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8th single combat: Walther is shorn of his hair by Randolf, whom he then slays (962–981)

Ecce repentino Randolf athleta caballo  
Waltharius-Lines-962-1062.png
 
 DSSSDS   This noun was used in a figural sense in philosophical discourse (cf. Seneca De providentia / dialogi I, 2.2.5) and later also used in Christian discourse, where it acquired a connotation associated with martyrdom. See for an early development of this especially Ambrose, e.g. De paradiso 12.55: unde et Paulus quasi bonus athleta non solum ictus aduersantium potestatum uitare cognouerat, uerum etiam aduersantes ferire (“therefore Paul also knew how to not only avoid the blows of the opposing forces like a good athlete, but also to give blows to his adversaries”). Cf. the description of Walther in 1046 and it’s usage by Walther to describe Hagen in 1411. Cf. also the note on agonem in 1025. JJTY 
Praevertens reliquos hunc importunus adivit  Prudentius, Psychomachia 228-229.: hostis nunc surgit ab oris/ inportunus. ‘The foe arises now from the shores to trouble us.’

 

   SDSSDS 
Ac mox ferrato petiit sub pectore conto.  Prudentius, Psychomachia 116: impatiensque morae conto petit. ‘Irked by her hanging back, she hurls a pike at her.’ 122-123.: sub ipsum/ defertur stomachum. ‘It hits the very stomach.’

 

   SSDSDS 
Et nisi duratis Wielandia fabrica giris 965  Wielandia fabrica: “the workmanship of Wieland,” a legendary smith, comparable to Hephaestus or Daedalus, in German mythology. Cf. line 264 on the lorica.

 

 Prudentius, Psychomachia 124-125.: sed resilit duro loricae excussa repulsu./ provida nam Virtus conserto adamante trilicem/ induerat thoraca umeris. ‘But it is struck off by the resistance of a hard cuirass, and rebounds; for the Virtue had prudently put on her shoulders a three-ply corselet of mail impenetrable.’

 

   DSSDDS   For the tale of Wieland, see J. Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie, Göttingen: Dieterichsche Buchhandlung, 1844, vol. 1, 349-352. As a mythological smith, Wieland is analogous to Homer’s Hephaestus (see especially Iliad 18.478ff.) and Virgil’s Vulcanus (Aeneid 8.439ff.), who forge the armor for the epic’s respective heroes. Althof (1905, ad loc.) remarks that the tale, originating in Lower Germany, was already widespread across Northern Europe by the end of the seventh century. Cf. the Waldere fragments (2-3), where the sword Mimming is mentioned as fabricated by Wieland (also known from Beowulf, 455). JJTY 
Obstaret, spisso penetraverit ilia ligno.  Ligno equiv. to conto

 

 Prudentius, Psychomachia 124-125.: sed resilit duro loricae excussa repulsu./ provida nam Virtus conserto adamante trilicem/ induerat thoraca umeris. ‘But it is struck off by the resistance of a hard cuirass, and rebounds; for the Virtue had prudently put on her shoulders a three-ply corselet of mail impenetrable.’


Aeneid 9.413: fisso transit praecordia ligno. ‘With the broken wood it pierces the midriff.’  

   SSDDDS 
Ille tamen subito stupefactus corda pavore  Ille: Waltharius
Corda: accusative of respect

 

   DDDSDS   After Gunther has completed his encouraging speech to his disheartened men and opens the attack on Walther, this reflects the change of pace and the recommencement of the action, not just by its words (“subito”), but also by its almost entirely dactylic meter. JJTY 
Munimen clipei obiecit mentemque recepit;  Prudentius, Psychomachia 503: clipeum obiectasset. ‘She put her shield in the way.’ Aeineid 12.377: clipeo obiecto. . . ‘With his shield before him. . .’ 10.899: mentemque recepit. ‘He regained his senses.’

 

   SDSSDS
Elision: clipei obiecit
 
 Notice how the elision of the “i” of “clipei” causes a resounding clash with the ictus in the first syllable of the following word (“obiecit”), imitating the sword’s blow on the shield. JJTY 
Nec tamen et galeam fuerat sumpsisse facultas.  Fuerat sumpsisse facultas equiv. to sumere potuit, cf. line 960.

