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(Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512))
(Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512))
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|{{Comment|Though the view is narrow and the place inhabited by wolves and bears, the poet insists that it is "amoenum," pleasant. Possibly this emphasizes the sense of relief at the prospect of rest and refuge which he intends Walther and Hildegund to feel. MCD}}
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|{{Comment|Though the view is narrow and the place inhabited by wolves and bears, the poet insists that it is "amoenum," pleasant. Indeed, the poet's depiction of the place is almost schizophrenic, as he continues in the next lines to state that it was created by falling rocks (hardly conducive to safe refuge) and that it was best suited for bloody thieves. Nevertheless, the slight vegetation and Walther's relief at the prospect of rest give the place an air of hope. Possibly this conflicted description emphasizes the sense of relief at the prospect of rest and refuge which he intends Walther and Hildegund to feel. MCD}}
 
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|[[Non]] [[tellure]] [[cava]] [[factum]], [[sed1|sed]] [[vertice]] [[rupum]]:
 
|[[Non]] [[tellure]] [[cava]] [[factum]], [[sed1|sed]] [[vertice]] [[rupum]]:

Revision as of 21:27, 12 December 2009

Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)

Interea vir magnanimus de flumine pergens  Vir magnanimus: Waltharius

 

 DSDSDS   "magnanimus": literally, great-souled, great-hearted. The word implies generosity but also an heroic greatness of spirit beyond mere kindness. Dante frequently uses an Italian cognate of the word to describe figures who, while damned, retain inherent nobility, such as Virgil or Farinata degli Uberti. MCD 
Venerat in saltum iam tum Vosagum vocitatum. 490  Vosagum: the name properly belongs not just to a saltus but to the region of the Vosges Mountains, now in north-eastern France.

 

 
Europe500.png
 
 DSSDDS   The area around Worms falls outside of the defined modern boundaries of the Vosges. Walther and Hildgund had most likely reached only the northernmost peaks of the Vosges, made of sandstone and rising to (comparatively) low heights around 2000 feet. Further south, the Vosges become granite and rise much higher. Throughout, however, they would have been covered by thick forest, resembling the Black Forest in age and density. MCD 
Nam nemus est ingens, spatiosum, lustra ferarum  Georgics 2.471: illic saltus ac lustra ferarum. ‘They have woodland glades and haunts of game.’ Aeineid 3.646-647.: vitam in silvis inter deserta ferarum/ lustra domosque traho. ‘I began to drag out my life in the woods among the lonely lairs and haunts of wild beasts.’ 3.432: canibus resonantia saxa. . . ‘Rocks that echo with her hounds. . .’

 

 DSDSDS   The Waltharius-poet creates an odd variant of the classical locus amoenus, in which a beautiful place is described. Indeed, the use of the word "nemus," often associated with sacred groves, would lead us to expect a peaceful or beautiful place. However, this nemus is "ingens," and home to wild beasts. As a place of apparent but deceptive refuge, it has more in common with Virgil's island of the Cyclops, which also is home to "lustra ferarum." MCD 
Plurima habens, suetum canibus resonare tubisque.  Suetum canibus resonare tubisque: i.e., a popular place for hunting.

 

 Georgics 2.471: illic saltus ac lustra ferarum. ‘They have woodland glades and haunts of game.’ Aeineid 3.646-647.: vitam in silvis inter deserta ferarum/ lustra domosque traho. ‘I began to drag out my life in the woods among the lonely lairs and haunts of wild beasts.’ 3.432: canibus resonantia saxa. . . ‘Rocks that echo with her hounds. . .’

 

 DSDDDS
Elision: plurima habens
 
 "suetum canibus resonare tubisque": echoes a Virgilian phrase describing Scylla. This is probably a mere echo of diction rather than any deeper, content-based parallel. This is a good example of the pervading influence of the poet's classical background, of the pages and pages memorized during his education, in his Latin versification. MCD 
Sunt in secessu bini montesque propinqui,  The precise locale being described has been exhaustively sought after (cf. Althof ad loc.), but is probably imaginary; the details given are largely taken from the Aeneid and are closely tailored to the series of one-on-one combats that will occur there.

 

 Aeineid 1.159-160.: est in secessu longo locus. . .hinc atque hinc vastae rupes geminique minantur/ in caelum scopuli, quorum sub vertice late Aequora tuta silent. . .huc. . .Aeneas. . .subit. ‘There in a deep inlet lies a spot. On either side loom heavenward huge cliffs and twin peaks, beneath whose crest far and wide is the stillness of sheltered water. HereAeneas takes shelter.’ 3.229: in secessu longo. . . ‘In a deep recess. . .’ 8.597-598.: est ingens gelidum lucus prope Caeritis amnem. . .undique colles/ inclusere cavi et nigra nemus abiete cingunt. ‘Near Caere’s cold stream there stands a vast grove; on all sides curving hills enclose it and girdle the woodland with dark fir trees.’ 11.522-523.: est curvo anfractu valles. . .quam densis frondibus atrum/ urget utrimque latus. ‘There is a valley with sweeping curve, hemmed in on either side by a wall black with dense foliage.’

