Mediaeval Tales Part 13

IV.

"I know he's born for thriving, none like him in the land; I know that none in battle against his spear may stand; Forgiveness is well pleasing in G.o.d our Saviour's view.

And I forgive him freely, for that my sire he slew."--

V.

Right pleasing to Fernando was the thing she did propose; He writes his letter swiftly, and forth his foot-page goes; I wot, when young Rodrigo saw how the King did write, He leapt on Bavieca--I wot his leap was light.

VI.

With his own troop of true men forthwith he took the way, Three hundred friends and kinsmen, all gently born were they; All in one colour mantled, in armour gleaming gay, New were both scarf and scabbard, when they went forth that day.

VII.

The King came out to meet him, with words of hearty cheer; Quoth he, "My good Rodrigo, you are right welcome here; This girl Ximena Gomez would have ye for her lord, Already for the slaughter her grace she doth accord.

VIII.

"I pray you be consenting, my gladness will be great; You shall have lands in plenty, to strengthen your estate."-- "Lord King," Rodrigo answers, "in this and all beside Command, and I'll obey you. The girl shall be my bride."--

IX.

But when the fair Ximena came forth to plight her hand, Rodrigo, gazing on her, his face could not command: He stood and blushed before her;--thus at the last said he-- "I slew thy sire, Ximena, but not in villany:--

X.

"In no disguise I slew him, man against man I stood; There was some wrong between us, and I did shed his blood.

I slew a man, I owe a man; fair lady, by G.o.d's grace, An honoured husband thou shalt have in thy dead father's place."

THE CID'S WEDDING.

The following ballad, which contains some curious traits of rough and antique manners, is not included in Escobar's Collection. There is one there descriptive of the same event, but apparently executed by a much more modern hand.

I.

Within his hall of Burgos the King prepares the feast: He makes his preparation for many a n.o.ble guest.

It is a joyful city, it is a gallant day, 'Tis the Campeador's wedding, and who will bide away?

II.

Layn Calvo, the Lord Bishop, he first comes forth the gate, Behind him comes Ruy Diaz, in all his bridal state; The crowd makes way before them as up the street they go;-- For the mult.i.tude of people their steps must needs be slow.

III.

The King had taken order that they should rear an arch, From house to house all over, in the way where they must march; They have hung it all with lances, and s.h.i.+elds, and glittering helms, Brought by the Campeador from out the Moorish realms.

IV.

They have scattered olive branches and rushes on the street, And the ladies fling down garlands at the Campeador's feet; With tapestry and broidery their balconies between, To do his bridal honour, their walls the burghers screen.

V.

They lead the bulls before them all covered o'er with trappings; The little boys pursue them with hootings and with clappings; The fool, with cap and bladder, upon his a.s.s goes prancing, Amidst troops of captive maidens with bells and cymbals dancing.

VI.

With antics and with fooleries, with shouting and with laughter, They fill the streets of Burgos--and The Devil he comes after, For the King has hired the horned fiend for sixteen maravedis, And there he goes, with hoofs for toes, to terrify the ladies.

VII.

Then comes the bride Ximena--the King he holds her hand; And the Queen, and, all in fur and pall, the n.o.bles of the land; All down the street the ears of wheat are round Ximena flying, But the King lifts off her bosom sweet whatever there is lying.

VIII.

Quoth Suero, when he saw it, (his thought you understand,) "'Tis a fine thing to be a King; but Heaven make me a Hand!"

The King was very merry, when he was told of this, And swore the bride ere eventide, must give the boy a kiss.

IX.

The King went always talking, but she held down her head, And seldom gave an answer to anything he said; It was better to be silent, among such a crowd of folk, Than utter words so meaningless as she did when she spoke.

THE CID AND THE LEPER.

Like our own Robert the Bruce, the great Spanish hero is represented as exhibiting, on many occasions, great gentleness of disposition and compa.s.sion. But while old Barbour is contented with such simple anecdotes as that of a poor laundress being suddenly taken ill with the pains of childbirth, and the king stopping the march of his army rather than leave her unprotected, the minstrels of Spain, never losing an opportunity of gratifying the superst.i.tious propensities of their audience, are sure to let no similar incident in their champion's history pa.s.s without a miracle.

I.

He has ta'en some twenty gentlemen, along with him to go, For he will pay that ancient vow he to Saint James doth owe; To Compostella, where the shrine doth by the altar stand, The good Rodrigo de Bivar is riding through the land.

II.

Where'er he goes, much alms he throws, to feeble folk and poor; Beside the way for him they pray, him blessings to procure; For, G.o.d and Mary Mother, their heavenly grace to win, His hand was ever bountiful: great was his joy therein.

III.

And there, in middle of the path, a leper did appear; In a deep slough the leper lay, none would to help come near.

With a loud voice he thence did cry, "For G.o.d our Saviour's sake, From out this fearful jeopardy a Christian brother take."--

IV.

When Roderick heard that piteous word, he from his horse came down; For all they said, no stay he made, that n.o.ble champion; He reached his hand to pluck him forth, of fear was no account, Then mounted on his steed of worth, and made the leper mount.