Waltharius142

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Walther rejects Attila’s offer of a bride (142–169)

Waltharius venit, cui princeps talia pandit,  Ipse: Waltharius, who begins speaking in line 146. (Attila’s repetition of his wife’s speech is elided.)

 

 Aeineid 3.179: remque ordine pando. ‘I reveal all in order.’ 6.723: suscipit Anchises atque ordine singula pandit. ‘Anchises replies, and reveals each truth in order.’

 

 DSSSDS 
Uxorem suadens sibi ducere; sed tamen ipse  SSDDDS 
Iam tum praemeditans, quod post compleverat actis,  Quod: obj. of praemeditans

 

 Secundum Lucam 21.14: non praemeditari quemadmodum respondeatis. ‘Do not meditate before how you should answer.’

 

 SDSSDS 
His instiganti suggestibus obvius infit: 145  Suggestibus equiv. to consiliis

 

 SSSDDS 
Vestra quidem pietas est, quod modici famulatus  Modici famulatus: genitive of description with causa, meaning “of little importance” or “that has provided some small service.”

 

 DDSDDS 
Causam conspicitis. sed quod mea segnia mentis  Causam: here, as often in the Waltharius, this word is practically the equivalent of res – well on its way to becoming French chose, Italian/Spanish cosa, “thing.”
Mea segnia: i.e., Waltharius’s delay in making a decision regarding marriage.

 

 SDSDDS 
Intuitu fertis, numquam meruisse valerem.  Mentis intuitu fertis equiv. to attenditis

 

 DSSDDS 
Sed precor, ut servi capiatis verba fidelis:  DSDSDS 
Si nuptam accipiam domini praecepta secundum, 150  Secundum: the post-positive preposition

 

 SDDSDS
Elision: nuptam accipiam
 
Vinciar in primis curis et amore puellae  DSSDDS 
Atque a servitio regis plerumque retardor:  Retardor: Like cogor and moratur below, with a future sense.

 

 SDSSDS
Elision: atque a
 
Aedificare domos cultumque intendere ruris  DDSSDS
Elision: cultumque intendere
 
Cogor, et hoc oculis senioris adesse moratur  DDDDDS 
Et solitam regno Hunorum impendere curam. 155  Georgics 2.433: et dubitant homines serere atque impendere curam? ‘And can men be slow to plant and bestow care?’

 

 DSSSDS
Elision: Hunorum impendere
Hiatus: regno Hunorum
 
Namque voluptatem quisquis gustaverit, exin  DSSSDS 
Intolerabilius consuevit ferre labores.  Intolerabilius: here active in sense, “with less tolerance.”

 

 DDSSDS 
Nil tam dulce mihi, quam semper inesse fideli  SDSDDS 
Obsequio domini; quare precor absque iugali  Liber Malachim IV 5.2: Quae erat in obsequio uxoris Naaman. ‘She waited upon Naaman’s wife.’ Aeneid 4.16: ne cui me vinclo vellem sociare iugali. . . ‘To ally myself with none in bond of wedlock. . .’

 

 DDSDDS 
Me vinclo permitte meam iam ducere vitam. 160  Liber Malachim IV 5.2: Quae erat in obsequio uxoris Naaman. ‘She waited upon Naaman’s wife.’ Aeneid 4.16: ne cui me vinclo vellem sociare iugali. . . ‘To ally myself with none in bond of wedlock. . .’


Aeineid 3.315: vitamque extrema per omnia duco. ‘I drag on my life through all extremes.’  

 SSDSDS 
Si sero aut medio noctis mihi tempore mandas,  Secundum Marcum 13.35: sero an media nocte. . . ‘At evening or at midnight. . .’ Aeineid 8.407: medio noctis. . . ‘In the middle of the night. . .’

 

 SDSDDS
Elision: sero aut
 
Ad quaecumque iubes, securus et ibo paratus.  SDSDDS 
In bellis nullae persuadent cedere curae  SSSSDS 
Nec nati aut coniunx retrahentque fugamque movebunt.  SSDDDS
Elision: nati aut
 
Testor per propriam temet, pater optime, vitam 165  Testor: here construed like precor with a purpose clause, joining an oath to an earnest request.

 

 Aeineid 3.599-600.: per sidera testor,/ per superos atque hoc caeli spirabile lumen,/ tollite me. ‘By the stars I beseech you, by the gods above and this lightsome air we breathe, take me.’ 1.555: pater optime. . . ‘Noble father. . .’