 

 SSSSDS 
Inter quos licet angustum specus extat amoenum,  Aeineid 1.159-160.: est in secessu longo locus. . .hinc atque hinc vastae rupes geminique minantur/ in caelum scopuli, quorum sub vertice late Aequora tuta silent. . .huc. . .Aeneas. . .subit. ‘There in a deep inlet lies a spot. On either side loom heavenward huge cliffs and twin peaks, beneath whose crest far and wide is the stillness of sheltered water. HereAeneas takes shelter.’ 3.229: in secessu longo. . . ‘In a deep recess. . .’ 8.597-598.: est ingens gelidum lucus prope Caeritis amnem. . .undique colles/ inclusere cavi et nigra nemus abiete cingunt. ‘Near Caere’s cold stream there stands a vast grove; on all sides curving hills enclose it and girdle the woodland with dark fir trees.’ 11.522-523.: est curvo anfractu valles. . .quam densis frondibus atrum/ urget utrimque latus. ‘There is a valley with sweeping curve, hemmed in on either side by a wall black with dense foliage.’

 

 SDSDDS   Though the view is narrow and the place inhabited by wolves and bears, the poet insists that it is "amoenum," pleasant. Indeed, the poet's depiction of the place is almost schizophrenic, as he continues in the next lines to state that it was created by falling rocks (hardly conducive to safe refuge) and that it was best suited for bloody thieves. Nevertheless, the slight vegetation and Walther's relief at the prospect of rest give the place an air of hope. Possibly this conflicted description emphasizes the sense of relief at the prospect of rest and refuge which he intends Walther and Hildegund to feel. MCD 
Non tellure cava factum, sed vertice rupum: 495  SDSSDS 
Apta quidem statio latronibus illa cruentis.  Aeineid 11.522-523.: accommoda fraudi/ armorumque dolis. . . ‘Fit site for the stratagems and deceits of war. . .’

 

 DDSDDS 
Angulus hic virides ac vescas gesserat herbas.  Georgics 3.174-175.: non gramina tantum/ nec vescas salicum frondes. . . ‘Not grass alone or poor willow leaves. . .’ 4.131: vescumque papaver. . . ‘Fine-seeded poppy. . .’

 

 DDSSDS   TK: Comment further on sources and parallels. 
'huc', mox ut vidit iuvenis, 'huc' inquit 'eamus,  Aeineid 11.530: huc iuvenis nota fertur regione viarum. ‘Hither the warrior hastens by a well-known road.’

 

 SSDSDS 
His iuvat in castris fessum componere corpus.'  Georgics 4.438: defessa. . .componere membra. . . ‘To settle his weary limbs. . .’ 4.189: ubi iam thalamis se composuere. . . ‘When they have laid themselves to rest in their chambers. . .’

 

 DSSSDS 
Nam postquam fugiens Avarum discesserat oris, 500  Avarum…oris: i.e., Attila’s city

 

 
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 SDDSDS 
Non aliter somni requiem gustaverat idem  DSDSDS 
Quam super innixus clipeo; vix clauserat orbes.  Orbes equiv. to oculos

 

 DSDSDS 
Bellica tum demum deponens pondera dixit  Bellica…pondera equiv. to arma

 

 Aeineid 10.496: rapiens immania pondera baltei. . . ‘Tearing away the belt’s huge weight. . .’

 

 DSSSDS 
Virginis in gremium fusus: 'circumspice caute,  Aeineid 8.406: coniugis infusus gremio. . . ‘Melting in his wife’s arms. . .’

 

 DDSSDS   Difficulty translating "fusus" 
Hiltgunt, et nebulam si tolli videris atram, 505  Nebulam: i.e., of dust from an approaching army

 

 Aeineid 2.355-356.: lupi ceu/ raptores atra in nebula. . . ‘Like ravening wolves in a black mist. . .’ 8.258: nebulaque ingens specus aestuat atra. ‘Through the mighty cave the mist surges black.’

 

 SDSSDS 
Attactu blando me surgere commonitato,  SSSDDS 
Et licet ingentem conspexeris ire catervam,  DSSDDS 
Ne excutias somno subito, mi cara, caveto,  Hiltgunt should not wake Waltharius suddenly and thus startle him; since her eyes (acies, line 509) are good, she will be able to see an enemy from far away (and thus still give Waltharius plenty of time to react).

 

 Aeineid 2.302: excutior somno.’I shake myself from sleep.’

 

 DSDSDS
Elision: ne excutias
 
Nam procul hinc acies potis es transmittere puras.  DDDSDS 
Instanter cunctam circa explora regionem.' 510  SSSSDS
Elision: circa explora
 
 Significance of entrusting all this to Hildegund (importance of the female again, in Anderson). Also, why the emphasis on not waking him suddenly. 
Haec ait atque oculos concluserat ipse nitentes  Aeineid 1.297: haec ait et. . . ‘He speaks these words, and. . .’ 1.228: oculos. . .nitentis. . . ‘Her bright eyes. . .’ Liber Hester 15.8: nitentibus oculis. . . ‘With shining eyes. . .’

 

 DDSDDS
Elision: atque oculos
 
Iamque diu satis optata fruitur requiete.  Aeineid 4.619: optata luce fruatur. ‘May he enjoy the life he longs for.’

 

 DDSDDS 

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