Waltharius1130

Interea occiduas vergebat Phoebus in oras,	1130	Signans equiv. to inlustrans Ultima per…vestigia equiv. to ultimis radiis Thilen: A remote northern island, perhaps the Shetland Islands or Iceland. In his arrangement of the line, the poet plays on the ancient name, Ultima Thule, here notam to Phoebus because of the long hours of sunlight there (as Althof suggests).			DDSSDS Elision: interea occiduas
Ultima per notam signans vestigia Thilen,			Aeineid 5.317: ultima signant. ‘They sight the goal.’ Georgics 3.171: summo vestigia pulvere signent. ‘They print their tracks on the surface of the dust.’ 1.30: ultima Thule. . . ‘Farthest Thule. . .’		DSSSDS
Et cum Scottigenis post terga reliquit Hiberos.		Scottigenis…Hiberos: peoples whose lands lie south-east of the putative Thule, namely the Scots and the Spaniards, though perhaps Hiberos equiv. to Hibernios, “the Irish.”			SDSDDS
Hic postquam oceanas sensim calefecerat undas,					SDSDDS Elision: postquam oceanas
Hesperos Ausonidis obvertit cornua terris,		Ausonidis…terris equiv. to Italiae Obvertit cornua: properly said of the moon, not the evening star.	Eclogue 10.77: venit Hesperus, ite capellae. ‘Get home, my goats, the Evening Star draws on.’ Aeneid 4.349: Ausonia. . .terra. . . ‘On Ausonian land. . .’ 3.549: cornua velatarum obvertimus antemnarum. ‘We point seaward the horns of our sail-clad yards.’ 3.645: lunae se cornua lumine complent. ‘The moon’s horns are filling with light.’		DDSSDS
Tum secum sapiens coepit tractare satelles,	1135	Satelles: a nobleman, i.e., Waltharius.			SDSSDS
Utrum sub tuto per densa silentia castro			Lucan, De Bello Civili 5.508: per vasta silentia gressu. . . ‘Stepping through the desolate silence. . .’		SSSDDS
Sisteret, an vastis heremi committeret arvis.		Heremi: “of the wilderness.” Committeret: sc. se			DSDSDS
Aestuat immensis curarum fluctibus, et quid			Aeineid 8.19: cuncta videns magno curarum fluctuat aestu. ‘Seeing it all, he tosses on a mighty sea of troubles.’ 4.532: magnoque irarum fluctuat aestu. ‘She heaves with a mighty tide of passion.’ 4.564: irarum concitat aestus. ‘She awakens the surge of passion.’		DSSSDS
Iam faceret, sollers arguta indagine quaerit.					DSSSDS Elision: arguta indagine
Solus enim Hagano fuerat suspectus et illud	1140				DDDSDS Hiatus: enim Hagano
Oscillum regis subter complexibus actum.					SSSSDS
Ambierat prorsus, quae sit sententia menti		Ambierat equiv. to ambigebat	Aeneid 11.314-315.: quae sit dubiae sententia menti,/ expediam. ‘The judgment of my wavering mind I will unfold.’		DSSSDS
Hostis et an urbem vellent remeare relictam,			Aeneid 11.793: patrias remeabo. . .urbes. ‘I will return to the cities of my sires.’		DSSDDS False quantities: an
Pluribus ut sociis per noctem forte coactis					DDSSDS
Primo mane parent bellum recreare nefandum	1145		Aeineid 12.572: haec belli summa nefandi. ‘This is the sum of the accursed war.’		SDSDDS
An soli insidias facerent propiusque laterent.		Triviis equiv. to semitis, governs meatus.			SDDDDS Elision: soli insidias
Terret ad haec triviis ignoti silva meatus,					DDSSDS
Ne loca fortassis incurreret aspera spinis,			Aeneid 4.526-527.: aspera dumis/ rura tenent. ‘They dwell in the thorny thickets of the countryside.’		DSSDDS False quantities: fortassis
Immo quippe feris, sponsamque amitteret illis.					SDSSDS Elision: sponsamque amitteret
His ita provisis exploratisque profatur:	1150				DSSSDS
En quocumque modo res pergant, hic recubabo,			Aeneid 2.709: quo res cumque cadent. . . ‘However things may fall. . .’		SDSSDS
Donec circuiens lumen spera reddat amatum,		Spera equiv. to sphaera equiv. to sol			SDSDDS False quantities: spera
Ne patriae fines dicat rex ille superbus			Eclogue 1.3: nos patriae finis. . .linquimus. ‘We are leaving our country’s bounds.’		DSSSDS
Evasisse fuga furis de more per umbras.'			Aeineid 2.693: lapsa per umbras. . . ‘Gliding through the darkness. . .’ 12.881: ire per umbras. . . ‘To pass through the shadows. . .’		SDSSDS
Dixit et ecce viam vallo praemuniit artam	1155				DDSSDS
Undique praecisis spinis simul et paliuris.			Eclogue 5.39: spinis surgit paliurus acutis. ‘The thistle rises up and the sharp-spiked thorn.’		DSSDDS
Quo facto ad truncos sese convertit amaro			Statius, Thebaid 3.131-132.: aptant/ bracchia trunca loco et cervicibus ora reponuunt. ‘They replace the severed limbs and set the heads again to their shoulders.’		SSSSDS Elision: facto ad