 

 SDSDDS 
Atque per invictam nunc gentem Pannoniarum  Nunc: an ironic touch? (Cf. line 144)

 

 DSSSDS 
Ut non ulterius me cogas sumere taedas.'  SDSSDS 
His precibus victus suasus rex deserit omnes,  DSSSDS 
Sperans Waltharium fugiendo recedere numquam.  SDDDDS 

« previous  
  • Prologue
  • Introduction: the Huns (1–12)
  • The Huns (13–418)
    • The Franks under Gibich surrender to Attila, giving Hagen as a hostage (13–33)
    • The Burgundians under Hereric surrender to Attila, giving Hildegund as a hostage (34–74)
    • The Aquitainians under Alphere surrender to Attila, giving Walther as a hostage (75–92)
    • Experience of the hostages at Attila’s court (93–115)
    • Death of Gibich, flight of Hagen (116–122)
    • Attila’s queen Ospirin advises her husband to ensure Walther’s loyalty by arranging a marriage (123–141)
    • Walther rejects Attila’s offer of a bride (142–169)
    • Walther leads the army of the Huns to victory in battle (170–214)
    • The Escape (215–418)
      • Walther returns from battle and encounters Hildegund (215–255)
      • Walther reveals to Hildegund his plans for escaping with Attila’s treasure (256–286)
      • Walther hosts a luxurious banquet for Attila’s court; eventually all his intoxicated guests fall asleep (287–323)
      • Flight of Walther and Hildegund from Attila’s court (324–357)
      • The following day, the escape of Walther and Hildegund is discovered by Ospirin (358–379)
      • Attila is infuriated and vows revenge on Walther, but can find no one willing to dare to pursue him, even for a large reward (380–418)
  • The Single Combats (419–1061)
    • Diplomacy (419–639)
      • Flight of Walther and Hildegund to the area of Worms (419–435)
      • Gunther, King of the Franks, learns of Walther’s presence on his territory and, despite Hagen’s warnings, decides to pursue him for his treasure (436–488)
      • Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)
      • Gunther and his companions approach Walther’s camp; Hagen unsuccessfully tries to dissuade the king from attacking it (513–531)
      • Hildegund sees the Franks approaching and wakes Walther, who calms her fears and prepares for battle; he recognizes Hagen from a distance (532–571)
      • Hagen persuades Gunther to try diplomacy before using force (571–580)
      • Camalo is sent as a messenger to Walther, who offers to make Gunther a gift in return for allowing his passage (581–616)
      • Hagen counsels Gunther to accept the offer, but Gunther rejects this advice, calling him a coward. Insulted, Hagen goes off to a nearby hill (617–639)
    • Combat (640–1061)
      • 1st single combat: Camalo is sent back to Walther, who slays him (640–685)
      • 2nd single combat: Walther slays Kimo/Scaramund, Camalo’s nephew (686–719)
      • Gunther encourages his men (720–724)
      • 3rd single combat: Walther slays Werinhard, a descendant of the Trojan Pandarus (725–753)
      • 4th single combat: Walther slays the Saxon Ekivrid, after an exchange of insults (754–780)
      • 5th single combat: Walther slays Hadawart, after an exchange of insults (781–845)
      • Hagen sees his nephew Patavrid going off to fight Walther and laments the evil wreaked on mankind by greed (846–877)
      • 6th single combat: after trying to dissuade him from fighting, Walther slays Patavrid (878–913)
      • 7th single combat: Walther slays Gerwitus (914–940)
      • Gunther again encourages his men, giving Walther some time to rest (941–961)
      • 8th single combat: Walther is shorn of his hair by Randolf, whom he then slays (962–981)
      • Walther is attacked by Eleuthir/Helmnot, assisted by Trogus, Tanastus, and Gunther; he slays all but Gunther (981–1061)
  • The Final Combat (1062–1452)
    • Gunther tries to persuade Hagen to help him to defeat Waltharius; remembering his wounded honor, Hagen refuses (1062–1088)
    • Hagen changes his mind and agrees to help Gunther, but advises that they must lie low wait until Walther comes down from the mountains into open ground (1089–1129)
    • Walther decides to spend the night in the mountains. He rematches the severed heads with the bodies of his victims, prays for their souls, then sleeps (1130–1187)
    • The following day, Walther and Hildegund set out from the mountains, taking the horses and arms of the defeated warriors (1188–1207)
    • Hildegund perceives Gunther and Hagen approaching to attack; the king addresses Walther (1208–1236)
    • Walther ignores Gunther and pleads with Hagen to remember the bond of their childhood friendship; Hagen counters that Walther has already broken their faith by slaying Patavrid (1237–1279)
    • The fight begins and continues for seven hours; Gunther foolishly tries to retrieve a thrown spear from the ground near Walther and is only saved from death by Hagen’s brave intervention (1280–1345)
    • Walther challenges Hagen; he severs Gunther’s leg, but Hagen again saves the king’s life (1346–1375)
    • Hagen cuts off Walther’s right hand; Walther gouges out one of Hagen’s eyes and, cutting open his cheek, knocks out four teeth (1376–1395)
    • Having wounded each other, the warriors end the battle, drink together, and engage in a friendly exchange of humorous taunt (1396–1442)
    • The warriors return to their respective homes; Walther marries Hildegund and eventually becomes king of the Aquitainians (1443–1452)
  • Epilogue (1453–1456) 
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