Waltharius489 - Revision history

Jan Ziolkowski at 15:12, 17 December 2009

2009-12-17T15:12:05Z

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Julian Yolles: /* Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512) */

2009-12-13T02:21:45Z

‎Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

Michelle De Groot: /* Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512) */

2009-12-12T22:08:17Z

‎Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

Michelle De Groot: /* Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512) */

2009-12-12T22:07:41Z

‎Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

Michelle De Groot: /* Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512) */

2009-12-12T21:54:30Z

‎Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

Michelle De Groot: /* Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512) */

2009-12-12T21:52:16Z

‎Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

Michelle De Groot: /* Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512) */

2009-12-12T21:51:33Z

‎Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

Michelle De Groot: /* Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512) */

2009-12-12T21:27:24Z

‎Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

Michelle De Groot: /* Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512) */

2009-12-12T21:24:19Z

‎Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

Michelle De Groot: /* Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512) */

2009-12-12T21:21:31Z

‎Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

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 |{{Meter|scansion=DSDSDS|elision=ne excutias}}
-|{{Comment|"caveto:" Walther may be concerned that if he is woken too suddenly, he will react violently. It is certainly a commonplace in many modern action films, for the reason that it is proof that "a hero never sleeps."}}
+|{{Comment|"caveto:" Walther may be concerned that if he is woken too suddenly, he will react violently. It is certainly a commonplace in many modern action films, for the reason that it is proof that "a hero never sleeps."
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 |[[nam1|Nam]] [[procul]] [[hinc]] [[acies]] [[potis es]] [[transmittere]] [[puras]].

@@ Line 206: / Line 206: @@
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 |{{Meter|scansion=DDSDDS|elision=atque oculos}}
-|{{Comment}"oculos nitentes": See note to l. 453.
+|{{Comment|"oculos nitentes": See note to l. 453.
 See also Matthew 6:22-24: "The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be lightsome. But if thy eye be evil thy whole body shall be darksome. If then the light that is in thee, be darkness: the darkness itself how great shall it be! No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Douay-Rheims translation. In Latin, the verses are: "lucerna corporis est oculus si fuerit oculus tuus simplex totum corpus tuum lucidum erit / si autem oculus tuus nequam fuerit totum corpus tuum tenebrosum erit si ergo lumen quod in te est tenebrae sunt tenebrae quantae erunt / nemo potest duobus dominis servire aut enim unum odio habebit et alterum diliget aut unum sustinebit et alterum contemnet non potestis Deo servire et mamonae") Walther's eyes shine, as indeed his "great soul" does. He is contrasted to Gunther's greed. MCD}}
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@@ Line 197: / Line 197: @@
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 |{{Meter|scansion=SSSSDS|elision=circa explora}}
-| {{Comment|Significance of entrusting all this to Hildegund (importance of the female again, in Anderson). Also, why the emphasis on not waking him suddenly.}}
+| {{Comment|Walther entrusts Hildegund with the duties of a guard and trusts to her prudence about whether he should be woken. Though Hildegund does spend much of the poem in the background, even this small role is unusual for a woman in a heroic poem, and it affirms her value as an agent in the poem, not merely another treasure carried off from the Huns. Ironically, she is the true "gemma" (see note to l. 462), but as such she is not to be classed with the treasure as an object. The Franks will demand "the treasure and the girl," (l. 602) but they, as usual, are in error. For a further discussion, see Ward, in Roman Epic, ed. Boyle, 1993.}}
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 |[[haec2|Haec]] [[ait1|ait]] [[atque]] [[oculos]] [[concluserat]] [[ipse]] [[nitentes]]
@@ Line 206: / Line 206: @@
+|
 |{{Meter|scansion=DDSDDS|elision=atque oculos}}
+|{{Comment}"oculos nitentes": See note to l. 453.
 |-
 |[[Iamque]] [[diu]] [[satis]] [[optata]] [[fruitur]] [[requiete]].

@@ Line 181: / Line 181: @@
+|
 |{{Meter|scansion=DSDSDS|elision=ne excutias}}
+|{{Comment|"caveto:" Walther may be concerned that if he is woken too suddenly, he will react violently. It is certainly a commonplace in many modern action films, for the reason that it is proof that "a hero never sleeps."}}
 |-
 |[[nam1|Nam]] [[procul]] [[hinc]] [[acies]] [[potis es]] [[transmittere]] [[puras]].

