Waltharius170

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Walther leads the army of the Huns to victory in battle (170–214)

Venerat interea satrapae certissima fama 170  Satrapae equiv. to Attilae

 

 DDDSDS 
Quandam, quae nuper superata, resistere gentem  Quandam…gentem: since the sudden rebellion is merely a crude plot device, the precise identity of the people is unimportant.

 

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bellum Hunis confestim inferre paratam.  Aeneid 3.248: "bellumne inferre paratis"

 

 
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Elision: confestim inferre
Hiatus: bellum Hunis
 
Tunc ad Waltharium convertitur actio rerum.  Actio rerum: “the leadership of the expedition”

 

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Qui mox militiam percensuit ordine totam  SDSDDS 
Et bellatorum confortat corda suorum, 175  Confortat equiv. to confirmat

 

 Liber Regum II 11.25: conforta bellatores. ‘Encourage thy warriors.’ Liber Genesis 18.5: confortate cor vestrum. ‘Strengthen ye your heart.’

 

 SSSSDS   The language here recalls passages from Genesis ("confortate cor vestrum," 18:5) and II Kings ("conforta bellatores," 11.25). In the Genesis passage, Abraham is speaking to visiting angels. In the passage from II Kings King David is sending a message to his nephew Joab after the death of Uriah the Hittite. [AE] 
Hortans praeteritos semper memorare triumphos  SDSDDS 
Promittensque istos solita virtute tyrannos  Tyrannos equiv. to rebelles (here)

 

 Prudentius, Psychomachia 155-156.: ‘vicimus,’ inquit,/ ‘exultans Vitium solita virtute.’ ‘ “We have overcome,” he said, “a proud Vice with our wonted virtue.” ’ Aeneid 11.415: quamquam o si solitae quicquam virtutis adesset! ‘If only we had any of our wonted valour!’

 

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Elision: promittensque istos
 
Sternere et externis terrorem imponere terris.  DSSSDS
Elision: sternere et; terrorem imponere
 
Nec mora, consurgit sequiturque exercitus omnis.  Aeneid 11.597-598.: At manus interea muris Troiana propinquat,/ Etruscique duces equitumque exercitus omnis/ compositi numero in turmas. ‘But meanwhile the Trojan band draws near the walls, with the Etruscan chiefs and all their mounted array, marshalled by number into squadrons.’


Liber Iosue 8.3: surrexit Iosue et omnis exercitus bellatorum cum eo. ‘And Josue arose, and all the army of the fighting men with him.’ Aeneid 2.415: exercitus omnis. . . ‘The whole host. . .’  

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Elision: sequiturque exercitus
 
Ecce locum pugnae conspexerat et numeratam 180  The description of the battle that follows reworks a scene from the Aeneid (11.597 ff.) while attempting some limited level of verisimilitude in its depiction of medieval warfare. The warriors fight on horseback (a practice adopted by the Franks in Carolingian times), first with arrows and javelins from afar (the practice of the Hungarian Avars), and then in hand-to-hand combat with swords (not found in the scene from the Aeneid).

 

 Aeneid 11.597-598.: At manus interea muris Troiana propinquat,/ Etruscique duces equitumque exercitus omnis/ compositi numero in turmas. ‘But meanwhile the Trojan band draws near the walls, with the Etruscan chiefs and all their mounted array, marshalled by number into squadrons.’


Aeneid 11.599: compositi numero in turmas. . . ‘Marshalled by number into squadrons. . .’  

 DSSDDS   Abram Ring suggests that the frequent use of “ecce” and “en,” which would be unusual in Classical Latin, may betray the influence of Prudentius. Alternatively, he writes, it might translate an interjection from the Germanic tradition, similar to the Anglo-Saxon “hwæt.” [AE]

The battle here is reminiscent of the battles in the Aeneid (like that at 11.597), but some features distinguish it as medieval. For instance, they fight on horseback, which is a Carolingian innovation. [AE] 

Per latos aciem campos digessit et agros.  Aeneid 11.599: compositi numero in turmas. . . ‘Marshalled by number into squadrons. . .’


