Waltharius142

Walther rejects Attila’s offer of a bride (142–169)

Waltharius venit, cui princeps talia pandit,  Ipse: Waltharius, who begins speaking in line 146. (Attila’s repetition of his wife’s speech is elided.)    Aeneid 3.179: remque ordine pando. “I reveal all in order.” 6.723: suscipit Anchises atque ordine singula pandit. “Anchises replies, and reveals each truth in order.”   Uxorem suadens sibi ducere; sed tamen ipse Iam tum praemeditans, quod post compleverat actis,  Quod: obj. of praemeditans.    Luke 21.14 Vulg.: non praemeditari quemadmodum respondeatis. “Do not meditate before how you should answer.”   His instiganti suggestibus obvius infit: 145  Suggestibus = consiliis   Vestra quidem pietas est, quod modici famulatus  Modici famulatus: genitive of description with causa, meaning “of little importance” or “that has provided some small service.” Vestra: see note on line 126.   Causam conspicitis. sed quod mea segnia mentis  Causam: here, as often in the Waltharius, this word is practically the equivalent of res—well on its way to becoming French chose, Italian/Spanish cosa, “thing.” Du Cange’s Glossarium Mediae et Infimae Latinitatis cites this meaning of causa in the laws of the Lombards and in the laws of Charlemagne. Mea segnia: i.e., Waltharius’s delay in making a decision regarding marriage.   Intuitu fertis, numquam meruisse valerem.  Mentis intuitu fertis = attenditis   Sed precor, ut servi capiatis verba fidelis: Si nuptam accipiam domini praecepta secundum, 150  Secundum: the post-positive preposition   Vinciar in primis curis et amore puellae Atque a servitio regis plerumque retardor:  Retardor: Like cogor and moratur below, with a future sense.   Aedificare domos cultumque intendere ruris Cogor, et hoc oculis senioris adesse moratur Et solitam regno Hunorum impendere curam. 155 Namque voluptatem quisquis gustaverit, exin Intolerabilius consuevit ferre labores.  Intolerabilius: here active in sense, “with less tolerance.”   Nil tam dulce mihi, quam semper inesse fideli  In the Germanic warrior ethos, love for the lord is to be put above all else. Since Waltharius will soon plot against Attila, the line has a strong note of irony. One could read the loss of Walther’s hand at the end of the poem as punishment for his breach of fealty to Attila, just as Hagan is punished with the loss of his eye for his breach of loyalty to Waltharius.   Obsequio domini; quare precor absque iugali  The language here echoes Aeneid 4.16 (ne cui me vinclo vellem sociare iugali). Dido uses these words when talking to her sister Anna about how she might be susceptible to Aeneas, if only she had not decided to avoid vinclo … iugali “nuptial bounds” Dido goes on to fall for Aeneas, just as Waltharius, despite what he says, will go on to marry Hildegund. The other parallel, which will return later in the poem, is between Attila and Dido, both left behind by the heroes of their respective poems.    2 Kings 5.2 Vulg.: Quae erat in obsequio uxoris Naaman. “She waited upon Naaman’s wife.” Aeneid 4.16: ne cui me vinclo vellem sociare iugali… “To ally myself with none in bond of wedlock…”   Me vinclo permitte meam iam ducere vitam. 160  Aeneid 3.315: vitamque extrema per omnia duco. “I drag on my life through all extremes.”   Si sero aut medio noctis mihi tempore mandas,  Sero aut medio noctis: an almost identical phrase appears in the Gospel of Mark, when Christ tells the parable of the faithful servant, who keeps watch because he does not know at what hour his lord will return. Walther’s use of this language reminds us of his Christian faith. For other explicitly Christian actions by Waltharius cf. lines 225, 426, 564, 1161. Christianity is also present in the Waldere (cf. fragment B, lines 25–9)    Mark 13.35 Vulg.: sero an media nocte… “At evening or at midnight…” Aeneid 8.407: medio noctis… “In the middle of the night…” Waldere frag. B lines 25–9: Ðéah mæg sige syllan sé ðe symle byð / recon ond ráedfest ryhta gehwilces; sé ðe him tó ðám hálgan helpe gelífeð / tó gode gíoce hé þáer gearo findeð / gif ðá earnunga áer geðenceð. “Yet He can give victory, he who is ever ready and sound in council in every matter of right; he who to that holy one trusts for help, to God for support he finds (it) ready there, if meriting (it) he first considers.”   Ad quaecumque iubes, securus et ibo paratus. In bellis nullae persuadent cedere curae Nec nati aut coniunx retrahentque fugamque movebunt. Testor per propriam temet, pater optime, vitam 165  Testor: here construed like precor with a purpose clause, joining an oath to an earnest request. Pater: Attila is both the metaphorical father of his people and essentially Waltharius’s own adopted father (cf. line 98). The phrase pater optime appears in Aeneid 1.555, where it refers to Aeneas in the metaphorical sense, and in 3.710, where Aeneas uses it in the literal sense to address Anchises. Although some modern linguists derive Attila’s name from a word meaning father, it is unlikely the poet was aware of this 19th century etymology.    Aeneid 3.599–600: per sidera testor, / per superos atque hoc caeli spirabile lumen, / tollite me. “By the stars I beseech you, by the gods above and this lightsome air we breathe, take me.” Aeneid 1.555: pater optime… “Noble father…”   Atque per invictam nunc gentem Pannoniarum  Nunc: an ironic touch? (Cf. line 144)   Ut non ulterius me cogas sumere taedas.'  Taedas: Metonymy for marriage, as often in classical epic.   His precibus victus suasus rex deserit omnes, Sperans Waltharium fugiendo recedere numquam. « 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