batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l9568-l9727
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l9568-l9727
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 9568-9727
start: '9568'
end: '9727'
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: Medb summons Ferdiad and offers him rich gifts, land, privileges, friendship,
and Finnabair as wife if he will fight Cuchulain. Ferdiad insists on bonds, oaths,
and sureties before agreeing, and states that Cuchulain is his equal, foster-companion,
and friend. Medb continues to press him with promises of reward and fame.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Medb greets Ferdiad and asks whether he knows why he has been summoned to
the tent.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Medb offers Ferdiad a chariot, clothing, land or its equivalent, residence
and wine at Cruachan, hereditary freedoms, a golden brooch, Finnabair as wife,
and her intimate friendship.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Ferdiad says he will not proceed without a bond and anticipates a hard fight
against the Hound of Culann.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Ferdiad demands solemn guarantees, including a sun-and-moon oath, sea and
land, and six sureties.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Medb names possible guarantors or sureties, including Domnall, Carbre, Niaman,
Morann, Man's Carbre, and two sons.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Ferdiad says he and Cuchulain had equal skill, were raised by the same nurses,
and learned their art together.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Ferdiad says his heart bleeds for love of Cuchulain and that he would not
contend with his own friend except that Medb entreated and poets urged him.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Medb promises Ferdiad lasting fame if he checks the heroes' Hound.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Medb
description: Speaker who summons and bargains with Ferdiad, offering rewards, sureties,
and fame.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Ferdiad son of Daman
description: Warrior addressed by Medb; he negotiates for bonds and expresses reluctance
to fight Cuchulain.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Cuchulain / Hound of Culann / Smith's Hound
description: Ferdiad's intended opponent, described as grievous in combat and as
Ferdiad's former companion in training.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Finnabair
description: Medb and Ailill's daughter, offered to Ferdiad as his wife if he undertakes
the combat.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Ailill
description: Named as Finnabair's father in Medb's offer.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Named sureties
description: Domnall, Carbre, Niaman, Morann, Man's Carbre, and two sons are named
in connection with Ferdiad's demanded guarantees.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: offer-maker and persuader
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Medb offers wealth, privilege, marriage, friendship, and fame to induce Ferdiad
to fight.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: role:2
label: reluctant champion and bargainer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Ferdiad refuses to go without bonds and expresses emotional reluctance about
fighting his friend.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: intended opponent and beloved former companion
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Cuchulain is the opponent Ferdiad is asked to fight, and Ferdiad describes
shared upbringing, training, and affection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: promised bride and reward
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Finnabair is offered to Ferdiad as his wife as part of Medb's inducements.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: named parent
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Ailill is named as Finnabair's father.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: pledge guarantors
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Medb names these figures in response to Ferdiad's demand for sureties.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: golden brooch
literal_form: Medb's leaf-shaped golden brooch with detailed weights of precious
metal
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: chariot and apparel
literal_form: A chariot valued in bondmaids and clothing of every colour
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: Cruachan and lands
literal_form: Cruachan, the Plain of Ai, and the Plain of Murthemne or its equivalent
as promised places or domains
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: sun-and-moon, sea-and-land oath
literal_form: Ferdiad's demanded oath by sun and moon, sea and land
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: promised marriage to Finnabair
literal_form: Finnabair offered as Ferdiad's wife when Cuchulain is slain
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: Hound epithet
literal_form: Cuchulain named as the Hound of Culann, Smith's Hound, and heroes'
Hound
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Medb's initial offer
summary: Medb explains that Ferdiad has been summoned so she can offer him goods,
privileges, friendship, and Finnabair as wife.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Demand for bonds and cosmic oath
summary: Ferdiad refuses to fight without binding guarantees and asks for solemn
oaths and six sureties.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Reluctance before fighting a friend
summary: Ferdiad states that he and Cuchulain share equal training and fosterage,
and he grieves at the prospect of fighting his own friend.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Promise of fame for checking the Hound
summary: Medb continues to urge Ferdiad by promising enduring fame if he checks
Cuchulain.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Gifts, privileges, and bride promised in exchange for combat
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Medb offers wealth, land, freedom for descendants, friendship, and Finnabair
as wife in order to obtain Ferdiad's combat against Cuchulain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The exchange is political and heroic rather than explicitly divine or
ritual; the taxonomy reference is functional and should be reviewed.
- id: motif:2
label: Oath-bound heroic combat
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Ferdiad will not go to the ford-feats without bonds, oaths by cosmic and
natural entities, and six sureties.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the demand for guarantees but not the later fulfillment
of the duel.
- id: motif:3
label: Reluctant duel with a beloved foster-companion
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Ferdiad describes Cuchulain as his equal in skill, raised by the same nurses,
trained with him, and loved as a friend, while still being pressed toward combat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage contains the reluctance and relationship, but not the duel
itself.
- id: motif:4
label: Fame offered as inducement to violent heroic action
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Medb tells Ferdiad that his fame will live if he checks the heroes' Hound.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a brief inducement within a larger bargaining scene.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 9568-9595
quote_or_summary: Medb tells Ferdiad he was summoned to receive a valuable chariot,
garments, lands or their equivalent, residence and wine at Cruachan, hereditary
freedoms, a golden brooch, Finnabair as wife, and Medb's friendship.
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: quote
locator: lines 9596-9610
quote_or_summary: Medb's verse offers "Great rewards," a "Share of plain and forest,"
and "Freedom of thy children / From this day till doom."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 9611-9633
quote_or_summary: Ferdiad says he will take nothing without a bond, warns that the
fight will be hard, and names the Hound of Culann as a grievous opponent.
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: lines 9634-9658
quote_or_summary: Ferdiad refuses to yield without a sun-and-moon oath, sea and
land, and later insists on six sureties before doing his exploits.
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: lines 9659-9670
quote_or_summary: Medb responds to the demand for sureties by naming Domnall, Carbre,
Niaman, Morann, Man's Carbre, and two sons as possible bonds.
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: lines 9688-9710
quote_or_summary: Ferdiad says that even with Finnabair, Ai, and Cruachan he would
not seek the Hound; he and Cuchulain have equal skill, the same nurses raised
them, and they learned their art together; his heart bleeds for love of him.
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: quote
locator: lines 9711-9718
quote_or_summary: Ferdiad says that, but for Medb's entreaty and poets' urging,
he would not go "To contend with mine own friend."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 9719-9727
quote_or_summary: Medb tells Ferdiad that if he checks the heroes' Hound, his fame
will live long when he comes from Ferdiad's Ford.
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: The passage clearly supports figures, offers, oaths, sureties, and the reluctant-friend
motif. The taxonomy mapping to sacred_exchange is tentative because the scene
is not explicitly religious or ritual.
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 passage itself does not explicitly compare this scene to another tradition or corpus.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg__l9568-l9727
passage_sha256=6cf2d028c6c0655a7c988697371e9b5a6efd5e4d68b603b80f51b2fd6ecdf089