batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l2612-l2683
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l2612-l2683
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
passage_locator:
label: C. E. G. / THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN / PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC / GERAINT
THE SON OF ERBIN; lines 2612-2683
start: '2612'
end: '2683'
translation: The Mabinogion
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: '"He is of pure white, Lord, and he does not herd with any other animal..."'
summary: At Arthur's Whitsuntide court at Caerlleon, a forester named Madawc reports
seeing an unmatched pure white stag in the Forest of Dean. Arthur orders a hunt
for the next day. Gwenhwyvar asks to observe it, and Gwalchmai proposes that whoever
cuts off the stag's head may give it to a chosen lady. The next morning Gwenhwyvar
remains asleep, horns sound, and Arthur and the assembled company set out for
the forest.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Arthur holds court at Caerlleon upon Usk during Whitsuntide, with tributary
kings, earls, barons, and other guests assembled.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Thirteen churches are assigned for mass, including separate churches for Arthur
with his kings and guests, for Gwenhwyvar with her ladies, and for household officials.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr is named as chief porter, with seven men serving him as
Arthur's guards.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: A tall, fair-haired youth in satin garments, with a golden-hilted sword about
his neck, enters the banquet and stands before Arthur.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The youth identifies himself as Madawc son of Twrgadarn, one of Arthur's foresters
in the Forest of Dean.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Madawc says he saw a stag unlike any he had seen before; he describes it as
pure white, solitary, stately, proud, and royal in bearing.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Arthur decides that the stag should be hunted at daybreak and orders notice
to be given throughout the court.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Gwenhwyvar asks Arthur for permission to go and see and hear the hunt, and
Arthur grants it.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Gwalchmai asks that whoever the stag comes to in the hunt may cut off its
head and give it to a lady-love or to a friend's lady; Arthur grants this request.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: The court spends the night with songs, diversions, discourse, and entertainment
before sleeping.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: In the morning Arthur is dressed by attendants and chooses not to wake Gwenhwyvar,
saying she would rather sleep than see the hunting.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: Arthur hears two horns sounding, the assembly gathers, and they take the road
to the forest.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Arthur
description: King holding court at Caerlleon; he receives Madawc's report, orders
the hunt, grants Gwenhwyvar's request, and leads the company toward the forest.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Gwenhwyvar
description: Arthur's queen or lady of the court, associated with a church set apart
for her and her ladies; she asks to observe the hunt but is left sleeping the
next morning.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Madawc son of Twrgadarn
description: A tall, fair-headed youth and forester in the Forest of Dean who reports
the white stag to Arthur.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Pure white stag
description: A stag in the Forest of Dean, described as unmatched, pure white, solitary,
stately, proud, and royal in bearing.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Gwalchmai
description: A highly exalted member among the nine Masters of the Household; he
proposes the rule for awarding the stag's head.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr
description: Chief porter of Arthur's court, with seven men serving him as guards.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Arryfuerys
description: Arthur's chief huntsman, named when the hunt is arranged.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Arelivri
description: Arthur's chief page, named when the hunt is arranged.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Arthur's assembled court
description: Nine crowned tributary kings, earls, barons, household officers, guards,
pages, and other guests gathered at Arthur's festival court.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: festival king and host
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Arthur holds court at a high festival with tributary kings and guests assembled.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: hunt-ordering ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Arthur decides to hunt the reported stag at daybreak and leads the assembly
toward the forest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: royal female observer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Gwenhwyvar asks permission to see and hear the stag hunt, though she remains
asleep when it begins.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: forester messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Madawc identifies himself as one of Arthur's foresters and brings news of
the stag.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: marvelous quarry
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The stag is described as unlike any seen before and becomes the object of
the planned hunt.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: court proposer of trophy rule
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Gwalchmai asks Arthur to allow the successful hunter to cut off the stag's
head and give it to a chosen lady.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: chief porter
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The passage names Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr as the chief porter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: chief huntsman
