Waldere

"Waldere" or "Waldhere" is the conventional title given to two Old English fragments from a lost epic poem, discovered in 1860 by E. C. Werlauff, Librarian, in the Danish Royal Library at Copenhagen, where it is still preserved. The parchment pages had been reused as stiffening in the binding of an Elizabethan prayer book. The Dissolution of the Monasteries had brought quantities of unregarded manuscripts into the English sixteenth-century market. The portion that was found was a part of a much bigger work. What remains of the poem comes in two parts, written on two separate single leaves, usually called “fragment I” and “fragment II”. The date of the poem's composition is unknown. "Waldere" was first edited by George Stephens (Copenhagen, 1860), afterwards by R. Wulker in "Bibliothek der angel-sächsischen Poesie" (vol. 1, Cassel, 1881); then by Peter Holthausen in "Göteborgs högskolas årsskrift" (vol. 5, 1899), with autotype reproductions of the two leaves which have been preserved. There are two main translations of "Waldere". The first was by F. Norman in 1933 and the second by Arne Zettersten in 1979. Both are accompanied by commentary.

The fragments can be situated in the epic of which they formed part because the subject, adventures surrounding the hero Walter of Aquitaine, is known in other texts: a Latin epic poem "Waltharius" by Ekkehard of Abbey of St. Gall, dating from the first half of the tenth century; fragments of a Bavarian poem dating from the first half of the thirteenth century; and two episodes in the Norwegian Vilkina Saga. Incidental references to the Waldere occur in several Middle High German poems, and there is also a Polish version of the story, the earliest form of which is in "Chronicon Boguphali Episcopi", dating from the thirteenth or fourteenth century.

The poem is the only proof that is known that the Anglo-Saxon people had any knowledge of the legend of Walter of Aquitaine. This was a very popular story in the Middle Ages. It is the story of Waldere (Walter) and Hildegyth who fall in love and steal treasure from the court of Attila, from where they were held hostage. Waldere and Hildegyth are sought out by two men, Guthhere, who is the king of the Burgundians, and Hagena. These two men are after the treasure that Waldere and Hildegyth possess. The poem is about the conflict that is about to take place between the two parties.

In one fragment someone encourages Waldere to go on fighting. In the other there is praise of a sword, followed by Waldere's praise of his own armour [See 'Flyting'.] and his encouragement of Guthhere. The speeches represented in the fragments have nothing corresponding to them in Ekkehard’s text, which suggests that these are independent renderings of the same familiar source material. A passing reference— "Win fame by valiant deeds, and may God guard thee the while"— shows that, like "Beowulf" the poem had been given a Christianized context.

The first portion is a speech given by Hildegyth trying to motivate Waldere for his upcoming fight. In this speech, Cavill finds, Hildegyth tries to inspire Waldere in four main ways: Mimming, the great sword of Waldere, that was made by the renowned smith Weland, is praised; Waldere is reminded that the only two outcomes available to a warrior are glory or death.; all the good doings of Waldere are rehearsed, as well as the loftiness of his reputation; all doubt is cleared that it is truly Guthhere at fault for engaging Waldere.

The second fragment consists mainly of Waldere challenging and taunting Guthhere, daring Guthhere to strip Waldere‘s armor from his shoulders. The end of the fragment finds Waldere putting the outcome of the fight in God’s hands (Cavill).

In the story of Walter, this fight results in the harm of everyone that has participated. However, in the end the two sides come to a peaceful resolution and eventually Waldere and Hildegyth leave and get married. This ending does not appear in the remaining fragments of "Waldere".

Waldere in Popular Culture

* A garbled version of the tale of Waldere appears in the musical Once Upon a Mattress.

ources

*"Waldere" ed. F. Norman. London: Methuen, 1933. [Text.]
*Bradley, S. A. J., tr.. "Anglo-Saxon poetry: an anthology of Old English poems" London: Dent, 1982. Translation.
*"The Cambridge History of English and American Literature" vol. I, iii.5 "The Waldhere Fragments" ( [http://www.bartleby.com/211/0305.html on-line text] ).
* [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=11406305 R.K. Gordon, ed. "Anglo-Saxon Poetry." (London: Dent) 1954:65.] Partial text of the fragments in modern English.
*Cavill, Paul, University of Nottingham. "Waldere." "The Literary Encyclopedia". 30 Oct. 2002. The Literary Dictionary Company.
*Strayer, Joseph R., ed. "Waldere." "Dictionary of the Middle Ages". New York: Scribner, 1982.
*Wissolik, Richard David. "The Germanic Epic and Old English Heroic Poetry: Widsith, Waldere, and the Fight At Finnsburg." "Old and Middle English Literature". Detroit: Gale Research, 1994. 90-91.

References