batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l6680-l6831
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l6680-l6831
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
passage_locator:
label: THE YOUTHFUL EXPLOITS OF CUCHULAIN / THE SLAYING OF ORLAM / THE PROPOSALS
/ THE DEATH OF FORGEMEN; lines 6680-6831
start: '6680'
end: '6831'
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: Ailill and Medb obtain a sword-truce from Cuchulain, who asks that a man
be set for him on the ford the next day. Six royal hirelings attack him and are
killed. The men of Erin then choose Cur macDa Loth to fight Cuchulain, partly
because Cur is dangerous to live with and partly because either Cur or Cuchulain
falling would benefit the host. Cur objects that Cuchulain is a beardless boy
but accepts the fight. The next morning Cur comes to the ford with many weapons
and attacks while Cuchulain is practicing feats of arms. Laeg warns Cuchulain,
who kills Cur by throwing an apple through his shield and forehead.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Ailill and Medb ask for a sword-truce from Cuchulain through Lugaid, and Cuchulain
grants it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Cuchulain asks that a man be placed for him on the ford on the following day.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Six royal hirelings, named as three Dubs of Imlech and three Dergs of Sruthair,
go to attack Cuchulain and are killed by him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The men of Erin discuss who should attack and contend with Cuchulain at the
ford in the morning.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Cur macDa Loth is described as difficult to live with, and one from whom he
draws blood is said to be dead before the ninth day.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The men of Erin say that if Cur falls, a trouble would be removed from the
hosts, and if Cuchulain falls, that would be better for them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Medb summons Cur and tells him to fight Cuchulain and ward him off from the
ford in the morning.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Cur says it is not fitting for him to contend with a beardless boy, then agrees
to go when the task falls to him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Cur comes early to the ford of battle and combat with a cart-load of arms
and begins using his weapons to kill Cuchulain.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Cuchulain is already practicing named feats of valour and prowess early in
the morning.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Cuchulain practices his feats every morning so that they will not leave him
through forgetfulness or lack of remembrance.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Cur waits beside his shield and thrusts at Cuchulain, but no blow reaches
Cuchulain because of the intensity of Cuchulain's feats.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: Laeg warns Cuchulain that a warrior is trying to kill him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:14
text: Cuchulain throws apples upward and casts an apple at Cur, striking Cur's shield
and forehead and killing him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Ailill
description: A ruler who, together with Medb, asks for a sword-truce from Cuchulain.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Medb
description: A ruler who asks for a sword-truce, summons Cur, and instructs him
to fight Cuchulain.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Lugaid
description: The person who goes to Cuchulain to obtain the truce.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Cuchulain
description: The warrior who grants the truce, holds the ford, kills the six hirelings,
practices feats, and kills Cur with an apple.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:11
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Six royal hirelings
description: Six princes of the Clans of Deda, the three Dubs of Imlech and the
three Dergs of Sruthair, who attack Cuchulain and are killed.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Men of Erin
description: The host who discuss who should attack Cuchulain and decide on Cur
macDa Loth.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Cur macDa Loth
description: A warrior chosen to attack Cuchulain; he comes to the ford with weapons
and is killed by Cuchulain.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:11
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar
description: A speaker who tells Cur it would be worthwhile for him if Cuchulain
fell by him.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Laeg
description: Cuchulain's attendant or companion in this scene who warns him that
a warrior seeks to kill him.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: truce-seeking rulers
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
basis: They ask for a sword-truce from Cuchulain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: truce envoy
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Lugaid goes to Cuchulain and Cuchulain grants the truce.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: ford defender
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Cuchulain asks for an opponent on the ford and is repeatedly attacked there.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: attackers killed by Cuchulain
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The six hirelings go to attack Cuchulain, and he puts an end to them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: opponent selectors
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:6
basis: The men of Erin select Cur, and Medb summons him and assigns the combat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: chosen champion against Cuchulain
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Cur is chosen and summoned to fight Cuchulain at the ford.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: extraordinary feat-practicing warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Cuchulain practices numerous named feats every morning and avoids Cur's attacks
through them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:8
label: combat encourager
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Cormac says it would be worthwhile for Cur if Cuchulain fell by him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: warner
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Laeg tells Cuchulain to attend to the warrior seeking to kill him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: ford of battle
literal_form: ford
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: cart-load of arms
literal_form: weapons taken with Cur to fight Cuchulain
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: named feats of valour
literal_form: Apple-feat, Edge-feat, Shield-feat, Salmon-leap, Gae Bulga, Champion's
Cry, and other named feats
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: apples as projectile
literal_form: apples thrown by Cuchulain, one striking Cur through shield and forehead
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: shield disk
literal_form: Cur's shield struck by the apple between edge and body
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Truce and next-day challenge
summary: Ailill and Medb seek a sword-truce through Lugaid; Cuchulain grants it
and requests that an opponent be placed for him on the ford the next day.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Six hirelings attack Cuchulain
summary: Six royal hirelings volunteer to attack Cuchulain, and Cuchulain kills
all six.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Cur is selected and summoned
summary: The men of Erin decide that Cur should fight Cuchulain, noting Cur's dangerous
character and the advantage to the host if either Cur or Cuchulain falls. Medb
summons Cur and assigns him the combat.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Morning combat at the ford
summary: Cur arrives early with many weapons and attacks while Cuchulain practices
his feats. Cur's attacks do not reach Cuchulain.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:5
label: Laeg's warning and Cur's death
summary: Laeg warns Cuchulain of Cur's attack. Cuchulain notices Cur and kills him
by throwing an apple that strikes his shield and forehead.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:7
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: single combat at a defended ford
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Cuchulain requires an opponent on the ford, and Cur is assigned to fight
him there in the morning.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level motif label, not tied to a supplied taxonomy ID.
