batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l6075-l6159
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l6075-l6159
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
passage_locator:
label: PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC / GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN / THE DREAM OF RHONABWY
/ PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED; lines 6075-6159
start: '6075'
end: '6159'
translation: The Mabinogion
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Pwyll and his companions repeatedly see a lady riding past near a mound.
Pursuit on swift horses cannot overtake her, though she appears to keep the same
pace. On the third day Pwyll calls to her to stop, and she does so. She reveals
herself as Rhiannon, daughter of Heveydd Hên, says she came seeking Pwyll because
she loves him and refuses an unwanted husband, and asks him to pledge to meet
her in a year at her father's palace. Pwyll agrees, later arrives with a hundred
knights, and is joyfully received.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A rider pursues the lady across an open level plain, but the more he urges
his horse, the farther she is from him, although she appears to keep the same
pace.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Pwyll interprets the failed pursuit as involving some kind of illusion.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: On the following day a young man on the swiftest horse available again fails
to overtake the lady, who rides in the same apparel, on the same horse, along
the same road, and at the same pace.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: On the third day Pwyll himself follows the lady but cannot get nearer to her
by increasing his horse's speed.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: When Pwyll asks the maiden to stay for him, she stops and says it would have
been better for his horse if he had asked earlier.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The maiden uncovers her face, looks at Pwyll, and speaks with him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The maiden says her chief quest was to seek Pwyll and identifies herself as
Rhiannon, daughter of Heveydd Hên.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Rhiannon says others sought to give her to a husband against her will, but
she would not have a husband because of her love for Pwyll unless Pwyll rejects
her.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Pwyll says that if he could choose among all ladies and damsels in the world,
he would choose Rhiannon.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Rhiannon asks Pwyll to pledge to meet her before she is given to another,
naming the palace of Heveydd one year later as the meeting place and promising
a feast.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: After a year Pwyll travels with a hundred knights to the palace of Heveydd
Hên, where he is received with joy and preparations.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Pwyll
description: A lord who observes and pursues the lady, speaks with her, agrees to
her tryst, and later travels to Heveydd Hên's palace with a hundred knights.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Rhiannon
description: A maiden or lady riding past on horseback, later identified as Rhiannon,
daughter of Heveydd Hên, who came seeking Pwyll and refused an unwanted husband.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: First pursuer
description: An unnamed rider who takes a horse and fails to overtake the lady.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Young man
description: An unnamed young man sent by Pwyll on the second day with the swiftest
horse to learn who the lady is; he fails to overtake her.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Pwyll's hosts and household
description: The group accompanying Pwyll to the mound and later present when he
returns from speaking with the damsel.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:11
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Heveydd Hên
description: Rhiannon's father, whose palace is named as the place of the future
meeting.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Unnamed unwanted husband
description: A husband to whom others sought to give Rhiannon against her will.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Hundred knights
description: The hundred knights whom Pwyll causes to equip themselves and take
him to Heveydd Hên's palace.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: lord and suitor
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Pwyll commands attendants, pursues the lady, accepts her love, and chooses
her among all women.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:2
label: elusive mounted lady
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Rhiannon appears repeatedly on horseback and cannot be overtaken by riders
until verbally asked to stop.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: self-choosing beloved
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Rhiannon says she came seeking Pwyll, loves him, and refuses the husband
chosen for her unless Pwyll rejects her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: pledged guest at future feast
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Pwyll pledges to meet Rhiannon at Heveydd's palace in a year and later arrives
there with knights.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:5
label: failed pursuer
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
basis: Both unnamed riders attempt to follow the lady and report that pursuit does
not avail.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: father of Rhiannon and palace-holder
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Rhiannon names herself as daughter of Heveydd Hên and directs Pwyll to his
palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:7
label: unwanted prospective husband
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Rhiannon says others sought to give her to a husband against her will and
asks Pwyll to meet her before she is given to another.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:8
label: retinue
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Pwyll has a hundred knights equip themselves and accompany him to Heveydd
Hên's palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: mound
literal_form: top of the mound where Pwyll and his party sit and watch the lady
pass
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: swift but ineffective horse
literal_form: horses used in the attempts to overtake the lady, including the swiftest
horse known and Pwyll's own horse
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: veiled or covered face
literal_form: the part of the maiden's headdress covering her face, which she throws
back before speaking
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: deferred feast at Heveydd's palace
literal_form: a feast to be prepared at the palace of Heveydd for Pwyll's arrival
one year later
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: one-year tryst
literal_form: the appointed meeting this day twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: First failed pursuit on the plain
summary: An unnamed rider follows the lady across an open plain but cannot overtake
her despite urging a swift horse; Pwyll says there must be an illusion.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Second failed pursuit from the mound
summary: Pwyll's party returns to the mound, sees the same lady on the same road,
and sends a young man on a swift horse; he also fails to draw nearer to her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Pwyll calls the maiden to stop
summary: On the third day Pwyll pursues the lady himself, cannot overtake her by
speed, and succeeds only when he asks her to stay for him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Rhiannon reveals her purpose
summary: The maiden uncovers her face, speaks with Pwyll, identifies herself as
Rhiannon, says she came seeking him because she loves him and rejects an unwanted
husband, and receives Pwyll's answer that he chooses her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:5
label: Pledge and arrival at Heveydd's palace
summary: Rhiannon asks Pwyll to meet her in one year at Heveydd's palace before
she is given to another; he agrees, and after a year arrives with a hundred knights
to a joyful reception and preparations.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: elusive supernatural or wondrous rider cannot be overtaken by speed
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: The lady repeatedly appears to ride at the same pace, yet swift horses cannot
overtake her; Pwyll suspects illusion, and she stops only when addressed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage uses Pwyll's word 'illusion' but does not explicitly state
the rider is supernatural.
