batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l5389-l5450
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l5389-l5450
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
passage_locator:
label: THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN / PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC / GERAINT THE SON OF
ERBIN / THE DREAM OF RHONABWY; lines 5389-5450
start: '5389'
end: '5450'
translation: The Mabinogion
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage opens “The Dream of Rhonabwy.” Madawc rules Powys while his
brother Iorwerth resents his lesser rank, refuses an offered office, and raids
Loegria. Madawc sends men to seek him. Rhonabwy and two companions arrive at a
poor, smoky, filthy hall, receive meagre hospitality, and attempt to sleep during
a storm. Rhonabwy finally lies on a yellow calf-skin on the floor and sleeps.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Madawc possesses Powys, while his brother Iorwerth is of lesser rank and feels
sorrow because he does not share Madawc’s honour and power.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Madawc offers Iorwerth the role of Master of the Household with horses, arms,
honour, and comparable fare, but Iorwerth refuses.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Iorwerth makes an inroad into Loegria, killing inhabitants, burning houses,
and carrying away prisoners.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Madawc and the men of Powys determine to place one hundred men in each of
three commots to seek Iorwerth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Rhonabwy, Kynwrig Vrychgoch, and Cadwgan Vras come to the house of Heilyn
Goch.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The house is described as an old black hall with an upright gable, great smoke,
puddles, mounds, mire, and browsed holly boughs on the floor.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Inside are dusty, gloomy cells; an old hag makes a smoky fire by casting chaff
upon it.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: A yellow calf-skin lies on the floor, and the passage states it is a main
privilege for anyone to get upon that hide.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: When asked where the people of the house are, the hag does not speak plainly
but mutters.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: 'The household enters: a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man with faggots, and
a pale slender woman carrying a bundle.'
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: The household barely welcomes the men, kindles a fire, and gives them barley
bread, cheese, and milk and water.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: A storm of wind and rain arises, making it hardly possible to go outside safely.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:13
text: The travelers’ couch is uncomfortable, dusty, verminous, ragged, and worn.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:14
text: Rhonabwy’s companions fall into heavy sleep, while Rhonabwy cannot sleep or
rest until he lies on the yellow calf-skin.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Madawc son of Maredudd
description: Possessor of Powys and brother of Iorwerth.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Iorwerth son of Maredudd
description: Madawc’s brother, lower in rank, resentful of Madawc’s honour and power,
and later raider of Loegria.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Rhonabwy
description: One of the men on the quest to seek Iorwerth; he comes to Heilyn Goch’s
house and sleeps on the yellow calf-skin.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Kynwrig Vrychgoch
description: A man of Mawddwy and companion of Rhonabwy on the quest.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Cadwgan Vras
description: A man of Moelvre in Kynlleith and companion of Rhonabwy on the quest.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: old hag
description: An old woman in the house who makes a smoky fire and mutters rather
than answering clearly.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: ruddy clownish man of the house
description: A ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man who enters carrying faggots.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: pale slender woman of the house
description: A pale slender woman who enters carrying a bundle and cooks food for
the visitors.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: men of Powys
description: Men who counsel Madawc and help arrange the search for Iorwerth.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: ruler of Powys
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Madawc is said to possess Powys within its boundaries.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: elder or higher-ranking brother
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Iorwerth is described as Madawc’s brother and not equal to him in rank.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: resentful lower-ranking brother
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Iorwerth feels sorrow and heaviness because he lacks the honour and power
Madawc enjoys.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: raider
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Iorwerth raids Loegria, killing, burning houses, and carrying off prisoners.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: search-party traveler
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: Rhonabwy and his companions are among the men on the quest to seek Iorwerth
and travel to Heilyn Goch’s house.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: sleeper on privileged hide
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Rhonabwy cannot sleep on the couch, moves to the yellow calf-skin, and sleeps
there.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: silent or muttering hearth woman
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The hag tends the fire and mutters rather than speaking when questioned.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: poor host household
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: The man and woman enter the house, barely welcome the visitors, kindle a