Aeneid 10.407-408.: extenditur una/ horrida per latos acies Volcania campos. ‘Vulcan’s bristling battleline spreads unbroken over the broad fields.’ 11.601-602.: tum late ferreus hastis/ horret ager campique armis sublimibus ardent. ‘Far and wide the field bristles with the steel of spears, and the plains are ablaze with raised weapons.’  

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Iamque infra iactum teli congressus uterque  Aeneid 11.608-609.: iamque intra iactum teli progressus uterque/ substiterat: subito erumpunt clamore. ‘And now in its advance each army had halted within a spear cast of the other; with a sudden shout they dash forth.’

 

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Elision: iamque in
 
Constiterat cuneus: tunc undique clamor ad auras  Aeneid 11.608-609.: iamque intra iactum teli progressus uterque/ substiterat: subito erumpunt clamore. ‘And now in its advance each army had halted within a spear cast of the other; with a sudden shout they dash forth.’


Aeneid 9.566-567. undique clamor/ tollitur. ‘On all sides a shout goes up.’ 2.699: se tollit ad auras. ‘He raises himself to the airs.’  

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Tollitur, horrendam confundunt classica vocem,  Aeneid 9.566-567. undique clamor/ tollitur. ‘On all sides a shout goes up.’ 2.699: se tollit ad auras. ‘He raises himself to the airs.’


Aeneid 7.637: classica iamque sonant. ‘And now the clarion sounds.’ 9.731-732.: arma/ horrendum sonuere. ‘His armour rang terribly.’  

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Continuoque hastae volitant hinc indeque densae. 185  Aeneid 11.612-613.: continuo. . . ‘At once. . .’ 11.610-611.: fundunt simul undique tela/ crebra nivis ritu. ‘Together from all sides they shower weapons as thick as snowflakes.’ 12.408-409.: spicula castris/ densa cadunt mediis. ‘Shafts fall thick in the middle of the camp.’ Georgics 2.142: galeis densisque virum seges horruit hastis. ‘The fields bristled with the helms and serried lances of warriors.’

 

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Elision: H-ELISION: continuoque hastae
 
Fraxinus et cornus ludum miscebat in unum,  Fraxinus et cornus: by metonymy, the wooden spears.

 

 Aeneid 9.698: volat Itala cornus. ‘The Italian cornel shaft flies.’ 12.267: sonitum dat stridula cornus. ‘The whistling cornel shaft sings.’ 12.714: fors et virtus miscentur in unum. ‘Chance and valour blend in one.’

 

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Fulminis inque modum cuspis vibrata micabat.  In modum equiv. to instar

 

 Aeneid 11.615-616.: excussus Aconteus/ fulminis in morem. . .praecipitat longe. ‘Flung off like a thunderbolt, Aconteus is hurled headlong far away.’

 

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Ac veluti boreae sub tempore nix glomerata    DDSDDS   The metaphor here assumes that both the poet and his expected audience were familiar with snow. Indeed, it suggests that they had not simply seen snow on faraway mountaintops but actually experienced snowstorms. In contrast, snow appears in the Aeneid only in line 4.238. Mercury is flying to Carthage, and on the way there he sees Atlas, whose shoulders are snow-covered. [AE] 
Spargitur, haud aliter saevas iecere sagittas.    DDSSDS 
Postremum cunctis utroque ex agmine pilis 190    SSSSDS
Elision: utroque ex
 
Absumptis manus ad mucronem vertitur omnis:  Prudentius Psychomachia 137: vertitur ad capulum manus. ‘Her ruthless hand turned to her sword-hilt.’

 

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Fulmineos promunt enses clipeosque revolvunt,  Clipeosque revolvunt: variously explained. The warriors are either throwing back their shields or taking them up again having already done so, in preparation for combat (cf. restaurant in the following line).

 

 Aeneid 4.579-580.: vaginaque eripit ensem/ fulmineum. ‘He snatches his flashing sword from its sheath.’ 9.441-442.: instat non setius ac rotat ensem/ fulmineum. ‘Onward none the less he presses, whirling his lightning blade.’

