Waltharius1280

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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)

Dixit et a tergo saltu se iecit equino, 1280  Translate: Hoc et Guntharius fecit, nec segnior hoc fecit heros

 

 DSSSDS 
Hoc et Guntharius nec segnior egerat heros  SDSDDS 
Waltharius, cuncti pedites bellare parati.  DSDSDS 
Stabat quisque ac venturo se providus ictu  Aeneid 3.458: venturaque bella. . . ‘The wars to come. . .’

 

 SSSSDS
Elision: quisque ac
 
Praestruxit: trepidant sub peltis Martia membra.  Aeneid 7.182: martiaque. . .vulnera. . . ‘Wounds of war. . .’

 

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Hora secunda fuit, qua tres hi congrediuntur, 1285  
Waltharius-Lines-1285-on.png
 
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Adversus solum conspirant arma duorum.    SSSSDS 
Primus maligeram collectis viribus hastam  Maligeram: a very disputed hapax legomenon. Since the first a here is long, it should be equivalent to maliferam, (“apple-bearing,” an adjective found in Virgil) serving to figuratively describe the wood from which the hastam is made; the manuscript variant maligenam would make this easier. Perhaps more likely is that the poet, disregarding vowel-length, coined the word to mean “bearing evil.”

 

 Aeneid 9.52-53: iaculum attorquens emittit in auras,/ principium pugnae. ‘Whirling a javelin, he sends it skyward to start the battle.’ Georgics 3.235: ubi collectum robur viresque refectae. . . ‘When his power is mustered and his strength renewed. . .’

 

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Direxit Hagano disrupta pace. sed illam  Aeneid 10.401: validam derexerat hastam. ‘He had launched his strong spear.’

 

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Turbine terribilem tanto et stridore volantem  Aeineid 12.267: sonitum dat stridula cornus. ‘The whistling cornel shaft sings.’ 11.863-864.: teli stridorem aurasque sonantis/ audiit. ‘He heard the whistling dart and whirring air.’

 

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Elision: tanto et
 
Alpharides semet cernens tolerare nequire 1290    DSSDDS 
Sollers obliqui delusit tegmine scuti:    SSSSDS 
Nam veniens clipeo sic est ceu marmore levi  Eclogue 7.31: levi de marmore. . . ‘From polished marble. . .’ Aeneid 10.776-777.: stridentemque eminus hastam/ iecit. At illa volans clipeo est excussa proculque/ egregium Antoren latus inter et ilia figit. ‘He threw from far his whistling spear; as it flew, it glanced from the shield, and pierces noble Antores nearby between side and flank.’ 9.746: portaeque infigitur hasta. ‘The spear lodges in the gate.’

 

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Excussa et collem vehementer sauciat usque  Eclogue 7.31: levi de marmore. . . ‘From polished marble. . .’ Aeneid 10.776-777.: stridentemque eminus hastam/ iecit. At illa volans clipeo est excussa proculque/ egregium Antoren latus inter et ilia figit. ‘He threw from far his whistling spear; as it flew, it glanced from the shield, and pierces noble Antores nearby between side and flank.’ 9.746: portaeque infigitur hasta. ‘The spear lodges in the gate.’

 

   SSDSDS
Elision: excussa et
 
Ad clavos infixa solo. tunc pectore magno,  Ad clavos: up to the nails that attached the metal point to the wooden shaft.

 

 Aeineid 2.544-545.: senior telumque imbelle sine ictu/ coniecit, rauco quod protinus aere repulsum/ et summo clipei nequiquam umbone pependit. ‘The old man hurled his weak and harmless spear, which straight recoiled from the clanging brass and hung idly from the top of the shield’s boss.’ Statius, Thebaid 9.533: pectore magno. . . ‘The mighty breast. . .’ Aeineid 4.448: magno. . .pectore.

 

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Sed modica vi fraxineum hastile superbus 1295  Aeineid 2.544-545.: senior telumque imbelle sine ictu/ coniecit, rauco quod protinus aere repulsum/ et summo clipei nequiquam umbone pependit. ‘The old man hurled his weak and harmless spear, which straight recoiled from the clanging brass and hung idly from the top of the shield’s boss.’ Statius, Thebaid 9.533: pectore magno. . . ‘The mighty breast. . .’ Aeineid 4.448: magno. . .pectore.

