Chronicle Of The Cid by Various
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Various >> Chronicle Of The Cid
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XIX. And the Cid assembled his chief captains and knights and people,
and said unto them, Kinsmen and friends and vassals, hear me: to-day
has been a good day, and to-morrow shall be a better. Be you all armed
and ready in the dark of the morning; mass shall be said, and the
Bishop Don Hieronymo will give us absolution, and then we will to
horse, and out and smite them in the name of the Creator and of the
Apostle Santiago. It is fitter that we should live than that they
should gather in the fruits of this land. But let us take counsel in
what manner we may go forth, so as to receive least hurt, for they are
a mighty power, and we can only defeat them by great mastery in war.
When Alvar Faņez Minaya heard this, he answered and said, Praised be
God and your good fortune, you have achieved greater things than this,
and I trust in God's mercy that you will achieve this also. Give me
three hundred horse, and we will go out when the first cock crows, and
put ourselves in ambush in the valley of Albuhera; and when you have
joined battle we will issue out and fall upon them on the other side,
and on one side or the other God will help us. Well was the Cid pleased
with this counsel, and he said that it should be so; and he bade them
feed their horses in time and sup early, and as soon as it was
cock-crow come to the Church of St. Pedro, and hear mass, and shrive
themselves, and communicate, and then take horse in the name of the
Trinity, that the soul of him who should die in the business might go
without let to God.
XX. Day is gone, and night is come. At cock-crow they all assembled
together in the Church of St. Pedro, and the Bishop Don Hieronymo sung
mass, and they were shriven and assoyled, and howselled. Great was the
absolution which the Bishop gave them: He who shall die, said he,
fighting face forward, I will take his sins, and God shall have his
soul. Then said he, A boon, Cid Don Rodrigo; I have sung mass to you
this morning: let me have the giving the first wounds in this battle!
and the Cid granted him this boon in the name of God. Then being all
ready they went out through the gate which is called the Gate of the
Snake, for the greatest power of the Moors was on that side, leaving
good men to guard the gates. Alvar Faņez and his company were already
gone forth, and had laid their ambush. Four thousand, lacking thirty,
were they who went out with my Cid, with a good will, to attack fifty
thousand. They went through all the narrow places, and bad passes, and
leaving the ambush on the left, struck to the right hand, so as to get
the Moors between them and the town. And the Cid put his battles in
good array, and bade Pero Bermudez bear his banner. When the Moors saw
this they were greatly amazed; and they harnessed themselves in great
haste, and came out of their tents. Then the Cid bade his banner move
on, and the Bishop Don Hieronymo pricked forward with his company, and
laid on with such guise, that the hosts were soon mingled together.
Then might you have seen many a horse running about the field with the
saddle under his belly, and many a horseman in evil plight upon the
ground. Great was the smiting and slaying in short time; but by reason
that the Moors were so great a number, they bore hard upon the
Christians, and were in the hour of overcoming them. And the Cid began,
to encourage them with a loud voice, shouting God and Santiago! And
Alvar Faņez at this time issued out from ambush, and fell upon them, on
the side which was nearest the sea; and the Moors thought that a great
power had arrived to the Cid's succour, and they were dismayed, and
began to fly. And the Cid and his people pursued, punishing them in a
bad way. If we should wish to tell you how every one behaved himself in
this battle, it is a thing which could not be done, for all did so well
that no man can relate their feats. And the Cid Ruydiez did go well,
and made such mortality among the Moors, that the blood ran from his
wrist to his elbow! great pleasure had he in his horse Bavieca that
day, to find himself so well mounted. And in the pursuit he came up to
King Yucef, and smote him three times: but the King escaped from under
the sword, for the horse of the Cid passed on in his course, and when
he turned, the King being on a fleet horse, was far off, so that he
might not be overtaken; and he got into a Castle called Guyera, for so
far did the Christians pursue them, smiting and slaying, and giving
them no respite, so that hardly fifteen thousand escaped of fifty that
they were. They who were in the ships, when they saw this great
overthrow, fled to Denia.
XXI. Then the Cid and his people returned to the field and began to
plunder the tents. And the spoil was so great that there was no end to
the riches, in gold and in silver, and in horses and arms, so that men
knew not what to leave and what to take. And they found one tent which
had been King Yucef's; never man saw so noble a thing as that tent was;
and there were great riches therein, and there also did they find Alvar
Salvadores, who had been made prisoner the yesterday, as ye have heard.
