Waltharius962

8th single combat: Walther is shorn of his hair by Randolf, whom he then slays (962–981)

Ecce repentino Randolf athleta caballo					DSSSDS	This noun was used in a figural sense in philosophical discourse (cf. Seneca De providentia / dialogi I, 2.2.5) and later also used in Christian discourse, where it acquired a connotation associated with martyrdom. See for an early development of this especially Ambrose, e.g. De paradiso 12.55: unde et Paulus quasi bonus athleta non solum ictus aduersantium potestatum uitare cognouerat, uerum etiam aduersantes ferire (“therefore Paul also knew how to not only avoid the blows of the opposing forces like a good athlete, but also to give blows to his adversaries”). Cf. the description of Walther in 1046 and it’s usage by Walther to describe Hagen in 1411. Cf. also the note on agonem in 1025. JJTY
Praevertens reliquos hunc importunus adivit			Prudentius, Psychomachia 228-229.: hostis nunc surgit ab oris/ inportunus. ‘The foe arises now from the shores to trouble us.’		SDSSDS
Ac mox ferrato petiit sub pectore conto.			Prudentius, Psychomachia 116: impatiensque morae conto petit. ‘Irked by her hanging back, she hurls a pike at her.’ 122-123.: sub ipsum/ defertur stomachum. ‘It hits the very stomach.’		SSDSDS
Et nisi duratis Wielandia fabrica giris	965	Wielandia fabrica: “the workmanship of Wieland,” a legendary smith, comparable to Hephaestus or Daedalus, in German mythology. Cf. line 264 on the lorica.	Prudentius, Psychomachia 124-125.: sed resilit duro loricae excussa repulsu./ provida nam Virtus conserto adamante trilicem/ induerat thoraca umeris. ‘But it is struck off by the resistance of a hard cuirass, and rebounds; for the Virtue had prudently put on her shoulders a three-ply corselet of mail impenetrable.’		DSSDDS	For the tale of Wieland, see J. Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie, Göttingen: Dieterichsche Buchhandlung, 1844, vol. 1, 349-352. As a mythological smith, Wieland is analogous to Homer’s Hephaestus (see especially Iliad 18.478ff.) and Virgil’s Vulcanus (Aeneid 8.439ff.), who forge the armor for the epic’s respective heroes. Althof (1905, ad loc.) remarks that the tale, originating in Lower Germany, was already widespread across Northern Europe by the end of the seventh century. Cf. the Waldere fragments (2-3), where the sword Mimming is mentioned as fabricated by Wieland (also known from Beowulf, 455). JJTY
Obstaret, spisso penetraverit ilia ligno.		Ligno equiv. to conto	Prudentius, Psychomachia 124-125.: sed resilit duro loricae excussa repulsu./ provida nam Virtus conserto adamante trilicem/ induerat thoraca umeris. ‘But it is struck off by the resistance of a hard cuirass, and rebounds; for the Virtue had prudently put on her shoulders a three-ply corselet of mail impenetrable.’ Aeneid 9.413: fisso transit praecordia ligno. ‘With the broken wood it pierces the midriff.’		SSDDDS
Ille tamen subito stupefactus corda pavore		Ille: Waltharius Corda: accusative of respect			DDDSDS	After Gunther has completed his encouraging speech to his disheartened men and opens the attack on Walther, this reflects the change of pace and the recommencement of the action, not just by its words (“subito”), but also by its almost entirely dactylic meter. JJTY
Munimen clipei obiecit mentemque recepit;			Prudentius, Psychomachia 503: clipeum obiectasset. ‘She put her shield in the way.’ Aeineid 12.377: clipeo obiecto. . . ‘With his shield before him. . .’ 10.899: mentemque recepit. ‘He regained his senses.’		SDSSDS Elision: clipei obiecit	Notice how the elision of the “i” of “clipei” causes a resounding clash with the ictus in the first syllable of the following word (“obiecit”), imitating the sword’s blow on the shield. JJTY
