Waltharius640

1st single combat: Camalo is sent back to Walther, who slays him (640–685)

Post haec Guntharius Camaloni praecipit aiens:	640				SDDSDS
Perge et thesaurum reddi mihi praecipe totum.					SSSDDS Elision: perge et
Quodsi cunctetur -- scio tu vir fortis et audax --,		Scio tu vir equiv. to scio te virum [esse]			SSDSDS
Congredere et bello devictum mox spoliato.'					DSSSDS Elision: congredere et
Ibat Mettensis Camalo metropolitanus,		Metropolitanus: normally a title for an archbishop, here for the secular office of praefectus.		Metz	SSDSDS
Vertice fulva micat cassis, de pectore thorax,	645		Aeineid 11.642-643.: nudo vertice fulva/ caesaries.’On his bare head stream his tawny locks.’		DDSSDS
Et procul acclamans: 'heus! audi' dixit 'amice!		Amice: ironic			DSSSDS
Regi Francorum totum transmitte metallum					SSSSDS
Si vis ulterius vitam vel habere salutem!'		Vel equiv. to et (in order to make previous syllable long by position)			SDSDDS
Conticuit paulum verbo fortissimus heros,			Aeineid 3.718: conticuit tandem. ‘At last he ceased.’ 6.169: fortissimus heros. . . ‘The valiant hero. . .’		DSSSDS
Opperiens propius hostem adventare ferocem.	650				DDSSDS Elision: hostem adventare
Advolitans missus vocem repetiverat istam.			Aeineid 10.896: advolat Aeneas. ‘Aeneas rushes up.’		DSSDDS
	652	Most editions omit this line, a verbatim repetition of 647, as if inserted to explain vocem…istam in line 651.
Tum iuvenis constans responsum protulit istud:					DSSSDS
Quid quaeris? vel quid reddi, importune, coartas?		Quid: “why?”			SSSSDS Elision: reddi importune
Numquid Gunthario furabar talia regi?	655				SDSSDS
Aut mihi pro lucro quicquam donaverat ille,		Pro lucro: cf. Tac. Germ. 26 on the financial practices of the pagan German tribes. Lending at interest was forbidden by the Christian Church, except often for Jews; Waltharius insults Gunther by implicitly comparing the king to a marginalized group.			DSSSDS
Ut merito usuram me cogat solvere tantam?					DSSSDS Elision: merito usuram
Num pergens ego damna tuli vestrae regioni,					SDDSDS
Ut vel hinc iuste videar spoliarier a te?		Hinc equiv. to ideo			SSDDDS
Si tantam invidiam cunctis gens exhibet ista,	660				SDSSDS Elision: tantam invidiam
Ut calcare solum nulli concedat eunti,					SDSSDS
Ecce viam mercor, regi transmitto ducentas					DSSSDS
Armillas. pacem donet modo bella remittens.'					SSSDDS
Haec postquam Camalo percepit corde ferino,					SDSSDS
Amplificabis' ait 'donum, dum scrinia pandis.	665	Dum…pandis equiv. to cum…pandes			DDSSDS
Consummare etenim sermones nunc volo cunctos:		Etenim equiv. to vero	Liber Tobiae 14.1: et consummati sunt sermones Tobiae. ‘And the words of Tobias were ended.’		SDSSDS Elision: consummare etenim
Aut quaesita dabis aut vitam sanguine fundes.'			Aeineid 2.532: multo vitam cum sanguine fudit. ‘He poured out his life in a stream of blood. 4.621: hanc vocem extremam cum sanguine fundo. ‘This last utterance I pour out with my blood.’		SDSSDS
Sic ait et triplicem clipeum collegit in ulnam			Aeineid 1.142: sic ait et. . . ‘Thus he speaks, and. . .’ 10.473: sic ait atque. . . 10.783-784.: orbem/ aere cavum triplici. . . ‘Through the hollow shield of threefold bronze. . .’		DDDSDS
Et crispans hastile micans vi nititur omni			Aeineid 1.313: crispans hastilia. . . ‘Grasping the shafts. . .’ 10.335-336.: tum magnam corripit hastam/ et iacit. Illa volans clipei transverberat aera/ Maeonis. . . ‘Then he seizes a great spear and hurls it; flying, it crashes through the brass of Maeon’s shield.’ Liber Malachim I 19.10: nisusque est Saul configere David lancea in pariete, et declinavit David a facie Saul; lancea autem casso vulnere perlata est in parietem. ‘And Saul endeavored to nail David to the wall with his spear. And David slipped away out of the presence of Saul: and the spear missed him, and was fastened in the wall.’ Aeineid 11.418: humum semel ore momordit. ‘Once for all he has bitten the dust.’		SSDSDS
Ac iacit. at iuvenis devitat cautior ictum.	670		Aeineid 1.313: crispans hastilia. . . ‘Grasping the shafts. . .’ 10.335-336.: tum magnam corripit hastam/ et iacit. Illa volans clipei transverberat aera/ Maeonis. . . ‘Then he seizes a great spear and hurls it; flying, it crashes through the brass of Maeon’s shield.’ Liber Malachim I 19.10: nisusque est Saul configere David lancea in pariete, et declinavit David a facie Saul; lancea autem casso vulnere perlata est in parietem. ‘And Saul endeavored to nail David to the wall with his spear. And David slipped away out of the presence of Saul: and the spear missed him, and was fastened in the wall.’ Aeineid 11.418: humum semel ore momordit. ‘Once for all he has bitten the dust.’		DDSSDS
