Mediaeval Tales Part 12

XIMENA DEMANDS VENGEANCE.

This ballad, the sixth in Escobar, represents Ximena Gomez as, in person, demanding of the King vengeance for the death of her father, whom the young Rodrigo de Bivar had fought and slain.

I.

Within the court at Burgos a clamour doth arise, Of arms on armour clas.h.i.+ng, and screams, and shouts, and cries; The good men of the King, that sit his hall around, All suddenly upspring, astonished at the sound.

II.

The King leans from his chamber, from the balcony on high-- "What means this furious clamour my palace-porch so nigh?"

But when he looked below him, there were hors.e.m.e.n at the gate, And the fair Ximena Gomez, kneeling in woeful state.

III.

Upon her neck, disordered, hung down the lady's hair, And floods of tears were streaming upon her bosom fair.

Sore wept she for her father, the Count that had been slain; Loud cursed she Rodrigo, whose sword his blood did stain.

IV.

They turned to bold Rodrigo, I wot his cheek was red;-- With haughty wrath he listened to the words Ximena said-- "Good King, I cry for justice. Now, as my voice thou hearest, So G.o.d befriend the children, that in thy land thou rearest.

V.

"The King that doth not justice hath forfeited his claim, Both to his kingly station, and to his kingly name; He should not sit at banquet, clad in the royal pall, Nor should the n.o.bles serve him on knee within the hall.

VI.

"Good King, I am descended from barons bright of old, That with Castilian pennons, Pelayo did uphold; But if my strain were lowly, as it is high and clear, Thou still shouldst prop the feeble, and the afflicted hear.

VII.

"For thee, fierce homicide, draw, draw thy sword once more, And pierce the breast which wide I spread thy stroke before; Because I am a woman, my life thou needst not spare,-- I am Ximena Gomez, my slaughtered father's heir.

VIII.

"Since thou hast slain the Knight that did our faith defend, And still to shameful flight all the Almanzors send, 'Tis but a little matter that I confront thee so, Come, champion, slay his daughter, she needs must be thy foe."--

IX.

Ximena gazed upon him, but no reply could meet; His fingers held the bridle; he vaulted to his seat.

She turned her to the n.o.bles, I wot her cry was loud, But not a man durst follow; slow rode he through the crowd.

THE CID AND THE FIVE MOORISH KINGS.

The reader will find the story of this ballad in Mr. Southey's "Chronicle of the Cid." "And the Moors entered Castile in great power, for there came with them five kings," &c. Book I. Sect. 4.

I.

With fire and desolation the Moors are in Castile, Five Moorish kings together, and all their va.s.sals leal; They've pa.s.sed in front of Burgos, through the Oca-Hills they've run, They've plundered Belforado, San Domingo's harm is done.

II.

In Najara and Lograno there's waste and disarray:-- And now with Christian captives, a very heavy prey, With many men and women, and boys and girls beside, In joy and exultation to their own realms they ride.

III.

For neither king nor n.o.ble would dare their path to cross, Until the good Rodrigo heard of this skaith and loss; In old Bivar the castle he heard the tidings told, (He was as yet a stripling, not twenty summers old.)

IV.

He mounted Bavieca, his friends he with him took, He raised the country round him, no more such scorn to brook; He rode to the hills of Oca, where then the Moormen lay, He conquered all the Moormen, and took from them their prey.

V.

To every man had mounted he gave his part of gain, Dispersing the much treasure the Saracens had ta'en; The Kings were all the booty himself had from the war, Them led he to the castle, his stronghold of Bivar.

VI.

He brought them to his mother, proud dame that day was she:-- They owned him for their Signior, and then he set them free: Home went they, much commending Rodrigo of Bivar, And sent him lordly tribute, from their Moorish realms afar.

THE CID'S COURTs.h.i.+P.

See Mr. Southey's "Chronicle of the Cid" (Book I. Sect. V) for this part of the Cid's story, as given in the General Chronicle of Spain.

I.

Now, of Rodrigo de Bivar great was the fame that run, How he five Kings had vanquished, proud Moormen every one; And how, when they consented to hold of him their ground, He freed them from the prison wherein they had been bound.

II.

To the good King Fernando, in Burgos where he lay, Came then Ximena Gomez, and thus to him did say:-- "I am Don Gomez' daughter, in Gormaz Count was he; Him slew Rodrigo of Bivar in battle valiantly.

III.

"Now am I come before you, this day a boon to crave, And it is that I to husband may this Rodrigo have; Grant this, and I shall hold me a happy damosell, Much honoured shall I hold me, I shall be married well.