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solum dico sed affirmo, si scriptura haec praesentibus est implenda temporibus, "Leo et catulus, pater et filius, Otto et Otto, in nullo dispares, tempore distantes tantum, simul hoc praesenti tempore exterminabunt onagrum, id 5 est sylvestrem asinum Nicephorum "; qui non incongrue sylvestri asino comparatur, ob vanam et inanem gloriam, incestumque dominae et commatris suae coniugium. -Legat. Const. 39-41.

LIUTPRAND'S FAREWELL TO CONSTANTINOPLE Hanc cum accepissem, vale mihi dicentes, dimiserunt, ocula praebentes satis iucunda, satis amabilia. Sed dum 10 recederem, legationem mihi non me, sed illis satis dirigunt dignam; scilicet quod mihi soli meisque equos darent, sarcinis nullum; sicque nimis, ut res poscebat, turbatus, Staσúory, id est ductori meo, quinquaginta aureorum res pretio dedi. Et cum non haberem quod pro malefactis 15 Nicephoro tunc redderem, hos in pariete invisae domus meae et in mensa lignea versiculos scripsi:

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Argolicum non tuta fides; procul esto, Latine,
Credere, nec mentem verbis adhibere memento!
Vincere dum possit, quam sancte peierat Argos!
Marmore quae vario magnis patet alta fenestris
Haec inaquosa domus, concluso pervia soli,

Frigora suscipiens aestum nec saeva repellens;
Praesul ab Ausonia Liudprandus in urbe Cremona,
Constantinopolim pacis profectus amore,
Quattuor aestivis concludor mensibus istic.
Induperator enim Barcas conscenderat Otto,

Caede simul flammisque sibi loca subdere temptans,

7. commatris: 'godmother.' - 8. Hanc a formal letter from Nicephorus. 17. Argolicum: Gen.; 'the Greeks.'-23. Praesul : 'bishop.'-26. Barcas: ship of State.'

Sed precibus remeat Romanas victor ad urbes
Inde meis. Nurum promisit Graecia mendax,
Quae nec nata foret, nec me venisse doleret,
Nec rabiem, Nicephore, tuam perpendere quirem,
Privignam prohibes qui nato iungere herili.
Imminet ecce dies, Furiis compulsus acerbis
Ni Deus avertat, toto Mars saeviet orbe,
Crimine paxque tuo cunctis optanda silebit!

-Legat. Const. 57.

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WALTHARII POESIS

Among the literary activities of the first Ekkehart of St. Gall, who wrote the sequences and other Christian poems, was the composition of a Latin version of the legend of Walther, the Aquitanian hostage, whom Attila the Hun took back to Pannonia. The story was evidently a popular one in Germany. Ekkehart used it, we are told, for a subject of a Latin school exercise, and it was somewhat revised by Ekkehart IV. Ekkehart I must have been born about the beginning of the 10th century, was prominent in the monastery of St. Gall for many years, and died in 973 beloved of all the brothers.

The poem, of 1456 sometimes rather rude hexameters, strikes the truly epic tone, and exhibits on the part of the author a wide knowledge of Vergil and other classical writers. It is quite Homeric in its emphasis on single combat and the triumph of the hero. The story may be briefly told. Attila, after his western expedition, carried home, as hostages of royal blood, Hagen from the Franks, Walther from the Aquitanians, and the princess Hildegund from the Burgundians. Walther and Hildegund had been betrothed in childhood by their parents. Hagen escapes first. Then Walther and Hildegund plan and execute cleverly a combined flight, carrying with them much treasure formerly belonging to the western peoples from whom they had come. On arriving in the Vosges mountains they are discovered by Hagen's brother, who demands back the treasure which had belonged to his family. On Walther's refusal to give it up, a series of fierce single combats takes place between Walther and the various noble warriors sent to defeat him. The hero kills them all, and then Hagen and his brother come against him together. In the resulting mêlée all three are wounded,

and then make friends, thus leaving the hero and his bride free to return home finally and live happy ever afterward.

An excellent edition, with copious German notes and introductory matter, is that of Hermann Althof, Leipzig, 1899.

WALTHER AND HILDEGUND COME TO AN UNDER-
STANDING AND PLAN FLIGHT

Ecce palatini decurrunt arce ministri
Illius aspectu hilares equitemque tenebant,
Donec vir sella descenderet inclitus alta.

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Si bene res vergant tum demum forte requirunt.
Ille aliquid modicum narrans intraverat aulam,
Lassus enim fuerat regisque cubile petebat.
Illic Hiltgundem solam offendit residentem,
Cui post amplexus atque oscula dulcia dixit :
"Ocius huc potum ferto, quia fessus anhelo.".
Illa mero tallum complevit mox pretiosum
Porrexitque viro, qui signans accipiebat
Virgineamque manum propria constrinxit. At illa
Astitit et vultum reticens intendit herilem,
Walthariusque bibens vacuum vas reddidit olli;
Ambo etenim norant de se sponsalia facta.
Provocat et tali caram sermone puellam :
"Exilium pariter patimur iam tempore tanto,
Non ignorantes quid nostri forte parentes
Inter se nostra de re fecere futura.

Quamne diu tacito premimus haec ipsa palato?"
Virgo per hyroniam meditans hoc dicere sponsum

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215. Waltharius has just returned from battle. 216. equitem equum. -220. cubile: probably the same as Pliny's cubile salutatorium (15, 11, 10, 38), i.e. an 'audience chamber.' - 222. oscula: only the courtly kiss of custom. - 224. tallum: goblet.' 225. signans: i.e. making the sign of the cross. 234. Quamne = quam. 235. hyroniam ironiam.

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Paulum conticuit, sed postea talia reddit:

"Quid lingua simulas quod ab imo pectore dampnas, Oreque persuades toto quod corde refutas?

Sit veluti talem pudor ingens ducere nuptam!" 240 Vir sapiens contra respondit et intulit ista : "Absit quod memoras! Dextrorsum porrige sensum. Noris me nihilum simulata mente locutum,

Nec quicquam nebulae vel falsi interfore crede. Nullus adest nobis exceptis namque duobus: 245 Si nossem temet mihi promptam impendere mentem Atque fidem votis servare per omnia cautis, Pandere cuncta tibi cordis mysteria vellem.” Tandem virgo viri genibus curvata profatur : "Ad quaecumque vocas, mi domne, sequar studiose 250 Nec quicquam placitis malim praeponere iussis." Ille dehinc: "Piget exilii me denique nostri, Et patriae fines reminiscor saepe relictos; Idcircoque fugam cupio celerare latentem.écret Quod iam praemultis potuissem forte diebus, 255 Si non Hiltgundem solam remanere dolerem." Addidit has imo virguncula corde loquelas : "Vestrum velle meum, solis his aestuo rebus. Praecipiat dominus, seu dextera sive sinistra, Eius amore pati toto sum pectore praesto."

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Waltharius tandem sic virginis inquit in aurem :
"Publica custodem rebus te nempe potestas
Fecerat, idcirco memor haec mea verba notato:
Inprimis galeam regis tunicamque, trilicem
Assero loricam fabrorum insigne ferentem,

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237. dampnas: 2 (6).—243. interfore: 3E (2). — 257. Vestrum velle: your desire'; sc. est with meum. aestuo: I am eager.' -261. Publica: i.e. regia; the king had so ordered it. -264. Assero: 'I mean.'-fabrorum insigne : 'distinctive mark,' probably hammer and tongs.

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