Chronicle Of The Cid by Various

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XXXI. My Cid went his way toward Valencia, and he appointed Pero
Bermudez and Muño Gustios, than whom there were no better two in all
his household, to keep company with the Infantes of Carrion and be
their guard, and he bade them spy out what their conditions were; and
this they soon found out. The Count Don Suero González went with the
Infantes; he was their father's brother, and had been their _Ayo_ and
bred them up, and badly had he trained them, for he was a man of great
words, good of tongue, and of nothing else good; and full scornful and
orgullous had he made them, so that the Cid was little pleased with
them, and would willingly have broken off the marriage; but he could
not, seeing that the King had made it. And when they reached Valencia,
the Cid lodged the Infantes in the suburb of Alcudia, where he had
formerly lodged himself; and all the company who were come to the
marriage were quartered with them. And he went to the Alcazar.

XXXII. On the morrow the Cid mounted his horse and rode ínto Alcudia,
and brought the Infantes his sons-in-law from thence with him into the
city to the Alcazar, that they might see their brides Doña Elvira and
Doña Sol. Doña Ximena had her daughters ready to receive them in full
noble garments, for since midnight they had done nothing but prink and
prank themselves. Full richly was the Alcazar set out that day, with
hangings both above and below, purple and samite, and rich cloth. The
Cid entered, between the Infantes, and all that noble company went in
after them; and they went into the chief hall of the Alcazar, where
Doña Ximena was with her daughters: and when they saw the Cid and the
Infantes, they rose up and welcomed them right well. And the Cid took
his seat upon his bench with one of the Infantes on one side of him,
and one on the other, and the other honourable men seated themselves on
the _estrados_, each in the place where he ought to be, and which
belonged to him; and they remained awhile silent. Then the Cid rose and
called for Alvar Fañez and said, Thou knowest what my Lord the King
commanded; fulfil now his bidding, ... take thy cousins, and deliver
them to the Infantes, for it is the King who gives them in marriage,
and not I. And Alvar Fañez arose and took the damsels one in each hand,
and delivered them to the Infantes, saying. Diego Gonzalez, and
Ferrando Gonzalez, I deliver unto you these damsels, the daughters of
the Cid Campeador, by command of King Don Alfonso my Lord, even as he
commanded. Receive you them as your equal helpmates, as the law of
Christ enjoineth. And the Infantes took each his bride by the hand, and
went to the Cid and kissed his hand, and the same did they to their
mother Doña Ximena Gomez: and the Bishop Don Hieronymo espoused them,
and they exchanged rings. When this was done, the Cid went and seated
himself on the _estrado_ with the ladies, he and Doña Ximena in the
middle, and beside him he placed Doña Elvira his eldest daughter, and
by her, her spouse the Infante Diego Gonzalez; and Doña Sol was seated
on the other side, by her mother, and the Infante Ferrando by her. And
when they had solaced themselves awhile, the Cid said that now they
would go eat, and that the marriage should be performed on the morrow,
and he besought and commanded the Bishop Don Hieronymo to perform it in
such a manner that no cost should be spared, but that every thing
should be done so compleatly, that they who came from Castille to this
wedding might alway have something to tell of.

XXXIII. On the morrow they went to the Church of St. Mary, and there
the Bishop Don Hieronymo sate awaiting them, and he blest them all four
at the altar. Who can tell the great nobleness which the Cid displayed
at that wedding, the feasts and the bull-fights, and the throwing at
the target, and the throwing canes, and how many joculars were there,
and all the sports which are proper at such weddings? As soon as they
came out of Church they took horse and rode to the Glera; three times
did the Cid change his horse that day; seven targets were set up on the
morrow, and before they went to dinner all seven were broken. Fifteen
days did the feasts at this wedding continue; then all they who had
come there to do honour to the Cid took leave of him and of the
Infantes. Who can tell the great and noble gifts which the Cid gave to
them, both to great and little, each according to his quality, vessels
of gold and silver, rich cloth, cloaks, furs, horses, and money beyond
all reckoning, so that all were well pleased. And when it was told in
Castille with what gifts they who had been to the wedding were
returned, many were they who repented that they had not gone there.