Hasta volans casso tellurem vulnere mordit.					DSSSDS
Waltharius tandem: 'si sic placet', inquit, 'agamus!'					DSSDDS
Et simul in dictis hastam transmisit. at illa			Aeineid 5.357: et simul his dictis. . . ‘And with these words. . .’ 11.827: simul his dictis.		DSSSDS
Per laevum latus umbonis transivit, et ecce			Aeneid 10.482-483.: at clipeum, tot ferri gerga, tot aeris,/ quem pellis totiens obeat circumdata tauri,/ vibranti cuspis medium transverberat ictu/ loricaeque moras et pectus perforat ingens. ‘And with quivering stroke the point tears through the center of the shield, with all its plates of iron, all its plates of bronze, all the bull hide’s overlaying folds; then pierces the corslet’s barrier and the mighty breast.’ 9.576-577.: hunc primo levis hasta Themillae/ strinxerat, ille manum proiecto tegmine demens/ ad vulnus tulit; ergo alis adlapse sagitta/ et laevo infixa est alte lateri. ‘Themillas’ spear had first grazed him lightly; in his madness he cast down his shield and carried his hand to the wound. So the arrow winged its way and lodged deep in his left side.’		SDSSDS
Palmam, qua Camalo mucronem educere coepit,	675		Aeneid 10.482-483.: at clipeum, tot ferri gerga, tot aeris,/ quem pellis totiens obeat circumdata tauri,/ vibranti cuspis medium transverberat ictu/ loricaeque moras et pectus perforat ingens. ‘And with quivering stroke the point tears through the center of the shield, with all its plates of iron, all its plates of bronze, all the bull hide’s overlaying folds; then pierces the corslet’s barrier and the mighty breast.’ 9.576-577.: hunc primo levis hasta Themillae/ strinxerat, ille manum proiecto tegmine demens/ ad vulnus tulit; ergo alis adlapse sagitta/ et laevo infixa est alte lateri. ‘Themillas’ spear had first grazed him lightly; in his madness he cast down his shield and carried his hand to the wound. So the arrow winged its way and lodged deep in his left side.’		SDSSDS Elision: mucronem educere
Confixit femori transpungens terga caballi.		Transpungens equiv. to confodiens	Aeneid 10.482-483.: at clipeum, tot ferri gerga, tot aeris,/ quem pellis totiens obeat circumdata tauri,/ vibranti cuspis medium transverberat ictu/ loricaeque moras et pectus perforat ingens. ‘And with quivering stroke the point tears through the center of the shield, with all its plates of iron, all its plates of bronze, all the bull hide’s overlaying folds; then pierces the corslet’s barrier and the mighty breast.’ 9.576-577.: hunc primo levis hasta Themillae/ strinxerat, ille manum proiecto tegmine demens/ ad vulnus tulit; ergo alis adlapse sagitta/ et laevo infixa est alte lateri. ‘Themillas’ spear had first grazed him lightly; in his madness he cast down his shield and carried his hand to the wound. So the arrow winged its way and lodged deep in his left side.’		SDSSDS
Nec mora, dum vulnus sentit sonipes, furit atque			Aeineid 11.638-639.: quo sonipes ictu furit arduus altaque iactat/ vulneris impatiens arrecto pectore crura. ‘At this blow the charger rears furious and, unable to bear the wound, with chest raised flings his legs on high.’		DSSDDS
Excutiens dorsum sessorem sternere temptat;			Aeineid 11.638-639.: quo sonipes ictu furit arduus altaque iactat/ vulneris impatiens arrecto pectore crura. ‘At this blow the charger rears furious and, unable to bear the wound, with chest raised flings his legs on high.’		DSSSDS
Et forsan faceret, ni lancea fixa teneret.					SDSDDS
Interea parmam Camalo dimisit et, hastam	680				DSDSDS
Complexus laeva, satagit divellere dextram.					SSDSDS
Quod mox perspiciens currit celeberrimus heros					SDSDDS
Et pede compresso capulo tenus ingerit ensem;		Pede compresso: Variously interpreted. The sense is either “standing still, with a firmly planted stance” or “having grabbed the foot” (of Camalo).	Aeineid 10. 536: capulo tenus applicat ensem. ‘He drives the sword in up to the hilt.’ 2.553: lateri capulo tenus abdidit ensem. ‘He buried the sword to the hilt in his side.’		DSDDDS
Quem simul educens hastam de vulnere traxit.			Aeineid 10.744: hoc dicens eduxit corpore telum. ‘So saying, he drew the weapon from the hero’s body.’ Ovid, Metamorphoses 4.120: ferventi moriens e vulnere traxit. ‘With his dying efford he drew the sword from his warm wound.’		DSSSDS
Tunc equus et dominus hora cecidere sub una.	685				DDSDDS

---

« 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