Waltharius13

The Franks under Gibich surrender to Attila, giving Hagen as a hostage (13–33)

Qui sua castra movens mandavit visere Francos,  After briefly introducing the reader to the general stage of the poem and to the specific character (Attila) who precipitates its drama, the poet quickly kicks the narrative into action. Note the opening dactyls that spring the reader right into Attila’s breaking camp. Lines 13–92 present (somewhat repetitively) the reactions of the Franks, Burgundians and Aquitanians to the threat of invading Huns: All of them offer a treaty and supply a hostage. Francos: Germanic peoples who settled along the Rhine during the late Roman Empire, forerunners of the Merovingians and Carolingians. The Franks are the first of three peoples introduced from which the four major characters come. Just as the later sequential battle scenes of lines 640–1061 are somewhat repetitive,   Quorum rex Gibicho solio pollebat in alto,  Gibicho: the name Gibica is attested for a King of Burgundy, possibly mythical, in the Lex Burgundionum (iii) of 501 CE. Perhaps because the Burgundians were conquered by the Franks in 534, the poet makes Gibicho and his son Franks, while giving the Burgundians their own independent existence below (see lines 34ff.).    Aeneid 8.541: solio se tollit ab alto. “He rose from his lofty throne.” 11.301: solio rex infit ab alto. “The king, first calling on heaven, from his high throne begins.” Prudentius, Psychomachia 875: hoc residet solio pollens Sapientia. “Here mighty Wisdom sits enthroned.”   Prole recens orta gaudens, quam postea narro: 15  Quam postea narro: i.e., the proles, Guntharius or Gunther, who enters the narrative as a major character at line 441.The syntactical delay between the introduction of Gunther and his name mirrors the narrative delay between his introduction and the part he plays in the poem, which begins at line 441.    Georgics 3.156: sole recens orto… “When the sun is new-risen…” Prudentius, Psychomachia Praefatio 49: herede gaudens… “Rejoicing in an heir…”   Namque marem genuit, quem Guntharium vocitavit.  Guntharium: another name attested for a King of Burgundy in the Lex Burgundionum and the Nibelungenlied.   Fama volans pavidi regis transverberat aures,  volans: a famous Virgilian epithet for Fama.    Aeneid 11.139–140: et iam Fama volans, tanti praenuntia luctus, / Evandrum Evandrique domos et moenia replet. “And now Rumour in her flight, heralding this piercing woe, fills Evander’s ears, his palace and his city.” 3.121–22: Fama volat pulsum regnis cessisse paternis / Idomenea ducem, desertaque litora Cretae. “A rumour flies that Idomeneus, the chieftain, has left his father’s realm for exile, that the shores of Crete are abandoned.” 8.554–55: Fama volat parvam subito vulgata per urbem / ocius ire equites Tyrrheni ad litora regis. “Suddenly, spreading through the little town, flies a rumour that horsemen are speeding to the shores of the Tyrrhene king.” 9.473–74: Interea pavidam volitans pennata per urbem/ nuntia Fama ruit. “Meanwhile, winged Fame, flitting through the fearful town, speeds with the news.”   Dicens hostilem cuneum transire per Hystrum,  Cuneum: a wedge-shaped column of troops, a formation used by Germanic tribes according to Tac. Germ. 6. Hystrum: the lower Danube River.   Vincentem numero stellas atque amnis arenas.  Amnis: the poet replaces the usual metaphor of sand on beaches or in deserts with sand in a river, which gives an alliterative effect and matches the setting of the previous line.    Gen. 22.17 Vulg.: benedicam tibi et multiplicabo semen tuum sicut stellas caeli et velut harenam quae est in litore maris. “I will bless thee, and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is by the sea shore.”   Qui non confidens armis vel robore plebis 20  Armis vel robore: cf. line 6. Qui: Gibicho    Aeneid 3.51–52: …cum iam diffideret armis / Dardaniae cingique urbem obsidione videret. “…When he now lost hope in the arms of Dardania and saw the city beleaguered.” 8.518: robora pubis… “The sturdy root of our manpower…”   Concilium cogit, quae sint facienda, requirit.  Aeneid 11.234–35: ergo concilium magnum primosque suorum / imperio accitos alta intra limina cogit. “Therefore his high council, the foremost of his people, he summons by royal command and convenes within his lofty portals.” 11.303–4: fuerat melius, non tempore tali / cogere concilium. “It would have been better not to convene a council at such an hour.”   Consensere omnes foedus debere precari  Aeneid 2.130: adsensere omnes. “All approved.” 12.242–43: nunc arma volunt foedusque precantur / infectum. “Now they long for arms, and pray that the covenant be undone.”   Et dextras, si forte darent, coniungere dextris  Darent: sc. Huni    Aeneid 1.408–9: cur dextrae iungere dextram / non datur…? “Why am I not allowed to clasp hand in hand…? 8.163–64: mihi mens iuvenali ardebat amore / compellare virum et dextrae coniungere dextram. “My heart burned with youthful ardor to speak to him and clasp hand in hand.”   Obsidibusque datis censum persolvere iussum;  Censum: “tribute”   Hoc melius fore quam vitam simul ac regionem 25 Perdiderint natosque suos pariterque maritas.  Perdiderint: perfect subjunctive parallel to the infinitive fore.   Nobilis hoc Hagano fuerat sub tempore tiro  Hagano: Probably legendary; in the Nibelungenlied the brother of Gunther. The name may derive from Khaganos “Khan” (Ring 2016, 167n25). At multiple points in the Waltharius (lines 1351, 1421 and perhaps 1148, 1156), characters play off the similarity of the name to the Old High German word for hawthorn (see Ziolkowski 2001). Tiro = iuvenis (see also prologue, line 17).   Indolis egregiae, veniens de germine Troiae.  