Waltharius686

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2nd single combat: Walther slays Kimo/Scaramund, Camalo’s nephew (686–719)

Et dum forte nepos conspexerat hoc Camalonis,  SDSDDS 
Filius ipsius Kimo cognomine fratris,  Kimo: possibly equiv. to Kimonis, thus supplying the name of Camalo’s brother, but more likely a genuine cognomen of Scaramund.

 

 DSSSDS 
Quem referunt quidam Scaramundum nomine dictum,  Aeineid 9.387-388.: . . .qui post Albae de nomine dicti/ Albani. ‘. . .Which was later called Alban from Alba’s name.’

 

 DSDSDS 
Ingemit et lacrimis compellat tristior omnes:  DDSSDS 
Haec me prae cunctis heu respicit actio rerum. 690  Aeneid 10.441-442.: tempus desistere pugnae;/ solus ego in Pallanta feror, soli mihi Palas/ debetur. ‘It is time to stand aside from battle; I alone attack Pallas; to me alone Pallas is due.’

 

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Nunc aut commoriar vel carum ulciscar amicum.'  Aeneid 10.441-442.: tempus desistere pugnae;/ solus ego in Pallanta feror, soli mihi Palas/ debetur. ‘It is time to stand aside from battle; I alone attack Pallas; to me alone Pallas is due.’

 

 SDSSDS
Elision: carum ulciscar
 
Namque angusta loci solum concurrere soli  Althof ad loc. remarks incredulously that for Waltharius this is really “a first-rate defensive position!” But he also points out (in his note on line 664) that the individual combats are more than an artificial plot device, in fact reflecting the mentality of the heroic warrior who strives for his own kleos in the Homeric sense.

 

 Aeineid 2.332: obsedere alii telis angusta viarum. ‘Others with weapons have barred the narrow ways.’ 11.522-523.: est curvo anfractu valles, accommoda fraudi/ armorumque dolis. ‘There is a valley with sweeping curve, fit site for the stratagems and deceits of war.’ Aeineid 12.315: mihi ius concurrere soli. ‘I alone have the right to do battle.’

 

 SDSSDS
Elision: namque angusta
 
Cogebant, nec quisquam alii succurrere quivit.  SSDSDS
Elision: quisquam alii
 
Advolat infelix Scaramundus iam moriturus,  Aeineid 10.896: advolat Aeneas. ‘Aeneas rushes up.’ 10.781: sternitur infelix. He falls, unlucky man.’ 2.511: fertur moriturus in hostes. ‘He rushes to his death among his foes.’

 

 DSDSDS 
Bina manu lato crispans hastilia ferro. 695  Aeineid 1.313; 12.165: bina manu lato crispans hastilia ferro.’Grasping in hand two shafts, tipped with broad steel. . .’

 

Template:Picture  DSSSDS 
Qui dum Waltharium nullo terrore videret  Nullo terrore: with permotum in the next line

 

 SDSSDS 
Permotum fixumque loco consistere in ipso,  SSDSDS
Elision: consistere in
 
Sic ait infrendens et equinam vertice caudam  Equinam…caudam: the horse-hair crest of his helmet

 

 Statius, Thebaid 9.446: sic ait infrendens. ‘So spake he, gnashing his teeth.’ Prudentius, Psychomachia 117: hirsutas quatiens galeato in vertice cristas. . . ‘Tossing the shaggy crests on her helmeted head. . .’ Aeineid 10.869: caput. . .cristaque hirsutus equina. . . ‘His head bristling with horsehair plume. . .’

 

 DSDSDS 
Concutiens: 'in quo fidis? vel quae tua spes est?  DSSSDS 
Non ego iam gazam nec rerum quidque tuarum 700  Quidque equiv. to quidquam

 

 DSSSDS 
Appeto, sed vitam cognati quaero perempti.'  DSSSDS 
Ille dehinc: 'si convincar, quod proelia primus  Quod: cf. note on line 606.

 

 DSSSDS 
Temptarim, seu quid merui, quod talia possim  Quod equiv. to ut

 

 Aeineid 2.334-235.: vix primi proelia temptant/ portarum vigiles. ‘Scarce do the first guards of the gates essay battle.’

 

 SSDSDS 
Jure pati, absque mora tua me transverberet hasta.'  Aeineid 2.334-235.: vix primi proelia temptant/ portarum vigiles. ‘Scarce do the first guards of the gates essay battle.’

