Waltharius93

Experience of the hostages at Attila’s court (93–115)

Tunc Avares gazis onerati denique multis					DSDSDS
Obsidibus sumptis Haganone, Hiltgunde puella					DSDSDS Elision: H-ELISION: Haganone Hiltgunde
Nec non Walthario redierunt pectore laeto.	95		Lucan, De Bello Civili 9.1039: effudit gemitusque expressit pectore lateo. ‘He shed tears and forced out groans while his heart rejoiced.’		SDDSDS	"Nec non": The double negative most likely goes with "Walthario", in order to round out the summary and emphasize Walter as the most important hostage; "and also Walter" (courtesy JJTY).
Attila Pannonias ingressus et urbe receptus		Urbe receptus: Attila’s dwelling-place is not named in the Waltharius. The Roman historian Jordanes (Getica 34) locates it on the Tisza River, while the Nibelungenlied, by Althof’s interpretation, identifies it with Budapest (on the Danube).	Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.516: urbe receptus. . . ‘When I visited your city. . .’		DDSDDS
Exulibus pueris magnam exhibuit pietatem		Pietatem: “kindness” – in Medieval Latin the word loses some of its lofty Virgilian resonances.			DDSDDS Elision: magnam exhibuit
Ac veluti proprios nutrire iubebat alumnos.					DDSDDS	Throughout the early stages of the poem Attila and Ospirin appear to do all in their power to adopt these children. Cf. line 165, and its note, in which Walther addresses Attila as "Pater optime" in response to the offer of a bride, "although the etymology of Attila as "little father" may have affected this particular phraseology [JZ]".
Virginis et curam reginam mandat habere,					DSSSDS
Ast adolescentes propriis conspectibus ambos	100	Propriis conspectibus equiv. to ante suos oculos	Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’ Actus Apostolorum 10.33: nunc ergo omnes nos in conspectu tuo adsumus. ‘Now therefore all we are present in they sight.’		DSDSDS
Semper adesse iubet, sed et artibus imbuit illos			Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’		DDDDDS
Praesertimque iocis belli sub tempore habendis.		Iocis belli sub tempore habendis: “in the practice of warlike games appropriate to their ages.” Tac. Germ. 24 documents the use of play in the training of Germanic warriors.	Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’		SDSSDS Elision: H-ELISION: tempore habendis
Qui simul ingenio crescentes mentis et aevo			Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’ Secundum Lucam 2.52: et Iesus proficiebat sapientia aetate. ‘And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age.’		DDSSDS
Robore vincebant fortes animoque sophistas,			Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’		DSSDDS
Donec iam cunctos superarent fortiter Hunos.	105		Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’		SSDSDS
Militiae primos tunc Attila fecerat illos,			Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’		DSSDDS
Sed haud immerito, quoniam, si quando moveret			Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’		SDDSDS
Bella, per insignes isti micuere triumphos;		Isti: the pronoun iste in Medieval Latin loses its Classical 2nd-person/disdainful connotations and is practically equivalent to ille.	Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’		DSSDDS
Idcircoque nimis princeps dilexerat ambos.			Danihel Propheta 1.19: steterunt in conspectu regis. ‘They stood in the king’s presence.’ Liber Regum I 18.5: egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat; posuitque eum Saul super viros belli. ‘And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently; and Saul set him over the soldiers.’ 18.13: et fecit eum tribunum super mille viros. ‘And he made him a captain over a thousand men.’ 18.17 dixitque Saul ad David: ecce filia mea maior Merob ipsam dabo tibi uxorem tantummodo esto vir fortis et proeliare bella domini. ‘And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord.’		SDSSDS
Virgo etiam captiva deo praestante supremo	110				DSDSDS Elision: virgo etiam
Reginae vultum placavit et auxit amorem,			Liber Regum I 13.12: faciem domini non placavi. ‘I have not appeased the face of the Lord.’		SSSDDS
Moribus eximiis operumque industria habundans.					DDDSDS Elision: operumque industria; H-ELISION: industria habundans
Postremum custos thesauris provida cunctis					SSSSDS
Efficitur, modicumque deest, quin regnet et ipsa;		Modicum deest quin: “it was almost the case that”			DDDSDS
Nam quicquid voluit de rebus, fecit et actis.	115				SDSSDS

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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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