Waltharius617

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)

Tunc Hagano ad regem: 'porrectam suscipe gazam,					DSSSDS Elision: Hagano ad
Hac potis es decorare, pater, tecum comitantes,		Pater: a sign of respect, not relationship.	Actus Apostolorum 9.7: qui comitabantur cum eo. . . ‘Those who went in company with him. . .’		DDDSDS
Et modo de pugna palmam revocare memento.		Palmam revocare: “stay your hand,” perhaps a play on the idea of palmam referre, i.e., be victorious through restraint.			DSSDDS
Ignotus tibi Waltharius et maxima virtus.	620				SDDSDS False quantities: Waltharius
Ut mihi praeterita portendit visio nocte,					DDSSDS
Non, si conserimus, nos prospera cuncta sequentur.			Aeineid 8.15: si fortuna sequatur. . . ‘Should fortune attend him. . .’		SDSDDS
Visum quippe mihi te colluctarier urso,		Colluctarier: from con-luctari			SDSSDS
Qui post conflictus longos tibi mordicus unum					SSSDDS
Crus cum poplite ad usque femur decerpserat omne	625				SDDSDS Elision: poplite ad
Et mox auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem			Aeineid 2.216-217.: post ipsum, auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem,/ corripiunt. ‘Then himself too, as he comes to their aid, weapons in hand, they seize.’ 2.213: Laocoonta petunt. ‘They seek Laocoon.’		SDDSDS Elision: subeuntem ac
Me petit atque oculum cum dentibus eruit unum.'			Aeineid 2.216-217.: post ipsum, auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem,/ corripiunt. ‘Then himself too, as he comes to their aid, weapons in hand, they seize.’ 2.213: Laocoonta petunt. ‘They seek Laocoon.’		DDSDDS Elision: atque oculum
His animadversis clamat rex ille superbus:					DSSSDS
Ut video, genitorem imitaris Hagathien ipse.		Hagathien: Hagen’s father has a different name in the Nibelungenlied, but Althof takes this name to represent an older tradition.	Aeneid 11.377-378.: larga quidem semper, Drance, tibi copia fandi/ tum cum bella manus poscunt. . .sed non replenda est curia verbis,/ quae tuto tibi magna volant, dum distinet hostem/ agger murorum. . .an tibi Mavors/ ventosa in lingua pedibusque fugacibus istis/ semper erit? ‘Drances, you always have a full flow of speech at the time when battle calls for hands. . .But we need not fill the council house with words--those big words that fly from your lips when you are safe, while the rampart walls keep off the foe. . .Will your spirit of war always remain in your windy tongue and those runaway feet of yours?’		DDDDDS Elision: genitorem imitaris
Hic quoque perpavidam gelido sub pectore mentem	630		Aeneid 11.377-378.: larga quidem semper, Drance, tibi copia fandi/ tum cum bella manus poscunt. . .sed non replenda est curia verbis,/ quae tuto tibi magna volant, dum distinet hostem/ agger murorum. . .an tibi Mavors/ ventosa in lingua pedibusque fugacibus istis/ semper erit? ‘Drances, you always have a full flow of speech at the time when battle calls for hands. . .But we need not fill the council house with words--those big words that fly from your lips when you are safe, while the rampart walls keep off the foe. . .Will your spirit of war always remain in your windy tongue and those runaway feet of yours?’ Aeineid 1.36; 4.67: sub pectore. . . ‘Deep in her heart. . .’		DDDSDS
Gesserat et multis fastidit proelia verbis.'					DSSSDS
Tunc heros magnam iuste conceperat iram,					SSSSDS
Si tamen in dominum licitum est irascier ullum.					DDDSDS Apheresis: licitum est
En' ait 'in vestris consistant omnia telis.			Aeineid 9.52: ‘en,’ ait. ‘ “See!” he cries.’		DSSSDS
Est in conspectu, quem vultis. dimicet omnis.	635		Aeineid 2.21: est in conspectu Tenedos. ‘There lies in sight Tenedos.’		SSSSDS
Comminus astatis nec iam timor impedit ullum;					DSSDDS
Eventum videam nec consors sim spoliorum.'			Aeineid 8.16: eventum pugnae cupiat. ‘The outcome of the feud he craves.’		SDSSDS
Dixerat et collem petiit mox ipse propinquum			Aeineid 7.212: dixerat, et. . . ‘He spoke, and. . .’		DSDSDS
Descendensque ab equo consedit et aspicit illo.					SDSDDS Elision: descendensque ab

---

« 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