 

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Hiatus: fraxineum hastile
 
Iecit Guntharius, volitans quod adhaesit in ima    SDDDDS 
Waltharii parma, quam mox dum concutit ipse,    DSSSDS 
Excidit ignavum de ligni vulnere ferrum.    DSSSDS 
Omine quo maesti confuso pectore Franci  Aeineid 7.146-147.: omine magno/ crateras laeti statuunt. ‘Cheered by the mighty omen, they set on the bowls.’

 

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Mox stringunt acies, dolor est conversus ad iras, 1300  Aeineid 2.594: quis indomitas tantus dolor excitat iras? ‘What resentment thus stirs ungovernable wrath?’

 

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Et tecti clipeis Aquitanum invadere certant.  Aeneid 2.227: clipeique sub orbe teguntur. ‘They nestle under the circle of her shield.’

 

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Elision: Aquitanum invadere
 
Strennuus ille tamen vi cuspidis expulit illos    DDSDDS 
Atque incursantes vultu terrebat et armis.  Prudentius, Psychomachia 196: vultuque et voce minatur. ‘She menaces with look and speech.’

 

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Elision: atque incursantes
 
Hic rex Guntharius coeptum meditatur ineptum,    SDSDDS 
Scilicet ut iactam frustra terraeque relapsam, 1305  Iactam…relapsam: with hastam, line 1307.

 

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Ante pedes herois enim divulsa iacebat --,    DSDSDS 
Accedens tacite furtim sustolleret hastam,  Aeneid 9.546-547.: furtim/ sustulerat. ‘She had borne [him] secretly.’

 

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Quandoquidem brevibus gladiorum denique telis  Brevibus gladiorum…telis: “the short reaches of their swords”

 

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Armati nequeunt accedere comminus illi,    SDSDDS 
Qui tam porrectum torquebat cuspidis ictum. 1310  Cuspidis ictum equiv. to telum

 

 Aeneid 7.756: cuspidis ictum. . . ‘The stroke of the spearpoint. . .’

 

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Innuit ergo oculis vassum praecedere suadens,  Vassum: “vassal,” i.e., Hagen. A word of Celtic derivation.

 

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Elision: ergo oculis
 
Cuius defensu causam supplere valeret.  Causam supplere valeret equiv. to [rex] rem perficere posset

 

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Nec mora, progreditur Haganon ac provocat hostem,    DDDSDS 
Rex quoque gemmatum vaginae condidit ensem,  Prudentius, Psychomachia 105: condere vaginae gladium. ‘To sheathe the sword. . .’ Ovid, Metamorphoses 13.392: letalem condidit ensem. ‘He plunged his fatal sword.’

 

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Expediens dextram furto actutum faciendo. 1315  Aeineid 12.258: expediuntque manus. ‘They spread out their hands.’

 

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Elision: furto actutum
 
Sed quid plura? manum pronus transmisit in hastam    SDSSDS 
Et iam comprensam sensim subtraxerat illam  Sensim subtraxerat: here the adverb clearly shows that the pluperfect has been substituted for the imperfect metri causa.

 

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Fortunae maiora petens. sed maximus heros,  Fortunae equiv. to a fortuna

 

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Utpote qui bello semper sat providus esset    DSSSDS 
Aeter et unius punctum cautissimus horae, 1320  Praeter…unius punctum…horae: “except for one moment of time,” a foreshadowing of lines 1381 ff.

 

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Hunc inclinari cernens persenserat actum    SSSSDS 
Nec tulit, obstantem sed mox Haganona revellens,  Revellens equiv. to pellens

 

 Aeineid 8.256: non tulit Alcides. ‘Alcides did not tolerate this.’

 

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Denique sublato qui divertebat ab ictu,  Divertebat: Hagen “was stepping back from.”

 

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Insilit et planta direptum hastile retentat    DSSSDS
Elision: direptum hastile
 
Ac regem furto captum sic increpitavit, 1325  : Aeineid 10.810: Lausum increpitat. ‘He chides Lausus.’ 5.431-432.: tarda trementi/ genua labant. ‘His slow knees totter and tremble.’ 12.905: genua labant, gelidus concrevit frigore sanguis. ‘His knees buckle, his blood is frozen cold.’

 

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Ut iam perculso sub cuspide genva labarent.  Perculso sub cuspide equiv. to [regi] perculso quasi a cuspidis ictu. (Much debated. Cuspis is a femine noun, but cf. line 857.)
Genva equiv. to genua (synizesis)

 

 : Aeineid 10.810: Lausum increpitat. ‘He chides Lausus.’ 5.431-432.: tarda trementi/ genua labant. ‘His slow knees totter and tremble.’ 12.905: genua labant, gelidus concrevit frigore sanguis. ‘His knees buckle, his blood is frozen cold.’