BOOK VIII.

I. Now the history relateth that Gilbert, a sage who wrote the history
of the Moorish Kings who reigned in Africa, saith, that Bucar
remembering the oath which he had made to his brother King Yucef, how
he would take vengeance for him for the dishonour which he had received
from the Cid Ruydiez before Valencia, ordered proclamation to be made
throughout all the dominions of his father, and gathered together so
great a power of Moors, that among the Captains of his host there were
twenty and nine Kings; this he could well do, for his father was
Miramamolin, which is as much as to say Emperor. And when he had
gathered together this mighty host, he entered into his ships and crost
the sea, and came unto the port of Valencia, and what there befell him
with the Cid the history shall relate in due time.

II. Two years after their marriage did the Infantes of Carrion sojourn
in Valencia in peace and pleasure, to their own great contentment, and
their uncle Suero Gonzalez with them; and at the end of those two
years, there came to pass a great misadventure, by reason of which they
fell out with the Cid, in whom there was no fault. There was a lion in
the house of the Cid, who had grown a large one, and a strong, and was
full nimble: three men had the keeping of this lion, and they kept him
in a den which was in a court yard, high up in the palace; and when
they cleansed the court they were wont to shut him up in his den, and
afterward to open the door that he might come out and eat: the Cid kept
him for his pastime, that he might take pleasure with him when he was
minded so to do. Now it was the custom of the Cid to dine every day
with his company, and after he had dined, he was wont to sleep awhile
upon his seat. And one day when he had dined there came a man and told
him that a great fleet was arrived in the port of Valencia, wherein
there was a great power of the Moors, whom King Bucar had brought over,
the son of the Miramamolin of Morocco. And when the Cid heard this, his
heart rejoiced and he was glad, for it was nigh three years since he
had had a battle with the Moors. Incontinently he ordered a signal to
be made that all the honourable men who were in the city should
assemble together. And when they were all assembled in the Alcazar and
his sons-in-law with them, the Cid told them the news, and took counsel
with them in what manner they should go out against this great power of
the Moors. And when they had taken counsel the Cid went to sleep upon
his seat, and the Infantes and the others sate playing at tables and
chess. Now at this time the men who were keepers of the lion were
cleaning the court, and when they heard the cry that the Moors were
coming, they opened the den, and came down into the palace where the
Cid was, and left the door of the court open. And when the lion had ate
his meat and saw that the door was open he went out of the court and
came down into the palace, even into the hall where they all were; and
when they who were there saw him, there was a great stir among them;
but the Infantes of Carrion showed greater cowardice than all the rest.
Ferrando González having no shame, neither for the Cid nor for the
others who were present, crept under the seat whereon the Cid was
sleeping, and in his haste he burst his mantle and his doublet also at
the shoulders. And Diego González, the other, ran to a postern door,
crying, I shall never see Carrion again! this door opened upon a court
yard where there was a wine press, and he jumped out, and by reason of
the great height could not keep on his feet, but fell among the lees
and defiled himself therewith. And all the others who were in the hall
wrapt their cloaks around their arms, and stood round about the seat
whereon the Cid was sleeping, that they might defend him. The noise
which they made awakened the Cid, and he saw the lion coming towards
him, and he lifted up his hand and said, What is this?... and the lion
hearing his voice stood still; and he rose up and took him by the mane,
as if he had been a gentle mastiff, and led him back to the court where
he was before, and ordered his keepers to look better to him for the
time to come. And when he had done this he returned to the hall and
took his seat again; and all they who beheld it were greatly
astonished.

