batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l8283-l8384
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l8283-l8384
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
passage_locator:
label: THE SLAYING OF ORLAM / THE PROPOSALS / THE DEATH OF FORGEMEN / THE GREAT
ROUT ON THE PLAIN OF MURTHEMNE FOLLOWETH HERE BELOW; lines 8283-8384
start: '8283'
end: '8384'
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: '"Three days and three nights," the young warrior made answer.'
summary: The youths of Ulster come from Emain Macha to aid Cuchulain while he sleeps
for three days and nights. They fight the opposing hosts and are slain, as is
Follomain after vowing to take Ailill's head and gold diadem. Cuchulain wakes,
hears the news from a young warrior from Faery, laments that he was absent, and
prepares with Laeg to avenge them using the scythed chariot.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Thrice fifty boys, described as sons of the kings of Ulster, came from Emain
Macha to help Cuchulain.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The youths offered three battles to the hosts; thrice their number fell, and
the youths also fell except Follomain.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: obs:3
text: Follomain vowed not to return to Emain Macha until he brought Ailill's head
and the gold diadem on it.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The two sons of Bethe son of Ban attacked and wounded Follomain, and he fell
by their hands.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Cuchulain remained in a heavy sleep for three days and three nights at the
Gravemound on the Slopes.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: After waking, Cuchulain asked how long he had slept and was told it had been
three days and three nights.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Cuchulain lamented that he had not been present in his strength, saying the
youths and Follomain would not have fallen.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The young warrior declined to remain with Cuchulain, saying that glory, honour,
and fame for deeds done in Cuchulain's company would fall to Cuchulain.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The young warrior from Faery went away, and those present did not know what
way he had gone.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Cuchulain asked Laeg to go with him to avenge the youths and to prepare the
scythed chariot if its equipment was available.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Youths of Ulster
description: Thrice fifty boys, sons of the kings of Ulster, who came from Emain
Macha to help Cuchulain and were slain after fighting the hosts.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Follomain son of Conchobar
description: Conchobar's son, accompanying the youths; he vows to take Ailill's
head and gold diadem but is killed by the two sons of Bethe son of Ban.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Cuchulain
description: Hero who sleeps for three days and nights, wakes to learn of the youths'
deaths, laments his absence, and prepares to avenge them.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Young warrior from Faery
description: A young warrior who tells Cuchulain what happened during his sleep,
advises him to act alone, and departs mysteriously.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Laeg
description: Cuchulain's companion addressed in the passage as Laeg; he agrees to
go with Cuchulain and is asked about readying the scythed chariot.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Ailill
description: King whose head and gold diadem Follomain vows to take; his diadem
had been entrusted to the two sons of Bethe son of Ban.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Two sons of Bethe son of Ban
description: The two sons of Ailill's foster-mother and foster-father, entrusted
with Ailill's diadem; they attack and kill Follomain.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: The hosts
description: The opposing forces against whom the youths fight three battles and
whom Cuchulain intends to attack in vengeance.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: fallen youthful auxiliaries
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: They come from Emain Macha to help Cuchulain, fight the hosts, and fall.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: leader or companion of the youths
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The youths are described as accompanying Follomain, Conchobar's son.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: vow-maker and slain warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: He vows to take Ailill's head and diadem before returning, but falls by the
hands of the two sons of Bethe son of Ban.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: sleeping hero
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Cuchulain remains in a heavy sleep for three days and three nights while
the fighting occurs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: avenger of slain allies
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: After learning of the deaths, Cuchulain says he and Laeg will avenge the
youths on the hosts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: role:6
label: otherworld informer and counselor
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The young warrior reports what happened, tells Cuchulain to try his feats
alone, and is identified as from Faery before vanishing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: companion and chariot-preparer
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Laeg agrees to go with Cuchulain and is asked to make ready the scythed chariot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:8
label: enemy king and target of trophy vow
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Follomain vows to carry off Ailill's head and the gold diadem on it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:9
label: slayers and diadem guardians
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: They are said to have been entrusted with Ailill's diadem and to have killed
Follomain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:10
label: opposing army
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The youths offer battles to the hosts, and Cuchulain plans vengeance on the
hosts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: gold diadem
literal_form: A gold diadem on Ailill's head, entrusted to the two sons of Bethe