 

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Quem quoque continuo esurienti porgeret Orco,  Porgeret equiv. to porrexisset

 

 Aeineid 9.785: iuvenum primos tot miserit Orco? ‘Shall he send down to death so many of our noblest youths?’ 2.398: multos Danaum demittimus Orco. ‘Many a Greek we sent down to Orcus.’ Prudentius, Psychomachia 501-502.: et fors innocuo tinxisset sanguine ferrum,/ ni Ratio armipotens. . .clipeum obiectasset et atrae/ hostis ab incursu claros texisset alumpnos. ‘And perchance she would have dippedher steel in their innocent blood, had not the mighty warrior Reason put her shield in the way and covered her famed foster-children from their deadly foe’s onslaught.’

 

   DDDSDS
Elision: continuo esurienti
 
Ni Hagano armipotens citius succurreret atque  Aeineid 9.785: iuvenum primos tot miserit Orco? ‘Shall he send down to death so many of our noblest youths?’ 2.398: multos Danaum demittimus Orco. ‘Many a Greek we sent down to Orcus.’ Prudentius, Psychomachia 501-502.: et fors innocuo tinxisset sanguine ferrum,/ ni Ratio armipotens. . .clipeum obiectasset et atrae/ hostis ab incursu claros texisset alumpnos. ‘And perchance she would have dippedher steel in their innocent blood, had not the mighty warrior Reason put her shield in the way and covered her famed foster-children from their deadly foe’s onslaught.’

 

   DDDSDS
Elision: Hagano armipotens
Hiatus: ni Hagano
 
Obiecto dominum scuto muniret et hosti  Aeineid 12.377: clipeo obiecto conversus in hostem/ ibat et auxilium ducto mucrone petebat. ‘He, with his shield before him, turned and was making for his foe, seeking aid from his drawn sword.’

 

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Nudam aciem saevi mucronis in ora tulisset. 1330    DSSDDS
Elision: nudam aciem
 
Sic, dum Waltharius vulnus cavet, ille resurgit  Ille: Gunther

 

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Atque tremens studiusque stetit, vix morte reversus.  Actus Apostolorum 9.6: tremens ac stupens dixit. . . ‘He, trembling and astonished, said. . .’ Statius, Silvae 5.1.172: media de morte reversa/ mens. . . ‘Her mind returning from the midst of death. . .

 

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False quantities: STUPIDUSQUE?
 
Nec mora nec requies: bellum instauratur amarum,  Aeneid 5.458; 12.553; Georgics 3.110: nec mora nec requies. ‘No rest, no stay is there.’ Aeineid 2.669-670.: sinite instaurata revisam/ proelia. ‘Let me seek again and renew the fights.’

 

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Elision: bellum instauratur
 
Incurrunt hominem nunc ambo nuncque vicissim;    SDSSDS 
Et dum progresso se impenderet acrius uni, 1335  Se impenderet: Waltharius

 

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Elision: se impenderet
 
En de parte alia subit alter et impedit ictum.  Aeineid 5.339: post Helymus subit. ‘Behind comes Helymus.’ 10.877: subit obvius. ‘He moves forward to meet him.’

 

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Elision: parte alia
 
Haud aliter, Numidus quam dum venabitur ursus  Venabitur: present passive sense

 

 Aeineid 10.714: haud aliter. . . ‘Just so. . .’

 

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Et canibus circumdatus astat et artubus horret  Artubus: “paws”

 

 Aeineid 10.714: haud aliter. . . ‘Just so. . .’

 

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Et caput occultans submurmurat ac propiantes  Caput occultans: “with head low”
Propiantes equiv. to appropinquantes

 

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Amplexans Umbros miserum mutire coartat, 1340  Amplexans: ironic sense
Umbros: hunting hounds from Umbria in Italy
Miserum: adverbial

 

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Tum rabidi circumlatrant hinc inde Molossi  Molossi: hunting hounds from Epirus

 

 Aeineid 7.588: multis circum latrantibus undis. . . ‘Amid many howling waves. . .’

 

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Comminus ac dirae metuunt accedere belvae --,  Aeineid 10.712: nec cuiquam irasci propiusque accedere virtus. ‘No one is brave enough to rage or come near it.’

 

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Taliter in nonam conflictus fluxerat horam,    DSSSDS 
Et triplex cunctis inerat maceratio: leti  Maceratio equiv. to tormentum, supplicium

 

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Terror, et ipse labor bellandi, solis et ardor. 1345    DDSSDS 

« 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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