DLH II.2

English: II.II, p.106-7

The next thing which happened was that the Vandals left their homeland and invaded Gaul with Gunderic as their King (A.D. 406). When they had ravaged Gaul they attacked Spain (A.D.409). The Suebi, also called the Alamanni, followed the Vandals, and seized Galicia. Not long afterwards a quarrel arose between these two people, for their territories were adjacent. They had taken up arms and marched out to war and were on the very point of attacking each other when the King of the Alamanni said: 'How much longer is war going to devastate an entire people? In my opinion the armed forces of both peoples should not be slaughtered, but two champions chosen one from each side should meet fully armed on the field of combat and should fight it out between them. That side whose champion is victorious should take over the territory in dispute without further contest.' All those present agreed to this, rather than that the entire multitude should rush upon each other's swords. Some time later King Gunderic did and Trasamund took over the kingship of the Vandals in his place (Gaiseric succeeded Gunderic and then came Huneric. Trasamund became King of the Vandals in 496 only). In the single-combat between the two champions, the man representing the Vandals was beaten and killed. Once he was dead Trasamund gave his word that he would carry out his promise to withdraw and that, as soon as the preparations necessary for the journey back had been made, he would retire from Spain.

About this time Trasamund began to persecute the Christians and by tortures and all sorts of executions forced the whole of Spain to accept the heresy of the Arian rite. It so happened that a young girl of strong religious convictions was dragged forward for this torment. She was extremely wealthy and according to the class distinctions of this world she belonged to a noble senatorial family. What is nobler still than all this, she was strong in the Catholic faith and served Almighty God in a faultless way. When she was brought into the presence of the King he spoke to her kindly and tried first to persuade her to be re- baptized. The shield of her faith turned aside the poisonous barb and the King ordered all her possessions to be confiscated, but in her mind she already possessed the Kingdom of Heaven. Then he ordered the instruments to be applied and she was tortured to the point where her life was despaired of. What more can I say? She was tortured repeatedly and all her earthly possessions were removed from her, but her will was not broken by this and she would not renounce the Holy Trinity. As she was dragged off to be re-baptized against her will and compelled to suffer immersion in the filthy font, she shouted: 'I believe the Father with the Son and the Holy Ghost to be of one substance.' As she said this she stained all the water with her blood, for her menstrual period began. Then she was submitted to a legal interrogation, and tortured by the rack, the flames and the pincers. Finally she was consecrated to Christ our Lord by having her head cut off.

After this the Vandals crossed the sea and were dispersed throughout the whole of Africa and Mauretania. The Alamanni followed them as far as Tangiers.

Deutsch: II.II, S.61, 63

Danach verließen die Wandalen ihren Wohnsitz und brachen unter ihrem König Gunderlich in Gallien ein (406), verheerten es schrecklich und wandten sich dann nac Spanien (409). Ihnen folgten die Sueben, d. h. die Alamannen, und nahmen Galicien ein. Und nicht lange nachher erhob sich ein Krieg zwischen beiden Völkern, weil sie nahe beieinander wohnten. Als sie gerüstet zum Kampf auszogen und schon zur Schlacht bereit waren, sprach der Alamannenkönig so: "Wie lange soll denn der Krieg das ganze Volk heimsuchen? Laßt doch, ich bitte euch, nicht viel Volk auf beiden Seiten umkommen, sondern zwei von uns mögen mit ihren Kriegswaffen auf den Kampfplatz teten und sie Sache unter sich ausfechten. Wessen Kämpe (Eigentlich 'Dienstmann') dann siegt, der nehme das Land ohne Streit". Alle stimmten dem bei, auf daß nicht das ganze Volk fiele vor der Spitze des Schwertes. Zu jener Zeit aber war König Gunderich schon gestorben und an seiner Stelle hatte Trasamund (Geiserich, nicht Trasamund folgte auf Gunderich (wohl 428). Die Erzählung enthält auch sonst Irriges.) das Reich erworben. Als nun die Kämpen zustammentrafen, unterlag die Partei der Wandalen, und als ihr Kämpe gefallen, gelobte Trasamund auszuziehen, er wolle nämlich alles zum Marsche rüsten und die Grenzen Spaniens verlassen.

