Waltharius941

Gunther again encourages his men, giving Walther some time to rest (941–961)

Tum primum Franci coeperunt forte morari					SSSSDS
Et magnis precibus dominum decedere pugna			Aeneid 9.789: excedere pugnae. ‘He withdraws from the fight.’		SDDSDS
Deposcunt. furit ille miser caecusque profatur:			Aeineid 1.561; 4.364: profatur. ‘She speaks.’ Aeineid 2.348-349.: iuvenes, fortissima frustra/ pectora. . . ‘My men, hearts vainly valiant. . .’		SDDSDS		ille miser caecusque: This description of Gunther is in accordance with the overall depiction of Gunther as suffering most of all from the Christian vice of avarice: his first appearance in 441ff. is marked by his urgent desire to reclaim the wealth his kingdom has lost. His avarice makes him arrogant and bold (468, 628, 720, 1295: Gunther described as superbus), affects his ability to reason (530: male sana mente gravatus, “burdened by a not sane mind”; 754 and 1228: dementem, “insane”), and ultimately dooms his efforts (488, 1062, 1092: described as infelix, “unfortunate”). Cf. also the description of Avarice in Prudentius’ Psychomachia 548ff., where it is described as leading men on as if they were blind and deceiving them (hunc lumine adempto ... caecum errare sinit etc.). The poet of the Waltharius in a sense echoes Prudentius by first making avarice a major theme with Gunther’s lament in 869 (instimulatus enim de te est, o saeva cupido!) and going on to describe Gunther as “miserably blinded”. Indeed, Psychomachia 548-550 can be seen to be central to the entire Waltharius: talia per populos edebat funera uictrix / orbis Auaritia, sternens centena uirorum / millia uulneribus uariis (“Such deaths caused victorious Avarice among people all over the world, laying hundreds of thousands of men low with various wounds”). For more in depth discussion of the relation between Gunther’s characterization and Christian and Germanic virtues, see B. Scherello, “Die Darstellung Gunthers im Waltharius,” Mittellateinisches Jahrbuch 21 (1986), 88-90. JJTY
Quaeso, viri fortes et pectora saepe probata,			Aeineid 2.348-349.: iuvenes, fortissima frustra/ pectora. . . ‘My men, hearts vainly valiant. . .’		DSSDDS
Ne fors haec cuicumque metum, sed conferat iram.	945				SSDSDS
Quid mihi, si Vosago sic sic inglorius ibo?		Quid mihi equiv. to Quid videbor esse	Aeineid 11.793: patrias remeabo inglorius urbes. ‘I will return inglorious to the cities of my sires.’ 10.52-53.: positis inglorius armis/ exigat hic aevum. ‘Here, laying arms aside, let him live out his inglorious days.’ 4.660: sic, sic iuvat ire. ‘Thus, thus I go gladly.’ Statius, Thebaid 4.82-83.: ne rara movens inglorius iret/ agmina. . . ‘Lest with scant following he should go inglorious. . .’		DDSSDS
Mentem quisque meam sibi vindicet. en ego partus		Sibi vindicet: “make his own” Partus equiv. to paratus	Liber II Macchabeorum 7.2: parati sumus mori magis quam patrias dei leges praevaricari. ‘We are ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God, received from our fathers.’		SDDDDS
Ante mori sum, Wormatiam quam talibus actis				Worms	DSDSDS
Ingrediar. petat hic patriam sine sanguine victor?					DDDDDS
Hactenus arsistis hominem spoliare metallis,	950				DSDDDS
Nunc ardete, viri, fusum mundare cruorem,					SDSSDS
Ut mors abstergat mortem, sanguis quoque sanguem,					SSSSDS
Soleturque necem sociorum plaga necantis.'					SDDSDS
His animum dictis demens incendit et omnes			Aeineid 4.197: incenditque animum dictis atque aggerat iras. ‘With her words she fires his spirit and heaps high his wrath.’		DSSSDS
Fecerat immemores vitae simul atque salutis.	955				DDSDDS
Ac velut in ludis alium praecurrere quisque			Aeneid 5.315-316.: haec ubi dicta, locum capiunt signoque repente/ corripiunt spatia audito limenque relinquunt,/ effusi nimbo similes. ‘This said, they take their place, and suddenly, the signal heard, dash over the course, and leave the barrier, streaming forth like a storm-cloud.’		DSDSDS
Ad mortem studuit, sed semita, ut antea dixi,		Ut antea dixi: cf. line 692 and note.			SDSDDS Elision: semita ut
Cogebat binos bello decernere solos.			Aeineid 11.218: iubent decernere ferro. ‘They command him to decide the issue by the sword.’		SSSSDS
Vir tamen illustris dum cunctari videt illos,					DSSSDS
Vertice distractas suspendit in arbore cristas	960	Distractas equiv. to detractas Cristas equiv. to galeam	Aeineid 10.834-835.: vulnera siccabat lymphis corpusque levabat/ arboris acclinis trunco. procul aerea ramis/ dependet galea. . .ipse aeger anhelans/ colla fovet. ‘He was staunching his wounds with water, and resting his reclining frame against the trunk of a tree. Nearby his bronze helmet hangs from the boughs. . .He himself, sick and panting, eases his neck.’ Eclogue 1.53: frigus captabis opacum. ‘You shall enjoy the cooling shade.’ 2.8: frigora captant. ‘They court the cool shade.’ Georgics 1.376: patulis captavit naribus auras. ‘With open nostrils he snuffs the breeze.’ Aeineid 9.812-813.: tum toto corpore sudor/ liquitur et piceum (nec respirare potestas)/ flumen agit, fessos quatit aeger anhelitus artus. ‘Then all over his body flows the sweat and runs in pitchy stream, and he has no breathing space; a sickly panting shakes his wearied limbs.’		DSSDDS
Et ventum captans sudorem tersit anhelus.			Aeineid 10.834-835.: vulnera siccabat lymphis corpusque levabat/ arboris acclinis trunco. procul aerea ramis/ dependet galea. . .ipse aeger anhelans/ colla fovet. ‘He was staunching his wounds with water, and resting his reclining frame against the trunk of a tree. Nearby his bronze helmet hangs from the boughs. . .He himself, sick and panting, eases his neck.’ Eclogue 1.53: frigus captabis opacum. ‘You shall enjoy the cooling shade.’ 2.8: frigora captant. ‘They court the cool shade.’ Georgics 1.376: patulis captavit naribus auras. ‘With open nostrils he snuffs the breeze.’ Aeineid 9.812-813.: tum toto corpore sudor/ liquitur et piceum (nec respirare potestas)/ flumen agit, fessos quatit aeger anhelitus artus. ‘Then all over his body flows the sweat and runs in pitchy stream, and he has no breathing space; a sickly panting shakes his wearied limbs.’		SSSSDS

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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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