batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l3844-l3928
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l3844-l3928
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 3844-3928
start: '3844'
end: '3928'
translation: The Mabinogion
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Geraint retrieves his horse, places Enid with him, and is pursued. The
pursuing knight proves to be the Little King, who brings Geraint to a nearby palace
for medical care and armour repair. Later Geraint, Enid, and companions reach
a fork where a man warns that the lower road leads to a hedge of mist, enchanted
games, and no return. Geraint chooses that road, is received at Earl Owain's court,
insists on going to the games, and comes to a high hedge set with many human heads,
where he must enter alone.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Geraint asks about the horses, retrieves his own horse from a house, mounts
it, and places Enid on the horse with him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Geraint and Enid travel on a road between two hedges as night approaches.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: They see spear shafts and hear horses and a host approaching from behind.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: A knight rides toward Geraint with couched lance; after Enid speaks, the knight
identifies Geraint and names himself the Little King, come to assist.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The Little King advises Geraint to come to a nearby court where he can receive
medical assistance.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Geraint is treated by physicians until well, and the Little King has his armour
repaired.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: At a fork in the main road, a man says one road is best because the other
leads to a place from which no one returns.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The dangerous road is described as leading to a hedge of mist containing enchanted
games and the court of Earl Owain.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Geraint declares that the group will take the lower road despite the warning.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: A young man tells the travelers that people of gentle birth may not lodge
in the town unless they stay at the owner's court.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: At Earl Owain's hall, Geraint sits near the Earl and Enid, and he initially
does not eat because he is thinking about the games.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: Earl Owain offers to release Geraint and others of his rank from going to
the games, but Geraint says he wishes to go.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:13
text: Geraint calls for his horse and armour, arms himself and his horse, and goes
with the hosts to the side of the hedge.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:14
text: The hedge is extremely high, and every stake except two bears a man's head.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:15
text: Earl Owain says that no one may enter with Geraint and that Geraint must enter
by whichever way seems easiest.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Geraint
description: A chieftain who is wounded, receives aid, chooses the lower road, and
insists on going to the enchanted games.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Enid
description: Geraint's companion; she is placed on his horse, warns the approaching
knight not to slay a dead man, and travels with the group.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The Little King / Gwiffert
description: A knight and ruler who comes to assist Geraint, advises him to seek
medical care, arranges armour repair, and later asks the man at the road about
his origin.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Man on foot
description: A man met at the divided road who warns about the road leading to the
hedge of mist, enchanted games, and non-return.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Earl Owain
description: Owner of the court by the enchanted games; he receives Geraint, regrets
the danger of the games, offers to exempt Geraint, and says Geraint must enter
alone.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Young man / page
description: A young man who greets the travelers in the town and tells them they
must come to the court.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Physicians
description: Medical practitioners summoned to attend Geraint until he is well.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Countess
description: A woman seated next to Geraint at Earl Owain's hall.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: wounded protagonist
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Geraint is described as needing medical assistance and is attended until
perfectly well.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: voluntary challenger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Geraint chooses the lower road and later states that he wishes to go to the
games.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: companion and recognizer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Enid travels with Geraint and identifies him to the approaching knight.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: rescuer ally
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Little King says he has come to Geraint's assistance and provides a route
to medical aid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: provider of restoration
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Little King arranges for Geraint's armour to be repaired while Geraint
is under care.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: roadside warner
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The man explains which road is dangerous and says no one returns from the
place below.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: host and guardian of dangerous custom
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Earl Owain owns the court associated with the games, receives the travelers,
and states the rule that Geraint must enter alone.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: summoning page
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The young man tells the travelers they must go to the court rather than lodge
in town.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: healers
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The physicians attend Geraint until he is well.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: horse
literal_form: Geraint's horse and a squire's horse used to transport Geraint and
Enid
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: road between hedges
