Waltharius581Scansion

Camalo is sent as a messenger to Walther, who offers to make Gunther a gift in return for allowing his passage (581–616)

Praēcĭpĭt īrĕ vĭrūm cōgnōmĭnĕ rēx Cămălōnĕm		DDSDDS
Īnclĭtă Mēttēnsī quēm Frāncĭă mīsĕrăt ūrbī		DSSDDS
Praēfēctūm quī dōnă fĕrēns dēvēnĕrăt īllō		SSDSDS
Āntĕrĭōrĕ dĭē quām prīncēps nōvĕrĭt īstă		DDSSDS
Quī dāns frēnă vŏlāt răpĭdōquĕ sĭmīllĭmŭs eūrō	585	SDDDDS
Trānscūrrīt spătĭūm cāmpī iŭvĕnīquĕ prŏpīnquăt		SDSDDS
Āc sīc ōbstāntēm cōmpēllāt dīc hŏmŏ quīsnăm		SSSSDS
Sīs aūt ūndĕ vĕnīs quō [tāndēm] pērgĕrĕ tēndĭs		SDS[S]DS
Hērōs māgnănĭmūs rēspōndīt tālĭă dīcēns		SDSSDS
Spōntĕ tŭā vĕnĭās ān hūc tē mīsĕrĭt ūllŭs	590	DDSSDS
Scīrĕ vĕlīm Cămălō tūnc rēddĭdĭt ōrĕ sŭpērbō		DDSDDS
Nōrīs Gūnthărĭūm rēgēm tēllūrĕ pŏtēntĕm		SDSSDS
Mē mīsīssĕ tŭās quaēsītūm pērgĕrĕ caūsās		SDSSDS
Hīs aūscūltātīs sūggēssĕrăt hōc ădŏlēscēns		SSSDDS
Īgnōrō pĕnĭtūs quĭd ŏpūs sīt fōrtĕ vĭāntĭs	595	SDDSDS
Scrūtārī caūsās sēd prōmĕrĕ nōn trĕpĭdāmŭs		SSSDDS
Wālthărĭūs vŏcŏr ēx Ăquĭtānīs sūm gĕnĕrātŭs		DDDSDS
Ā gĕnĭtōrĕ mĕō mŏdĭcūs pŭĕr ōbsĭdĭs ērgō		DDDDDS
Sūm dătŭs ād Hūnōs ĭbĭ vīxī nūncquĕ rĕcēssī		DSDSDS
Cōncŭpĭēns pătrĭām dūlcēmquĕ rĕvīsĕrĕ gēntĕm	600	DDSDDS
Mīssŭs ăd haēc tĭbĭ iām dīctūs pēr mē iŭbĕt hērōs		DDSSDS
Ūt cūm scrīnĭŏlīs ĕquĭtēm dēs ātquĕ pŭēllăm		SDDSDS
Quōd sī prōmptŭs ăgīs vītām cōncĕdĕt ēt ārtūs		SDSSDS
Wālthărĭūs cōntrā fīdēntēr prōtŭlĭt īstă		DSSSDS
Stūltĭŭs ēffātūm mē nōn aūdīssĕ sŏphīstăm	605	DSSSDS
Ārbĭtrŏr ēn mĕmŏrās quōd prīncēps nēscĭŏ vēl quĭs		DDSSDS
Prōmīttāt quōd nōn rĕtĭnēt nēc fōrs rĕtĭnēbĭt		SSDSDS
Ān dĕŭs ēst ūt iūrĕ mĭhī cōncēdĕrĕ pōssĭt		DSDSDS
Vītām nūm mănĭbūs tĕtĭgīt nūm cārcĕrĕ trūsĭt		SDDSDS
Vēl pōst tērgă mĕās tōrsīt pēr vīncŭlă pālmās	610	SDSSDS
Āt tămĕn aūscūltā sī mē cērtāmĭnĕ lāxăt		DSSSDS
Āspĭcĭō fērrātŭs ădēst ād proēlĭă vēnĭt		DSDSDS
Ārmīllās cēntūm dē rūbrō quīppĕ mĕtāllō		SSSSDS
Fāctās trānsmīttām quō nōmēn rēgĭs hŏnōrĕm		SSSSDS
Tālī rēspōnsō dīscēssĕrăt īllĕ rĕcēptō	615	SSSDDS
Prīncĭpĭbūs nārrāt quōd prōtŭlĭt ātquĕ rĕsūmpsĭt		DSSDDS

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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 962–980. 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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