Motif
refused gift of cattle leads to duel
refused_gift_of_cattle_leads_to_duel
A motif of the Sacred Combat and Ritual Warfare family, within the sub-family Cattle Raid and Livestock War. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
celtic irish
-
Heroic Romances of Ireland LITERAL TRANSLATION / THE DRIVING OF THE CATTLE OF FLIDAIS / INTRODUCTION / THE DRIVING OF THE CATTLE OF FLIDAIS; lines 11659-11807 confidence: high
Fergus asks for cattle to sustain his men. Ailill refuses, saying the gift would appear motivated by fear that Fergus might take his wife, but offers an ox and bacon. Fergus refuses the food and challenges Ailill to a duel by the ford.
Fergus asks for cattle for his men; Ailill refuses an honorable gift, offers lesser food, and Fergus responds by challenging him to combat at the ford.
read in the book →