Waltharius123

Attila’s queen Ospirin advises her husband to ensure Walther’s loyalty by arranging a marriage (123–141)

Ospirin elapsum Haganonem regia coniunx		Ospirin: The queen’s name is not found elsewhere. The Roman historian Jordanes (Getica 49) speaks of Attila’s innumerabiles uxores.	Aeneid 2.783: illic res laetae regnumque et regia coniunx. ‘There in store for you are happy days, kingship, and a royal wife.’		Although the historian Jordanes writes of Attila’s “innumerabiles uxores” [and even identifies the last as having been Ildiko (which sounds suspiciously similar to Hildegund)JZ], Ospirin's name does not appear anywhere outside the Waltharius. [AE]
Attendens domino suggessit talia dicta:		Two examples of slight semantic drift away from Classical Latin: Attendens: “noticing” (rather than “directing attention towards”) Suggessit: “offered, advised” (rather than “supplied, provided”)	Aeneid 5.852: talia dicta dabat. ‘Such words he said.’ 2.6: talia fando. ‘In telling such a tale. . .’
Provideat caveatque, precor, sollertia regis,	125		Secundum Lucam 12.15: videte et cavete. ‘Take heed and beware.’
Ne vestri imperii labatur forte columna,		Vestri: the 2nd person plural to indicate respect in addressing a single person (cf. French vous, German Sie) is not found in Classical authors.			Ospirin uses the second-person plural when speaking to her husband in this passage and in line 376. Walther also uses the second-person plural to speak to Attila (lines 146, 306), and Hildegund uses it for addressing Walther (line 257). This pattern suggests that the poet resorts to this formality either because of Attila’s office or because of the woman-to-man relationship. The use of the second-person plural to indicate respect for a single person is a feature of Later Latin not found in Classical authors. [AE] It is a feature of later Romance languages, however. [MCD] The figure of Walther as "columna imperii" reappears in line 376 after Walther and Hildegund flee. [AE]
Hoc est, Waltharius vester discedat amicus,		Discedat: still governed by ne.
In quo magna potestatis vis extitit huius;		Potestatis equiv. to regni
Nam vereor, ne fors fugiens Haganonem imitetur,
Idcircoque meam perpendite nunc rationem:	130
Cum primum veniat, haec illi dicite verba:
Servitio in nostro magnos plerumque labores
Passus eras ideoque scias, quod gratia nostra			Aeneid 7.421: Turne, tot incassum fusos patiere labores? ‘Turnus, will you endure all these labours spent in vain?’ 12.32-33.: me casus, quae, Turne, sequantur/ bella, vides, quantos primus patiare labores. ‘You see what perils, Turnus, what wars pursue me, what heavy burdens you bear above all.’
Prae cunctis temet nimium dilexit amicis.			Aeineid 9.430: tantum infelicem nimium dilexit amicum. ‘He but loved his hapless friend too well.’
Quod volo plus factis te quam cognoscere dictis:	135
Elige de satrapis nuptam tibi Pannoniarum		De satrapis equiv. to de filiabus satraparum; cf. note on line 43.	Liber Iudicum 3.3: quinque satrapas Philisthinorum. . . ‘Five princes of the Philistines. . .’		"Satrapa" has a decidedly negative and foreign connotation in the Vulgate Bible, where it refers to leaders of the Philistines (Judges, I Kings), leaders appointed by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel), and leaders following the evil Haman (Esther). The banquet (described in lines 287-321) that Walther throws for the Huns recalls the banquet that Esther gives for Assuerus and Haman in the Book of Esther. Although Lewis and Short gives a technical and specific definition for "satrapa" (“a governor of a province, a viceroy among the Persians”), it is likely that the Waltharius poet uses it in a more general sense, perhaps because of the poetic limitations. Using the word here implicitly compares the Huns to the foreign enemies of the Bible, emphasizing their strangeness. [AE] "Satrapis" here refers to Attila's vassals, not to Attila himself (as in line 43). Attila invites Walther to choose a bride from the satraps of Pannonia, not meaning that Walther should marry one of the vassals, but his bride should come from the vassal class. Kratz's translation here is fairly loose, but captures the meaning well. [AE]
Et non pauperiem propriam perpendere cures.
Amplificabo quidem valde te rure domique,		Rure domique: apparently an ablative of means followed by a locative. Probably one should be assimilated to the other in translation; both possibilities yield acceptable sense.	Liber Genesis 17.20: et augebo et multiplicabo eum valde. ‘I will increase him, and multiply him exceedingly.’
Nec quisquam, qui dat sponsam, post facta pudebit.		Pudebit: A personal construction, unusual in Classical Latin, though cf. Plaut. Cas. 5.2.3.
Quod si completis, illum stabilire potestis.'	140	Stabilire: the verb is used with human direct objects in the Vulgate Bible in the sense of “to sustain,” but here it probably has its more literal meaning, continuing the metaphor of the columna from line 126, as Wieland suggests.	Hiezecihel Propheta 4.6: et cum conpleveris haec. . . ‘And when thou hast accomplished this. . .’
Complacuit sermo regi coepitque parari.			Psalmi 18.15: et erunt ut conplaceant eloquia oris mei. ‘And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please.’

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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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