Latin: II.II, p.60,61 (39)

Post haec Wandali a loco suo degressi, cum Gunedrico rege in Gallias ruunt. Quibus valde vasttis, Spanias adpetunt. Hos secuti Suebi, id est Alamanni, Gallitiam adpraehendunt. Nec multo pos scandalum inter utrumque oritur populum, quoniam propinqui sibi erant. Cumque ad bellum rmati procederent ac iamiamque in conflicto parati essent, ait Alamannorum rex: 'Quousque bellum super cunctum populum commovetur? Ne pereant, quaeso, populi utriusque falangae, sed procedant duo de nostris in campum cum armis bellicis, et ipse inter se confligant. Tunc ille, cuius puer vicerit, regione sine certamine obtenebit'. Ad haec cunctus consensit populus, ne universa multitudo in ore gladii rueret. His enim diebus Gundericus rex obierat, in cuius loco Trasamundus obtenuerat regnum. Confligentibus vero pueris, pars Wandalorum victa succubuit; interfectorque puero, placitum egrediendi Trasamundus spondit, ut scilicet, praeparatis itineris necessariis, se a finibus Hispaniae removerit.

1 Samuel 17 (Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision 1752)

Now the Philistines, gathering together their troops to battle, assembled at Socho of Juda, and camped between Socho and Azeca in the borders of Dommim. And Saul and the children of Israel being gather together came to the valley of Terebinth: and they set the army in array to fight against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. And there went out a man baseborn from the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Geth, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head; and he was clothed with a coat of mail with scales. And the weight of his coat of mail was five thousand sicles of brass. And he had greaves of brass on his legs; and a buckler of brass covered his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a beaver's weam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred sicles of iron. And his armourbearer went before him. And standing he cried out to the bands of Israel, and said to them: Why are you come out prepared to fight? Am not I a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose out a man of you; and let him come down and fight hand to hand. If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, we will be servants to you: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, you shall be servants, and shall serve us. And the Philistine said:I have defied the bands of Israel this day. Give me a man, and let him fight with me hand to hand. And Saul and all the Israelites hearing these words of the Philistine were dismayed, and greatly afraid. Now, David was the on of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Juda before mentioned, whose name was Isai, who had eight sons, and was an old man in the days of Saul, and of great age among men. FINISH LATER ...

Notes:

- David & Goliath type

​Signifier	1 Samuel 17	Signifier	DLH II.2
A	The Philistines gathered at Judah for war.	A'	The Vandals invaded Gaul and seized Spain. The Suebi (Alamanni) seized Galicia. A quarrel arose between the two people because the territories were next to each other.
B	Saul and the Israelites assembled at the battle line.
C	A champion from the Philistines came out and told the Israelites to send forward a champion. Whoever overcomes the other will rule them.	C'	When they were about to attack each other the King of the Alamanni suggested letting the champion of each side fight it out. The side of the champion who wins should take over the territory of the other. All agreed.
		D	King Gunderic died and Trasamund took over the kingship of the Vandals.
E	For 40 days Goliath came forward and challenged the Philistines.
F	David came to give food to his brothers who were soldiers.
G	When there he heard Goliath’s taunt and chose to fight him.
H	Saul tried to give him armour and David said no, I will go in my tunic and with my slingshot.
I	As Goliath moved forward to attack, David slung a stone at him and he died.	I'	The champions went against each other and the Vandal champion was killed.
J	David ran forward and cut Goliath’s head off with his sword.
K	When the Philistines saw that Goliath was dead they turned and ran.	​K'	Trasamund promised to withdraw and retire from Spain as soon as the preparations were complete.
L	The Israelites pursued them and slaughtered them all.