batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l13565-l13687
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l13565-l13687
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
passage_locator:
label: HERE FOLLOWETH ILIACH'S CLUMP-FIGHT / HERE NOW THE DEER-STALKING OF AMARGIN
IN TALTIU / THE ADVENTURES OF CUROI SON OF DARE FOLLOW NOW / THE REPEATED WARNING
OF SUALTAIM; lines 13565-13687
start: '13565'
end: '13687'
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: Fergus warns Medb that no host can withstand the Ulstermen once their anger
is aroused. The host of Erin camps and sets watches. Conchobar and Celtchar arrive
with three thousand chariot-fighters near the rear of the host. MacRoth scouts
and reports the approaching Ulster troop. Ailill belittles the force, while Medb
proposes a hollow array and rear force to capture Conchobar and his people without
wounding them. Cormac Conlongas is angered by the boast, but intervening forces
prevent an immediate clash. Conchobar then attacks the encircling formation, opens
breaches on both sides, kills eight hundred warriors, and returns unbloodied to
Slane of Meath. Ailill sends MacRoth again to observe the Ulster forces, their
arms, leaders, and champions.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Fergus tells Medb that no host in Erin, Alba, or the western world can cope
with the men of Ulster once their anger comes on them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The four grand provinces of Erin camp at Clartha and send people to keep watch
against the Ulstermen.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Conchobar and Celtchar set out with thirty hundred bristling chariot-fighters
and halt at Slemain Mide in the rear of the host of Erin.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: MacRoth scouts the Ulster encampment and reports an immense troop of horsemen
coming from the north-east, numbering not fewer than thirty hundred fully armed
chariot-fighters.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Ailill identifies the approaching troop as the warriors of Ulster with Conchobar
and belittles their number.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Medb proposes a hollow array before Conchobar and a force behind him, intending
to take him and his people prisoner without wounding them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The narration calls Medb's proposal the third most derisive word spoken during
the Cattle-lifting of Cualnge.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Cormac Conlongas hears Medb's boast and rises with his troop to take vengeance,
while Ailill, Medb, the Mane, and the sons of Maga also rise with their troops.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: The Leinstermen, Munstermen, and people of Temair interpose between the opposing
sides, and each warrior sits near the other and near his arms.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Conchobar attacks the circle of men, makes a gap before him, creates breaches
of a hundred on his right and left, enters among them, and kills eight hundred
warriors.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Conchobar leaves the formation without blood or bleeding from himself and
takes his station at Slane of Meath at the head of the men of Ulster.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: Ailill orders someone to scan the plain of Meath and report the arms, gear,
trappings, kings, leaders, champions, battle-warriors, gap-breakers, and yeomen
of the men of Ulster.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: MacRoth is named as the chief runner chosen for the scouting task.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Medb
description: A leader among the men of Erin who answers Fergus, proposes the hollow
array, and boasts of capturing Conchobar and his people without wounding them.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Fergus
description: A speaker who warns Medb and Ailill about the strength of the men of
Ulster and cautions against belittling them.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ailill
description: A leader among the men of Erin who questions MacRoth, belittles the
approaching Ulster force, rises with his troop, and orders further scouting.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: MacRoth
description: The chief runner who scouts the Ulster forces and reports what he sees
to Ailill, Medb, Fergus, and the chiefs of the men of Erin.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Conchobar
description: Son of Fachtna Fathach, High King of Ulster, who comes with the Ulster
warriors, attacks the circle of men, kills eight hundred warriors, and remains
unbloodied.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Celtchar
description: A companion leader who sets forth with Conchobar and thirty hundred
chariot-fighters.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Cormac Conlongas
description: Son of Conchobar who hears Medb's boast and rises with his troop to
take vengeance.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: The men of Ulster
description: The Ulster force described as warriors, chariot-fighters, kings, leaders,
champions, battle-warriors, gap-breakers, and yeomen.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: The men of Erin
description: The opposing host including the four grand provinces of Erin, camped
at Clartha and arrayed against Conchobar.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: The Mane
description: A group that rises with thirty hundred during the threatened clash
after Medb's boast.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: The sons of Maga
description: A group that rises with thirty hundred during the threatened clash
after Medb's boast.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Leinstermen, Munstermen, and people of Temair
description: Groups who make interposition between the opposing sides before the
clash can begin.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: warning counsellor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Fergus warns that no host can withstand the men of Ulster when their anger
comes on them and later says Ailill belittles them too soon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: opposing war leader
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
basis: Medb, Ailill, and allied groups lead or form part of the host of Erin arrayed
against Conchobar and the Ulstermen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: scout and reporter
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: MacRoth goes to view the Ulster hosting, reports their number, and is later
selected to scan the plain and report on their arms and leaders.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: Ulster war party
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
basis: Conchobar, Celtchar, and the Ulster chariot-fighters approach the host of
Erin from the rear and prepare for battle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: kingly champion and formation-breaker
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Conchobar is named High King of Ulster and breaks the encircling formation,
killing eight hundred warriors without being bloodied.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: planner of encirclement
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:9
basis: Medb orders a hollow array before Conchobar and a rear force of thirty hundred
to close in behind him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: commander requesting reconnaissance
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Ailill orders a report on the Ulster forces and their leaders and chooses
