batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l12074-l12189
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l12074-l12189
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
passage_locator:
label: XVIII / HERE NOW IS TOLD THE MISTHROW AT BELACH EOIN. / HERE NOW FOLLOWETH
THE DISGUISING OF TAMON / HERE NOW COMETH THE HEAD-PLACE OF FERCHU; lines 12074-12189
start: '12074'
end: '12189'
translation: The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Cethern repeatedly asks Fingin the prophetic leech to inspect bloody wounds.
Fingin diagnoses each wound as the work of specific pairs of attackers, and Cuchulain
identifies the attackers as named warriors, brothers, sons, foreign champions,
or Ailill and his son. Fingin finally gives Cethern counsel implying that he will
not live to profit from his cattle; Cethern rejects this judgment and kicks Fingin
between the chariot wheels. Cuchulain rebukes the kick, and the place-name Uachtar
Lua is explained from the saying.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Cethern asks Fingin to inspect multiple bloody wounds.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: obs:2
text: Fingin describes one wound as caused by the two sons of the King of the Woods;
Cethern says two richly adorned youths with green mantles and five-pronged spears
attacked him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Cuchulain identifies the first pair as Broen and Brudni, noble youths of Medb's
household and sons of the King of the three Lights, equated with the King of the
Woods.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Fingin describes another wound as the joint deed of two brothers; Cethern
describes two leading king's warriors with yellow hair, dark-grey mantles, silvered-bronze
brooches, and broad grey lances.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Cuchulain identifies this second pair as Cormac Colomon rig and Cormac son
of Mael Foga, of the bodyguard of Ailill and Medb.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Fingin calls another wound the assault of two brothers; Cethern describes
two very similar tender youths with different hair colors, green cloaks, bright
brooches, yellow silk tunics, white-hilted swords, beast-marked shields, and five-pronged
spears.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Cuchulain identifies this third pair as Mane 'Like to his mother' and Mane
'Like to his father,' two sons of Ailill and Medb.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: Cethern says a pair of young warriors of the Fian attacked him with spears,
and he thrust his spear through each of them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Fingin says the wounds from the pair of Fian warriors have severed the strings
of Cethern's heart, leaving the heart rolling in the breast, and says he cannot
cure or save him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Cuchulain identifies the pair of Fian warriors as champions from Norway sent
by Ailill and Medb to slay Cethern.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: Fingin interprets another wound as alternate woundings by a son and his father;
Cethern describes two tall red men with burnished gold diadems, kingly garments,
and ornate swords.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: Cuchulain identifies the father-and-son pair as Ailill and Mane 'That embraces
the traits of them all.'
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:13
text: Fingin advises Cethern not to count on his big cows for yearlings that year,
because Cethern will not enjoy them or profit from them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:14
text: Cethern says other surgeons gave the same judgment and fell at his hands,
then kicks Fingin between the two wheels of the chariot.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:15
text: Cuchulain calls the kick vicious and says it would be more fitting to use
it on foes than on a leech; the place-name Uachtar Lua, 'the Height of the Kick,'
is derived from this saying.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Cethern son of Fintan
description: Wounded warrior who asks Fingin to examine his wounds, recounts the
attackers, rejects fatal counsel, and kicks Fingin.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Fingin
description: Prophetic leech who inspects Cethern's bloody wounds, interprets their
causes, and gives a prognosis or counsel.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Cuchulain
description: Observer who identifies the pairs of attackers and rebukes Cethern's
kick against Fingin.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Broen and Brudni
description: Pair identified by Cuchulain as noble youths of Medb's household and
sons of the King of the three Lights, associated with the first wound described
in the passage.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Cormac Colomon rig and Cormac son of Mael Foga
description: Pair identified by Cuchulain as warriors of the bodyguard of Ailill
and Medb, associated with a wound described as the joint deed of two brothers.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Mane 'Like to his mother' and Mane 'Like to his father'
description: Two sons of Ailill and Medb, described as similar young warriors and
identified by Cuchulain as the attackers responsible for one wound.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Pair of champions from Norway
description: Pair of young warriors of the Fian, later identified by Cuchulain as
Norwegian champions sent by Ailill and Medb to slay Cethern.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Ailill and Mane 'That embraces the traits of them all'
description: Father-and-son pair identified by Cuchulain as responsible for alternate
woundings.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Medb
description: Ruler whose household and sons are named in connection with several
attackers, and who with Ailill sends the Norwegian champions.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Ailill
description: Ruler named with Medb in connection with bodyguards, sons, and the
sending of champions; also appears as one of the father-and-son attackers.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: wounded warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Cethern presents multiple bloody wounds for examination and recounts attacks
against him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: prophetic leech
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Fingin is called a prophetic leech and gives diagnoses and counsel about
Cethern's condition.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: identifier and commentator
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Cuchulain repeatedly says he knows the attacking pairs and names them, then
comments on Cethern's kick.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: attacker
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:10
basis: These figures are identified as having attacked Cethern or caused his wounds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: paired brothers or paired sons
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
basis: Fingin or Cuchulain describes these attackers as sons or brothers acting
as pairs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: assailant of healer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Cethern kicks Fingin after receiving unwelcome counsel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: father-and-son pair
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Fingin describes the wound as caused by a son and his father, and Cuchulain
identifies them as Ailill and his son Mane.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: rulers associated with attackers
assigned_to:
- fig:9
- fig:10
