Waltharius1376Scansion

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)

Bēllĭgĕr ūt frămĕaē mūrcātaē frāgmĭnă vīdĭt		DDSSDS
Īndīgnē tŭlĭt āc nĭmĭā fŭrĭt ēffĕrŭs īrā		SDDDDS
Īmpătĭēnsquĕ sŭī căpŭlūm sĭnĕ pōndĕrĕ fērrī		DDDDDS
Quāmlĭbĕt ēxĭmĭō praēstārĕt ĕt ārtĕ mĕtāllō		DDSDDS
Prōtĭnŭs ābiēcīt mŏnĭmēntăquĕ trīstĭă sprēvĭt	1380	DSDDDS
Quī dūm fōrtĕ mănūm iⱥm ēnōrmĭtĕr ēxĕrŭīssĕt		SDSDDS
Ābstŭlĭt hānc Hăgănō sāt laētūs vūlnĕrĕ prōmptō		DDSSDS
Īn mĕdĭō iāctūs rĕcĭdēbāt dēxtĕră fōrtĭs		DSDSDS
Gēntĭbŭs āc pŏpŭlīs mūltīs sūspēctă ty̆rānnīs		DDSSDS
Īnnŭmĕrābĭlĭbūs quaē fūlsĕrăt āntĕ trŏphaēīs	1385	DDSDDS
Sēd vīr praēcĭpŭūs nēc laēvīs cēdĕrĕ gnārŭs		SDSSDS
Sānā mēntĕ pŏtēns cārnīs sŭpĕrārĕ dŏlōrēs		SDSDDS
Nōn dēspērāvīt nĕquĕ vūltūs cōncĭdĭt ēiŭs		SSDSDS
Vērūm vūlnĭgĕrām clĭpĕø īnsērtāvĕrăt ūlnăm		SDDSDS
Īncŏlŏmīquĕ mănū mōx ērĭpŭīt sĕmĭspātăm	1390	DDSDDS
Quā dēxtrūm cīnxīssĕ lătūs mĕmŏrāvĭmŭs īllŭm		SSDDDS
Īlĭcŏ vīndīctām căpĭēns ēx hōstĕ sĕvērăm		DSDSDS
Nām fĕrĭēns dēxtrūm Hăgănōnɨ ēffōdĭt ŏcēllŭm		DSDSDS
Āc tīmpūs rĕsĕcāns părĭtērquĕ lăbēllă rĕvēllēns		SDDDDS
Ōllī bīs tērnōs dīscūssĭt ăb ōrĕ mŏlārēs	1395	SSSDDS

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Prologue 1–12: Introduction: the Huns 13–418: The Huns 13–33: The Franks under Gibich surrender to Attila, giving Hagen as a hostage 34–74: The Burgundians under Hereric surrender to Attila, giving Hildegund as a hostage 75–92: The Aquitainians under Alphere surrender to Attila, giving Walther as a hostage 93–115: Experience of the hostages at Attila’s court 116–122: Death of Gibich, flight of Hagen 123–141: Attila’s queen Ospirin advises her husband to ensure Walther’s loyalty by arranging a marriage 142–169: Walther rejects Attila’s offer of a bride 170–214: Walther leads the army of the Huns to victory in battle 215–418: The Escape 215–255: Walther returns from battle and encounters Hildegund 256–286: Walther reveals to Hildegund his plans for escaping with Attila’s treasure 287–323: Walther hosts a luxurious banquet for Attila’s court; eventually all his intoxicated guests fall asleep 324–357: Flight of Walther and Hildegund from Attila’s court 358–379: The following day, the escape of Walther and Hildegund is discovered by Ospirin 380–418: Attila is infuriated and vows revenge on Walther, but can find no one willing to dare to pursue him, even for a large reward 419–1061: The Single Combats 419–639: Diplomacy 419–435: Flight of Walther and Hildegund to the area of Worms 436–488: 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 489–512: Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep 513–531: Gunther and his companions approach Walther’s camp; Hagen unsuccessfully tries to dissuade the king from attacking it 532–571: Hildegund sees the Franks approaching and wakes Walther, who calms her fears and prepares for battle; he recognizes Hagen from a distance 572–580: Hagen persuades Gunther to try diplomacy before using force 581–616: Camalo is sent as a messenger to Walther, who offers to make Gunther a gift in return for allowing his passage 617–639: Hagen counsels Gunther to accept the offer, but Gunther rejects this advice, calling him a coward. Insulted, Hagen goes off to a nearby hill 640–1061: Combat 640–685: 1st single combat. Camalo is sent back to Walther, who slays him 686–719: 2nd single combat. Walther slays Kimo/Scaramund, Camalo’s nephew 720–724: Gunther encourages his men 725–753: 3rd single combat. Walther slays Werinhard, a descendant of the Trojan Pandarus 754–780: 4th single combat. Walther slays the Saxon Ekivrid, after an exchange of insults 781–845: 5th single combat. Walther slays Hadawart, after an exchange of insults 846–877. Hagen sees his nephew Patavrid going off to fight Walther and laments the evil wreaked on mankind by greed 878–913. 6th single combat. After trying to dissuade him from fighting, Walther slays Patavrid 914–940: 7th single combat. Walther slays Gerwitus 941–961: Gunther again encourages his men, giving Walther some time to rest 962–981. 8th single combat. Walther is shorn of his hair by Randolf, whom he then slays 982–1061. Walther is attacked by Eleuthir/Helmnot, assisted by Trogus, Tanastus, and Gunther; he slays all but Gunther 1062–1452: The Final Combat 1062–1088: Gunther tries to persuade Hagen to help him to defeat Waltharius; remembering his wounded honor, Hagen refuses 1089–1129: 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 1130–1187: 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 1188–1207: The following day, Walther and Hildegund set out from the mountains, taking the horses and arms of the defeated warriors 1208–1236: Hildegund perceives Gunther and Hagen approaching to attack; the king addresses Walther 1237–1279: 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 1280–1345: 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 1346–1375: Walther challenges Hagen; he severs Gunther’s leg, but Hagen again saves the king’s life 1376–1395: Hagen cuts off Walther’s right hand; Walther gouges out one of Hagen’s eyes and, cutting open his cheek, knocks out four teeth 1396–1442: Having wounded each other, the warriors end the battle, drink together, and engage in a friendly exchange of humorous taunt 1443–1452: The warriors return to their respective homes; Walther marries Hildegund and eventually becomes king of the Aquitainians 1453–1456: Epilogue

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