Waltharius914

7th single combat: Walther slays Gerwitus (914–940)

Hunc sese ulturum spondens Gerwitus adivit,		Hunc: Patavrid			SSSSDS Elision: sese ulturum
Qui forti subvectus equo supra volat omnem	915		Aeneid 8.58: remis. . .subvectus. . . ‘Impelled by your oars. . .’ Georgics 1.364: altam supra volat ardea nubem. ‘It soars aloft above the clouds.’		SSDSDS
Stragem, quae angustam concluserat obvia callem.			Aeineid 4.405: convectant calle angusto. ‘They carry it on a narrow track.’		SSSDDS Elision: quae angustam
Et dum bellipotens recidisset colla iacentis,		Bellipotens: Waltharius Recidisset: the i ought to be long. Iacentis: Patavrid	Aeineid 11.8: bellipotens. . . ‘Lord of War. . .’		SDDSDS
Venit et ancipitem vibravit in ora bipennem.			Aeineid 11.651: dextra rapit indefessa bipennem. ‘She snatches a stout battle axe with unwearied grasp.’ 7.525: ferro ancipiti decernunt. ‘With two-edged steel they try the issue.’		DDSDDS
Istius ergo modi Francis tunc arma fuere.)		Ergo: cf. line 442 and note.			DDSSDS
Vir celer obiecit peltam frustravit et ictum,	920		Aeineid 2.443-444.: clipeosque ad tela sinistris/ protecti obiciunt. ‘With left hands they hold up protecting shields against the darts.’		DSSSDS
Ac retro saliens hastam rapiebat amicam		Hastam…amicam: put down at line 909			SDSDDS
Sanguineumque ulva viridi dimiserat ensem.			Eclogue 8.87: viridi procumbit in ulva. ‘She sinks down in the green sedge.’		DSDSDS Elision: sanguineumque ulva
Hic vero metuenda virum tum bella videres.			Eclogue 6.27: tum vero. . .videres. . . ‘Then indeed you might see. . .’		SDDSDS
Sermo quidem nullus fuit inter Martia tela:			Statius, Thebaid 7.460: Martia tela. . . ‘Their weapons of war. . .’ Eclogue 9.12: tela inter Martia. . . ‘Amid the weapons of war. . .’		DSDSDS
Sic erat adverso mens horum intenta duello.	925				DSSSDS Elision: horum intenta
Is furit, ut caesos mundet vindicta sodales,					DSSSDS
Ille studet vitam toto defendere nisu					SDSDDS
Et, si fors dederit, palmam retinere triumphi.			Aeneid 2.94: fors siqua tulisset. . . ‘If any chance should offer. . .’		SDSDDS
Hic ferit, ille cavet, petit ille, reflectitur iste:					DDDDDS
Ad studium fors et virtus miscentur in unum	930		Aeineid 12.714: fors et virtus miscentur in unum. ‘Chance and valour blend into one.’		DSSSDS
Longa tamen cuspis breviori depulit hostem					DSDSDS
Armatum telo, girat sed et ille caballum		Telo equiv. to bipenni	Aeneid 11.694-695.: Orsilochum fugiens magnumque agitata per orbem/ eludit gyro interior sequiturque sequentem. ‘As she flees Orsilochus and is chased in a wide circle, she foils him, wheels into an inner ring and pursues the pursuer.’		SSSDDS
Atque fatigatum cupiebat fallere homonem.					DSDSDS Elision: fallere homonem
Iam magis atque magis irarum mole gravatus			Aeneid 12.239: iam magis atque magis. . . ‘Yet more and more. . .’		DDSSDS False quantities: magis
Waltharius clipeum Gerwiti sustulit imum,	935		Aeineid 10.588-589.: subit oras hasta per imas/ fulgentibus clipei, tum laevum perforat inguen. ‘The spear comes through the lowest rim of his gleaming shield, then pierces the left groin.’ 10.730-731.: sternitur infelix Acron et calcibus atram/ tundit. ‘Down goes hapless Acron and hammers the black ground with his heels.’		DDSSDS
Transmissoque femur penetraverat inguine ferrum.		Transmisso equiv. to transfixo Ferrum: subject	Aeineid 10.588-589.: subit oras hasta per imas/ fulgentibus clipei, tum laevum perforat inguen. ‘The spear comes through the lowest rim of his gleaming shield, then pierces the left groin.’ 10.730-731.: sternitur infelix Acron et calcibus atram/ tundit. ‘Down goes hapless Acron and hammers the black ground with his heels.’ Aeineid 12.924-925.: hasta. . .per medium stridens transit femur. ‘The spear, whizzing, passes right through the thigh.’		SDDDDS
Qui post terga ruens clamorem prodidit atrum					SDSSDS
Exitiumque dolens pulsabat calcibus arvum.			Aeineid 10.404: caedit semianimis Rutulorum calcibus arva. ‘In death he spurns with his heels the Rutulian fields.’ 10.849-850.: heu nunc misero mihi demum/ exilium (exitium) infelix. ‘Alas! Now at last I know, wretch that I am, the bitterness of exile.’		DDSSDS
Hunc etiam truncum caesa cervice reliquit.					DSSSDS
Idem Wormatiae campis comes extitit ante.	940	Idem: Gerwitus – an elegiac conclusion.		Worms	SDSDDS

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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 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

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