batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l4023-l4092
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l4023-l4092
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 4023-4092
start: '4023'
end: '4092'
translation: The Mabinogion
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: A lady asks the king why he concealed his children; the king summons his
son. The youth's stepmother declares that he will not have a wife until he obtains
Olwen, daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr, and the youth immediately feels love for
her though he has never seen her. His father tells him to go to his cousin Arthur,
have his hair cut, and ask for the boon. The youth rides richly equipped toward
Arthur's palace. At the gate, Arthur's porter refuses immediate entry because
of the palace laws and offers hospitality in the guest chamber; the youth refuses
and threatens disgrace and harmful shouts, after which the porter says he must
first speak with Arthur.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The lady returns home joyfully and asks her consort why he has concealed his
children from her.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The king says he will no longer conceal the children and sends messengers
to bring his son to court.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The stepmother tells the youth that it would be good for him to have a wife
and says she has a daughter sought by renowned men.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The stepmother declares that the youth is destined not to be suited with a
wife until he obtains Olwen, daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:5
text: The youth blushes and feels love for Olwen throughout his body although he
has never seen her.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:6
text: The youth's father says Arthur is the youth's cousin and instructs him to
go to Arthur, have his hair cut, and ask the matter as a boon.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:7
text: The youth rides toward Arthur's palace on a richly described grey-dappled
steed with gold tack.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:8
text: The youth carries two silver spears, a gold-hilted sword with a gold blade
and inlaid cross, and an ivory war-horn.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:9
text: Two white-breasted brindled greyhounds with ruby collars move about the youth
as he rides.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:10
text: A purple four-cornered cloth with a golden apple at each corner is about the
youth, and his shoes and stirrups are richly ornamented with gold.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:11
text: The youth's horse is described as treading so lightly that the grass does
not bend beneath it.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:12
text: At Arthur's gate, the youth asks for a porter and demands that the portal
be opened.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:13
text: The porter refuses immediate entry, citing the laws of Arthur's palace and
the feast inside, and says only certain privileged persons or craftsmen may enter.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:14
text: The porter offers refreshment for the youth's dogs and horses and food, wine,
songs, a couch, and later first entry into Arthur's hall.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:15
text: The youth refuses the offered arrangement and threatens disgrace to Arthur
and the porter if the gate is not opened.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:16
text: The youth threatens to utter three deadly shouts at the gate, with harmful
effects on pregnant and non-pregnant women in the palace.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:17
text: Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr says the youth may not enter against Arthur's palace laws
until he first speaks with Arthur.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: the lady
description: A woman who returns home joyfully and asks her consort why his children
were concealed from her; she is also called the youth's stepmother in the passage.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: the king / the youth's father
description: The lady's consort and father of the youth; he summons his son and
advises him to seek Arthur's aid.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: the youth
description: The king's son, richly equipped rider, Arthur's cousin, and seeker
of Olwen.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Olwen
description: Daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr; named by the stepmother as the woman
the youth must obtain before he can have a wife.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Yspaddaden Penkawr
description: Named as Olwen's father.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Arthur
description: The youth's cousin and lord of the palace whose boon the youth is advised
to seek.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr / Arthur's porter
description: The porter at Arthur's palace who refuses entry under palace law and
says he must speak with Arthur first.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Huandaw, Gogigwc, Llaeskenym, and Pennpingyon
description: Named as persons who fill the office of Arthur's porter during other
parts of the year.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: stepmother and marriage proclaimer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: She tells the youth it would be good to have a wife and declares the condition
involving Olwen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: fatherly adviser
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: He summons his son and directs him to seek Arthur for the boon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: questing youth
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He is told to obtain Olwen and rides toward Arthur's palace to seek aid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: threshold challenger
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: At Arthur's gate he refuses delayed hospitality and threatens shouts if the
gate is not opened.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: destined bride sought by the youth
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The stepmother says the youth will not have a wife until he obtains Olwen,
and the youth immediately loves her without seeing her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: father of the sought woman
