Waltharius324

Flight of Walther and Hildegund from Attila’s court (324–357)

Tandem dilectam vocat ad semet mulierem,					SSDSDS
Praecipiens causas citius deferre paratas.	325				DSDSDS
Ipseque de stabulis victorem duxit equorum,			Aeneid 7.656: victoresque ostentat equos. ‘He displays his victorious steeds.’		DDSSDS
Ob virtutem quem vocitaverat ille Leonem.					SSDDDS
Stat sonipes ac frena ferox spumantia mandit.			Aeneid 4.134-135.: ostroque insignis et auro/ stat sonipes ac frena ferox spumantia mandit. ‘Her prancing steed stands brilliant in purple and gold, and proudly champs the foaming bit.’		DSDSDS	This line is taken verbatim from Aeneid 4.135 where it describes Dido’s horse. For consideration of the significance of classical borrowings that alter the gender of the person being discussed, see Dronke 1971. SB.
Hunc postquam faleris solito circumdedit, ecce		Solito: sc. more	Aeneid 5.310: equum phaleris insignem. . . ‘A horse splendid with trappings. . .’		SDDSDS
Scrinia plena gazae lateri suspendit utrique.	330				DDDSDS
Atque iteri longo modicella cibaria ponit		Iteri equiv. to itineri. The different stem is in fact found in archaic Latin, and Lucretius has the ablative itere (5.653). Modicella equiv. to modica			DSDDDS Elision: atque iteri	modicella cibaria The moderation in eating and the planning for a fish-based diet suggest, compared especially to the large feast, a Lenten fast, which would keep with the forty-day length of the journey. Juxtaposed to the scenes of luxuria and ebrietas immediately preceding, one is faced inescapably with strong overtones of the Lenten liturgy. SB
Loraque virgineae mandat fluitantia dextrae.			Ovid, Ars Amatoria 433-434.: modo det fluitantia rector/ lora. ‘The driver now lets the reins float loose.’ Aeneid 5.146: undantia lora. . . ‘The waving reins. . .’		DDSDDS
Ipseque lorica vestitus more gigantis		Althof points out how the how the armor is described “in a Homeric manner,” i.e., through a portrayal of the act of arming rather than by a static description.	Aeneid 11.487-488.: iamque adeo rutilum thoraca indutus aenis/ horrebat squamis surasque incluserat auro,/ tempora nudus adhuc, laterique accinxerat ensem. ‘And now he had donned his flashing breastplate and bristled with bronze scales; his legs he had sheathed in gold, though his temples were yet bare, and he had buckled his sword to his side.’ 12.87-88.: ipse dehinc auro squalentem alboque orichalco/ circumdate loricam umeris, simul aptat habendo/ ensemque clipeumque et rubrae cornua cristae. ‘Next he binds upon his shoulders a corslet stiff with gold and pale mountain bronze; at the same time he fits on sword and shield and the horns of his ruddy crest.’ Liber I Macchabeorum 3.3: induit se loricam sicut gigans et succinxit se arma bellica sua in proeliis. ‘He put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike armour about him in battles.’		DSSSDS	more gigantis for giants in the Bible, see Genesis 6.4, Numbers 13.34, Deuteronomy 2.11, but it is possible that the strength of Goliath is imagined (1 Samuel 17). SB [Remember too the passage from Maccabees cited above. JZ]
Imposuit capiti rubras cum casside cristas			Aeneid 11.487-488.: iamque adeo rutilum thoraca indutus aenis/ horrebat squamis surasque incluserat auro,/ tempora nudus adhuc, laterique accinxerat ensem. ‘And now he had donned his flashing breastplate and bristled with bronze scales; his legs he had sheathed in gold, though his temples were yet bare, and he had buckled his sword to his side.’ 12.87-88.: ipse dehinc auro squalentem alboque orichalco/ circumdate loricam umeris, simul aptat habendo/ ensemque clipeumque et rubrae cornua cristae. ‘Next he binds upon his shoulders a corslet stiff with gold and pale mountain bronze; at the same time he fits on sword and shield and the horns of his ruddy crest.’ Aeneid 9.50: cristaque tegit galea aurea rubra. ‘A golden helmet with crimson crest guards his head.’		DDSSDS	334-339 Here we have a fuller depiction of Walter’s arms and armor than at 263-5 when he is merely asking Hildegund for the king’s armor. The descriptions of the different pieces of Walter’s panoply (crested helmet, greaves of gold, two-edge sword, second one-edged sword, spear, shield) are taken from earlier poetry, but may be linked to the early medieval weaponry that we know from written and archaeological sources. See Ziolkowski 2008. SB.
