Motif
defeated opponent spared and sent as messenger
defeated_opponent_spared_and_sent_as_messenger
A motif of the Sacred Combat and Ritual Warfare family, within the sub-family Aftermath and Spoils. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
celtic welsh
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The Mabinogion INTRODUCTION / C. E. G. / THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN / PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC; lines 1431-1452 confidence: high
Peredur and the knight fight; Peredur overthrows him. The knight asks mercy. Peredur grants it if he swears to go to Arthur's court, report that Peredur overthrew him for the honour of Arthur's service, and say that Peredur will not come to court until he has avenged the insult to the dwarf and dwarfess. The knight pledges and carries the message and threat to Kai.
Peredur grants mercy to the first defeated knight only if he swears to go to Arthur's court and convey Peredur's message; later defeated knights carry the same message.
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