The Lay of the Cid Part 5

What the Cid said was pleasing to his every follower.

Rich men they all departed from the hold that they had ta'en And the Moors both men and women blessed them o'er and o'er again.

Up the Henares hastened they and hard they rode and strong.

They pa.s.sed through the Alcarrias, and swift they marched along, By the Caverns of Anquita they hastened on their way.

They crossed the stream. Into Taranz the great plain entered they, And on down through that region as hard as they might fare.

Twixt Fariza and Cetina would the Cid seek shelter there.

And a great spoil he captured in the country as he went, For the Moors had no inkling whatso'er of his intent.

On the next day marched onward the great Cid of Bivar, And he went by Alhama, and down the vale afar.

And he pa.s.sed Bubierca and Ateca likewise pa.s.sed, And it was nigh to Alcocer that he would camp at last Upon a rounded hillock that was both strong and high.

They could not rob him of water; the Jalon it flowed hard by.

My lord Cid don Rodrigo planned to storm Alcocer.

XXVII. He pitched a strong encampment upon the hillock there, Some men were toward the mountains, some by the stream arrayed.

The gallant Cid, who in good hour had girded on the blade, Bade his men near the water dig a trench about the height, That no man might surprise them by day nor yet by night.

So might men know that there the Cid had taken up his stand.

XXVIII.

And thereupon the tidings went out through all that land, How my lord Cid the Campeador had there got footing sure, He is gone forth from the Christians, he is come unto the Moor, In his presence no man dareth plough the farmlands as of yore.

Very merry with his va.s.sals was the great Campeador.

And Alcocer the Castle wider tribute had he laid.

XXIX.

In Alcocer the burghers to the Cid their tribute paid And all the dwellers in Terrer and Teca furthermore.

And the townsmen of Calatayud, know well, it irked them sore.

Full fifteen weeks he tarried there, but the town yielded not.

And when he saw it forthwith the Cid devised a plot.

Save one left pitched behind him, he struck his every tent.

Then with his ensign lifted, down the Jalon he went, With mail-s.h.i.+rts on and girded swords, as a wise man should him bear.

To draw forth to his ambush the men of Alcocer.

And when they saw it, name of G.o.d! How glad was everyone!

"The provender and fodder of my lord the Cid are gone.

If he leaves one tent behind him, the burden is not light Of the others that he beareth. He 'scapes like one in flight.

Let us now fall upon him, great profit shall we gain.

We shall win a mighty booty before he shall be ta'en By them who have their dwelling in the city of Terrer; For if by chance they take him, in the spoil we shall not share.

The tribute that he levied, double he shall restore."

Forth from the town of Alcocer in wild haste did they pour.

When the Cid saw them well without he made as if he fled; With his whole host in confusion down the Jalon he sped.

"The prize 'scapes," cried the townsmen. Forth rushed both great and small, In the l.u.s.t of conquest thinking of nothing else at all.

They left the gates unguarded, none watched them any more.

And then his face upon them turned the great Campeador, He saw how twixt them and their hold there lay a mighty s.p.a.ce; He made them turn the standard. They spurred the steeds apace.

"Ho! cavaliers! Now swiftly let every man strike in, By the Creator's favor this battle we shall win."

And there they gave them battle in the midmost of the mead.

Ah G.o.d! is the rejoicing on this morning great indeed.

The Cid and Alvar Fanez went spurring on ahead; Know ye they had good horses that to their liking sped.

'Twixt the townsmen and the castle swiftly the way they broke.

And the Cid's henchmen merciless, came striking stroke on stroke, In little s.p.a.ce three hundred of the Moors they there have slain.

Loud was the shouting of the Moors in the ambush that were ta'en.

But the twain left them; on they rushed. Right for the hold they made And at the gate they halted, each with a naked blade.

Then up came the Cid's henchmen for the foe were all in flight.

Know ye the Cid has taken Alcocer by such a sleight.

x.x.x.

Per Vermudoz came thither who the Cid's flag did bear.

On the high place of the city he lifted it in air.

Outspoke the Cid Roy Diaz. Born in good hour was he:

"To G.o.d in Heaven and all his saints great thanks and praises be.

We shall better now our lodging for cavalier and steed."

x.x.xI.

Alvar Fanez and all ye my knights, now hearken and give heed We have taken with the castle a booty manifold.

Dead are the Moors. Not many of the living I behold.

Surely we cannot sell them the women and the men; And as for striking off their heads, we shall gain nothing then.

ln the hold let us receive them, for we have the upper hand.

When we lodge within their dwellings, they shall do as we command."

x.x.xII.

The Cid with all his booty lieth in Alcocer.

He let the tent be sent for, that he left behind him there.

It irked the men of Teca, wroth in Terrer were they; Know ye on all Calatayud sorely the thing did weigh.

To the Sovereign of Valencia they sent the news apace: How that the King Alfonso hath banished in disgrace One whom men call my lord the Cid, Roy Diaz of Bivar, He came to lodge by Alcocer, and strong his lodgings are.

He drew them out to ambush; he has won the castle there.

"If thou aidest not needs must thou lose both Teca and Terrer, Thou wilt have lost Calatayud that cannot stand alone.

All things will go to ruin on the banks of the Jalon, And round about Jiloca on the far bank furthermore."

When the King Tamin had heard it, his heart was troubled sore: "Here do I see three Moorish kings. Let two without delay With three thousand Moors and weapons for the fight ride there away; Likewise they shall be aided by the men of the frontier.

See that ye take him living and bring him to me here.

He must pay for the realm's trespa.s.s till I be satisfied."

Three thousand Moors have mounted and fettled them to ride.

All they unto Segorbe have come to lodge that night.

The next day they got ready to ride at morning light.

In the evening unto Celfa they came the night to spend.

And there they have determined for the borderers to send.

Little enow they tarried; from every side they came.

Then they went forth from Celfa (of Ca.n.a.l it has its name), Never a whit they rested, but marched the livelong day.

And that night unto their lodging in Calatayud came they.

And they sent forth their heralds through the length of all the land.

A great and sovran army they gathered to their hand.

With the two Kings Fariz and Galve (these are the names they bear).

They will besiege my n.o.ble lord the Cid in Alcocer.

x.x.xIII.

They pitched the tents and got them to their lodging there and then.

Strong grew their bands for thereabouts was found great store of men.

Moreover all the outposts, which the Moors set in array, Marched ever hither and thither in armour night and day.

And many are the outposts, and great that host of war.