Greatly did the Cid rejoice when he saw him alive and sound, and he
ordered his chains to be taken off; and then he left Alvar Faņez to
look to the spoil, and went into Valencia with a hundred knights. His
wrinkled brow was seen, for he had taken off his helmet, and in this
manner he entered, upon Bavieca, sword in hand. Great joy had Doņa
Ximena and her daughters, who were awaiting him, when they saw him come
riding in; and he stopt when he came to them, and said, Great honour
have I won for you, while you kept Valencia this day! God and the
Saints have sent us goodly gain, upon your coming. Look, with a bloody
sword, and a horse all sweat, this is the way that we conquer the
Moors! Pray God that I may live yet awhile for your sakes, and you
shall enter into great honour, and they shall kiss your hands. Then my
Cid alighted when he had said this, and the ladies knelt down before
him, and kissed his hand, and wished him long life. Then they entered
the Palace with him, and took their seats upon the precious benches.
Wife Doņa Ximena, said he, these damsels who have served you so well, I
will give in marriage to these my vassals, and to every one of them two
hundred marks of silver, that it may be known in Castille what they
have got by their services. Your daughters'marriage will come in time.
And they all rose and kissed his hand: and great was the joy in the
Palace, and it was done according as the Cid had said.
XXII. Alvar Faņez this while was in the field writing and taking
account of the spoil: but the tents and arms and precious garments were
so many that they cannot be told, and the horses were beyond all
reckoning; they ran about the field, and there was no body to take
them, and the Moors of the land got something by that great overthrow.
Nevertheless so many horses were taken that the Campeador had to his
share of the good ones a thousand and five hundred. Well might the
others have good store when he had so many. And my Cid won in this
battle from King Yucef, his good sword Tizona, which is to say, the
firebrand. The tent of the King of Morocco, which was supported by two
pillars wrought with gold, he gave order not to be touched, for he
would send it to Alfonso the Castillian. The Bishop Don Hieronymo, that
perfect one with the shaven crown, he had his fill in that battle,
fighting with both hands; no one could tell how many he slew. Great
booty came to him, and moreover the Cid sent him the tithe of his
fifth. Glad were the Christian folk in Valencia for the great booty
which they had gotten, and glad was Doņa Ximena and her daughters, and
glad were all those ladies who were married.
XXIII. King Yucef, after the pursuit was given over, and he saw that he
might come forth from the Castle, fled to Denia, and embarked in his
ships, and returned to Morocco. And thinking every day how badly he had
sped, and how he had been conquered by so few, and how many of his
people he had lost, he fell sick and died. But before he died he
besought his brother, who was called Bucar, that for the tie there was
between them, he would take vengeance for the dishonour which he had
received from the Cid Campeador before Valencia; and Bucar promised to
do this, and swore also upon the Koran, which is the book of their law.
And accordingly he came afterwards across the sea, with nine and twenty
Kings, as shall be related when the time comes.
XXIV. Then the Cid sent Alvar Faņez and Pero Bermudez with a present to
King Alfonso his Lord. And the present which he sent was two hundred
horses saddled and bridled, with each a sword hanging from the
saddle-bow: and also the noble tent which he had won from King Yucef of
Morocco. This present he gave, because the King had sent him his wife
and daughters when he asked for them, and because of the honour which
he had done them, and that the King might not speak ill of him who
commanded in Valencia. Alvar Faņez and Pero Bermudez went their way
towards Castille, over sierras and mountains and waters; and they asked
where the King was, and it was told them that he was at Valladolid, and
thither they went. And when they drew nigh unto the city, they sent to
let him know of their coming, and to ask of him whether he thought it
good for them to come into the city unto him, or if he would come out
to them, for they were a great company, and the present a full great
one, which he would see better without, than in the town. And the King
thought this best, and he went to horse, and bade all the hidalgos who
were with him do the like. Now the Infantes of Carrion were there,
Diego Gonzalez and Ferrando Gonzalez, the sons of Count Don Gonzalo.
And they found the company of the Cid about half a league from the
town, and when the King saw how many they were, he blest himself, for
they seemed like a host. And Minaya and Pero Bermudez pricked on when
they saw him, and came before him, and alighted, and knelt down, and
kissed the ground and kissed both his feet; and he bade them rise and
mount their horses, and would not hear them till they had mounted, and
taken their places one at his right hand, and the other at his left.