 

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Concurrunt acies demum pugnamque restaurant.  Aeneid 11.612-613.: adversis Tyrrhenus et acer Aconteus/ conixi incurrunt hastis primique ruinam/ dant sonitu ingenti perfractaque quadripedantum/ pectora pectoribus rumpunt; excussus Aconteus fulminis in morem. . .praecipitat longe. ‘At once Tyrrhenus and fierce Aconteus charge each other full force with spears, and are first to go down with a mighty crash, breaking and shattering their horses as they collide breast to breast. Flung off like a thunderbolt, Aconteus is hurled headlong far away.’ 10.360-361.: aciesque Latinae/ concurrunt. ‘The ranks of Latium clash.’

 

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Pectoribus partim rumpuntur pectora equorum,  The thought of this line parallels that of the next: some of both the horses and the men were killed merely by being crushed against one another while armed in the stampede of battle.

 

 Aeneid 11.612-613.: adversis Tyrrhenus et acer Aconteus/ conixi incurrunt hastis primique ruinam/ dant sonitu ingenti perfractaque quadripedantum/ pectora pectoribus rumpunt; excussus Aconteus fulminis in morem. . .praecipitat longe. ‘At once Tyrrhenus and fierce Aconteus charge each other full force with spears, and are first to go down with a mighty crash, breaking and shattering their horses as they collide breast to breast. Flung off like a thunderbolt, Aconteus is hurled headlong far away.’ 10.360-361.: aciesque Latinae/ concurrunt. ‘The ranks of Latium clash.’

 

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Elision: pectora equorum
 
Sternitur et quaedam pars duro umbone virorum. 195  Prudentius, Psychomachia 255-256.: hostem humilem cupiens inpulsu umbonis equini/ sternere. . . ‘Eager to upset her lowly enemy with the shock of her horse-hide shield. . .’

 

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Elision: duro umbone
 
Waltharius tamen in medio furit agmine bello,  Aeineid 11.762: qua se cumque furens medio tulit agmine virgo. . . ‘Wherever the maiden rides among the ranks in her fury. . .’

 

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Obvia quaeque metens armis ac limite pergens.  Aeineid 11.762: qua se cumque furens medio tulit agmine virgo. . . ‘Wherever the maiden rides among the ranks in her fury. . .’


Aeneid 10.513-514.: proxima quaeque metit gladio latumque per agmen/ ardens limitem agit ferro. . . ‘With the sword he mows down all the nearest ranks, and fiercely drives a broad path through the host with the steel. . .’  

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Hunc ubi conspiciunt hostes tantas dare strages,  Aeneid 9.783-784.: unus homo et vestris, o cives, undique saeptus/ aggeribus tantas strages. . .ediderit? ‘My countrymen, shall one man, hemmed in on every side by your ramparts, deal such carnage?’ Georgics 3.246-247.: nec funera vulgo/ tam multa informes ursi stragemque dedere. ‘Never does the shapeless bear spread death and havoc so widely.’

 

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Ac si praesentem metuebant cernere mortem,  Ac si: qualifying praesentem, not beginning a clause.

 

 Aeneid 1.91: praesentemque viris intentant omnia mortem. ‘All forebodes the sailors’ instant death.’

 

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Et quemcunque locum, seu dextram sive sinistram, 200  Aeneid 3.563: laevam cuncta cohors. . .petivit. ‘Leftward all our force plied.’

 

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Waltharius peteret, cuncti mox terga dederunt  Aeneid 3.563: laevam cuncta cohors. . .petivit. ‘Leftward all our force plied.’


Aeneid 9.686: agminibus totis qut versi terga dedere. ‘With all their columns [they] are routed and turn to flight.’  

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Et versis scutis laxisque feruntur habenis.  Versis scutis: they put their shields on their backs to protect them as they flee.

 

 Aeneid 9.686: agminibus totis qut versi terga dedere. ‘With all their columns [they] are routed and turn to flight.’


Aeneid 11.618-619.: versique Latini/ reiciunt parmas. ‘The routed Latins cast their shields behind them.’ 11.623: hi fugiunt penitusque datis referuntur habenis ‘The others flee, and retreat far off with loosened rein.’ Georgics 2.364: palmes agit laxis per purum immisus habenis. . . ‘The shoot, speeding through the void with loosened reins. . .’ Aeneid 1.62-63.: qui foedere certo/ et premere et laxas sciret dare iussus habenas. ‘Who, under fixed covenant, should be skilled to tighten and loosen the reins at command.’  