- id: motif:2
label: beloved arrives to choose the hero and evade an unwanted marriage
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
- sacred_marriage
basis: Rhiannon says her chief quest was to seek Pwyll, declares love for him, rejects
a husband chosen against her will, and asks him to pledge a future meeting before
she is given to another.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage supports a chosen-betrothal pattern, but does not itself call
the union sacred or divine.
- id: motif:3
label: pledged tryst at a future feast
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Rhiannon asks Pwyll to make a pledge to meet her in a year at Heveydd's palace,
where she will have a feast prepared; Pwyll later arrives to public rejoicing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The pledge and feast are explicit, but any ritual or sacred meaning is
not stated in the passage.
- id: motif:4
label: questing encounter initiated at a mound
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: Pwyll and his party repeatedly sit on a mound to observe the passing lady,
and the encounter leads to Rhiannon's declared quest to seek him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
confidence: low
cautions: The passage names the mound as a location but does not explain its special
status.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 6075-6082
quote_or_summary: An unnamed rider pursues the lady across an open plain; the more
he urges his horse, the farther she is from him, though she keeps the same pace,
and his horse fails.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: 6083-6085
quote_or_summary: Pwyll says, "there must be some illusion here."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 6086-6115
quote_or_summary: The next day Pwyll's party returns to the mound; the lady appears
in the same manner, and a young man on the swiftest horse cannot overtake her
despite increasing speed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 6116-6128
quote_or_summary: On the third day Pwyll waits at the mound, mounts his horse as
the lady passes, follows her, and cannot come nearer even at utmost speed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: 6128-6130
quote_or_summary: Pwyll asks the maiden to stay for him; she replies that she will
gladly stay and that it would have been better for his horse had he asked earlier.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation/summarized speech from supplied
passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 6130-6133
quote_or_summary: The maiden stops, throws back the part of her headdress covering
her face, fixes her eyes on Pwyll, and begins to talk with him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 6134-6142
quote_or_summary: The maiden says she journeys on her own errand, is glad to see
Pwyll, says her chief quest was to seek him, and identifies herself as Rhiannon,
daughter of Heveydd Hên.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 6142-6146
quote_or_summary: Rhiannon says others sought to give her to a husband against her
will, but she would have no husband because of her love for Pwyll unless he rejects
her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 6146-6149
quote_or_summary: Pwyll answers that if he could choose among all ladies and damsels
in the world, he would choose Rhiannon.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 6149-6155
quote_or_summary: Rhiannon asks Pwyll to pledge to meet her before she is given
to another, appointing a meeting one year later at Heveydd's palace and promising
a feast; Pwyll agrees.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 6155-6159
quote_or_summary: After a year Pwyll goes with a hundred knights to Heveydd Hên's
palace, where there is joy, a crowd, rejoicing, and preparations for his coming.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is strong because the passage directly describes the repeated
pursuits, Rhiannon's self-identification, and the pledge. Motif labels are candidate
interpretations and should be reviewed, especially taxonomy mappings to divine_beloved,
sacred_marriage, and sacred_exchange.
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 supplied passage does not itself support a comparison to another corpus or tradition.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l6075-l6159
passage_sha256=a521d17680179dc529faa09fe3fa80a622f77f6e2cd453edbe545fe19b43a589