 

   DDDSDS 
Francus at emissa gladium nudaverat hasta 970  Aeineid 10.474: magnis emittit viribus hastam. ‘He hurls his spear with all his strength.’

 

   DSDSDS 
Et feriens binos Aquitani vertice crines  Binos…crines: “two locks of hair”

 

 Prudentius, Psychomachia 506-507.: vix in cute summa/ praestringens paucos tenui de vulnere laedit/ cuspis Avaritiae. ‘Only a few did Greed’s javelin touch, grazing them with a slight wound not skin-deep.’ Aeneid 4.698-699.: vertice crinem/ abstulerat. ‘She had taken from her head the lock.’ Statius, Thebaid 344-345.: addit acerba sonum Teumesi e vertice crinem/ incutiens. ‘From Teumesus height she sends her shrill cry, and shakes her locks.’

 

      Beck (1908, ad loc.) remarks that the cutting of hair was a particularly dishonorable act for a free man, quoting Tacitus, Germania 19, where an adulteress is shorn and subsequently chased out of her home. The passage may also contain a reminiscence to the biblical story of Samson and Delilah (Judges 14-16), in which Samson loses his strength as a result of being shorn. This is not the case with Walther, however, who only grows fiercer, much to his opponents’ dismay. JJTY 
Abrasit, sed forte cutem praestringere summam  Prudentius, Psychomachia 506-507.: vix in cute summa/ praestringens paucos tenui de vulnere laedit/ cuspis Avaritiae. ‘Only a few did Greed’s javelin touch, grazing them with a slight wound not skin-deep.’ Aeneid 4.698-699.: vertice crinem/ abstulerat. ‘She had taken from her head the lock.’ Statius, Thebaid 344-345.: addit acerba sonum Teumesi e vertice crinem/ incutiens. ‘From Teumesus height she sends her shrill cry, and shakes her locks.’

 

   SSDSDS 
Non licuit, rursumque alium vibraverat ictum    DSDSDS
Elision: rursumque alium
 
Et praeceps animi directo obstamine scuti  Praeceps animi: “hasty”

 

 Aeneid 9.685: praeceps animi. . . ‘Reckless at heart. . .’

 

   SDSSDS
Elision: directo obstamine
 
Impegit calibem, nec quivit viribus ullis 975  Aeneid 6.147-148.: non viribus ullis/ vincere. . .poteris. ‘With no force will you avail to win it.’ 12.782: viribus haud ullis valuit discludere morsus. ‘By no strength could he unlock the bite.’

 

   SDSSDS 
Elicere. Alpharides retro, se fulminis instar  Elicere equiv. to revellere
Retro: with fudit
Se…excutiens equiv. to emicans

 

 Ovid, Ars Amatoria 3.490: fulminis instar habent. ‘They hold what is like a thunderbolt.’

 

   DDSSDS
Elision: elicere Alpharides
 
Excutiens, Francum valida vi fudit ad arvum  Aeineid 2.50; 5.500: validis. . .viribus. . . ‘With mighty force. . .’ 1.193: corpora fundat humi. ‘He stretches the bodies on the ground.’ 11.665: quot humi morientia corpora fundis? ‘How many bodies do you lay low on the earth?’

 

   DSDSDS 
Et super assistens pectus conculcat et inquit:  Aeineid 10.490-491.: quem Turnus super adsistens. . .inquit. . . ‘Standing over him, Turnus cries. . .’ Prudentius, Psychomachia 155: quam super adsistens Patientia. . .inquit. . . ‘Standing over her, Long-Suffering cries. . .’

 

   DSSSDS 
En pro calvitio capitis te vertice fraudo,    SDDSDS 
Ne fiat ista tuae de me iactantia sponsae.' 980    DDSSDS   Tacitus (Germania 7) notes that Germanic kings are particularly prone to brag to their wife and children, who are their greatest audience: hi cuique sanctissimi testes, hi maximi laudatores (“They are to each their most sacred witnesses, they are their greatest glorifiers”). Cf. also Walther’s defiant speech in 562-3: Hinc nullus rediens uxori dicere Francus / Praesumet se impune gazae quid tollere tantae (“No Frank, returning from this place, will dare to tell / His wife that he, unharmed, took any of this treasure”). JJTY 

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