fire, and provide food.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: council and search organizers
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The men of Powys counsel Madawc and determine the deployment of searchers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: yellow calf-skin
literal_form: yellow calf-skin on the floor
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: sym:2
label: smoky fire
literal_form: fire fed with chaff and kindled with boughs
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: water and mire in the hall
literal_form: puddles, water, dirt, and cattle mire on the floor
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: milk and water meal
literal_form: barley bread, cheese, and milk and water
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- milk
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: storm of wind and rain
literal_form: storm of wind and rain outside the house
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: browsed holly boughs
literal_form: holly boughs spread over the floor after cattle have browsed the sprigs
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Fraternal grievance and refusal of office
summary: Iorwerth resents Madawc’s higher rank and refuses Madawc’s offer of a household
office with honour and resources.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Raid and search order
summary: Iorwerth raids Loegria, and Madawc with the men of Powys organizes a large
search for him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Arrival at the poor smoky hall
summary: Rhonabwy and two companions reach Heilyn Goch’s house and find a black,
smoky, muddy, uncomfortable hall.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Meagre hospitality
summary: The visitors encounter the hag and household, receive a poor welcome, and
are given simple food and drink.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Storm, discomfort, and sleep on the hide
summary: During a storm, the travelers try to sleep on a wretched couch; Rhonabwy
moves to the privileged yellow calf-skin and sleeps.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Fraternal resentment leading to violence
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A lower-ranking brother resents the honour and power of his brother, refuses
compensation, and then commits a violent raid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives political and familial conflict but no explicit mythic
interpretation.
- id: motif:2
label: Search for a violent kinsman
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Madawc sends men across Powys to seek Iorwerth after his raid; Rhonabwy is
one of the searchers who travels as part of this effort.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference is broad; the passage describes a search mission
rather than a fully developed departure cycle.
- id: motif:3
label: Poor lodging before significant sleep
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rhonabwy and companions lodge in a filthy, smoky house during a storm and
attempt to sleep on an uncomfortable couch before Rhonabwy sleeps on a special
hide.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The subsequent dream content is not included in this passage; significance
is limited here to the title and sleep episode.
- id: motif:4
label: Privileged hide as sleep-place
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The yellow calf-skin is singled out as a privileged place, and Rhonabwy sleeps
only after moving onto it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not explain why the hide is privileged.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 5389-5398
quote_or_summary: Madawc possesses Powys; his brother Iorwerth is lower in rank,
grieves over Madawc’s honour and power, seeks counsel, and refuses Madawc’s offer
to become Master of the Household with horses, arms, honour, and equal fare.
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: 5399-5409
quote_or_summary: Iorwerth raids Loegria, killing inhabitants, burning houses, and
taking prisoners; Madawc and the men of Powys decide to station one hundred men
in each of three commots to seek him.
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: 5410-5417
quote_or_summary: Rhonabwy, Kynwrig Vrychgoch, and Cadwgan Vras come to Heilyn Goch’s
house and see an old black smoky hall with puddles, mounds, mire, ankle-deep water
and dirt, and browsed holly boughs on the floor.
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: 5417-5425
quote_or_summary: Inside the house are dusty gloomy cells; an old hag makes a smoky
fire with chaff; on the other side lies a yellow calf-skin, described as a main
privilege for anyone who gets upon it.
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: 5426-5433
quote_or_summary: The visitors ask the hag about the people of the house; she mutters.
A ruddy man with faggots and a pale slender woman with a bundle enter, barely
welcome them, kindle a fire, and provide barley bread, cheese, and milk and water.
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: 5434-5442
quote_or_summary: A storm of wind and rain makes going out unsafe. The weary travelers
lie down on a couch of coarse dusty straw with vermin, protruding bough stems,
a ragged rug, slit sheet, poor pillow, and worn cover.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 5443-5450
quote_or_summary: Rhonabwy’s companions fall into heavy sleep after discomfort from
vermin and the couch; Rhonabwy cannot sleep or rest, moves to the yellow calf-skin
on the floor, and sleeps there.
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: high
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward. Motif identification is cautious because
this passage mainly sets up the dream and gives limited interpretive context.
No comparison claims were made because the passage itself does not support a specific
comparison.
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: |-
Used only supplied passage text and metadata. Taxonomy refs applied only where directly supported by available taxonomy and passage elements.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l5389-l5450
passage_sha256=2a8ed7f658c25b767a9f789b63b91a1fc45ba251623a244c151e50aab0482ade