Waltharius1376

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)

Belliger ut frameae murcatae fragmina vidit,		Frameae murcatae equiv. to gladii mutilati			DDSSDS	murcatae derives from the late Latin adjective 'murcus', 'murcare' appears also in Notger Gesta Karoli I, 32 and Vita S. Galli I,f - meaning appears to be to dismember or truncate body parts (Berschin 1968 pp25-6, Önnerfors 1988 pp25-7) Haug’s commentary suggests a comic meaning of a castrated or circumcised weapon (Haug 1991 p1215) BK
Indigne tulit ac nimia furit efferus ira			Secundum Marcum 10.14: indigne tulit. ‘He was much displeased.’		SDDDDS	nimia furit efferus ira Haug argues that the literal allusion to v380 ("nimia succenditur efferus ira") compares Walther to Attila, the two heroes fail into rage (ira) and have to pay with loosing their right hand, Attila in a metaphorically, Walther literally. (Haug 1991 p1216) However, the metaphor of loosing the hand is not played out in the earlier part of the epic and Haug’s reading might be arguable. Moreover, Attila rages as a consequence of loosing Walther and Hiltgund, while Walther looses because of raging. See also comment on 1388. BK
Impatiensque sui capulum sine pondere ferri,		Impatiens sui: “out of control,” cf. Ov. Met. 13.3: impatiens irae.			DDDDDS
Quamlibet eximio praestaret et arte metallo,		Et arte metallo equiv. to arte et metallo			DDSDDS
Protinus abiecit monimentaque tristia sprevit.	1380	Protinus equiv. to procul Monimenta equiv. to fragmenta			DSDDDS
Qui dum forte manum iam enormiter exeruisset,					SDSDDS Elision: iam enormiter
Abstulit hanc Hagano sat laetus vulnere prompto.			Aeineid 10.394: caput Euandrius abstulit ensis. ‘Evander’s sword swept off your head.’		DDSSDS
In medio iactus recidebat dextera fortis					DSDSDS
Gentibus ac populis multis suspecta, tyrannis,		Suspecta: cf. note on line 1086.			DDSSDS
Innumerabilibus quae fulserat ante trophaeis.	1385				DDSDDS
Sed vir praecipuus nec laevis cedere gnarus,		Laevis equiv. to adversis – but also a joke.			SDSSDS
Sana mente potens carnis superare dolores,			Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.517: magnos superat virtute dolores. ‘He overcomes the great pain with fortitude.’		SDSDDS
Non desperavit neque vultus concidit eius,		Neque vultus concidit eius: commentators have not noticed the long ending of vultus, which makes taking it as the subject of concidit problematic.	Liber Genesis 4.5: iratusque est Cain vehementer et concidit vultus eius. ‘Cain was exceedingly angry, and his countenance fell.’		SSDSDS	Non desperavit neque vultus concidit eius The comparison between Atilla and Walther as established by intertextuality in vers 1377 (cf. respective comment) faces its crucial shift. Walther is able to overcome his rage, for which he payed with his right hand. Walther manages even to continue the battle (as stated in 1386) and keeps a straight face while Attila fails in the inherently stated ideal of not showing emotions (385-8 "Sic intestinis rex fluctuat undique curis, // Et varium pectus vario simul ore imitatus, // Prodidit exterius, quicquid toleraverat intus, // Iraque sermonem permisit promere nullum." - The king is surging inwardly with warring cares. The changes in his face reflect his changing feelings; Outward, the man betrays his suffering within. His wrath permitted him to speak no words at all.) BK
Verum vulnigeram clipeo insertaverat ulnam			Aeneid 2.671-672.: clipeoque sinistram/insertabam aptans. ‘I was passing my left arm into the shield as I fit it on.’		SDDSDS Elision: clipeo insertaverat
Incolomique manu mox eripuit semispatam,	1390	Semispatam…qua…memoravimus: cf. line 337.			DDSDDS
Qua dextrum cinxisse latus memoravimus illum,					SSDDDS
Ilico vindictam capiens ex hoste severam.			Liber Hester 8.13: paratos esse Iudaeos ad capiendam vindictam de hostibus suis. ‘The Jews were ready to be revenged of their enemies.		DSDSDS
Nam feriens dextrum Haganoni effodit ocellum			Liber Regum IV 25.7: oculos eius effodit. ‘He put out his eyes.’ Aeineid 3.663: luminis effossi fluidum lavit inde cruorem. ‘He washed therein the oozing blood from his eye’s socket.’		DSDSDS Elision: Haganoni effodit Hiatus: dextrum Haganoni	1393-95 Hagen’s injuries resemble those he dreamed of before as in 627 “Me petit atque oculum cum dentibus eruit unum.” – “He attacked me and ouged my one eye out, with some of my teeth” – all battles are thereby framed by the dream prophecy and its fulfillment. Cf comment on 1364 BK
Ac timpus resecans pariterque labella revellens		Timpus equiv. to tempus equiv. to malam			SDDDDS
Olli bis ternos discussit ab ore molares.	1395				SSSDDS

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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

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