Cum gemitu et cuicumque suum caput applicat atque			Statius, Thebaid 3.131-132.: aptant/ bracchia trunca loco et cervicibus ora reponuunt. ‘They replace the severed limbs and set the heads again to their shoulders.’		DSDDDS Elision: gemitu et
Contra orientalem prostratus corpore partem		Prostratus: sc. se			DSSSDS Elision: contra orientalem
Ac nudum retinens ensem hac voce precatur:	1160	Nudum…ensem: the custom of swearing by one’s sword is ancient; here its cruciform shape when held upright makes it appropriate for Waltharius’s prayer.	Aeineid 12.175: tum pius Aeneas stricto sic ense precatur. ‘Then loyal Aeneas, drawing his sword, thus makes prayer.’ 9.548; 11.711: ense. . .nudo. . . ‘With naked sword. . .’ 9.403; 11.784: sic voce precatur. ‘Thus he prays aloud.’		SDSSDS Hiatus: ensem hac
Rerum factori, sed et omnia facta regenti,					SSDDDS
Nil sine permisso cuius vel denique iusso					DSSSDS
Constat, ago grates, quod me defendit iniquis					DSSSDS
Hostilis turmae telis nec non quoque probris.					SSSSDS
Deprecor at dominum contrita mente benignum,	1165	Contrita: i.e., penitent			DDSSDS
Ut qui peccantes non vult sed perdere culpas,		Translate: [Dominus] qui vult perdere non peccantes sed culpas.	Hiezecihel Propheta 33.11: nolo mortem impii sed ut revertatur impius a via sua et vivat. ‘I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live.’		SSSSDS
Hos in caelesti praestet mihi sede videri.'		Hos: his victims. Praestet mihi videri equiv. to det ut videam			SSSDDS
Qui postquam orandi finem dedit, ilico surgens			Aeneid 6.76: finem dedit ore loquendi. ‘His lips ceased speaking.’		SSSDDS Elision: postquam orandi
Sex giravit equos et virgis rite retortis		Giravit equiv. to in gyrum coegit Vinciit equiv. to vinxit	Aeneid 9.352: religatos rite videbat/ . . .equos. ‘He saw horses, duly tethered.’		SDSSDS
Vinciit: hi tantum remanebant, nempe duobus	1170				DSDSDS
Per tela absumptis ternos rex Gunthere abegit.		Ternos equiv. to tres, in addition to Gunther’s own horse, thus adding up to twelve.			SSSSDS Elision: tela absumptis; Gunthere abegit
His ita compositis procinctum solvit et alte		Procinctum equiv. to baltea, cingulum	Prudentius, Psychomachia 606: solvite procinctum. ‘Doff your armour.’		DDSSDS
Ingenti fumans leviabat pondere corpus.		Leviabat pondere corpus: “relieved his body of its burden”	Aeineid 9.752: ingenti concussa est pondere tellus. ‘The earth is shaken by the vast weight.’ Georgics 2.351: saxo atque ingentis pondere testae. . . ‘With stones and jars of heavy weight. . .’		SSDSDS
Tum maestam laeto solans affamine sponsam					SSSSDS
Moxque cibum capiens aegros recreaverat artus,	1175		Aeineid 3.511: corpora curamus; fessos sopor inrigat artus. ‘We refresh our bodies; sleep bedews our weary limbs.’		DDSDDS
Oppido enim lassus fuerat, clipeoque recumbens		Oppido equiv. to valde	Liber Genesis 25.30: oppido lassus sum. ‘I am exceeding faint.’		DSDDDS Elision: oppido enim
Primi custodem somni iubet esse puellam,					SSSDDS
Ipse matutinam disponens tollere curam,		Disponens equiv. to statuens Curam: “watch”			DSSSDS
Quae fuerat suspecta magis, tandemque quievit.		Suspecta magis equiv. to periculosior			DSDSDS
Ad cuius caput illa sedens solito vigilavit	1180	Solito: sc. more			SDDDDS
Et dormitantes cantu patefecit ocellos.					SSSDDS
Ast ubi vir primum iam expergiscendo soporem		Expergiscendo equiv. to expergiscens, cf. note on line 47.	Aeneid 7.458: olli somnum ingens rumpit pavor. ‘A monstrous terror broke his sleep.’		DSSSDS Elision: iam expergiscendo
Ruperat, absque mora surgens dormire puellam					DDSSDS
Iussit et arrepta se fulciit impiger hasta.		Fulciit equiv. to fulsit	Aeneid 12.398-399.: stabat. . .ingentem nixus in hastam/ Aeneas. ‘Aeneas stood propped on his mighty spear.’ 9.465-466.: arrectis. . .hastis/ praefigunt capita. ‘On uplifted spears they affix the heads.’		DSSDDS
Sic reliquum noctis duxit, modo quippe caballos	1185		Aeineid 9.166-167.: noctem custodia ducit/ insomnem. ‘The guards spend the sleepless night.’		DSSDDS
Circuit, interdum auscultans vallo propiavit,					DSSSDS Elision: interdum auscultans
Exoptans orbi species ac lumina reddi.			Aeneid 8.170: lux cum primum terris se crastina reddet. . . ‘When first tomorrow’s dawn revisits earth. . .’		SSDSDS

---

« 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