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Tunc imitata ducem gens maxima Pannoniarum  Aeneid 11.758-759.: ducis exemplum eventumque secuti/ Maeonidae incurrunt. ‘Following their chief’s example and success, Maeonia’s sons attack.’

 

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Saevior insurgit caedemque audacior auget,  Aeneid 12.902: altior insurgens. . . ‘Rising to his height. . .’ Prudentius, Psychomachia 31: altior insurgens.

 

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Elision: caedemque audacior
 
Deicit obstantes, fugientes proterit usque, 205  Prudentius, Psychomachia Praefatio 28: pellit fugatos, sauciatos proterit. ‘[He] drives off in flight those proud kings. . .or cuts them down.’

 

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Dum caperet plenum belli sub sorte triumphum.  Belli sub sorte: “in the outcome of the battle”

 

 Prudentius, Psychomachia 474: belli sub sorte. . . ‘By the luck of war. . .’

 

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Tum super occisos ruit et spoliaverat omnes.  DSDDDS 
Et tandem ductor recavo vocat agmina cornu  Aeineid 7.513-514.: cornuque recurvo/ Tartaream intendit vocem. ‘On the twisted horn [she] strains her hellish voice.’ 3.239: dat signum specula Misenus ab alta/ aere cavo. ‘Misenus on his hollow brass gave the signal from his watch aloft.’ Prudentius, Psychomachia 422: recavo misceret labra palato. ‘[She] beats the lips into the arched mouth.’ Aeneid 7.508: vocat agmina Tyrrhus. ‘Tyrrhus summons his bands.’

 

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Ac primus frontem festa cum fronde revinxit,  Aeneid 5.71-72.: ‘. . .cingite tempora ramis.’/ Sic fatus velat materna tempora myrto./ hoc Helymus facit, hoc aevi maturus Acestes/ hoc puer Ascanius, sequitur quos cetera pubes. ‘ “. . .Weathe your brows with leaves.” So speaking, he crowns his brows with his mother’s myrtle. Thus does Helymus, thus Acestes, ripe of years, thus the boy Ascanius, the rest of the youth following.’ 7.614: sequitur tum cetera pubes. ‘Then the rest of the warriors take up the cry.’ 4.459: velleribus niveis et festa fronde revinctum. . . ‘Wreathing it with snowy fleeces and festal foliage. . .’

 

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Victrici lauro cingens sua timpora vulgo, 210  Timpora equiv. to tempora

 

 Aeneid 5.71-72.: ‘. . .cingite tempora ramis.’/ Sic fatus velat materna tempora myrto./ hoc Helymus facit, hoc aevi maturus Acestes/ hoc puer Ascanius, sequitur quos cetera pubes. ‘ “. . .Weathe your brows with leaves.” So speaking, he crowns his brows with his mother’s myrtle. Thus does Helymus, thus Acestes, ripe of years, thus the boy Ascanius, the rest of the youth following.’ 7.614: sequitur tum cetera pubes. ‘Then the rest of the warriors take up the cry.’ 4.459: velleribus niveis et festa fronde revinctum. . . ‘Wreathing it with snowy fleeces and festal foliage. . .’


Aeneid 5.539: cingit viridanti tempora lauro. ‘He binds his brows with green laurel.’ Virgil, Eclogue 8.12-13.: hanc sine tempora circum/ inter victricis hederam tibi serpere lauros. ‘Grant that, amid the conqueror’s laurels, this ivy may creep about your brows.’  

 SSSDDS   The laurels mentioned here are likely meant to be taken as a Classical reference, rather than as a literal description of the homecoming. The bay laurel, from which laurel wreaths are typically made, is a Mediterranean plant, and it would have a hard time surviving in northern Europe. Even then, the plant would have had to be imported, because it is not native. It is more likely that the poet refers to laurels but means a more cold-hearty plant. [AE] 
Post hunc signiferi, sequitur quos cetera pubes.  SDDSDS 
Iamque triumphali redierunt stemmate compti  DSDSDS 
Et patriam ingressi propria se quisque locavit  DSDSDS
Elision: patriam ingressi
 
Sede, sed ad solium mox Waltharius properavit.  DDSDDS 

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