 

 DDDSDS
Elision: pati absque
 
Necdum sermonem concluserat, en Scaramundus 705  Aeineid 10.882-883.: dixit, telumque intorsit in hostem; inde aliud super atque aliud figitque volatque/ ingenti gyro, sed sustinet aureus umbo. ‘He spoke, and hurled a javelin at his foe; then plants another and yet another, wheeling in wide circle; but the boss of gold withstands them.’

 

 SSSDDS 
Unum de binis hastile retorsit in illum  Aeineid 10.882-883.: dixit, telumque intorsit in hostem; inde aliud super atque aliud figitque volatque/ ingenti gyro, sed sustinet aureus umbo. ‘He spoke, and hurled a javelin at his foe; then plants another and yet another, wheeling in wide circle; but the boss of gold withstands them.’

 

 SSSDDS 
Confestimque aliud. quorum celeberrimus heros  SDSDDS
Elision: confestimque aliud
 
Unum devitat, quatit ex umbone secundum.  SSDSDS 
Tunc aciem gladii promens Scaramundus acuti  DDSDDS 
Proruit in iuvenem cupiens praescindere frontem, 710  DDDSDS 
Effrenique in equo propius devectus ad illum  Effreni: a third-declension variant form of effrenus

 

 Prudentius, Psychomachia 179: effreni volitabat equo. ‘She was galloping about on a mettled steed.’

 

 SDDSDS
Elision: effrenique in
 
Non valuit capiti libratum infindere vulnus,  Vulnus equiv. to gladium

 

 Aeineid 5.509-510.: avem contingere ferro/ non valuit. ‘He could not hit the bird herself with the bolt.’ Eclogue 4.33: telluri infindere sulcos. . . ‘To cleave the earth with furrows. . .’

 

 DDSSDS
Elision: libratum infindere
 
Sed capulum galeae impegit; dedit illa resultans  Capulum: Scaramund mistimes the blow to his moving target and strikes Waltharius’s helmet with the handle of his sword, not the blade.

 

 Prudentius, Psychomachia 141: tinnitum percussa refert. ‘It resounds under the blow.’

 

 DDSDDS
Elision: galeae impegit
 
Tinnitus ignemque simul transfudit ad auras.  Prudentius, Psychomachia 141: tinnitum percussa refert. ‘It resounds under the blow.’

 

 SSDSDS 
Sed non cornipedem potuit girare superbum, 715  Girare equiv. to gyrare, “to turn around,” transitive.

 

 SDDSDS 
Donec Waltharius sub mentum cuspidis ictum  Aeineid 10.346-347.: advenit et rigida Dryopem ferit eminus hasta/ sub mentum graviter pressa, pariterque loquentis/ vocem animamque rapit traiecto gutture. ‘He comes and from a distance smites Dryops under the chin with his stiff shaft driven with force, and piercing his throat robs him, as he speaks, of voice and life together.’

 

 SDSSDS 
Fixerat et sella moribundum sustulit alta.  Aeineid 10.346-347.: advenit et rigida Dryopem ferit eminus hasta/ sub mentum graviter pressa, pariterque loquentis/ vocem animamque rapit traiecto gutture. ‘He comes and from a distance smites Dryops under the chin with his stiff shaft driven with force, and piercing his throat robs him, as he speaks, of voice and life together.’

 

 DSDSDS 
Qui caput orantis proprio mucrone recidens  Proprio mucrone: the phrase at first glance suggests a last-minute suicide, but it is perhaps more likely that qui refers to Waltharius, and proprio equiv. to suo.
Recidens: note the long i.

 

 Prudentius, Psychomachia 282-283.: tunc caput orantis flexa cervice resectum/ eripit. ‘Then, though she begs for mercy, she bends the neck and severs the head.’ Aeineid 10.535-536.: sic fatus galeam laeva tenet atque reflexa/ cervice orantis capulo tenus applicat ensem. ‘So speaking, he grasps the helmet with his left hand and, bending back the suppliant’s neck, drives the sword in up to the hilt.’ 10.554-555.: tum caput orantis nequiquam. . .deturbat. ‘Then he strikes the head of him vainly pleading.’

 

 DSDSDS 
Fecit cognatum pariter fluitare cruorem.  Cognatum…cruorem: i.e., Scaramund’s blood beside his uncle’s

 

 SSDDDS 

« 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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