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The passage identifies Olwen as daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:7
label: kinsman and prospective boon-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The father says Arthur is the youth's cousin and tells the youth to ask him
for the boon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:8
label: gatekeeper enforcing palace law
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The porter refuses entry until he has spoken with Arthur and cites the laws
of Arthur's palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: richly equipped steed
literal_form: Grey-dappled horse with linked-gold bridle, costly gold saddle, and
extremely light tread.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: heroic weapons
literal_form: Two silver spears, a gold-hilted sword with gold blade and inlaid
cross, and an ivory war-horn.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: paired greyhounds
literal_form: Two brindled white-breasted greyhounds with ruby collars moving about
the youth.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: purple cloth with golden apples
literal_form: A four-cornered purple cloth with a golden apple at each corner, each
apple valued at one hundred kine.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: Arthur's palace gate
literal_form: The portal where the youth confronts Arthur's porter and is denied
immediate entry.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: three deadly shouts
literal_form: The youth's threatened three shouts at the gate, said to cause miscarriage
and future barrenness among women in the palace.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:7
label: palace feast and hospitality
literal_form: Meat, drink in the horn, revelry in Arthur's hall, and offered food,
wine, songs, couch, and animal refreshment in the guest chamber.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Marriage destiny declared at court
summary: The lady questions the king about concealed children; the king summons
his son, and the stepmother declares that the youth cannot be suited with a wife
until he obtains Olwen, daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Counsel to seek Arthur's boon
summary: After the youth reports the stepmother's declaration, his father tells
him that Arthur is his cousin and advises him to go to Arthur, have his hair cut,
and ask the matter as a boon.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:3
label: Ornate ride toward Arthur's palace
summary: The youth rides toward Arthur's palace with a richly adorned horse, weapons,
greyhounds, purple cloth, golden apples, and gold ornaments.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:4
label: Gate refusal and threat
summary: At Arthur's gate, the porter refuses immediate entry under palace law and
offers guest hospitality; the youth refuses, threatens disgrace and deadly shouts,
and the porter says he must speak with Arthur first.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Love for an unseen destined bride
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
- mystical_quest
basis: The youth is told that he cannot have a wife until he obtains Olwen, and
he immediately loves her though he has never seen her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not identify Olwen as divine; the taxonomy link is functional
and tentative.
- id: motif:2
label: Departure to seek a royal kinsman's boon
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- sacred_exchange
basis: The father tells the youth that Arthur is his cousin and instructs him to
go to Arthur and ask for the matter as a boon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The boon is anticipated rather than granted within this passage.
- id: motif:3
label: Heroic arrival with wondrous equipment
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- royal_legitimacy
basis: The youth's horse, weapons, dogs, cloth, apples, and gold ornaments are described
in lavish and extraordinary terms as he approaches Arthur's palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: Royal legitimacy is suggested by courtly wealth and kinship but not explicitly
argued in the passage.
- id: motif:4
label: Gatekeeper blocks entry to the ruler's hall
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
- trickster_boundary
basis: Arthur's porter denies entry under palace law and requires speaking with
Arthur before allowing the youth into the hall.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage shows a threshold confrontation, but does not complete an
initiation sequence here.
- id: motif:5
label: Threatened shout with reproductive harm
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The youth threatens three deadly shouts at the palace gate that would cause
pregnant women to lose offspring and others to become unable to bear children.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches this motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 4023-4038
quote_or_summary: The lady asks the king about concealed children; the king summons
his son; the stepmother declares that the youth must obtain Olwen, daughter of
Yspaddaden Penkawr, and the father directs him to seek Arthur's boon.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 4039-4069
quote_or_summary: The youth rides toward Arthur's palace on a richly adorned steed,
carrying silver spears, a gold sword, and an ivory horn, accompanied by two greyhounds
and wearing or bearing purple cloth, golden apples, and other gold ornaments.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 4070-4084
quote_or_summary: At Arthur's gate the youth asks for the portal to be opened; the
porter refuses under the laws of Arthur's palace, describes the feast inside,
and offers hospitality in the guest chamber instead.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 4085-4092
quote_or_summary: The youth refuses delayed entry and threatens disgrace and three
deadly shouts affecting the palace women; Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr replies that entry
must wait until he speaks with Arthur.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is based directly on the supplied passage. Motif labels
are candidate classifications and need human review, especially where taxonomy
references are approximate.
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 external sources or unstated comparisons were used.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l4023-l4092
passage_sha256=d2ab47ac420b44b9c1f82802b6b9a504d6f44b7bd10755847bdfe2ebc25b9295