Waltharius142

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	This is a particularly acute manifestation of the Germanic warrior ethos – love for the lord above all else. However, since the audience knows Walther is promised to Hildegund, and we will soon see them plotting together against Attila, it has the ring of irony. -AE
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	The language here echoes Aeneid 4.16, which reads, “ne cui me vinclo vellem sociare iugali….” Dido says this to her sister Anna, talking about how she might fall for Aeneas if only she had not decided to avoid “nuptial chains.” Dido goes on to fall for Aeneas, just as Walther, despite what he says, will go on to marry Hildegund. The other parallel, which will return later in the poem, is between Attila and Dido, who are the ones the hero leaves behind. -AE
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	The phrase "sero aut medio noctis" also appears in the Gospel of Mark, when Christ tells the parable of the faithful servant, who keeps watch because he does not know at what hour his lord will return. This parable is a metaphor for the return of Christ. In using this language, the Waltharius poet reminds his readers that Walther is a Christian, just as he does in lines 225, when Walther blesses the goblet, and in 1161, when Walther prays to his Creator. -AE
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	It is strange that Walther refers to Attila as pater here. However, Attila may mean "little father" in Old Turkic, which was possibly the language of the Huns. For a full discussion of Attila's name, see Otto Maenchen-Helfen, The World of the Huns: Studies in their history and culture (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1973), chapter 4. The phrase pater optime also appears in Aeneid 1.555, where it seems to refer to Jupiter. -AE
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)

next »

English