Ingentesque ocreis suras complectitur aureis	335		Aeneid 11.488: surasque incluserat auro. ‘His legs he had sheathed in gold.’ 12.430: suras incluserat auro.		SDSSDS Elision: ingentesque ocreis
Et laevum femur ancipiti praecinxerat ense			Prudentius, Peristephanon 2.502: non ense praecinxit latus. ‘He did not gird a sword on his side.’ Aeneid 7.525: ferro ancipiti decernunt. ‘With two-edged steel they try the issue.’		SDDSDS	Note the attention with which the poet treats the side on which the sword is girded. SB
Atque alio dextrum pro ritu Pannoniarum:		Pro ritu Pannoniarum: the custom of wearing two swords, the main one being on the left and a smaller one on the right, is in fact Germanic, as archaeological finds and literary sources, including Beowulf, show. (The Romans often also wore two swords, but with the sides reversed.)	Liber Iudicum 3.15-16.: qui utraque manu utebatur pro dextera. . .qui fecit sibi gladium ancipitem. . .et accinctus est eo subter sagum in dextro femore. ‘[He] who used the left hand as well as the right. . . he made himself a two-edged sword. . .and was girded therewith under his garment on the right thigh.’		DSSSDS Elision: atque alio	in a famous letter from Charlemagne to Offa, Anglo-Saxon king of Mercia, (probably written by Alcuin) Charlemagne mentions a Hunnish sword that he sends to Offa among other gifts. If the Waltharius is dated to the early ninth century, the ethnographic interest may reflect current events. MGH Epp. IV, no. 100, p. 146: "unum gladium Huniscum." See Story, Carolingian Connections: Anglo-Saxon England and Carolingian Francia, c. 750-870 (Aldershot, 2003). SB.
Is tamen ex una tantum dat vulnera parte.		Is: the second sword.			DSSSDS
Tunc hastam dextra rapiens clipeumque sinistra					SSDDDS
Coeperat invisa trepidus decedere terra.	340	The pair make their way on foot in the interests of secrecy while in hostile territory (invisa terra).	Aeneid 3.616: trepidi crudelia limina linquunt. ‘They ran away from the grim gateway.’ 4.306: tacitusque mea decedere terra. . . ‘To steal away from my land in silence. . .’ 3.60: scelerata excedere terra. . . ‘To quit the guilty land. . .’		DSDSDS
Femina duxit equum nonnulla talenta gerentem,					DDSDDS
In manibusque simul virgam tenet ipsa colurnam,		Colurnam equiv. to corylum, “a hazel switch.”	Georgics 2.396: in veribus torrebimus exta colurnis. ‘The rich flesh we will roast on spits of hazel.’		DDSDDS	virgam…colurnam early medieval queens were sometimes given a virga among their insignia of rule. Schramm et al., Herrschaftszeichen und Staatssymbolik: Beiträge zu ihrer Geschichte vom dritten bis zum sechzehnten Jahrhundert (Munich, 1978). SB.
