Waltharius13

Qui sua castra movens mandavit visere Francos,		Francos: Germanic peoples who settled along the Rhine during the late Roman Empire, forerunners of the Merovingians and Carolingians.			DDSSDS
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 A.D. 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 (cf. line 34 ff.).	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.’		SDDSDS
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.	Georgics 3.156: sole recens orto. . . ‘When the sun is new-risen. . .’ Prudentius, Psychomachia Praefatio 49: herede gaudens. . . ‘Rejoicing in an heir. . .’		DSSSDS
Namque marem genuit, quem Guntharium vocitavit.		Guntharium: Another name attested for a King of Burgundy in the Lex Burgundionum. Also the name of a central figure in the Nibelungenlied.			DDSDDS
Fama volans pavidi regis transverberat aures,			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.’ 3.121-122.: 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.’ 8.554-555.: 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.’ 9.473-474.: Interea pavidam volitans pennata per urbem/ nuntia Fama ruit. ‘Meanwhile, winged Fame, flitting through the fearful town, speeds with the news.’		DDSSDS
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 Danube River.			SSDSDS
Vincentem numero stellas atque amnis arenas.		Amnis equiv. tomaris	Liber Genesis 22.17: 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.’		SDSSDS Elision: atque amnis
Qui non confidens armis vel robore plebis	20	Qui: Gibicho	Aeineid 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 beleagured.’ 8.518: robora pubis. . . ‘The choice flower of manhood. . .’		SSSSDS
Concilium cogit, quae sint facienda, requirit.			Aeineid 11.234-235.: 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.’ 11.303-304.: fuerat melius, non tempore tali/ cogere concilium. ‘It would have been better not to convene a council at such an hour.’		DSSDDS
Consensere omnes foedus debere precari			Aeneid 2.130: adsensere omnes. ‘All approved.’ 12.242-243.: nunc arma volunt foedusque precantur/ infectum. ‘Now they long for arms, and pray that the covenant be undone.’		SSSSDS Elision: consensere omnes
Et dextras, si forte darent, coniungere dextris		Darent: sc. Huni	Aeineid 1.408-409.: cur dextrae iungere dextram/ non datur. . .? ‘Why am I not allowed to clasp hand in hand? 8.163-164: mihi mens iuvenali ardebat amore/ compellare virum et dextrae coniungere dextram. ‘My heart burned with youthful ardour to speak to him and clasp hand in hand.’		SSDSDS
Obsidibusque datis censum persolvere iussum;		Censum: “tribute”			DDSSDS
Hoc melius fore quam vitam simul ac regionem	25				DDSDDS
Perdiderint natosque suos pariterque maritas.		Perdiderint: perfect subjunctive parallel to the infinitive fore.			DSDDDS
Nobilis hoc Hagano fuerat sub tempore tiro		Hagano: Probably legendary; in the Nibelungenlied the brother of Gunther. Tiro equiv. toiuvenis			DDDSDS
Indolis egregiae, veniens de germine Troiae.		De germine Troiae: Troja was the Roman name for present-day Kirchheim in Alsace, possibly Hagen’s original hometown. A story first found in the Chronicle of Fredegar, however, connected the Franks, like the Romans, with the Trojans, and the poet may be alluding here to that legendary tradition, as he does more directly in lines 726-729. 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. . .’		DDDSDS
Hunc, quia Guntharius nondum pervenit ad aevum,					DDSSDS
Ut sine matre queat vitam retinere tenellam,	30				DDSDDS
Cum gaza ingenti decernunt mittere regi.			Aeneid 7.152-153.: 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.’		SSSSDS Elision: gaza ingenti
Nec mora, legati censum iuvenemque ferentes			Aeneid 7.152-153.: 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.’		DSSDDS
Deveniunt pacemque rogant ac foedera firmant.			Statius, Thebaid 12.509: conveniunt pacemque rogant. ‘They gather and seek for peace.’ Aeineid 11.330: qui dicta ferent et foedera firment. ‘Those who may bring the news and seal the pact. . .’		DSDSDS

---

« 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