And they said, Sir, the Cid commends himself to your grace as his liege
Lord, and thanks you greatly for having sent him with such honour his
wife and daughters. And know. Sir, that since they arrived, he hath
achieved a great victory over the Moors, and their King Yucef of
Morocco, the Miramamolin, who besieged him in Valencia with fifty
thousand men. And he went out against them, and smote them, and hath
sent you these two hundred horses from his fifth. Then Alvar Faņez gave
order that the horses should be led forward. And this was the manner in
which they came. The two hundred horses came first, and every one was
led by a child, and every one had a sword hanging from the saddle, on
the left side; and after them came the pages of all the knights in
company, carrying their spears, and then the company, and after them,
an hundred couple with spears in rest. And when they had all past by,
the King blest himself again, and he laughed and said that never had so
goodly a present been sent before to King of Spain by his vassal. And
Alvar Faņez said moreover, Sir, he hath sent you a tent, the noblest
that ever man saw, which he won in this battle: and the King gave order
that the tent should be spread, and he alighted and went into it, he
and all his people, and he was greatly pleased; and they all said that
they had never seen so noble a tent as this; and the King said he had
won many from the Moors, but never such as this. But albeit that all
the others were well pleased, Count Don Garcia was not so; and he and
ten of his lineage talked apart, and said that this which the Cid had
done was to their shame, for they hated the Cid in their hearts. And
King Don Alfonso said, Thanks be to God and to Sir Saint Isidro of
León, these horses may do me good service; and he gave three of them to
Minaya, and Pero Bermudez, and bade them chuse, and he ordered food and
cloathing to be given them while they remained, and said that he would
give them compleat armour when they returned, such as was fit for them
to appear in before my Cid. And they were lodged, and all things that
were needful provided for them and their people.
XXV. When the Infantes of Carrion, Diego Gonzalez and Ferrando
Gonzalez, saw the noble present which the Cid had sent unto the King,
and heard how his riches and power daily increased, and thought what
his wealth must needs be when he had given those horses out of the
fifth of one battle, and moreover that he was Lord of Valencia: they
spake one with the other, and agreed, that if the Cid would give them
his daughters to wife, they should be well married, and become rich and
honourable. And they agreed together that they would talk with the King
in private upon this matter. And they went presently to him, and said,
Sir, we beseech you of your bounty to help us in a thing which will be
to your honour; for we are your vassals, and the richer we are the
better able shall we be to serve you. And the King asked of them what
it was they would have, and they then told him their desire. And the
King thought upon it awhile, and then came to them, and said, Infantes,
this thing which you ask lies not in me, but in the Cid; for it is in
his power to marry his daughters, and peradventure he will not do it as
yet. Nevertheless that he ye may not fail for want of my help, I will
send to tell him what ye wish. Then they kissed his hand for this
favour. And the King sent for Alvar Faņez and Pero Bermudez, and went
apart with them, and praised the Cid, and thanked him for the good will
which he had to do him service, and said that he had great desire to
see him. Say to him, he said, that I beseech him to come and meet me,
for I would speak with him concerning something which is to his good
and honour. Diego and Ferrando, the Infantes of Carrion, have said unto
me that they would fain wed with his daughters, if it seemeth good to
him; and methinks this would be a good marriage. When Alvar Faņez and
Pero Bermudez heard this, they answered the King, and said, Certain we
are, Sir, that neither in this, nor in anything else will the Cid do
aught but what you, Sir, shall command or advise. When ye have your
meeting ye will agree concerning it as is best. Then they kissed his
hand, and took their leave.
XXVI. On the morrow the messengers of the Cid departed from Valladolid,
and took their way towards Valencia; and when the Cid knew that they
were nigh at hand he went out to meet them, and when he saw them he
waxed joyful, and he embraced them, and asked what tidings of his Lord
Alfonso. And they told him how they had sped, and how greatly the King
loved him; and when we departed, said they, he bade us beseech you to
come and meet him anywhere where you will appoint, for he desireth to
speak with you, concerning the marriage of your daughters with the
Infantes of Carrion, if it should please you so to bestow them: now by
what the King said it seemeth unto us that this marriage pleaseth him.