basis: Medb and Ailill are repeatedly named as the household, parents, bodyguard
employers, or senders of attackers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: bloody wound as diagnostic sign
literal_form: bloody wounds on Cethern's body
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: paired weapons
literal_form: two five-pronged spears, broad grey lances, and other spears carried
by paired attackers
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: gold diadems and royal adornment
literal_form: diadems of gold or burnished gold, kingly garments, ornate swords
and silver fittings
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: heart without supporting strings
literal_form: Cethern's heart rolling in his breast like an apple in motion or a
ball of yarn in an empty bag
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: chariot wheels
literal_form: the two wheels of the chariot between which Fingin is kicked
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: place-name from a kick
literal_form: Uachtar Lua, 'the Height of the Kick'
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Wound from Broen and Brudni
summary: Fingin reads a wound as made by two sons of the King of the Woods; Cethern
describes their appearance and weapons, and Cuchulain names them as Broen and
Brudni.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Wound from the two Cormacs
summary: Fingin reads another wound as the joint deed of two brothers, and Cuchulain
names the attackers as Cormac Colomon rig and Cormac son of Mael Foga.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Wound from two sons of Ailill and Medb
summary: Fingin interprets another wound as the assault of two brothers; Cethern
describes very similar young warriors, and Cuchulain names them as two sons of
Ailill and Medb.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Fatal wound from Norwegian champions
summary: Cethern says two warriors attacked him and that he speared both; Fingin
says their wounds have left his heart unsupported and that he cannot cure him;
Cuchulain identifies the pair as Norwegian champions sent by Ailill and Medb.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Alternate woundings by Ailill and his son
summary: Fingin sees alternate woundings by a father and son; Cethern describes
two tall red, royally adorned men, and Cuchulain identifies them as Ailill and
Mane.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:8
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Rejected prognosis and assault on the leech
summary: Fingin counsels Cethern not to expect to profit from his cattle; Cethern
says other surgeons gave the same judgment and were killed, then kicks Fingin
between the chariot wheels.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Naming of Uachtar Lua
summary: Cuchulain rebukes Cethern's kick, and the narrative derives the place-name
Uachtar Lua, 'the Height of the Kick,' from the saying.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: wound-reading identifies attackers
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Fingin repeatedly examines bloody wounds and infers the type or relationship
of the attackers, after which Cuchulain names them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents diagnosis and identification, but does not explicitly
frame this as a formal divinatory practice beyond Fingin's title as prophetic
leech.
- id: motif:2
label: paired attackers seek glory by killing a wounded warrior
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Several attacking pairs are described as brothers, sons, champions, or father-and-son,
and Cuchulain states more than once that they would count Cethern's fall as victory,
triumph, and a boast.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The repeated phrasing is internal to this passage; broader distribution
is not assessed here.
- id: motif:3
label: uncurable wound with heart displaced
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Fingin says the wounds from the foreign champions have severed the strings
of Cethern's heart so that it rolls in his breast, and declares that no cure or
rescue is possible.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The physiological image is extracted literally; no medical or symbolic
interpretation is inferred.
- id: motif:4
label: unwelcome death prognosis punished by patient
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Fingin gives counsel implying Cethern will not live to enjoy his cattle;
Cethern says other surgeons who gave the same judgment died by his hand and then
kicks Fingin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not explicitly state that Fingin dies from the kick.
- id: motif:5
label: place-name explained by remembered event or saying
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After Cuchulain's rebuke of Cethern's kick, the narrative states that the
name Uachtar Lua, 'the Height of the Kick,' comes from this saying from then until
the present.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: No taxonomy reference for etiological place-naming is available in the
supplied list.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 12074-12095
quote_or_summary: Cethern asks Fingin to inspect a bloody wound; Fingin attributes
it to two sons of the King of the Woods; Cethern describes two adorned youths
with green mantles and five-pronged spears; Cuchulain identifies them as Broen
and Brudni of Medb's household.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 12096-12110
quote_or_summary: Fingin reads a wound as the joint deed of two brothers; Cethern
describes two leading king's warriors with lances; Cuchulain names them as Cormac
Colomon rig and Cormac son of Mael Foga of Ailill and Medb's bodyguard.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 12111-12134
quote_or_summary: Fingin calls a wound the assault of two brothers; Cethern describes
two similar young warriors with cloaks, brooches, swords, shields bearing beast
likenesses, and five-pronged spears; Cuchulain identifies them as Mane 'Like to
his mother' and Mane 'Like to his father.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 12135-12158
quote_or_summary: Cethern describes a pair of young warriors of the Fian who thrust
spears at him and whom he speared; Fingin says their wounds severed the strings
of his heart and cannot be cured; Cuchulain identifies them as Norwegian champions
sent by Ailill and Medb.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 12159-12175
quote_or_summary: Fingin sees alternate woundings by a son and father; Cethern describes
two tall red men with gold diadems, kingly garments, and ornate swords; Cuchulain
identifies them as Ailill and his son Mane 'That embraces the traits of them all.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 12176-12185
quote_or_summary: Fingin advises Cethern not to rely on his cattle for yearlings
because Cethern will not enjoy or profit from them; Cethern says other surgeons
gave the same judgment and died by his hands, then kicks Fingin between the chariot's
two wheels.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 12186-12189
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain calls Cethern's kick vicious and says it would be better
used on foes than on a leech; the narrative explains the name Uachtar Lua, 'the
Height of the Kick,' from this saying.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif labels are descriptive
and not linked to supplied taxonomy IDs because no listed motif family directly
matches the passage-level patterns.
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 text, tradition, or specified motif family.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg__l12074-l12189
passage_sha256=e22b549709fc60e901d7f1c75cd47da46c76394037c9a361bfbd3e38e650255d