literal_form: Road bordered by two hedges where pursuit is seen and heard
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: divided road
literal_form: A place where the main road divides into two roads
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: hedge of mist
literal_form: A hedge of mist below the travelers, enclosing enchanted games
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: enchanted games
literal_form: Games within the hedge of mist from which no one who has gone there
has returned
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: repaired armour
literal_form: Geraint's armour repaired until as good as before
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:7
label: heads on stakes
literal_form: Human heads on nearly every stake of the high hedge
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: high hedge entrance
literal_form: A lofty hedge reached by the hosts, into which Geraint must enter
alone
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Flight, pursuit, and recognition
summary: Geraint retrieves his horse, carries Enid onward, hears an approaching
host, and is confronted by a knight who proves to be the Little King coming to
help.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Healing and restoration at the palace
summary: The Little King brings Geraint and Enid to a palace where Geraint receives
hospitality, medical treatment, and repaired armour.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Choice at the divided road
summary: At a fork, a man warns that the lower way leads to a hedge of mist, enchanted
games, and non-return, but Geraint chooses that road.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Reception at Earl Owain's court
summary: The travelers lodge in the town but are summoned to Earl Owain's court,
where they are received, seated, and fed; Geraint thinks of the games and insists
on going.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Approach to the head-lined hedge
summary: Geraint arms himself and is led with the hosts to a very high hedge covered
with many heads; he is told that no one may enter with him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Perilous road chosen despite warning
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- mystical_quest
basis: A roadside figure warns that one road leads to a place from which no one
returns, yet Geraint declares that he will take that lower road.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the choice and warning but does not yet narrate the
outcome of the journey beyond arrival at the hedge.
- id: motif:2
label: Enchanted trial place of no return
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
- initiation
basis: The lower road leads to a hedge of mist containing enchanted games, and the
man says that no one who has gone there has ever returned.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The precise nature of the games is not described in this passage.
- id: motif:3
label: Hero restored before ordeal
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Before the later trial, Geraint is healed by physicians and his armour is
restored to its former condition.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly state that the healing is ritually preparatory;
the link is based on narrative sequence.
- id: motif:4
label: Boundary marked by slain predecessors
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: The high hedge near the games bears human heads on nearly every stake, indicating
prior deaths at the boundary Geraint is about to enter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not identify the heads or directly state that they are
previous challengers.
- id: motif:5
label: Solitary entry into dangerous enclosure
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
- mystical_quest
basis: When the party reaches the high hedge, Earl Owain says that no one may enter
with Geraint and that Geraint must choose his own entry way.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage ends before Geraint enters or undergoes the trial.
- id: motif:6
label: Hospitality before perilous custom
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Earl Owain receives the travelers with feasting and gifts before the dangerous
games are addressed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The hospitality is explicit, but the taxonomy link is broad and should
be reviewed.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 3844-3853
quote_or_summary: Geraint learns where his horse is, retrieves it, mounts, places
Enid on it with him, and rides on a road between two hedges as night approaches.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 3853-3873
quote_or_summary: They see spears and hear a host behind them; a knight rides at
Geraint with lance, but after Enid speaks he identifies himself as the Little
King, says he has come to assist, and advises Geraint to seek medical help at
a nearby court.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 3873-3882
quote_or_summary: At the palace the travelers receive hospitality; physicians attend
Geraint until he is well, and the Little King has Geraint's armour repaired; they
remain there a fortnight and a month.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 3883-3903
quote_or_summary: The party reaches a fork; a man on foot warns that one road leads
below to a hedge of mist, enchanted games, and the court of Earl Owain, and that
no one who has gone there has returned; Geraint chooses the lower road.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 3903-3912
quote_or_summary: In the town a young man says the owner does not permit gentle-born
visitors to lodge there unless they stay at his court, and the travelers go with
the page.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 3912-3920
quote_or_summary: Earl Owain receives the party, seats them in order, notices Geraint
not eating because of the games, offers to exempt him and others of his rank,
but Geraint says he wishes to go and be shown the way.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 3920-3928
quote_or_summary: After feasting, Geraint arms himself and his horse; the hosts
go to a very high hedge with a man's head on every stake except two, and Earl
Owain says no one may enter with Geraint.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif labels are candidate
classifications and require human review, especially broad taxonomy assignments.
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 supports internal motif candidates but does not itself establish a comparison to another text or tradition.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l3844-l3928
passage_sha256=7fb35f03f25f660ad5948c1977a9398adac4556326eca39d59accb187f11ff4f