son of Ban and named in Follomain's vow.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: Ailill's head as vowed trophy
literal_form: Ailill's head, which Follomain vows to bring with the gold diadem.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: three days and three nights
literal_form: The duration of Cuchulain's heavy sleep and the period during which
the youths fight.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: scythed chariot
literal_form: Cuchulain's scythed chariot, which he asks Laeg to ready for vengeance.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: Gravemound on the Slopes
literal_form: The place where Cuchulain sleeps heavily for three days and three
nights.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: The youths of Ulster fight and fall
summary: Thrice fifty youths from Emain Macha come to aid Cuchulain, fight three
battles against the hosts, kill many, and are themselves slain except Follomain.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Follomain's vow and death
summary: Follomain vows not to return to Emain Macha until he takes Ailill's head
with its gold diadem, but the two sons of Bethe son of Ban attack him and he falls.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Cuchulain wakes and hears the report
summary: Cuchulain wakes after three days and nights at the Gravemound on the Slopes
and asks the young warrior how long he has slept and who attacked the hosts.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Cuchulain laments and receives counsel
summary: Cuchulain laments that he was not present in strength. The young warrior
says the deaths are no disgrace to him, declines to remain, and tells him to test
his arms alone against the hosts.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: The otherworld warrior departs and vengeance is prepared
summary: The young warrior from Faery vanishes, and Cuchulain asks Laeg to go with
him to avenge the youths and prepare the scythed chariot if possible.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: slaughtered band of youthful allies
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A group of noble youths comes to aid the absent hero, fights multiple battles,
and is slain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the event as a massacre, but it does not describe ritual
sacrifice or a formal initiation.
- id: motif:2
label: hero asleep while allies die
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Cuchulain sleeps for three days and three nights while the youths fight and
fall, then wakes and laments his absence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the sleep literally; it does not explain its cause within
this excerpt.
- id: motif:3
label: martial vow to return only with enemy's head and regalia
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Follomain vows not to return to Emain Macha until he brings Ailill's head
with the gold diadem on it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the vow and its failure, but does not state a wider
political or ritual meaning for the diadem.
- id: motif:4
label: otherworld warrior counselor who vanishes
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A young warrior from Faery reports events to Cuchulain, advises him to act
alone, and leaves by an unknown way.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage identifies him as from Faery but gives no name or further
nature here.
- id: motif:5
label: vengeance preparation with war chariot
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After hearing of the youths' deaths, Cuchulain asks Laeg to accompany him
in vengeance and to ready the scythed chariot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The excerpt ends before the vengeance action itself occurs.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 8283-8291
quote_or_summary: 'The youths come from Emain Macha to help Cuchulain: thrice fifty
boys, sons of kings of Ulster, accompanying Follomain; they fight three battles,
kill thrice their number, and fall except Follomain.'
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 8291-8299
quote_or_summary: Follomain vows not to return to Emain unless he brings Ailill's
head and gold diadem; the two sons of Bethe son of Ban, entrusted with Ailill's
diadem, attack and wound him so that he falls.
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 8317-8333
quote_or_summary: The young warrior recounts that during Cuchulain's sleep the youths
fought for three days and nights, fell except Follomain, and that Follomain fell
after seeking Ailill's head and diadem.
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 8306-8311
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain remains in heavy sleep for three days and three nights
at the Gravemound on the Slopes, then rises strengthened.
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: quote
locator: lines 8311-8318
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain asks how long he has slept; the young warrior answers,
"Three days and three nights."
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:6
type: summary
locator: lines 8345-8349
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain cries that if he had been there in his strength, the
youths would not have fallen and Follomain would not have perished.
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 8354-8365
quote_or_summary: The young warrior refuses to stay, saying deeds performed with
Cuchulain would bring glory, honour, and fame to Cuchulain, and advises him to
test his arms alone against the hosts.
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 8371-8373
quote_or_summary: The young warrior from Faery goes away, and no one knows what
way he has gone.
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 8373-8384
quote_or_summary: Cuchulain tells Laeg they will avenge the youths on the hosts;
Laeg agrees, and Cuchulain asks whether the scythed chariot can be made ready.
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: uncertain
notes: Core figures, actions, and sequence are explicit in the passage. Motif labels
are descriptive and not tied to taxonomy except where no available taxonomy clearly
applies. 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: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. Taxonomy references were left empty where the available taxonomy did not directly match the passage evidence.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg__l8283-l8384
passage_sha256=5ceb08266bbf51731f3e8878eb3b3ab55e3fb06b2b81ed3ae425ebeee5078218