@@ Line 123: / Line 123: @@
 |{{Commentary|''Orbes'' equiv. to ''oculos''
 }}
-|{{Comment|Walther's larger-than-life heroism is momentarily humanized with the depiction of his exhaustion. The poet allows the reader or listener an impression of how hard Walther has been working to survive and protect Hildegund. Walther then proceeds to doff his armor and thus his identity as a warrior, delegating power to Hildegund. It is quite a surprising move in an epic poem, as a matter of fact, since Walther does not sleep to receive a prophetic utterance. He sleeps because he has human weaknesses. This could be interpreted as another instance of the poet's ironic view of Germanic heroism, but I actually suspect that the scene simply conveys tenderness and trust in the relationship between Walther and Hildegund. MCD}}
+|
 |{{Meter|scansion=DSDSDS}}
+|{{Comment|Walther's larger-than-life heroism is momentarily humanized with the depiction of his exhaustion. The poet allows the reader or listener an impression of how hard Walther has been working to survive and protect Hildegund. Walther then proceeds to doff his armor and thus his identity as a warrior, delegating power to Hildegund. It is quite a surprising move in an epic poem, as a matter of fact, since Walther does not sleep to receive a prophetic utterance. He sleeps because he has human weaknesses. This could be interpreted as another instance of the poet's ironic view of Germanic heroism, but I actually suspect that the scene simply conveys tenderness and trust in the relationship between Walther and Hildegund. MCD}}
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 |[[Bellica]] [[tum]] [[demum]] [[deponens]] [[pondera]] [[dixit]]

@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
+|
 |{{Meter|scansion=DDSSDS}}
-| {{Comment|TK: Comment further on sources and parallels.}}
+| {{Comment|The diction in these lines echoes Virgilian formulae in the Georgics. I suggest that this effect emphasizes the barrenness of the land, contrasting it with the arable fields from which Walther and Hildegund have fled.}}
 |-
 |'[[huc]]', [[mox]] [[ut1|ut]] [[vidit1|vidit]] [[iuvenis]], '[[huc]]' [[inquit]] '[[eamus]],
@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
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 |{{Meter|scansion=SSDSDS}}
+|{{Comment|Despite the obvious dangers of the place, the fallen rocks do offer some possibilities for defense and shelter. Throughout their journey, Walther and Hildegund have traveled through hidden places (see l. 420: "Atque die saltus arbustaque densa requirens"). MCD}}
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 |[[his2|His]] [[iuvat]] [[in]] [[castris]] [[fessum]] [[componere]] [[corpus]].'
@@ Line 123: / Line 123: @@
 |{{Commentary|''Orbes'' equiv. to ''oculos''
 }}
+|{{Comment|Walther's larger-than-life heroism is momentarily humanized with the depiction of his exhaustion. The poet allows the reader or listener an impression of how hard Walther has been working to survive and protect Hildegund. Walther then proceeds to doff his armor and thus his identity as a warrior, delegating power to Hildegund. It is quite a surprising move in an epic poem, as a matter of fact, since Walther does not sleep to receive a prophetic utterance. He sleeps because he has human weaknesses. This could be interpreted as another instance of the poet's ironic view of Germanic heroism, but I actually suspect that the scene simply conveys tenderness and trust in the relationship between Walther and Hildegund. MCD}}
+|
 |{{Meter|scansion=DSDSDS}}
@@ Line 145: / Line 145: @@
+|
 |{{Meter|scansion=DDSSDS}}
-| {{Comment|Difficulty translating "fusus"}}
+| {{Comment|"fusus": a challenging word to translate. Kratz translates the phrase, "while resting the virgin's lap," which preserves English idioms admirably. However, the phrase seems to imply more movement, using the word "fundo" (literally, "to pour") and the accusative of place to which ("in gremium." Moreover, variants of the word "fundo" appear later in the poem to describe brains or innards pouring out of a stabbed warrior (ll. 667, 951, 977, 1018, 1052). Lewis & Short suggest that one translation of "fundo" might include "stretch out," or "scatter." I suggest that the poet is trying to convey that Walther has lain down with his head in Hildegund's lap. Perhaps the most idiomatic translation might be, "having relaxed into the virgin's lap." MCD}}
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 |[[Hiltgunt1|Hiltgunt]], [[et]] [[nebulam]] [[si]] [[tolli]] [[videris1|videris]] [[atram]],

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
+|
 |{{Meter|scansion=SDSDDS}}
-|{{Comment|Though the view is narrow and the place inhabited by wolves and bears, the poet insists that it is "amoenum," pleasant. Possibly this emphasizes the sense of relief at the prospect of rest and refuge which he intends Walther and Hildegund to feel. MCD}}
+|{{Comment|Though the view is narrow and the place inhabited by wolves and bears, the poet insists that it is "amoenum," pleasant. Indeed, the poet's depiction of the place is almost schizophrenic, as he continues in the next lines to state that it was created by falling rocks (hardly conducive to safe refuge) and that it was best suited for bloody thieves. Nevertheless, the slight vegetation and Walther's relief at the prospect of rest give the place an air of hope. Possibly this conflicted description emphasizes the sense of relief at the prospect of rest and refuge which he intends Walther and Hildegund to feel. MCD}}
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 |[[Non]] [[tellure]] [[cava]] [[factum]], [[sed1|sed]] [[vertice]] [[rupum]]:

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 |{{Meter|scansion=DSDDDS|elision=plurima habens}}
+|{{Comment|"suetum canibus resonare tubisque": echoes a Virgilian phrase describing Scylla. This is probably a mere echo of diction rather than any deeper, content-based parallel. This is a good example of the pervading influence of the poet's classical background, of the pages and pages memorized during his education, in his Latin versification. MCD}}
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 |[[Sunt]] [[in]] [[secessu]] [[bini]] [[montesque]] [[propinqui]],