- id: motif:2
label: youthful or underestimated warrior defeats an older champion
taxonomy_refs:
- culture_hero
basis: Cur dismisses Cuchulain as a beardless boy, but Cuchulain kills Cur in the
ensuing encounter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference is broad; the passage supports an exceptional heroic
warrior but not a full culture-hero cycle by itself.
- id: motif:3
label: daily practice of extraordinary martial feats
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Cuchulain practices many named feats every morning so they will not leave
him, and these feats prevent Cur's blows from reaching him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The feats are literal martial abilities in the passage; broader initiation
or supernatural interpretation would require external evidence.
- id: motif:4
label: unlikely object used as lethal projectile
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Cuchulain kills Cur not with a conventional weapon but by throwing an apple
through Cur's shield and head.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The passage treats the apple throw as part of Cuchulain's feat-practice
context, but does not explicitly define it as a symbolic object.
- id: motif:5
label: dangerous ally sent against enemy as expendable champion
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The men of Erin choose Cur partly because if Cur falls, a trouble would be
removed from the hosts, while Cuchulain's death would also benefit them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: This is a narrative strategy motif derived from the host's stated reasoning.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 6680-6684
quote_or_summary: Ailill and Medb ask for a sword-truce through Lugaid; Cuchulain
grants it and asks that a man be put for him on the ford the next day.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 6684-6689
quote_or_summary: Six royal hirelings, the three Dubs and three Dergs, go to attack
Cuchulain, and he kills all six.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 6702-6717
quote_or_summary: The men of Erin discuss who should fight Cuchulain and choose
Cur macDa Loth; Cur is described as dangerous, and the host says that Cur's fall
would remove a trouble while Cuchulain's fall would be better.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 6717-6727
quote_or_summary: Medb summons Cur to fight Cuchulain at the ford in the morning;
Cur objects that it is unfitting to contend with a beardless boy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 6741-6750
quote_or_summary: Cormac Conlongas says it would be worthwhile for Cur if Cuchulain
fell by him; Cur then accepts the journey to meet Cuchulain and speaks confidently
of killing him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 6758-6763
quote_or_summary: Cur macDa Loth rises early, comes to the ford of battle and combat,
brings a cart-load of arms, and begins using his weapons to kill Cuchulain.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 6764-6782
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain has gone early to practice his feats of valour and prowess;
the passage lists feats including the Apple-feat, Edge-feat, Salmon-leap, Gae
Bulga, Wheel-feat, Champion's Cry, and others.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 6796-6801
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain practices each feat early every morning so that the
feats will not depart from him through forgetfulness or lack of remembrance.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 6803-6808
quote_or_summary: Cur waits beside his shield and attacks, but no blow reaches Cuchulain
because of the intensity of Cuchulain's feats, and Cuchulain is not aware of the
attack.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: quote
locator: lines 6808-6811
quote_or_summary: Laeg says to Cuchulain, “Attend to the warrior that seeks to kill
thee.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation from supplied passage.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 6811-6818
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain throws apples upward and casts one at Cur; it strikes
Cur's shield and forehead, carries out a portion of his brains, and Cur falls
by Cuchulain's hand.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:12
type: note
locator: lines 6818-6820
quote_or_summary: The passage notes another version in which Cur fell at Imslige
Glendamnach.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal figures, actions, and scenes are explicit in the supplied passage.
Motif labels are passage-level candidates and require human review for taxonomy
alignment. No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not
make a comparative claim.
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. Available taxonomy references were applied only where cautiously supported; most symbols and motifs have no taxonomy reference.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg__l6680-l6831
passage_sha256=121194df42896c15ce29e3e05f591b1590246f76a5352953e3b69c918f7c5c66