MacRoth as the chief runner to go.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: avenger of boast
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Cormac Conlongas hears Medb's derisive boast and rises with his troop to
take vengeance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: interposing peacekeepers or restrainers
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: The Leinstermen, Munstermen, and people of Temair interpose between the armed
sides before the threatened battle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: hollow array
literal_form: A hollow or circular tactical formation placed before Conchobar, with
another force ready to close in from behind.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: thirty hundred war-band
literal_form: Repeated troop count of thirty hundred fully armed chariot-fighters
or warriors.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: Slane of Meath height or station
literal_form: Slemain Mide or Slane of Meath, where the Ulster force halts and where
Conchobar takes station after the attack.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: gap and side breaches
literal_form: A man-wide gap made before Conchobar and breaches of a hundred on
his right and left in the circle of combatants.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Fergus warns Medb about Ulster's anger
summary: Fergus rejects Medb's confidence and says that no host can withstand the
men of Ulster once their anger comes on them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Host camps and Ulster force approaches the rear
summary: The host of Erin camps at Clartha and sets guards, while Conchobar and
Celtchar advance with thirty hundred chariot-fighters to Slane of Meath behind
them.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: MacRoth reports the Ulster troop
summary: MacRoth scouts and reports an immense troop of horsemen coming from the
north-east, estimating at least thirty hundred fully armed chariot-fighters.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Ailill's belittling and Medb's encirclement plan
summary: Ailill dismisses the size of Conchobar's force, Fergus cautions him, and
Medb proposes a hollow array and rear force to capture Conchobar and his people
without wounding them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Cormac's attempted vengeance is restrained
summary: Cormac Conlongas rises to avenge Medb's boast, opposing leaders and groups
rise with troops, and interposing groups prevent immediate combat.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Conchobar breaks the circle
summary: Conchobar attacks the encircling formation, opens a gap and two side breaches,
kills eight hundred warriors, and returns unbloodied to stand at the head of the
men of Ulster.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Ailill orders detailed reconnaissance
summary: Ailill orders that the Ulster forces be observed in detail, including their
arms, gear, leaders, champions, battle-warriors, and other ranks, and MacRoth
is selected to go.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: warning before battle is ignored or belittled
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Fergus warns that Ulster's anger will make them unbeatable, but Ailill soon
belittles the approaching Ulster troop and Medb plans their capture.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives a warning and later dismissal, but does not frame the
episode as prophecy.
- id: motif:2
label: scout reports the approaching enemy host
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: MacRoth is sent to view the Ulster hosting, sees the approaching troop, reports
its number, and is later selected for further reconnaissance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: This is a narrative and military pattern rather than one of the supplied
named taxonomy families.
- id: motif:3
label: derisive boast provokes vengeance
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Medb's plan to capture Conchobar without wounding him is called derisive,
and Cormac Conlongas rises to avenge the boast.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not show Cormac completing vengeance in this excerpt.
- id: motif:4
label: heroic king breaks encirclement
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Conchobar is identified as High King of Ulster and son of royal lineage,
then breaks the hollow array, kills eight hundred warriors, and remains unbloodied.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The royal_legitimacy taxonomy connection is supported by royal identification
and martial proof, but the passage does not explicitly state a legitimacy doctrine.
- id: motif:5
label: small gap becomes rout of a larger formation
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Conchobar opens a man-wide gap in the circle and then creates breaches of
a hundred on each side, causing eight hundred warriors to fall.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: This is extracted as an action pattern, not as a known indexed motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 13565-13577
quote_or_summary: Medb says she will await the Ulstermen; Fergus replies that no
host in Erin, Alba, or the western world can cope with the men of Ulster once
their anger comes on them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 13578-13584
quote_or_summary: The four provinces of Erin camp at Clartha and set watches; Conchobar
and Celtchar set forth with thirty hundred chariot-fighters to Slane of Meath
behind the host and seek first blood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 13585-13605
quote_or_summary: MacRoth scouts the Ulster encampment at Slane of Meath, sees an
immense troop of horsemen from the north-east, and reports to Ailill that they
number not fewer than thirty hundred fully armed chariot-fighters.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 13606-13622
quote_or_summary: Ailill belittles the Ulster force; Fergus says he does so too
soon; Medb proposes a hollow array and rear force to capture Conchobar and his
people without wounding them, which the narration calls a derisive word.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 13623-13635
quote_or_summary: Cormac Conlongas hears Medb's boast and rises with his troop for
vengeance; Ailill, Medb, the Mane, and the sons of Maga rise with troops, while
the Leinstermen, Munstermen, and people of Temair interpose.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 13636-13649
quote_or_summary: Medb's hollow array is made; Conchobar attacks the circle, opens
a gap and two side breaches, kills eight hundred warriors, and leaves without
being bloodied, taking station at Slane of Meath.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 13650-13687
quote_or_summary: Ailill calls for someone to scan the plain of Meath and report
the Ulstermen's arms, gear, trappings, kings, leaders, champions, battle-warriors,
gap-breakers, and yeomen; MacRoth the chief runner is chosen.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The main actions, figures, and military patterns are explicit in the passage.
Motif labels are cautious and mostly not tied to supplied taxonomy families except
a tentative royal_legitimacy reference for Conchobar's royal status and prowess.
No comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not support external
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: |-
Extraction uses only the supplied passage and metadata; comparison_claims left empty because no supported comparative claim is present in the excerpt.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg__l13565-l13687
passage_sha256=302e3d0764b72b5e058ccd9beb1d9797e2676275d6ffc74ccf5d4821156ae442