Waltharius981English

Walther is attacked by Eleuthir/Helmnot, assisted by Trogus, Tanastus, and Gunther; he slays all but Gunther (981–1061)

The ninth who came to join the fight was Helmnot, and
He grasped a three-pronged spear fixed to a triple cord
Which his companions who stood back of him were holding.
This was their plan: that when the spear, once cast, had lodged	985
In Walter’s shield, they all would strive to pull together
So that they might, in this way, throw the raging man.
And in this hope they pictured certain victory.
Straightway the leader, pouring all his strength into
His arms, released his trident at the foe, while shouting	990
“You, bald head! With this spear the end has come for you!”
It flashes as it cleaves the air, just like the breed
Of snakes, the javelin-snakes, which pounce down from the tops
Of trees so violently they smash all obstacles.
Why pause? It splits the boss and sticks in Walter’s shield.	995
The Franks are raising up a shout; the grove resounds.
Together and in turns they tug the rope with vigor;
The king does not hold back from joining in such work.
From all their limbs the sweat was flowing down in streams,
Yet all the while the hero stood there like an oak	1000
That thrusts its roots to Tartarus, its branches to
The stars, and scorns unmoving all the stormy blasts.
His enemies, exhorting one another, sought,
If they could not drag Walter down onto the ground,
At least to try and wrest from him his stalwart shield.	1005
With this gone, they could easily take him alive.
I will reveal the names of those left and still pulling:
Eleuthir (his name also Helmnot) was the ninth;
Indeed, the town of Strassburg sent the tenth, named Trogus;
And wealthy Speyer sent Tanastus, the eleventh;	1010
Not counting Hagen, Gunther occupied twelfth place.
Exerting all their strength, these four together wage
An indecisive struggle with a single foe.
Their useless efforts, meanwhile, angered Alphere’s son,
Who had long since removed his helmet from his head	1015
And was relying on his sword and his bronze byrnie.
He threw away his shield, then charged Eleuthir first
And hacking through his helmet halved his brains; next he
Cut off his head and left the breast exposed; the hurt
And throbbing heart at once gave up its life and warmth.	1020
He then sought Trogus, clinging to the hateful rope;
That man, stunned by his fallen comrade’s sudden death
And by the awful visage of his foe, began
In vain to try swift flight and wished to pick up his
Abandoned arms in order to resume the struggle.	1025
(To pull the rope, they all had laid aside their spears
And shields.) But Walter, best of heroes, by as much
As he was stronger was superior in speed;
When he caught him, he slashed his hamstrings with his sword.
Then overtaking Trogus, thus slowed down, he grabbed	1030
His shield; but Trogus, though exhausted by his wound,
Still raging in his mind, caught sight of a huge rock;
At once he seized it, threw it at his steadfast foe.
It split the shield from top to bottom, but the hide
That covered it still held the shattered frame together.	1035
Though kneeling down, he quickly emptied his green sheath,
And burning in his spirit scared the winds with slashing.
And if he could not show his courage in his deeds,
His spirit and his words revealed his manliness.
He boldly speaks, but does not see the shades are laughing:	1040
“Oh, if I only had my trusty shield here now!
For Chance, not wondrous valor, gave you victory.
You took our shield; come here and take our sword as well!”
Then, smiling also, “Here I come,” the hero said,
And charging hacked his right hand off as he was striking;	1045
But when he poised a second blow above his ear,
And tried to forge an exit for his soul’s departure,
Tanastus, with the king, was there (their arms retrieved),
And kept his friend from harm by holding out his shield.
Enraged because of this, then Walter turned his wrath	1050
On him; he wrenched Tanastus’ shoulder from its socket.
With naked blade he probed his entrails through his side.
“Farewell,” Tanastus muttered from his lips while falling.
His comrade fallen, Trogus scorns to beg for mercy,
And he inflames the victor with his bitter taunts,	1055
From courage or from desperation. Alphere’s son
Replies “Now die, and take beneath the earth this message,
Recounting to your friends that you avenged them all.”
This said, he gave a bright-red necklace to his neck.
Behold! Together slaughtered friends roll in the dust,	1060
While with their heels they often beat the bloodied ground.

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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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Latin

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.