The Lay of the Cid Part 15

When the Cid had so many the rest content might bide.

What store of rich pavilions and carven poles beside To the lord Cid and his va.s.sals by the chance of war did fall, And the King's tent of Morocco was the richest of them all, All gold wrought are the tent-poles that pavilion that sustain.

My lord Cid the great Campeador did at that time ordain That it stand pitched; to move it let not a Christian dare.

"Since hither from Morocco is come a tent so fair, To Alfonso the Castilian I am fain to send it now; That the Cid hath captured somewhat then lightly will be trow."

Laden with mighty riches to Valencia came they home.

That very n.o.ble cleric, the Bishop don Jerome, When a surfeit of the fighting he had had of his hands twain, Was at a loss to number the Moors that he had slain.

What fell to him of booty was sovran great of worth.

My lord Cid don Rodrigo (in a good time was his birth,) Of all his fifth share of the spoil has sent him the tenth part.

XCVI.

The Christians in Valencia were all right glad of heart, For now excelling riches, horses and arms they had.

Ximena and her daughters all three were pa.s.sing glad, And the other dames; as wedded upon themselves looked they.

And my lord Cid the n.o.ble in no wise would delay.

"Where art thou brave Minaya? Come hither to me now.

For thy great share of booty, no grat.i.tude hast thou?

Of this my fifth of all the prey, I tell thee clear and plain, Take unto thy good pleasure, but let the rest remain.

And tomorrow in the morning thou shalt certainly ride out With the horses of my portion that I captured in the rout, With the saddles and the bridles and the swords that them behove, For the sake of my lady and for my daughters love.

Since Alfonso sent the ladies whither they were content, These same two hundred horses to him thou shalt present, That of him who rules Valencia the King no ill may say."

He bade go with Minaya Per Vermudoz straightway.

The next day in the morning they departed with all speed, And a full two hundred henchmen along with them they lead, With greetings from the Cid who fain would kiss his hands aright.

Even out of the battle where my lord Cid won the fight, For a gift he sent Alfonso of horses good ten score: "While I have breath within me, I will serve him evermore."

XCVII.

They have issued from Valencia. And they fettle them to fare.

They must watch well so mighty a booty do they bear.

And night and day they hastened for they gave themselves no rest.

The mountains that divide the lauds they have pa.s.sed o'er the crest.

And the folk they fell to asking where Alfonso

XCVIII.

O'er the mountains, o'er the rivers, o'er the hills they took the road.

And at length before Valladolid where the King lay they were.

Minaya and Per Vermudoz sent tidings to him there, That reception to their followers he might bid his men extend.

"My lord Cid of Valencia presents with us doth send."

XCIX.

Glad was the King. Man gladder you never yet did see.

He commanded all his n.o.bles to ride forth hastily.

And forth among the first of them did King Alfonso go, Of him who in good hour was born the tidings for to know.

Know you the Heirs of Carrion happed in that place to be, Also Count don Garcia the Cid's worst enemy.

Of the tidings some were merry, and some were all folorn.

They caught sight of his henchmen who in happy hour was born.

They feared it was an army for no herald came before.

Straightway the King Alfonso crossed himself o'er and o'er.

Minaya and Per Vermudoz came forward with all speed, They leaped from the saddle, they dismounted from the steed.

Before the King Alfonso upon their knees they fell.

They kissed the ground beneath him, the kissed his feet as well: "Now a boon, King Alfonso. Thou art great and glorious.

For my lord Cid the Campeador do we embrace thee thus.

He holds himself thy va.s.sal; he owns thee for his lord.

He prizes high the honor thou didst to him accord.

O King, but a few days agone in the fight he overcame The King out of Morocco, Yussuf (that is his name), With a host of fifty thousand from the field he drove away.

The booty that he captured was a great and sovran prey.

Great wealth unto his followers because of this did fall.

He sends thee twoscore horses and doth kiss thy hands withal.

Said King Alfonso: "Gladly to accept them am I fain.

To the Cid who sent me such a gift I send my thanks again.

When I do unto his liking, may he live to see the day."

Thereat were many of good cheer and kissed his hands straightway.

Grieved was Count don Garcia. Wroth was his heart within.

Apart he wells a little with ten men of his kin: "A marvel is this matter of the Cid, so grows his fame.

Now by the honor that he hath we shall be put to shame.

Kings he o'erthroweth lightly, and lightly bringeth steeds As though he dead had found them; we are minished by his deeds."

C.

Hear now of King Alfonso what he said upon this score: "Thanks be to the Creator and the lord Saint Isidore For the two hundred horses that the Cid to me hath sent.

Yet shall he serve me better in this my government.

To Minaya Alvar Fanez and Per Vermudoz I say That you forthwith clothe your bodies in honorable array, And as you shall require it of me take battle-gear Such as before Roy Diaz in good manner shall appear.

Take then the gift I give you even these horses three.

As it seems to my avis.e.m.e.nt, as my heart telleth me, Out of all these adventures some good will come to light."

CI.

They kissed his hands and entered to take their rest that night.

In all things that they needed he bade men serve them well.

Of the two Heirs of Carrion now am I fain to tell, How secretly they counselled what thing should be their cast: "Of my lord Cid the high affairs go forward wondrous fast.

Let us demand his daughters that with them we may wed.

Our fortune and our honor thereby may be well sped."

Unto the King Alfonso with their secret forth went they.

CII.

"As from our King and master a boon of thee we pray By favor of thy counsel we desire to obtain That thou ask for us in marriage of the Cid his daughters twain.

With honor and with profit shall the match for then, be fraught."

Thereon for a full hour's s.p.a.ce pondered the King and thought "I cast out the good Campeador, and wrong I do him still For his good to me. I know not if the match be to his will, But we in hand will take it, since so your pleasures tend."

Alvar Fanez and Per Vermudoz, for them the King let send.

He took them to a hall apart: "Now harken to me both Minaya and Per Vermudoz. The Cid my service doth; The Campeador, his pardon well hath he earned of me.

And shall have it. I will meet him, if so his will shall be.

In parley other tidings of my court I will make known; Didago and Ferrando, the Heirs of Carrion, Are fain to wed his daughters. Bear ye the message well, And I pray you that these tidings to the Campeador ye tell.

It will be unto his honor, great will his fame have grown, When he becomes the father of the Heirs of Carrion."

Minaya spake: (Per Vermudoz was glad of that he spake) "To ask him thy desire we will even undertake.

And the Cid shall do thereafter as his pleasure shall decide."

"Say to the Cid Roy Diaz that was born in a glad tide, That I will parley with him in the best place he may, And there shall be the boundary wherever he shall say.

To my lord Cid in all things will I show my favor plain."