batch.motif.sufi-jami-persian-mystics-davis-gutenberg-l1867-l1888
---
record_id: batch.motif.sufi-jami-persian-mystics-davis-gutenberg-l1867-l1888
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/persian-mystics-jami-davis.md
passage_locator:
label: THE DOWNFALL OF THE MIGHTY / JUSTICE AND VIRTUE / HOW ALEXANDER ACQUIRED
HIS POWER / FOURTH GARDEN; lines 1867-1888
start: '1867'
end: '1888'
translation: 'The Persian Mystics: Jámí'
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Alexander explains that his youthful dominion came from conciliating enemies
and strengthening alliances with friends. A following didactic stanza states that
a person's value lies not in silver and gold but in power and virtue, and that
virtue can raise a slave above a gentleman while lack of virtue can lower a gentleman
beneath his slave.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Alexander is asked how he attained dominion, power, and glory at a young age
and during a short reign.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Alexander answers that he conciliated foes until they abandoned enmity.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Alexander says he strengthened alliances with friends until they were firm
in amity.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The passage states that a man's price is not in silver and gold.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The passage states that a man's value is his power and virtue.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: The passage states that a slave may acquire virtue and attain greater power
than a gentleman.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:7
text: The passage states that a gentleman lacking virtue may become inferior to
his own slave.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Alexander
description: A ruler who attained dominion, power, and glory at a youthful age and
explains the means of his power.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: foes
description: Opponents whom Alexander says he conciliated until they turned from
enmity.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: friends
description: Allies whom Alexander says he strengthened in bonds of amity.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: man
description: A generalized human figure whose value is discussed in terms of power
and virtue rather than silver and gold.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: slave
description: A low-status figure who may acquire virtue and attain greater power
than a gentleman.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: gentleman
description: A high-status figure who may become inferior to his own slave through
want of virtue.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: ruler explaining power
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Alexander is asked how he attained dominion, power, and glory and gives an
answer.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: model of conciliatory rule
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He attributes power to conciliating foes and strengthening alliances.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: former enemies
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: They are described as foes turned away from enmity by conciliation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: allied friends
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They are described as friends whose alliances were strengthened.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: subject of moral valuation
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The passage defines the value of a man by power and virtue rather than wealth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: virtuous low-status person
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: A slave who acquires virtue may attain more power than a gentleman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: high-status person diminished by lack of virtue
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: A gentleman without virtue may become inferior to his own slave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: silver and gold
literal_form: silver and gold
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: virtue
literal_form: virtue
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: alliances with friends
literal_form: alliances
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Alexander explains his dominion
summary: Alexander is asked how he gained power and glory so young and answers that
he won over foes and secured friends through firm alliances.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: The value of a man
summary: A didactic stanza contrasts material price with moral worth and says virtue
may elevate a slave above a gentleman, while lack of virtue may lower a gentleman
beneath his slave.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: power gained through conciliation and alliance
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- wisdom
basis: Alexander grounds his dominion not in force or inheritance but in reconciling
enemies and strengthening bonds with friends.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage is a brief didactic anecdote; the taxonomy link to royal legitimacy
is thematic rather than explicit.
- id: motif:2
label: virtue over wealth and social rank
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The stanza states that a person's worth is not silver and gold but power
and virtue, and reverses the expected hierarchy between slave and gentleman according
to virtue.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: This is a moral wisdom motif rather than a narrative mythic episode.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1867-1875
quote_or_summary: Alexander is asked how he gained dominion, power, and glory at
a young age; he replies that he conciliated foes and strengthened alliances with
friends.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/persian-mystics-jami-davis.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1881-1888
quote_or_summary: The stanza says a man's value is not silver and gold but power
and virtue; virtue may raise a slave above a gentleman, and lack of virtue may
make a gentleman inferior to his slave.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/persian-mystics-jami-davis.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward. Motif assignment is limited by the
passage's concise didactic form. No comparison claims are made because the passage
does not itself establish a comparison to another tradition or motif family beyond
available taxonomy tagging.
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 the supplied passage and metadata. Taxonomy references are limited to the provided available motif families; no external comparisons added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:sufi-jami-persian-mystics-davis-gutenberg__l1867-l1888
passage_sha256=b56162f6b741e3f712d5d1c62cd2134267d4c218b1c646bcd00de7779e9f0504