The Lay of the Cid Part 28

Erst for true wives ye had them, who now their hands shall kiss And call them Dame, though sorely ye take the thing amiss.

Praise to our G.o.d in Heaven and our lord the King therefor.

So greatly grows the honor of the Cid my Campeador.

In every way soever ye are even as I say.

Is there any in the presence to reply or say me nay?

Lo! I am Alvar Fanez, against the most of might!"

And thereupon did Gomez Pelaez stand upright: "Say of what worth, Minaya, is this ye speak so free?

For here in the a.s.sizes are men enough for thee.

Who otherwise would have it, it would ruin him indeed.

If it be perchance G.o.d's pleasure that our quarrel well should speed, Then well shalt thou see whether or right or wrong ye were."

Said the King: "The suit is over. No further charge prefer.

Tomorrow is the combat; at the rising of the sun By the three who challenged with thee in the court it shall be done."

Thereon the Heirs of Carrion have spoken presently: "Lord King, a season grant us for tomorn it cannot be.

We have given to the Campeador our arms and many a steed, First to our land of Carrion to go we have sore need."

And then the King had spoken to the Campeador again: "Where thou shalt bid, this combat, let it be underta'en.

"My lord, I will not do it," my lord the Cid said he, "More than the lands of Carrion Valencia liketh me."

To him the King gave answer: "Yea, Cid! Without a doubt.

Give unto me your cavaliers all duly armed about.

Let them go in my keeping. Their safety I a.s.sure As a lord to a good va.s.sal; I make thee here secure That they take no harm from any count or lesser baronet.

Here now in the a.s.sizes, a term for them I set, That in the fields of Carrion at the end of three weeks' s.p.a.ce There duly in my presence the combat shall take place.

Who at the set time comes not, his suit is lost thereby, From that time he is vanquished; for a traitor let him fly."

The two heirs of Carrion, by that decree they stand.

And thereupon my lord the Cid has kissed the King his hand;

"To thy hand are they delivered my cavaliers all three; As to my King and Master I commend them unto thee.

They are ready now their duty to the full to undertake.

With honor to Valencia send them me for G.o.d his sake."

"So it be G.o.d's desire," answered the King and said.

The Cid the Campeador did off the helmet from his head, Likewise the cap of linen as white as is the sun.

He freed his beard, the cord thereof he has forthwith undone.

Those in the court upon him, their full they could not gaze.

To the Counts Remond and Henry forthwith he went his way.

And them closely he embraces and doth heartily require To take of his possession all that suits with their desire.

These twain and many others who were persons of good will He earnestly requested to take unto their fill Some took his gifts, but others would not accept a thing.

The two hundred marks, he gave them once more unto the King.

Whatever was his pleasure he has taken of the rest: "King, for love of the Creator one thing let me request.

Sire, with thy will I kiss thine hand. Since so these deeds are done, And would fain unto Valencia which with great pain I won."

Then the Cid commanded to give sumpter-beasts unto the emba.s.sadors of the Heirs of Navarre and Aragon, and, moreover, to let them have whatever else they required.* And he sent them forth. The King don Alfonso with all the n.o.bles of his court got on horseback in order to ride out with the Cid who was about to leave the town.

When they came to Zocodover, the Cid being on his charger Bavieca, the King said to him:

"In faith, don Rodrigo, thou must now put spur to that charger of which I have heard most fair report."

The Cid smiled and said: "Sire, in thy court, are many, gentle and simple, who would gladly do such a thing. Bid them make sport with their steeds."

The King replied to him: "Cid, I am pleased with thine answer.

Nevertheless I desire thee, for the love thou bearest me, to put that steed through his best paces."

*Supplied like the former prose pa.s.sage from the Chronicle of the Twenty Kings.

CL.

The Cid then put spur to the charger and made him gallop so fast that all were astonished at the career he ran.

The King with hand uplifted signed the cross upon his face.

"By San Isidro of Leon, I swear it by his grace Is no n.o.bleman so mighty our whole country o'er."

My lord Cid on the charger came then the King before, And of his lord Alfonso there has he kissed the hand.

"To start fleet Bavieca thou gavest me command.

Today no Moor nor Christian has a horse so strong and swift.

Sire, unto thee I give him. Say thou wilt accept the gift."

Then said the King: "No pleasure would I have therein indeed.

If I took him, then less glorious were the master of the steed.

But a horse like this befitteth too well a man like thee, Swift to chase the Moors ye routed in the battle, when they flee.

Who that war-horse taketh from thee, G.o.d succor not again, For by thee and by the charger to great honor we attain."

Their leave then have they taken. He left the Court forthright.

The Campeador most wisely counselled them who were to fight: "Ha, Martin Antolinez! Per Vermudoz thou, too, So likewise Muno Gustioz, my tried man and true.

Be resolute in combat like the gentlemen ye be.

See that of you good tidings in Valencia come to me."

Said Martin Antolinez: "Oh sire, what sayest thou?

For we must bear the burden we accepted even now.

Thou shalt hear naught of the vanquished, though haply of the slain."

He who in happy hour was born, thereof was glad and fain.

Of all his leave he taketh that for his friends are known.

Went my lord Cid to Valencia, and the King to Carrion.

But now the three weeks' respite of the term is past and o'er.

Lo! at the time appointed, they who serve the Campeador, The debt their lord laid on them they were very fain to pay.

In safe-keeping of Alfonso, King of Leon, were they.

There for the Heirs of Carrion for two days' s.p.a.ce they stayed.

With horses and caparisons, came the Heirs there well arrayed.

And in close compact with them have agreed their kinsmen all, On the Campeador his henchmen, if in secret they might fall, To slay them in the meadows, because their lords were silent.

They did not undertake it, though foul was their intent, For of Alfonso of Leon they stood in mighty dread.

Watch o'er their arms they kept that night. And prayers to G.o.d they said.

At last has night pa.s.sed over, and breaketh now the dawn, And many worthy n.o.bles there to the place have drawn, For to behold that combat, wherefore their mirth was high.

Moreover King Alfonso above all men is by, Since he desireth justice and that no wrong should be done.

The men of the good Campeador, they get their armour on.

All three are in agreement for one lord's men are they.

The Heirs of Carrion elsewhere have armed them for the fray.

The Count Garcia Ordonez sate with them in counsel there.

What suit they planned unto the King Alfonso they declare, That neither should Colada nor Tizon share in that war, That in fight they might not wield them, who served the Campeador That the brands were given over, they deemed a bitter ill; Unto the King they told it. He would not do their will:

"When we held the court exception unto no sword did ye take; But if ye have good weapons, your fortune they will make.

For them who serve the Campeador the swords e'en so will do.

Up, Carrion's Heirs, to battle now get you forth, ye two!