batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l8432-l8528
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l8432-l8528
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
passage_locator:
label: THE DREAM OF RHONABWY / PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED / THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG
/ HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS; lines 8432-8528
start: '8432'
end: '8528'
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 story of Lludd and Llevelys. Beli''s son Lludd inherits
Britain, prospers, rebuilds London, and favors his wise brother Llevelys. Llevelys
marries the heiress of France and becomes king there. Three plagues afflict Britain:
the all-hearing Coranians, a May-eve shriek that terrifies people and makes nature
barren, and the nightly disappearance of provisions. Lludd secretly seeks Llevelys''s
counsel. The brothers meet at sea, overcome a demonically obstructed brass horn
by washing it with wine, and Llevelys gives instructions for using insects bruised
in water to poison the Coranians without harming Lludd''s own people.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Beli the Great is described as having sons including Lludd and Llevelys; after
Beli's death, Lludd, the eldest son, receives the kingdom of Britain.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Lludd rules prosperously, rebuilds the walls of London, surrounds it with
many towers, and the city is associated with his name as Caer Lludd before later
being called London or Lwndrys.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Lludd loves Llevelys best among his brothers because Llevelys is wise and
discreet.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Llevelys seeks Lludd's counsel about going to France to woo the late king's
daughter, who has inherited the king's possessions.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Llevelys goes to France with ships and armed knights; the maiden and the crown
are given to him, and he rules France wisely and happily.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The first plague in Britain is the Coranians, whose knowledge allows them
to hear any discourse on the island if the wind meets it.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The second plague is a shriek on every May-eve over every hearth in Britain,
causing terror, loss of strength or senses, miscarriage, and barrenness among
animals, trees, earth, and waters.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The third plague is the disappearance of prepared provisions in the king's
courts after the first night, however much food and drink has been gathered.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Lludd feels sorrow over the plagues, consults the nobles of his kingdom, and
goes secretly by fleet to Llevelys in France for counsel.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Lludd and Llevelys meet at sea, each approaching in a single ship, and greet
each other with brotherly embraces.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: To keep the wind and the Coranians from hearing them, the brothers try to
speak through a long brass horn, but the horn transmits harsh and hostile words
instead.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: Llevelys identifies a demon as the obstruction in the horn and has wine put
into the horn; through the wine's virtue, the demon is driven out.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:13
text: Llevelys gives Lludd insects, instructing him to keep some for breeding and
bruise others in water to make a charmed water that will poison the Coranians
but not Lludd's own people when cast over a joint assembly.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Beli the Great
description: Father of Lludd, Caswallawn, Nynyaw, and according to the story Llevelys;
his death precedes Lludd's succession in Britain.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Lludd son of Beli
description: Eldest son of Beli, king of Britain, prosperous ruler, rebuilder of
London, and brother who seeks Llevelys's help against three plagues.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Llevelys
description: Brother loved by Lludd for wisdom and discretion; becomes king of France
through marriage to the late king's daughter and advises Lludd on the plagues.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Daughter of the king of France
description: The only heir of the deceased king of France; she and the crown of
France are given to Llevelys.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Coranians
description: A race in Britain described as the first plague; they know any speech
on the island if the wind meets it and are targeted by Llevelys's charmed-water
remedy.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:11
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Nobles of Lludd's kingdom
description: Counsellors summoned by Lludd to advise what should be done about the
plagues.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Demon in the horn
description: A demon said to be thwarting and disturbing the brothers' speech through
the brass horn until driven out by wine.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: dynastic father
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Beli is named as the father of Lludd and his brothers; the kingdom passes
after Beli's death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: king and city rebuilder
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Lludd inherits Britain, rules prosperously, and rebuilds London with walls
and towers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: wise brother and foreign king
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Llevelys is called wise and discreet, later receives the French crown, and
gives counsel to Lludd.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:11
- id: role:4
label: heiress bride
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The late king of France leaves no heir except his daughter, and she is given
to Llevelys with the crown.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: all-hearing plague race
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The Coranians are called the first plague and can learn any discourse if
the wind meets it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: royal counsellors
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Lludd summons the nobles to ask counsel about the afflictions.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: brother pair
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Lludd and Llevelys are brothers who meet at sea and welcome each other with
brotherly love.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: supernatural obstruction
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The demon is said to thwart and disturb the brothers' communication through
the horn.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Caer Lludd / London
literal_form: A rebuilt fortified city with walls, towers, and unequalled houses,
named from Lludd before later forms of London.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: wind carrying speech
literal_form: The wind meets spoken discourse and thereby enables the Coranians
to know it.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: sym:3
label: May-eve shriek
literal_form: A shriek that comes every May-eve over every hearth in Britain.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: hearths of Britain
literal_form: Every hearth in Britain is the place over which the May-eve shriek
comes.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: barren natural world
literal_form: Animals, trees, earth, and waters are left barren after the shriek.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: vanishing provisions
literal_form: Prepared meat and drink in the king's courts disappear after the first
night except what was consumed.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: brass horn
literal_form: A long horn of brass made so the brothers can discourse without the
wind catching their words.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:8
label: wine used to cleanse the horn
literal_form: Wine put into the brass horn to wash it, whose virtue drives out the
demon.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:9
label: insects for remedy
literal_form: Insects given by Llevelys, some to keep for breeding and others to
bruise in water.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:10
label: charmed water
literal_form: Water made by bruising insects in it, to be cast over both peoples;
it poisons the Coranians but does not harm Lludd's people.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Lludd inherits Britain and rebuilds London
summary: After Beli's death, Lludd receives Britain, rules prosperously, rebuilds
London, and gives the city an association with his own name.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Llevelys obtains the French crown through marriage
summary: Llevelys, after seeking Lludd's counsel, sails to France with armed knights
and is given the king's daughter and the crown.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Three plagues afflict Britain
summary: Britain suffers from the all-hearing Coranians, a May-eve shriek that terrifies
living beings and makes nature barren, and the unexplained disappearance of provisions.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Lludd secretly seeks Llevelys's counsel
summary: Lludd consults his nobles, prepares a fleet in secrecy and silence, and
sails to France to ask Llevelys for advice.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: The brothers meet at sea
summary: Llevelys comes with a large fleet to meet Lludd; each brother approaches
in a single ship, and they embrace with brotherly love.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: The horn is obstructed and cleansed
summary: The brothers try to speak through a brass horn so their words will not
be caught by the wind, but a demon makes the words harsh and hostile; Llevelys
washes the horn with wine and drives out the demon.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:7
label: Llevelys gives the Coranian remedy
summary: Llevelys instructs Lludd to breed some insects, bruise others in water,
gather his people and the Coranians under pretense of peace, and cast the water
over all so it will kill the Coranians but spare his own race.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
- sym:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: dynastic royal legitimacy and city foundation
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Lludd inherits Britain as Beli's eldest son, rules prosperously, rebuilds
London, and the city receives a name connected to him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents dynastic succession and city naming, but does not
frame them as ritual foundation.