And when the Cid heard this he became thoughtful, and he said to them
after awhile, What think ye of this marriage? And they answered him,
Even as it shall please you. And he said to them, I was banished from
my own country, and was dishonoured, and with hard labour gained I what
I have got; and now I stand in the King's favour, and he asketh of me
my daughters for the Infantes of Carrion. They are of high blood and
full orgullous, and I have no liking to this match; but if our Lord the
King adviseth it we can do no otherwise; we will talk of this, and God
send it for the best. So they entered Valencia, and the Cid spake with
Doņa Ximena touching this matter, and when she heard it it did not
please her; nevertheless she said, if the King thought it good they
could do no otherwise. Then the Cid gave order to write letters to the
King, saying, that he would meet the King as he commanded, and whatever
the King wished that he would do. And he sealed the letters well, and
sent two knights with them. And when the King saw the letters he was
well pleased, and sent others to say that the time of their meeting
should be three weeks after he received these letters, and the place
appointed was upon the Tagus, which is a great river.
XXVII. Now began they to prepare on both sides for this meeting. He who
should relate to you the great preparations, and the great nobleness
which were made for the nonce, would have much to recount. Who ever saw
in Castille so many a precious mule, and so many a good-going palfrey,
and so many great horses, and so many goodly streamers set upon goodly
spears, and shields adorned with gold and with silver, and mantles, and
skins, and rich sendals of Adria? The King sent great store of food to
the banks of the Tagus, where the place of meeting was appointed. Glad
were the Infantes of Carrion, and richly did they bedight themselves;
some things they paid for, and some they went in debt for: great was
their company, and with the King there were many Leonese and Galegos,
and Castillians out of number. My Cid the Campeador made no tarriance
in Valencia; he made ready for the meeting: there was many a great
mule, and many a palfrey, and many a good horse, and many a goodly suit
of arms, cloaks, and mantles both of cloth and of peltry; ... great and
little are all clad in colours. Alvar Faņez Minaya, and Pero Bermudez,
and Martin Munoz, and Martin Antolinez that worthy Burgalese, and the
Bishop Don Hieronymo that good one with the shaven crown, and Alvar
Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadores, and Muņo Gustios that knight of prowess,
and Galind Garcia of Aragon; all these and all the others made ready to
go with the Cid. But he bade Alvar Salvadores and Galind Garcia and all
those who were under them, remain and look with heart and soul to the
safety of Valencia, and not open the gates of the Alcazar neither by
day nor by night, for his wife and daughters were there, in whom he had
his heart and soul, and the other ladies with them; he like a good
husband gave order that not one of them should stir out of the Alcazar
till he returned. Then they left Valencia and pricked on more than
apace; more than a thousand knights, all ready for war, were in this
company. All those great horses that paced so well and were so soft of
foot, my Cid won; they were not given to him.
XXVIII. King Don Alfonso arrived first by one day at the place of
meeting, and when he heard that the Cid was at hand, he went out with
all his honourable men, more than a long league to meet him. When he
who was born in a good hour had his eye upon the King, he bade his
company halt, and with fifteen of the knights whom he loved best he
alighted, and put his hands and his knees to the ground, and took the
herbs of the field between his teeth, as if he would have eaten them,
weeping for great joy; ... thus did he know how to humble himself
before Alfonso his Lord; and in this manner he approached his feet and
would have kissed them. And the King drew back and said, The hand, Cid
Campeador, not the foot! And the Cid drew nigh upon his knees and
besought grace, saying, In this guise grant me your love, so that all
present may hear. And the King said that he forgave him, and granted
him his love with his heart and soul. And the Cid kissed both his
hands, being still upon his knees; and the King embraced him, and gave
him the kiss of peace. Well pleased were all they who beheld this, save
only Alvar Diez and García Ordoņez, for they did not love the Cid. Then
went they all toward the town, the King and the Cid talking together by
the way. And the Cid asked the King to eat with him, and the King
answered, Not so, for ye are not prepared; we arrived yesterday, and ye
but now. Eat you and your company therefore with me, for we have made
ready. To-day, Cid Campeador, you are my guest, and to-morrow we will
do as pleases you. Now came the Infantes of Carrion up and humbled
themselves before the Cid, and he received them well, and they promised
to do him service. And the company of the Cid came up, and kissed the
King's hand. So they alighted and went to meat; and the King said unto
the Cid that he should eat with him at his table; howbeit he would not.
