Song and Legend from the Middle Ages Part 9

The men of Leon need not boast of high emprise, forsooth, Who craven smite the face of age, and not the breast of youth.

Ye should have known who was my sire, and Layn Calvo's line, A breed that never brook offence, nor challenge fit decline; How dared ye thus provoke a man whom only Heaven may, And not another' while the son lives to avenge the day!

Ye cast about his n.o.ble face dishonor's sombre pall, But I am here to strip it off and expiate it all; For only blood will cleanse the stain attainted honor brings, And valid blood is that alone which from the aggressor springs; Yours it must be, Oh tyrant, since by its overplay It moved ye to so foul a deed and robbed your sense away; On my father ye laid hand, in the presence of the king, And I, his son, am here to-day atonement fall to bring.

Count, ye did a craven business and I call ye COWARD here!

Behold, if I await you, think not I come with fear, For Diego Laynez wrought me well set in his own mould, And while I prove my birthright I your baseness shall unfold.

Your valor as a crafty blade will not avail ye more, For to my needs I bring a sword and charger trained to war."

Thus spake to Count Lozano Spain's champion, the Cid, (Ere long he won the t.i.tle by achievements which he did) That day he slew his enemy and severing quick the head, Bore high the bleeding trophy as he homeward proudly sped.

--Tr. by Knapp.

LLORANDO DIEGO LAYNEZ. (THE TRIUMPH.)

Weeping sat Diego Laynez still o'er his untasted meal; Still o'er his shame was brooding, the tears his thoughts reveal; Beset with a thousand fancies, and crazed with honest care, Sensitive to a footfall lest some foe were lurking there, When Rod'rick, bearing by the locks the Count's dissevered poll, Tracking the floor with recent gore, advanced along the hall.

He touched his father's shoulder and roused him from his dream, And proudly flaunting his revenge he thus addresses him: "Behold the evil tares, sir, that ye may taste the wheat; Open thine eyes, my father, and lift thy head, 'tis meet, For this thine honor is secure, is raised to life once more, And all the stain is washed away in spite of pride and power: For here are hands that are not hands, this tongue no tongue is now, I have avenged thee, sir, behold, and here the truth avow."

The old man thinks he dreams; but no, no dream is there; 'Twas only his long grieving that had filled his heart with care.

At length he lifts his eyes, spent by chivalrous deeds, And turns them on his enemy clad in the ghastly weeds: "Roderick, son of my soul, mantle the spectre anon, Lest, like a new Medusa, it change my heart to stone, And leave me in such plight at last, that, ere I wish ye joy, My heart should rend within me of bliss without alloy.

Oh, infamous Lozano! kind heaven hath wrought redress, And the great justice of my claim hath fired Rodrigo's breast!

Sit down, my son, and dine, here at the head with me, For he who bringest such a gift, is head of my family."

--Tr. by Knapp.

THE YOUNG CID.

Now rides Diego Laynez, to kiss the good King's hand, Three hundred men of gentry go with him from his land, Among them, young Rodrigo, the proud Knight of Bivar; The rest on mules are mounted, he on his horse of war.

They ride in glittering gowns of soye--He harnessed like a lord; There is no gold about the boy, but the crosslet of his sword; The rest have gloves of sweet perfume,--He gauntlets strong of mail; They broidered cap and flaunting plume,--He crest untaught to quail.

All talking with each other thus along their way they pa.s.sed, But now they've come to Burgos, and met the King at last; When they came near his n.o.bles, a whisper through them ran,-- "He rides amidst the gentry that slew the Count Lozan."

With very haughty gesture Rodrigo reined his horse, Right scornfully he shouted, when he heard them so discourse, "If any of his kinsmen or va.s.sals dare appear, The man to give them answer, on horse or foot, is here."--

"The devil ask the question," thus muttered all the band;-- With that they all alighted, to kiss the good King's hand,-- All but the proud Rodrigo, he in his saddle stayed,-- Then turned to him his father (you may hear the words he said).

"Now, light, my son, I pray thee, and kiss the good King's hand, He is our lord, Rodrigo; we hold of him our land."-- But when Rodrigo heard him, he looked in sulky sort, I wot the words he answered they were both cold and short.

"Had any other said it, his pains had well been paid, But thou, sir, art my father, thy word must be obeyed."-- With that he sprung down lightly, before the King to kneel, But as the knee was bending, out leapt his blade of steel.

The King drew back in terror, when he saw the sword was bare; "Stand back, stand back, Rodrigo, in the devil's name beware; Your looks bespeak a creature of father Adam's mould, But in your wild behaviour you're like some lion bold."

When Rodrigo heard him say so, he leapt into his seat, And thence he made his answer, with visage nothing sweet,-- "I'd think it little honour to kiss a kingly palm, And if my father's kissed it, thereof ashamed I am."--

When he these words had uttered, he turned him from the gate.

His true three hundred gentles behind him followed straight; If with good gowns they came that day, with better arms they went; And if their mules behind did stay, with horses they're content.

--Tr. by Lockhart.

THE CID'S COURTs.h.i.+P.

Now, of Rodrigo de Bivar great was the fame that run, How he five Kings had vanquished, proud Moormen every one; And how, when they consented to hold of him their ground, He freed them from the prison wherein they had been bound.

To the good King Fernando, in Burgos where he lay, Came then Ximena Gomez, and thus to him did say:-- "I am Don Gomez, daughter, in Gormaz Count was he; Him slew Rodrigo of Bivar in battle valiantly.

"Now am I come before you, this day a boon to crave, And it is that I to husband may this Rodrigo have; Grant this, and I shall hold me a happy damosell, Much honoured shall I hold me, I shall be married well.

"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."--

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.

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.

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.

"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."--

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:-

"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."

[1] See the account of this quarrel, "Non es de Sessudos Homes."

--Tr. by Lockhart.

BAVIECA.

The favorite warrior horse of the Cid. There are several more ballads devoted to this charger.

The King looked on him kindly, as on a va.s.sal true; Then to the King Ruy Diaz spake after reverence due,-- "O King, the thing is shameful, that any man beside The liege lord of Castile himself should Bavieca ride:

"For neither Spain or Araby could another charger bring So good as he, and certes, the best befits my King.

But that you may behold him, and know him to the core, I'll make him go as he was wont when his nostrils smelt the Moor."

With that, the Cid, clad as he was in mantle furred and wide, On Bavieca vaulting, put the rowel in his side; And up and down, and round and round, so fierce was his career, Streamed like a pennon on the wind Ruy Diaz' minivere.

And all that saw them praised them--they lauded man and horse, As matched well, and rivalless for gallantry and force Ne'er had they looked on horseman might to this knight come near, Nor on other charger worthy of such a cavalier.

Thus, to and fro a-rus.h.i.+ng, the fierce and furious steed, He snapt in twain his. .h.i.ther rein:--"G.o.d pity now the Cid."

"G.o.d pity Diaz," cried the Lords,--but when they looked again, They saw Ruy Diaz ruling him, with the fragment of his rein; They saw him proudly ruling with gesture firm and calm, Like a true lord commanding--and obeyed as by a lamb.

And so he led him foaming and panting to the King, But "No," said Don Alphonso, "it were a shameful thing That peerless Bavieca should ever be bestrid By any mortal but Bivar--Mount, mount again, my Cid."

--Tr. by Lockhart.

FROM THE POEM OF THE CID.