Waltharius75

The Aquitainians under Alphere surrender to Attila, giving Walther as a hostage (75–92)

Postquam complevit pactum statuitque tributum,	75				SSSDDS
Attila in occiduas promoverat agmina partes.					DDSDDS Elision: Attila in
Namque Aquitanorum tunc Alphere regna tenebat,		Aquitanorum: The region of Aquitaine is in present-day south-western France. Alphere: Apparently legendary.	Aeneid 7.735: . . .Teleboum Capreas cum regna teneret. ‘. . .When he reigned over Teleboan Capreae.’		DSSDDS Elision: namque Aquitanorum
Quem sobolem sexus narrant habuisse virilis,					DSSDDS
Nomine Waltharium, primaevo flore nitentem.		Waltharium: The protagonist of the epic; apparently legendary.	Aeineid 7.162: primaevo flore iuventus. . . ‘Youths in their early bloom. . .’ Statius, Silvae 5.1.183: vidi omni pridem te flore nitentem. ‘I have seen thee in the full splendour of they fame.’		DDSSDS	Youth is equated several times in the poem with the blooming of a flower, most notably when Hagan accuses Walter of having committed an unpardonable offense by killing his nephew, whom he describes as a blooming flower at lines 1273-4. 'Here as in the other passage, the phrase is used as a means of eliciting pathos, in this case a feeling of pity for Walter who has to go into exile at such a young age. [JJTY] "nitentem": one of many instances in which the Waltharius-poet uses words describing Walther or Hildegund as "glittering" or "shining." Combining the image of light with the image of the flower is particularly striking. MCD
Nam iusiurandum Heriricus et Alphere reges	80				SSDDDS Hiatus: iusiurandum Heriricus
Inter se dederant, pueros quod consociarent,		Pueros quod consociarent: “that they would unite their children,” i.e., Waltharius and Hiltgunt, in marriage. Quod + subjunctive here replaces, as often, the Classical accusative + infinitive construction.			SDDSDS
Cum primum tempus nubendi venerit illis.					SSSSDS	The heavily spondaic nature of the line (5 spondees) could reflect a sense in which the two children cannot grow up soon enough--in which the time for their marriage seems like it will never come.
Hic ubi cognovit gentes has esse domatas,					DSSSDS
Coeperat ingenti cordis trepidare pavore,			Aeneid 6.491: ingenti trepidare metu. ‘They trembled with a mighty fear.’ 2.685: nos pavidi trepidare metu. . . ‘We, trembling with alarm. . .’ 7.458: olli somnum ingens rumpit pavor. ‘A monstrous terror broke his sleep.’ Lucan, De Bello Civili 5.530: nullo trepidare tumultu. . . ‘To thrill with no alarm. . .’		DSSDDS
Nec iam spes fuerat saevis defendier armis.	85		Aeneid 8.492-493.: ille inter caedem Rutulorum elapsus in agros/ confugere et Turni defendier hospitis armis. ‘Amid the carnage, he flees for refuge to Rutulian soil and find shelter among the weapons of Turnus his friend.’ 12.890: saevis certandum est comminus armis. ‘We must contend hand to hand with savage weapons.’		SDSSDS
'Quid cessemus', ait, 'si bella movere nequimus?			Aeneid 6.820: nova bella moventis. . . ‘Stirring up revolt. . .’ 12.332-333.: sanguineus Mavors clipeo increpat atque furentis/ bella movens immittit equos. ‘Blood-stained Mavors, stirred to fury, thunders with his shield and, rousing war, gives rein to his frenzied steeds.’		SDSDDS	"movere": The Aquitanians seem to lack both the means and the will after the surrenders of the Burgundians and the Franks even to 'stir up' a war, let alone to 'wage' a war ("bellum gerere").
Exemplum nobis Burgundia, Francia donant.					SSSDDS
Non incusamur, si talibus aequiperamur.					SSSDDS
Legatos mitto foedusque ferire iubebo			Aeineid 10.154: foedusque ferit. ‘He strikes a treaty.’		SSSDDS
Obsidis inque vicem dilectum porrigo natum	90	Obsidis in vicem equiv. to pro obside			DDSSDS
Et iam nunc Hunis censum persolvo futurum.'					SSSSDS	The spondaic nature of the line - SSSDS - could reflect Alphere's sadness at having to hand over his son to Attila.
Sed quid plus remorer? dictum compleverat actis.			Aeineid 2.102: quidve moror? ‘Why do I delay?’ Liber Numerorum 11.23: iam nunc videbis utrum meus sermo opere conpleatur. ‘Thou shalt presently se whether my word shall come to pass or no.’		SDSSDS	The poet uses a common narratological tool to speed up the course of the story by avoiding needless repetition.

---

« 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 962–980. 8th single combat. Walther is shorn of his hair by Randolf, whom he then slays 981–1061. 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