De germine Troiae: Troja was the Roman name for present-day Kirchheim in Alsace, which the Nibelungenlieb states was Hagan’s home. But a story first found in the Chronicle of Fredegar connected the Franks with the Trojans, so the poet here is probably alluding to that legendary tradition, as he does more directly in lines 726–729. Connecting contemporary polities with legendary places and figures is common in classical and medieval literature. Egregiae … Troiae: an example of internal “Leonine” rhyme.    Verba Dierum seu Paralipomenon I 12.28: Sadoc etiam puer egregiae indolis. “Sadoc also was a young man of excellent disposition.” Aeneid 5.373: Bebrycia veniens Amyci de gente… “Offspring of Amycus’ Bebrycian race…” Nibelungenlied 1.9: Das war von Tronje Hagen “There was of Tronje Hagen”   Hunc, quia Guntharius nondum pervenit ad aevum, Ut sine matre queat vitam retinere tenellam, 30 Cum gaza ingenti decernunt mittere regi.  Aeneid 7.152–53: tum satus Anchisa delectos ordine ab omni / centum oratores augusta ad moenia regis / ire iubet … donaque ferre viro pacemque exposcere Teucris. / haud mora, festinant. “Then Anchises’ son commands a hundred envoys, chosen from every rank, to go to the king’s stately city to bear gifts to the hero and crave peace for the Trojans. They linger not, but hasten.”   Nec mora, legati censum iuvenemque ferentes Deveniunt pacemque rogant ac foedera firmant.  Statius, Thebaid 12.509: conveniunt pacemque rogant. “They gather and seek for peace.” Aeneid 11.330: qui dicta ferent et foedera firment. “Those who may bring the news and seal the pact…”   « previous   Prologue 1–12: Introduction: the Huns 13–418: The Huns 13–33: The Franks under Gibich surrender to Attila, giving Hagen as a hostage 34–74: The Burgundians under Hereric surrender to Attila, giving Hildegund as a hostage 75–92: The Aquitainians under Alphere surrender to Attila, giving Walther as a hostage 93–115: Experience of the hostages at Attila’s court 116–122: Death of Gibich, flight of Hagen 123–141: Attila’s queen Ospirin advises her husband to ensure Walther’s loyalty by arranging a marriage 142–169: Walther rejects Attila’s offer of a bride 170–214: Walther leads the army of the Huns to victory in battle 215–418: The Escape 215–255: Walther returns from battle and encounters Hildegund 256–286: Walther reveals to Hildegund his plans for escaping with Attila’s treasure 287–323: Walther hosts a luxurious banquet for Attila’s court; eventually all his intoxicated guests fall asleep 324–357: Flight of Walther and Hildegund from Attila’s court 358–379: The following day, the escape of Walther and Hildegund is discovered by Ospirin 380–418: Attila is infuriated and vows revenge on Walther, but can find no one willing to dare to pursue him, even for a large reward 419–1061: The Single Combats 419–639: Diplomacy 419–435: Flight of Walther and Hildegund to the area of Worms 436–488: 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 489–512: Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep 513–531: Gunther and his companions approach Walther’s camp; Hagen unsuccessfully tries to dissuade the king from attacking it 532–571: Hildegund sees the Franks approaching and wakes Walther, who calms her fears and prepares for battle; he recognizes Hagen from a distance 572–580: Hagen persuades Gunther to try diplomacy before using force 581–616: Camalo is sent as a messenger to Walther, who offers to make Gunther a gift in return for allowing his passage 617–639: Hagen counsels Gunther to accept the offer, but Gunther rejects this advice, calling him a coward. Insulted, Hagen goes off to a nearby hill 640–1061: Combat 640–685: 1st single combat. Camalo is sent back to Walther, who slays him 686–719: 2nd single combat. Walther slays Kimo/Scaramund, Camalo’s nephew 720–724: Gunther encourages his men 725–753: 3rd single combat. Walther slays Werinhard, a descendant of the Trojan Pandarus 754–780: 4th single combat. Walther slays the Saxon Ekivrid, after an exchange of insults 781–845: 5th single combat. Walther slays Hadawart, after an exchange of insults 846–877. Hagen sees his nephew Patavrid going off to fight Walther and laments the evil wreaked on mankind by greed 878–913. 6th single combat. After trying to dissuade him from fighting, Walther slays Patavrid 914–940: 7th single combat. Walther slays Gerwitus 941–961: Gunther again encourages his men, giving Walther some time to rest 962–981. 8th single combat. Walther is shorn of his hair by Randolf, whom he then slays 982–1061. Walther is attacked by Eleuthir/Helmnot, assisted by Trogus, Tanastus, and Gunther; he slays all but Gunther 1062–1452: The Final Combat 1062–1088: Gunther tries to persuade Hagen to help him to defeat Waltharius; remembering his wounded honor, Hagen refuses 1089–1129: 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 1130–1187: 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 1188–1207: The following day, Walther and Hildegund set out from the mountains, taking the horses and arms of the defeated warriors 1208–1236: Hildegund perceives Gunther and Hagen approaching to attack; the king addresses Walther 1237–1279: 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 1280–1345: 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 1346–1375: Walther challenges Hagen; he severs Gunther’s leg, but Hagen again saves the king’s life 1376–1395: Hagen cuts off Walther’s right hand; Walther gouges out one of Hagen’s eyes and, cutting open his cheek, knocks out four teeth 1396–1442: Having wounded each other, the warriors end the battle, drink together, and engage in a friendly exchange of humorous taunt 1443–1452: The warriors return to their respective homes; Walther marries Hildegund and eventually becomes king of the Aquitainians 1453–1456: Epilogue  next » English Scansion