Waltharius75
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The Aquitainians under Alphere surrender to Attila, giving Walther as a hostage (75–92)
Postquam complevit pactum statuitque tributum, | 75 | SSSDDS | ||||
Attila in occiduas promoverat agmina partes. | DDSDDS Elision: Attila in |
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Namque Aquitanorum tunc Alphere regna tenebat, | Aquitanorum: The region of Aquitaine is in present-day south-western France. Alphere: Apparently legendary.
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Aeneid 7.735: . . .Teleboum Capreas cum regna teneret. ‘. . .When he reigned over Teleboan Capreae.’
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DSSDDS Elision: namque Aquitanorum |
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Quem sobolem sexus narrant habuisse virilis, | DSSDDS | |||||
Nomine Waltharium, primaevo flore nitentem. | Waltharium: The protagonist of the epic; apparently legendary.
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Aeineid 7.162: primaevo flore iuventus. . . ‘Youths in their early bloom. . .’ Statius, Silvae 5.1.183: vidi omni pridem te flore nitentem. ‘I have seen thee in the full splendour of they fame.’
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DDSSDS | The language of a blooming youth is used several times in the poem, most notably when Hagan accuses Walter of his the unpardonable offense of killing his nephew, who he describes as a blooming flower. | ||
Nam iusiurandum Heriricus et Alphere reges | 80 | SSDDDS Hiatus: iusiurandum Heriricus |
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Inter se dederant, pueros quod consociarent, | Pueros quod consociarent: “that they would unite their children,” i.e., Waltharius and Hiltgunt, in marriage. Quod + subjunctive here replaces, as often, the Classical accusative + infinitive construction.
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Cum primum tempus nubendi venerit illis. | SSSSDS | The heavily spondaic nature of the line (5 spondees) could reflect the sense in which the the the two children's growing up cannot come soon enough, that the "tempus" for their marriage seems like it will never come. | ||||
Hic ubi cognovit gentes has esse domatas, | DSSSDS | |||||
Coeperat ingenti cordis trepidare pavore, | Aeneid 6.491: ingenti trepidare metu. ‘They trembled with a mighty fear.’ 2.685: nos pavidi trepidare metu. . . ‘We, trembling with alarm. . .’ 7.458: olli somnum ingens rumpit pavor. ‘A monstrous terror broke his sleep.’ Lucan, De Bello Civili 5.530: nullo trepidare tumultu. . . ‘To thrill with no alarm. . .’
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Nec iam spes fuerat saevis defendier armis. | 85 | Aeneid 8.492-493.: ille inter caedem Rutulorum elapsus in agros/ confugere et Turni defendier hospitis armis. ‘Amid the carnage, he flees for refuge to Rutulian soil and find shelter among the weapons of Turnus his friend.’ 12.890: saevis certandum est comminus armis. ‘We must contend hand to hand with savage weapons.’
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'Quid cessemus', ait, 'si bella movere nequimus? | Aeineid 6.820: nova bella moventis. . . ‘Stirring up revolt. . .’ 12.332-333.: sanguineus Mavors clipeo increpat atque furentis/ bella movens immittit equos. ‘Blood-stained Mavors, stirred to fury, thunders with his shield and, rousing war, gives rein to his frenzied steeds.’
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Exemplum nobis Burgundia, Francia donant. | SSSDDS | |||||
Non incusamur, si talibus aequiperamur. | SSSDDS | |||||
Legatos mitto foedusque ferire iubebo | Aeineid 10.154: foedusque ferit. ‘He strikes a treaty.’
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Obsidis inque vicem dilectum porrigo natum | 90 | Obsidis in vicem equiv. to pro obside
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Et iam nunc Hunis censum persolvo futurum.' | SSSSDS | |||||
Sed quid plus remorer? dictum compleverat actis. | Aeineid 2.102: quidve moror? ‘Why do I delay?’ Liber Numerorum 11.23: iam nunc videbis utrum meus sermo opere conpleatur. ‘Thou shalt presently se whether my word shall come to pass or no.’
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