Nec tamen et galeam fuerat sumpsisse facultas.		Fuerat sumpsisse facultas equiv. to sumere potuit, cf. line 960.			DDDSDS
Francus at emissa gladium nudaverat hasta	970		Aeineid 10.474: magnis emittit viribus hastam. ‘He hurls his spear with all his strength.’		DSDSDS
Et feriens binos Aquitani vertice crines		Binos…crines: “two locks of hair”	Prudentius, Psychomachia 506-507.: vix in cute summa/ praestringens paucos tenui de vulnere laedit/ cuspis Avaritiae. ‘Only a few did Greed’s javelin touch, grazing them with a slight wound not skin-deep.’ Aeneid 4.698-699.: vertice crinem/ abstulerat. ‘She had taken from her head the lock.’ Statius, Thebaid 344-345.: addit acerba sonum Teumesi e vertice crinem/ incutiens. ‘From Teumesus’ height she sends her shrill cry, and shakes her locks.’			Beck (1908, ad loc.) remarks that the cutting of hair was a particularly dishonorable act for a free man, quoting Tacitus, Germania 19, where an adulteress is shorn and subsequently chased out of her home. The passage may also contain a reminiscence to the biblical story of Samson and Delilah (Judges 14-16), in which Samson loses his strength as a result of being shorn. This is not the case with Walther, however, who only grows fiercer, much to his opponents’ dismay. JJTY
Abrasit, sed forte cutem praestringere summam			Prudentius, Psychomachia 506-507.: vix in cute summa/ praestringens paucos tenui de vulnere laedit/ cuspis Avaritiae. ‘Only a few did Greed’s javelin touch, grazing them with a slight wound not skin-deep.’ Aeneid 4.698-699.: vertice crinem/ abstulerat. ‘She had taken from her head the lock.’ Statius, Thebaid 344-345.: addit acerba sonum Teumesi e vertice crinem/ incutiens. ‘From Teumesus’ height she sends her shrill cry, and shakes her locks.’		SSDSDS
Non licuit, rursumque alium vibraverat ictum					DSDSDS Elision: rursumque alium
Et praeceps animi directo obstamine scuti		Praeceps animi: “hasty”	Aeneid 9.685: praeceps animi. . . ‘Reckless at heart. . .’		SDSSDS Elision: directo obstamine
Impegit calibem, nec quivit viribus ullis	975		Aeneid 6.147-148.: non viribus ullis/ vincere. . .poteris. ‘With no force will you avail to win it.’ 12.782: viribus haud ullis valuit discludere morsus. ‘By no strength could he unlock the bite.’		SDSSDS
Elicere. Alpharides retro, se fulminis instar		Elicere equiv. to revellere Retro: with fudit Se…excutiens equiv. to emicans	Ovid, Ars Amatoria 3.490: fulminis instar habent. ‘They hold what is like a thunderbolt.’		DDSSDS Elision: elicere Alpharides
Excutiens, Francum valida vi fudit ad arvum			Aeineid 2.50; 5.500: validis. . .viribus. . . ‘With mighty force. . .’ 1.193: corpora fundat humi. ‘He stretches the bodies on the ground.’ 11.665: quot humi morientia corpora fundis? ‘How many bodies do you lay low on the earth?’		DSDSDS
Et super assistens pectus conculcat et inquit:			Aeineid 10.490-491.: quem Turnus super adsistens. . .inquit. . . ‘Standing over him, Turnus cries. . .’ Prudentius, Psychomachia 155: quam super adsistens Patientia. . .inquit. . . ‘Standing over her, Long-Suffering cries. . .’		DSSSDS
En pro calvitio capitis te vertice fraudo,					SDDSDS
Ne fiat ista tuae de me iactantia sponsae.'	980				DDSSDS	Tacitus (Germania 7) notes that Germanic kings are particularly prone to brag to their wife and children, who are their greatest audience: hi cuique sanctissimi testes, hi maximi laudatores (“They are to each their most sacred witnesses, they are their greatest glorifiers”). Cf. also Walther’s defiant speech in 562-3: Hinc nullus rediens uxori dicere Francus / Praesumet se impune gazae quid tollere tantae (“No Frank, returning from this place, will dare to tell / His wife that he, unharmed, took any of this treasure”). JJTY

---

« 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)

next »

English