Waltharius962

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

Ecce repentino Randolf athleta caballo					DSSSDS
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.’		scansion=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.’		scansion=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.’		scansion=DSSDDS}}
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.’		scansion=SSDDDS}}
Ille tamen subito stupefactus corda pavore		Ille: Waltharius Corda: accusative of respect			scansion=DDDSDS}}
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.’		scansion=SDSSDS|elision=clipei obiecit}}
Nec tamen et galeam fuerat sumpsisse facultas.		Fuerat sumpsisse facultas equiv. to sumere potuit, cf. line 960.			scansion=DDDSDS}}
Francus at emissa gladium nudaverat hasta	970		Aeineid 10.474: magnis emittit viribus hastam. ‘He hurls his spear with all his strength.’		scansion=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.’		scansion=DSDSDS}}
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.’		scansion=SSDSDS}}
Non licuit, rursumque alium vibraverat ictum					scansion=DSDSDS|elision=rursumque alium}}
Et praeceps animi directo obstamine scuti		Praeceps animi: “hasty”	Aeneid 9.685: praeceps animi. . . ‘Reckless at heart. . .’		scansion=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.’		scansion=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.’		scansion=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?’		scansion=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. . .’		scansion=DSSSDS}}
En pro calvitio capitis te vertice fraudo,					scansion=SDDSDS}}
Ne fiat ista tuae de me iactantia sponsae.'	980				scansion=DDSSDS}}

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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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