Mediaeval Tales Part 5

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

_Of the Council held at St. Denis._

We then came to Vienne, where I remained to be healed of the scars and wounds I received in Spain. The King, much fatigued, at length arrived at Paris; and, a.s.sembling a council of his chief princes and bishops at St. Denis, returned thanks to G.o.d for his victory over the Pagans, and gave all France as a manor to that church, in the same way as St. Paul and St. Clement had formerly endowed the bishopric of Rome. The French Bishops were likewise to be ordained there, and not made subject to the See of Rome. Then, standing by the tomb of St. Denis, he entreated the Lord for all who had died in his cause.

The very next night St. Denis appeared to the King in his sleep, a.s.suring him that full pardon of sin was granted to all that followed him, and had fought and perished in the wars with the Saracens; that they likewise should recover of their wounds who had bestowed money on the church; which being made known by the King, very liberal offerings were made by the people, who thus acquired the name of Franks; and the whole land, formerly called Gaul, was now changed to France, as being freed from all servitude, and having dominion over other nations. The King then went to Aix-la-Chapelle, in the county of Liege, to bathe and drink the waters, where he liberally endowed St. Mary's Church with gold and silver, ordering it to be painted with ancient and modern histories, and his palace to be decorated with the representation of his wars in Spain; with emblems of the seven liberal arts and other excellent embellishments.

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

_Of the King's Death._

Soon after, the King's approaching death was revealed to me; for, behold, as I was praying in the church of Vienne, I fell into a trance, as I was singing psalms, and saw innumerable companies of soldiers pa.s.s before me by the Lorraine road. A certain one, black as an Ethiop, followed them, of whom I inquired whither he was going, and received for answer that he was awaiting the death of Charles to take possession of his soul. "I conjure you, then," said I, "by the name of the Lord Jesus, to return when you have completed your errand." When I had rested some time, and begun to explain the psalms, behold they returned back, and, speaking to the same person I before addressed, I inquired whom he had been seeking, and was answered, "the Gallician;" but the stones and timber of the churches he founded balanced so greatly in his favour, that his good works outweighed his bad, and his soul was s.n.a.t.c.hed from us, and at this the demon vanished. Thus I understood Charles died that day, and was carried into the bosom of G.o.d and St. James. But as I had requested him, before we parted at Vienne, to send me notice of his decease in case it preceded mine, being then grievously sick, and remembering his promise, he encharged a certain learned soldier to bring me word the moment he died. What more need I add? The messenger arrived on the fifteenth day after it happened. He had, indeed, been grievously afflicted with illness from the hour he left Spain, and suffered still more in mind than in body for the friends he lost on the unfortunate 16th of June. On the same day that I saw the vision, namely, on the 5th of February, in the year of our Lord 814, he departed this life, and was sumptuously buried in the round church of St. Mary, which he had himself built; and this sign I was credibly informed happened yearly for three years together before his death,--"The Sun and Moon became dark, and his name, Charles the Prince, inscribed on the church, was totally obliterated of itself; and the portico likewise, between the church and the palace, fell to the very foundation." The wooden bridge also which he built six years before over the Rhine at Mentz was destroyed by fire, self-kindled. And the same day, as a traveller was on his journey, he saw a great flame, like the flame of a funeral pile, pa.s.s from right to left before him; which terrifying him greatly, he fell from his horse, but was presently relieved by his friends.

We therefore believe that he now enjoys the crown of the blessed martyrs, whose labours he imitated, whose pattern and example he followed. Whereby we may understand, that whoever builds a church to G.o.d's glory, provides for himself a residence in his kingdom. For this cause was Charles s.n.a.t.c.hed from the hands of demons, and borne by good angels to heavenly habitations.

BALLAD ROMANCE TOUCHING THE DAYS OF CHARLEMAGNE AND OF THE CID CAMPEADOR WITH THE BALLAD OF COUNT ALARCOS

_FROM THE SPANISH BALLADS TRANSLATED BY_ JOHN GIBSON LOCKHART.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

THE MOOR CALAYNOS 57 THE ESCAPE OF GAYFEROS 61 MELISENDRA 63 THE MARCH OF BERNARDO DEL CARPIO 67 LADY ALDA'S DREAM 69 THE ADMIRAL GUARINOS 71 THE COMPLAINT OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA 75 THE FUNERAL OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA 76 BERNARDO AND ALPHONSO 78

PART II.

THE YOUNG CID 81 XIMENA DEMANDS VENGEANCE 83 THE CID AND THE FIVE MOORISH KINGS 84 THE CID'S COURTs.h.i.+P 85 THE CID'S WEDDING 87 THE CID AND THE LEPER 88 BAVIECA 90 THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF THE CID 92

PART III.

COUNT ALARCOS AND THE INFANTA SOLIS 94

PART I.

THE MOOR CALAYNOS.

In the following version I have taken liberty to omit a good many of the introductory stanzas of the famous _Coplas de Calainos_. The reader will remember that this ballad is alluded to in Don Quixote, where the Knight's nocturnal visit to Toboso is described.

It is generally believed to be among the most ancient, and certainly was among the most popular, of all the ballads in the Cancionero.

I.

"I had six Moorish nurses, but the seventh was not a Moor, The Moors they gave me milk enow, but the Christian gave me lore; And she told me ne'er to listen, though sweet the words might be, Till he that spake had proved his troth, and pledged a gallant fee."--

II.

"Fair damsel," quoth Calaynos, "if thou wilt go with me, Say what may win thy favour, and thine that gift shall be.

Fair stands the castle on the rock, the city in the vale, And bonny is the red red gold, and rich the silver pale."--

III.

"Fair sir," quoth she, "virginity I never will lay down For gold, nor yet for silver, for castle, nor for town; But I will be your leman for the heads of certain peers-- And I ask but three--Rinaldo's--Roland's--and Olivier's."--

IV.

He kissed her hand where she did stand, he kissed her lips also, And "Bring forth," he cries, "my pennon, for to Paris I must go."-- I wot ye saw them rearing his banner broad right soon, Whereon revealed his b.l.o.o.d.y field its pale and crescent moon.

V.

That broad bannere the Moore did rear, ere many days were gone, In foul disdain of Charlemagne, by the church of good Saint John; In the midst of merry Paris, on the bonny banks of Seine, Shall never scornful Paynim that pennon rear again.

VI.

His banner he hath planted high, and loud his trumpet blown, That all the twelve might hear it well around King Charles's throne; The note he blew right well they knew; both Paladin and Peer Had the trumpet heard of that stern lord in many a fierce career.

VII.

It chanced the King, that fair morning, to the chace had made him bowne, With many a knight of warlike might, and prince of high renown; Sir Reynold of Montalban, and Claros' Lord, Gaston, Behind him rode, and Bertram good, that reverend old Baron.

VIII.

Black D'Ardennes' eye of mastery in that proud troop was seen, And there was Urgel's giant force, and Guarinos' princely mien; Gallant and gay upon that day was Baldwin's youthful cheer, But first did ride, by Charles's side, Roland and Olivier.

IX.

Now in a ring around the King, not far in the greenwood, Awaiting all the huntsman's call, it chanced the n.o.bles stood; "Now list, mine earls, now list!" quoth Charles, "yon breeze will come again, Some trumpet-note methinks doth float from the bonny banks of Seine."--