Waltharius34English

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The Burgundians under Hereric surrender to Attila, giving Hildegund as a hostage (34–74)

At that time Burgundy was under a strong monarch;
By chance King Hereric was wielding power there. 35
He had an only daughter, Hildegund her name,
Distinguished by nobility and crowning beauty.
His heir, she was to live within her father’s hall
And long enjoy, if chance permitted, the riches there.
The Huns, a firm pact now concluded with the Franks, 40
Stand ready at the very border of their land.
At once Attila turned swift reins in that direction,
Nor were his satraps slow to follow in his tracks.
They went deployed in companies, in a long column.
The earth was groaning, shaken by the tramp of horses. 45
The frightened air resounded with the crash of shields.
An iron forest flashes, lighting all the fields,
Just as the lovely sun that strikes the waves at dawn
Reflects its light into the farthest lands of earth.
And now they had crossed the deep rivers Rhone and Saone; 50
The whole force is deployed for plundering the land.
King Hereric then happened to be at Chalon.
Behold, the watchman, lifting up his eyes, cries out
“What is this thick-packed cloud of dust that rises up?
A hostile force is coming; now close all the gates!” 55
Because he knew already what the Franks had done,
The king made this address to all his counsellors:
“If that bold tribe, to whom we cannot be compared,
Has yielded to the Huns, with what strength do you think
That we will battle them, defending our sweet land? 60
No, better that they make a pact, exacting tribute.
I have one daughter, whom I am not slow to give
To save our land. Now let them speed to strike a pact!”
The envoys, who were stripped of all their swords, set out.
They tell the enemy what their king’s order bids: 65
They ask them to cease ravaging; the chief, Attila,
Received them courteously, as he was wont, and said,
“I wish for treaties more than bringing wars to people.
The Huns prefer to reign in peace, but strike with arms
Reluctantly those whom they see to be rebellious. 70
Your king may come to us, give and receive a hand.”
King Hereric set out, transporting countless treasures;
He struck a treaty; and he left behind his daughter.
Then into exile went her parents’ loveliest jewel.


« previous  
  • Prologue
  • Introduction: the Huns (1–12)
  • The Huns (13–418)
    • The Franks under Gibich surrender to Attila, giving Hagen as a hostage (13–33)
    • The Burgundians under Hereric surrender to Attila, giving Hildegund as a hostage (34–74)
    • The Aquitainians under Alphere surrender to Attila, giving Walther as a hostage (75–92)
    • Experience of the hostages at Attila’s court (93–115)
    • Death of Gibich, flight of Hagen (116–122)
    • Attila’s queen Ospirin advises her husband to ensure Walther’s loyalty by arranging a marriage (123–141)
    • Walther rejects Attila’s offer of a bride (142–169)
    • Walther leads the army of the Huns to victory in battle (170–214)
    • The Escape (215–418)
      • Walther returns from battle and encounters Hildegund (215–255)
      • Walther reveals to Hildegund his plans for escaping with Attila’s treasure (256–286)
      • Walther hosts a luxurious banquet for Attila’s court; eventually all his intoxicated guests fall asleep (287–323)
      • Flight of Walther and Hildegund from Attila’s court (324–357)
      • The following day, the escape of Walther and Hildegund is discovered by Ospirin (358–379)
      • Attila is infuriated and vows revenge on Walther, but can find no one willing to dare to pursue him, even for a large reward (380–418)
  • The Single Combats (419–1061)
    • Diplomacy (419–639)
      • Flight of Walther and Hildegund to the area of Worms (419–435)
      • 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 (436–488)
      • Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep (489–512)
      • Gunther and his companions approach Walther’s camp; Hagen unsuccessfully tries to dissuade the king from attacking it (513–531)
      • Hildegund sees the Franks approaching and wakes Walther, who calms her fears and prepares for battle; he recognizes Hagen from a distance (532–571)
      • Hagen persuades Gunther to try diplomacy before using force (571–580)
      • Camalo is sent as a messenger to Walther, who offers to make Gunther a gift in return for allowing his passage (581–616)
      • Hagen counsels Gunther to accept the offer, but Gunther rejects this advice, calling him a coward. Insulted, Hagen goes off to a nearby hill (617–639)
    • Combat (640–1061)
      • 1st single combat: Camalo is sent back to Walther, who slays him (640–685)
      • 2nd single combat: Walther slays Kimo/Scaramund, Camalo’s nephew (686–719)
      • Gunther encourages his men (720–724)
      • 3rd single combat: Walther slays Werinhard, a descendant of the Trojan Pandarus (725–753)
      • 4th single combat: Walther slays the Saxon Ekivrid, after an exchange of insults (754–780)
      • 5th single combat: Walther slays Hadawart, after an exchange of insults (781–845)
      • Hagen sees his nephew Patavrid going off to fight Walther and laments the evil wreaked on mankind by greed (846–877)
      • 6th single combat: after trying to dissuade him from fighting, Walther slays Patavrid (878–913)
      • 7th single combat: Walther slays Gerwitus (914–940)
      • Gunther again encourages his men, giving Walther some time to rest (941–961)
      • 8th single combat: Walther is shorn of his hair by Randolf, whom he then slays (962–981)
      • Walther is attacked by Eleuthir/Helmnot, assisted by Trogus, Tanastus, and Gunther; he slays all but Gunther (981–1061)
  • The Final Combat (1062–1452)
    • Gunther tries to persuade Hagen to help him to defeat Waltharius; remembering his wounded honor, Hagen refuses (1062–1088)
    • 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 (1089–1129)
    • 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 (1130–1187)
    • The following day, Walther and Hildegund set out from the mountains, taking the horses and arms of the defeated warriors (1188–1207)
    • Hildegund perceives Gunther and Hagen approaching to attack; the king addresses Walther (1208–1236)
    • 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 (1237–1279)
    • 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 (1280–1345)
    • Walther challenges Hagen; he severs Gunther’s leg, but Hagen again saves the king’s life (1346–1375)
    • Hagen cuts off Walther’s right hand; Walther gouges out one of Hagen’s eyes and, cutting open his cheek, knocks out four teeth (1376–1395)
    • Having wounded each other, the warriors end the battle, drink together, and engage in a friendly exchange of humorous taunt (1396–1442)
    • The warriors return to their respective homes; Walther marries Hildegund and eventually becomes king of the Aquitainians (1443–1452)
  • Epilogue (1453–1456) 
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Note: this English text is identical to that found in Waltharius and Ruodlieb, edited and translated by Dennis M. Kratz. The Garland library of medieval literature, Series A, vol. 14. New York: Garland Pub., 1984.

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