In qua piscator hamum transponit in undam,					SSSSDS	The fishing imagery, evocative of Christianity generally and fasting specifically, seems significant especially in contrast to the drunkenness of the feast immediately preceding. Note the biblical exhortation quoted by the Regula Benedicti in the section dedicated to the diet of monks (40): “Make sure that your hearts are not weighed down by over-indulgence” (Luke 21.34). Whether these Lenten allusions speak to the holiness of Walter and Hildegund, or (more likely) to their need for penitence, it is difficult to say for certain. SB
Ut cupiens pastum piscis deglutiat hamum.		Deglutiat: “might swallow”	Iona Propheta 2.1: et praeparavit Dominus piscem grandem ut degluttiret Ionam. ‘Now the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonas.’		DSSSDS
Namque gravatus erat vir maximus undique telis	345		Aeneid 7.520: raptis concurrunt undique telis. ‘They snatch up their weapons and gather from all sides.’		DDSDDS	gravatus erat…undique telis could there be a note of criticism in this description of Walter as gravatus? In the context of the feast at Attila’s court, the passage from Luke quoted by the Regula Benedicti above (40) speaks to ebrietas directly: Luke 21:34: “And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life: and that day come upon you suddenly” (“adtendite autem vobis ne forte graventur corda vestra in crapula et ebrietate et curis huius vitae et superveniat in vos repentina dies illa”). SB
Suspectamque habuit cuncto sibi tempore pugnam.			Aeneid 4.97: suspectas habuisse domos karthaginis altae. ‘You have held in suspicion the homes of high Carthage.’		SDSDDS Elision: H-ELISION: suspectamque habuit	suspectamque…pugnam suspectus often used in this sense by the poet: anticipated with fear. SB
Omni nocte quidem properabant currere, sed cum			Aeneid 2.725-726.: pone subit coniunx. ferimur per opaca locorum,/ et me, quem dudum non ulla iniecta movebant/ tela neque adverso glomerati examine Grai,/ nunc omnes terrent aurae, sonus excitat omnis/ suspensum et pariter comitique onerique timentem. ‘Behind comes my wife. We pass on amid the shadows; and I, whom of late no shower of missles could move nor any Greeks thronging in opposing mass, now am affrighted by every breeze and startled by every sound, tremulous as I am and fearing alike for my companion and my burden.’		SDDSDS
Prima rubens terris ostendit lumina Phoebus,			Aeneid 2.725-726.: pone subit coniunx. ferimur per opaca locorum,/ et me, quem dudum non ulla iniecta movebant/ tela neque adverso glomerati examine Grai,/ nunc omnes terrent aurae, sonus excitat omnis/ suspensum et pariter comitique onerique timentem. ‘Behind comes my wife. We pass on amid the shadows; and I, whom of late no shower of missles could move nor any Greeks thronging in opposing mass, now am affrighted by every breeze and startled by every sound, tremulous as I am and fearing alike for my companion and my burden.’ Georgics 4.544: ubi nona suos Aurora ostenderit ortus. . . ‘When the ninth Dawn displays her rising beams. . .’		DSSSDS
In silvis latitare student et opaca requirunt,			Liber Regum I 23.19: David latitat. . .in locis tutissimis silvae. ‘David hides in the safest regions of the forest.’		SDDDDS
Sollicitatque metus vel per loca tuta fatigans.	350	Fatigans equiv. to prosequens	Liber Regum I 23.19: David latitat. . .in locis tutissimis silvae. ‘David hides in the safest regions of the forest.’ Aeneid 4.379-380.: ea cura quietos/ sollicitat. ‘This is care to vex their peace.’		DDSDDS
In tantumque timor muliebria pectora pulsat,			Georgics 3.105-106.: exsultantiaque haurit/ corda pavor pulsans. . . ‘Throbbing fear drains each bounding heart.’ Aeneid 5.137-138.: exsultantiaque haurit/ corda pavor pulsans. Lucan, De Bello Civili 7.128-129.: animique truces sua pectora pulsant/ ictibus incertis. ‘Fierce hearts beat with irregular throbbing against the breasts that contain them.’		SDDDDS	The fearfulness may be more than a stereotypical depiction of female tendency; perhaps it may refer to the travelers' guilty fear of capture, or, in light of a Lenten/penitential interpretation of this flight, one could as well think of the exhortation of Psalm 2: servite domino in timore. SB
Horreat ut cunctos aurae ventique susurros,					DSSSDS
Formidans volucres collisos sive racemos.		Racemos equiv. to ramos (here)			SDSSDS
Hinc odium exilii patriaeque amor incubat inde.					DDDDDS Elision: odium exilii; patriaeque amor
Vicis diffugiunt, speciosa novalia linquunt,	355		Georgics 3.149-150.: tota exterrita silvis/ diffugiunt armenta. ‘Whole herds scatter in terror through the woods.’		SDDDDS	On a basic level, the couple’s avoidance of human habitations (towns, fields, etc.) is simply the result of their fear of discovery, as the poet explains. But allegorically, their behavior might be pressed for its similarities to monastic or cenobitic abstinence from normal human activities, including eating habits: “Everyone, apart from those who are very weak, should abstain completely from eating the meat of four-footed animals” (Regula Benedicti 40). SB
Montibus intonsis cursus ambage recurvos		Intonsis: i.e., forested	Virgil, Eclogue 5.63: intonsi montes. . . ‘The mountains, with woods unshorn. . .’		DSSSDS
Sectantes tremulos variant per devia gressus.			Aeneid 9.164: discurrunt variantque vices. ‘Back and forth they rush, and take their turns on watch.’ Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.676: per devia rura. . . ‘Through the sequestered country paths. . .’		SDDSDS

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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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