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The passage names Arryfuerys as Arthur's chief huntsman when arrangements
for the hunt are made.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: chief page
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The passage names Arelivri as Arthur's chief page when arrangements for the
hunt are made.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:10
label: festival retinue and hunting assembly
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The court gathers at Caerlleon and later comes together to take the road
to the forest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: pure white stag
literal_form: A pure white stag, solitary and royal in bearing, seen in the Forest
of Dean.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: stag's head as gift
literal_form: The head of the hunted stag, to be cut off and given to a lady-love
or a friend's lady.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: festival court at Caerlleon
literal_form: Arthur's Whitsuntide court at Caerlleon upon Usk, attended by tributary
kings and nobles.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: hunting horns
literal_form: Two horns sounding near the lodgings of the chief huntsman and chief
page before the company departs.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: thirteen churches
literal_form: Thirteen churches appointed for mass at Arthur's court, divided among
royal, female, household, and other groups.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Arthur's Whitsuntide court at Caerlleon
summary: Arthur holds a high festival court at Caerlleon, attended by tributary
kings, nobles, household officers, and guests, with churches assigned for mass.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: The forester reports the white stag
summary: During the banquet, Madawc son of Twrgadarn enters, identifies himself
as Arthur's forester, and reports seeing a unique pure white stag in the Forest
of Dean.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: The hunt is ordered and its prize rule is set
summary: Arthur orders the stag hunted at daybreak, Gwenhwyvar asks to observe,
and Gwalchmai proposes that the successful hunter may give the stag's head to
a chosen lady; Arthur agrees.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Morning departure for the forest
summary: After a night of entertainment, Arthur is dressed in the morning, leaves
Gwenhwyvar sleeping, hears two horns, and departs with the assembled company toward
the forest.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: marvelous white animal initiating a royal hunt
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
- departure
basis: A forester reports an unmatched pure white stag with royal bearing; Arthur
orders the court to hunt it at daybreak and the assembly departs for the forest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage establishes the hunt's departure but does not yet describe
the outcome or any explicit supernatural role for the stag.
- id: motif:2
label: courtly trophy awarded through the hunt
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Gwalchmai proposes that the person who cuts off the stag's head may give
it to his own lady-love or to the lady of a friend, and Arthur grants the rule.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The exchange is courtly and ceremonial in this passage; no explicit sacred
status is assigned to the trophy.
- id: motif:3
label: royal festival assembly before an adventure
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- departure
basis: The narrative opens with Arthur's high festival court, tributary kings and
nobles, formal arrangements, and then a messenger whose report leads to a collective
departure.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents courtly order and departure, but any larger adventure
structure must be confirmed from following passages.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 2612-2631
quote_or_summary: Arthur holds Whitsuntide court at Caerlleon upon Usk; nine crowned
tributary kings and nobles attend; thirteen churches are assigned for mass among
Arthur, Gwenhwyvar, household officials, and others.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 2632-2645
quote_or_summary: Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr is named chief porter, seven guards are listed,
and a tall fair-haired youth in satin with a golden-hilted sword enters the banquet
and stands before Arthur.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 2646-2658
quote_or_summary: 'Madawc identifies himself as Arthur''s forester in the Forest
of Dean and says of the stag: "He is of pure white" and does not herd with other
animals because of stateliness, pride, and royal bearing.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt quoted.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 2659-2667
quote_or_summary: Arthur decides to hunt the stag at daybreak, orders notice throughout
the court, names the chief huntsman and chief page, and grants Gwenhwyvar permission
to see and hear the hunt.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 2668-2673
quote_or_summary: Gwalchmai asks that whoever the stag comes to may cut off its
head and give it to his lady-love or to a friend's lady; Arthur grants the request
and orders readiness for the chase.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 2674-2683
quote_or_summary: The court passes the night with entertainment; in the morning
Arthur is dressed, does not wake Gwenhwyvar, hears two horns sounding, and the
whole assembly takes the road to the forest.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal events and named figures are explicit in the passage. Motif labels
are cautious because the selected lines begin the hunt episode but do not include
its resolution.
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 text.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l2612-l2683
passage_sha256=5f84ed6c81f850c640510ee3b606d79c95a9fb5ff0ec01a58b37e6cd6bf3ed17