Waltharius1396English
Having wounded each other, the warriors end the battle, drink together, and engage in a friendly exchange of humorous taunt (1396–1442)
And with such business done, the fights are broken off. | |
His wound and grave exhaustion prompted each to lay | |
His weapons down. Who might have left that place unscathed, | |
Where two great-hearted heroes, equal in both strength | |
And passion, stood among the lightning-bolts of battle? | 1400 |
The fight is ended; marks of honor branded each. | |
King Gunther’s foot was lying there, and Walter’s hand | |
Was lying there, and also Hagen’s twitching eye. | |
Thus, thus the men have shared the treasure of the Avars! | |
Two sat, because the third of them was lying down, | 1405 |
While wiping up with herbs the surging flow of blood. | |
Meanwhile the son of Alphere summoned with a cry | |
The timid girl, who came and bandaged each man’s wounds. | |
When this was finished, her betrothed commanded her, | |
“Now mix some wine and offer it to Hagen first, | 1410 |
A worthy champion, if he keeps the laws of faith. | |
And then serve me: I suffered more than both of them. | |
And I want Gunther to drink last of all, since he | |
Was sluggish in a battle of great-hearted men; | |
Lukewarm and nerveless he performed the work of Mars.” | 1415 |
Hereric’s daughter follows all of his commands. | |
When offered wine, the Frank, though parched with thirst, instructs, | |
“First serve the son of Alphere, your betrothed and master; | |
For I say, girl, he is a stronger man than I, | |
Surpassing not just me but every man in arms.” | 1420 |
Here thorny Hagen and the man from Aquitaine, | |
Fatigued throughout their bodies but in minds undaunted, | |
After the crashing tide and awesome blows of battle, | |
Amid their drinking play a game of taunting jokes. | |
The Frank: “From now on, friend, you will go hunting stags | 1425 |
To make gloves without number fashioned from their hides. | |
But my advice is, stuff the right glove with soft down, | |
And use this phantom hand to fool the ignorant. | |
Ah! How will you explain your breach of social custom | |
When you are seen to gird your sword on your right thigh. | 1430 |
Or when the wish comes over you, will you then hug | |
Your wife—good Lord!—with a perverse embrace, left-handed? | |
But why go on? Henceforth, whatever you must do, | |
Your left hand will perform!” Walter gives him this answer: | |
“And why do you poke so much fun, I wonder, one-eye? | 1435 |
If I go hunting stags, you will avoid boar meat, | |
And you will squint when giving orders to your servants, | |
While welcoming the throngs of heroes, looking sideways. | |
But, mindful of old loyalty, I’ll give you this | |
Advice: when you come home now and approach your hearth, | 1440 |
Prepare a gruel of milk and grain, and cooked in grease. | |
This will give you both nourishment and medicine.” |
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.