And when the King saw that he would not take his seat with him, he
ordered a high table to be placed for the Cid and for Count Don
Gonzalo, the father of the Infantes of Carrion. All the while that they
ate the King could never look enough at the Cid, and he marvelled
greatly at his beard, that it had grown to such length. And when they
had eaten they were merry, and took their pleasure. And on the morrow
the King and all they who went with him to this meeting, ate with the
Cid, and so well did he prepare for them that all were full joyful, and
agreed in one thing, that they had not eaten better for three years.
There was not a man there who did not eat upon silver, and the King and
the chief persons ate upon dishes and trenchers of gold. And when the
Infantes saw this they had the marriage more at heart than before.
XXIX. On the morrow as soon as it was day, the Bishop Don Hieronymo
sung mass before the King, in the oratory of the Cid; and when it was
over, the King said before all who were there assembled, Counts and
Infanzones and knights, hear what I shall say unto the Cid. Cid
Ruydiez, the reason wherefore I sent for you to this meeting was
two-fold: first, that I might see you, which I greatly desired, for I
love you much because of the many and great services which you have
done me, albeit that at one time I was wroth against you and banished
you from the land. But you so demeaned yourself that you never did me
disservice, but contrariwise, great service both to God and to me, and
have won Valencia, and enlarged Christendom, wherefore I am bound to
show favour unto you and to love you alway. The second reason was, that
I might ask you for your two daughters Doņa Elvira and Doņa Sol, that
you would give them in marriage to the Infantes of Carrion, for this
methinks would be a fit marriage, and to your honour and good. When the
Cid heard this, he was in a manner bound to consent, having them thus
demanded from him; and he answered and said, Sir, my daughters are of
tender years and if it might please you, they are yet too young for
marriage. I do not say this as if the Infantes of Carrion were not
worthy to match with them, and with better than they. And the King bade
him make no excuse, saying, that he should esteem himself well served
if he gave his consent. Then the Cid said, Sir, I begat them, and you
give them in marriage; both I and they are yours, ... give them to whom
you please, and I am pleased therewith. When the King heard this he was
well pleased, and he bade the Infantes kiss the hand of the Cid
Campeador, and incontinently they changed swords before the King, and
they did homage to him, as sons-in-law to their father-in-law. Then the
King turned to the Cid, and said, I thank thee, Ruydiez, that thou hast
given me thy daughters for the Infantes of Carrion: and here I give
them to the Infantes to be their brides; I give them and not you, and I
pray God that it may please him, and that you also may have great joy
herein. The Infantes I put into your hands; they will go with you, and
I shall return from hence, and I order that three hundred marks of
silver be given to them for their marriage, and they and your daughters
will all be your children.
XXX. Eight days this meeting lasted; the one day they dined with the
King, and the other with the Cid. Then was it appointed that on the
morrow at sunrise every one should depart to his own home. My Cid then
began to give to every one who would take his gifts, many a great mule,
and many a good palfrey, and many a rich garment, ... every one had
what he asked, ... he said no to none. Threescore horses did my Cid
give away in gifts; well pleased were all they who went to that
meeting. And now they were about to separate, for it was night. The
King took the Infantes by the hand, and delivered them into the power
of my Cid the Campeador, ... See here your sons: from this day,
Campeador, you will know what to make of them. And the Cid answered,
Sir, may it please you, seeing it is you who have made this marriage
for my daughters, to appoint some one to whom I may deliver them, and
who may give them, as from your hand, to the Infantes. And the King
called for Alvar Faņez Minaya, and said. You are sib to the damsels; I
command you, when you come to Valencia, to take them with your own
hands, and give them to the Infantes, as I should do if that I were
there present: and be you the bride's father. Then said the Cid, Sir,
you must accept something from me at this meeting. I bring for you
twenty palfreys, these that are gaily trapped, and thirty horses fleet
of foot, these that are well caparisoned, ... take them, and I kiss
your hand. Greatly have you bound me, said King Don Alfonso; I receive
this gift, and God and all Saints grant that it may well be requited;
if I live you shall have something from me; Then my Cid sprung up upon
his horse Bavieca, and he said, Here I say before my Lord the King,
that if any will go with me to the wedding, I think they will get
something by it! and he besought the King that he would let as many go
with him as were so minded; and the king licensed them accordingly. And
when they were about to part, the company that went with the Cid was
greater than that which returned with the King. And the Cid kissed the
King's hand and dispeeded himself with his favour, and the King
returned to Castille.
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