward and quest directions
summary: The king offers Peredur marriage, land, and the Earldoms, but Peredur says
he seeks the Castle of Wonders; the maiden directs him over a mountain to a lake
with a castle in the middle.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Quest for a wondrous castle
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: Peredur refuses a major worldly reward because he seeks tidings of the Castle
of Wonders, and the maiden provides route information to reach it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives only the approach directions and name of the Castle;
the wonders themselves are not described here.
- id: motif:2
label: Imprisoned hero as hidden champion
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Peredur is imprisoned, receives arms from the maiden, fights anonymously,
repeatedly returns to confinement, and is later revealed as the victor who killed
the Earl.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy has no exact reference for the hidden champion
or prison-combat pattern; the initiation association is interpretive and should
be reviewed.
- id: motif:3
label: Maiden helper provides arms and guidance
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The maiden gives Peredur favorable treatment in prison, equips him for battle,
reveals his identity, and later gives directions to the Castle of Wonders.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage shows assistance and affection, but does not explicitly frame
the exchange as sacred or ritual.
- id: motif:4
label: Refusal of marriage and kingdom for a quest
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- mystical_quest
basis: Peredur declines the king's offer of daughter, half kingdom, and Earldoms,
stating instead that he seeks news of the Castle of Wonders.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not narrate his actual departure after receiving directions
within this excerpt.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 2436-2447
quote_or_summary: Peredur rides to a valley with a river, meets hunters and a man
of exalted rank, and is offered either the chase or hospitality at the palace
through the man's daughter.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 2447-2464
quote_or_summary: At the palace the lady joyfully receives Peredur and laughs loudly;
the yellow page reports that she appears attached to him and advises the king,
who has Peredur seized and imprisoned.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 2464-2477
quote_or_summary: The maiden questions her father about the imprisonment, visits
Peredur, offers him excellent treatment and her company, and provides what she
promised that night.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 2478-2495
quote_or_summary: Peredur hears a tumult, learns that the king's forces are to fight
a powerful Earl, asks for horse and arms, receives a scarlet robe and yellow shield,
enters combat, defeats opponents, and returns to prison.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 2495-2505
quote_or_summary: For three days Peredur slays the Earl's men and returns before
being identified; on the fourth day he kills the Earl, and the maiden tells the
king the victor is the imprisoned knight.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 2505-2513
quote_or_summary: The king offers Peredur marriage to his daughter, half the kingdom,
and the two Earldoms; Peredur says he seeks tidings of the Castle of Wonders,
and the maiden directs him over a mountain to a lake with the castle in its middle.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strongly supported by the provided passage. Motif labels
are candidates and should be reviewed, especially where the available taxonomy
does not contain exact labels for hidden champion or maiden-helper patterns.
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 this episode with another tradition or motif family beyond the candidate motif labeling.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l2436-l2513
passage_sha256=55cf259b1779962f3138c19ef05be19f0fad452c0214080119dada0357638928