- id: motif:2
label: marriage confers foreign kingship
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Llevelys woos the only daughter of the dead king of France; the maiden and
the crown are given to him, and he rules the land.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage emphasizes political succession through marriage, not a sacred
or divine marriage.
- id: motif:3
label: wise sibling counselor remedies national crisis
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
- sibling_pair
basis: Lludd loves Llevelys for wisdom and discretion, seeks him for counsel against
the plagues, and receives practical magical instructions from him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The role is advisory and fraternal; no explicit initiation or quest language
is used.
- id: motif:4
label: three plagues afflicting the land
taxonomy_refs:
- chaos
basis: 'Three unprecedented plagues fall on Britain: an all-hearing race, a destructive
May-eve shriek, and disappearing provisions.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy has no specific plague motif; 'chaos' is a broad
classification.
- id: motif:5
label: recurring shriek causing terror and barrenness
taxonomy_refs:
- chaos
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The second plague recurs every May-eve and causes terror, loss, miscarriage,
and barrenness in animals, trees, earth, and waters.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The seasonal marker is explicit, but the passage does not explain a full
seasonal cycle.
- id: motif:6
label: secret speech against an all-hearing enemy
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Because the Coranians can learn speech carried by wind, Lludd travels in
secrecy and the brothers attempt to use a brass horn to discourse without being
overheard.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches protected or secret communication.
- id: motif:7
label: demon obstructing communication and expelled by wine
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A demon makes speech through the brass horn sound hostile; wine placed in
the horn drives it out and restores unobstructed discourse.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives no origin or further identity for the demon.
- id: motif:8
label: selective charmed water weapon
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Insects bruised in water produce a charm that kills the Coranians while leaving
Lludd's own race unharmed when cast over both groups.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The water symbol is explicit, but no available motif-family taxonomy precisely
fits selective magical poisoning.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 8432-8445
quote_or_summary: Beli's sons are named; after Beli's death, Lludd receives Britain,
rules prosperously, rebuilds London with walls and towers, and the city is called
Caer Lludd and later London/Lwndrys.
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: 8447-8455
quote_or_summary: Lludd loves Llevelys most because he is wise and discreet; Llevelys
asks Lludd's counsel about wooing the French king's only daughter and heir.
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: 8456-8459
quote_or_summary: Llevelys sails to France with armed knights; by counsel of the
French nobles and princes, the maiden and crown are given to him, and he rules
wisely and happily.
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: 8460-8464
quote_or_summary: The first plague is the Coranians, a race whose knowledge lets
them know any discourse on the island if the wind meets it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 8465-8471
quote_or_summary: The second plague is a shriek every May-eve over every hearth
in Britain, terrifying people and leaving animals, trees, earth, and waters barren.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 8472-8476
quote_or_summary: The third plague is that prepared provisions in the king's courts
disappear after the first night except what is consumed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 8477-8487
quote_or_summary: Lludd is sorrowful over the plagues, consults his nobles, and
secretly and silently prepares a fleet to seek Llevelys's wisdom in France.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 8488-8496
quote_or_summary: Llevelys comes with a vast fleet; each brother leaves the other
ships and approaches in one ship, then they embrace and welcome each other with
brotherly love.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 8497-8504
quote_or_summary: To prevent the wind and Coranians from catching their words, the
brothers try to speak through a long brass horn, but each hears only harsh and
hostile words.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 8504-8508
quote_or_summary: Llevelys sees that a demon is disturbing the horn; wine is used
to wash it, and by the wine's virtue the demon is driven out.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 8508-8528
quote_or_summary: Llevelys gives insects to Lludd, instructing him to breed some
and bruise others in water; this charmed water is to be cast over an assembly
of both peoples, poisoning the Coranians but sparing Lludd's race.
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 sequence and figures are clear in the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy
mappings are cautious where the available motif families are broader than the
passage-specific details. No comparison claims were added because the passage
itself does not explicitly compare this material to another tradition or corpus.
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: |-
Extraction limited to the supplied passage and metadata; no external identifications or comparisons added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l8432-l8528
passage_sha256=72cecb967146dd2797326dab464cc25c10a7d79f2580c7e7c818cc3f4b5c41b1