III. After some time Ferrando Gonzalez crept from under the seat where
he had hidden himself, and he came out with a pale face, not having yet
lost his fear, and his brother Diego got from among the lees: and when
they who were present saw them in this plight you never saw such sport
as they made; but my Cid forbade their laughter. And Diego went out to
wash himself and change his garments, and he sent to call his brother
forth, and they took counsel together in secret, and said to each
other, Lo now, what great dishonour this Ruydiez our father-in-law hath
done us, for he let this lion loose for the nonce, to put us to shame.
But in an evil day were we born if we do not revenge this upon his
daughters. Badly were we matched with them, and now for the after-feast
he hath made this mockery of us! But we must keep secret this which we
bear in mind, and not let him wit that we are wroth against him, for
otherwise he would not let us depart from hence, neither give us our
wives to take with us, and he would take from us the swords Colada and
Tizona which he gave us.... We will therefore turn this thing into
merriment before him and his people, to the end that they may not
suspect what we have at heart. While they were thus devising their
uncle Suero Gonzalez came in, and they told him of their intent. And he
counselled them to keep their wrath secret, as they said, till this
stir of the Moors from beyond sea was over, and then they should demand
their wives of the Cid that they might take them to their own country;
This, said he, the Cid can have no reason to deny, neither for
detaining ye longer with him, and when ye are got away far out of his
land, then may ye do what ye will with his daughters, and ill will ye
do if ye know not how to revenge yourselves; so shall ye remove the
dishonour from yourselves, and cast it upon him and his children. This
wicked counsel did Suero González give unto his nephews, which he might
have well excused giving, and then both he and they would not have come
off so badly as the history will in due season relate.

IV. After Suero González and his nephews had taken this evil counsel
together, they went to their lodging, and on the morrow they went to
the Alcazar and came to the Cid where he was preparing for business.
And when they drew nigh, the Cid rose and welcomed them right well, and
they carried a good countenance towards him, and made sport of what had
happened about the lion. And the Cid began to give order in what array
they should go out to battle. While they were in this discourse, a
great cry was heard in the town and a great tumult, and this was
because King Bucar was come with his great power into the place which
is called the Campo del Quarto, which is a league from Valencia, and
there he was pitching his tents and when this was done the camp made a
mighty show, for the history saith that there were full five thousand
pavilions, besides common tents. And when the Cid heard this, he took
both his sons-in-law and Suero González with them, and went upon the
highest tower of the Alcazar, and showed them the great power which
King Bucar of Morocco had brought; and when he beheld this great power
he began to laugh and was exceeding glad: but Suero González and his
nephews were in great fear: howbeit they would not let it be seen. And
when they came down from the tower the Cid went foremost, and they
tarried behind, and said, If we go into this battle we shall never
return to Carrion. Now it so chanced that Muño Gustios heard them, and
he told it to the Cid, and it grieved the Cid at heart; but he
presently made sport of it, and turned to his sons-in-law, and said,
You my sons shall remain in Valencia and guard the town, and we who are
used to this business will go out to battle; and they when they heard
this were ashamed, for they weened that some one had overheard what
they said; and they made answer, God forefend, Cid, that we should
abide in Valencia! we will go with you to the work, and protect your
body as if we were your sons, and you were the Count Don Gonzalo Gomez
our father. And the Cid was well pleased hearing them say this.

V. While they were thus saying, word was brought to the Cid that there
was a messenger from King Bucar at the gate of the town, who would fain
speak with him. The name of this Moor was Ximen de Algezira, and the
Cid gave order that he should be admitted. Now the history saith, God
had given such grace to my Cid that never Moor beheld his face without
having great fear of him; and this Ximen began to gaze upon his
countenance, and said nothing, for he could not speak. And so great was
the fear which came upon him that the Cid perceived it, and bade him
take courage and deliver the bidding of his Lord, without fear or
shame, for he was a messenger. And when the Moor heard this he laid
aside his fear, and recovered heart, and delivered his bidding fully,
after this wise. Sir Cid Campeador, King Bucar my Lord hath sent me to
thee saying, great wrong hast thou done him in holding Valencia against
him, which belonged to his forefathers; and moreover thou hast
discomfited his brother King Yucef. And now he is come against thee
with twenty and nine Kings, to take vengeance for his brother, and to
win Valencia from thee in spite of thee and of all who are with thee.
Nevertheless, King Bucar saith, that inasmuch as he hath heard that
thou art a wise man and of good understanding, he will show favour unto
thee, and let thee leave Valencia with all the lands thereof, and go
into Castille, and take with thee all that is thine. And if thou wilt
not do this he sends to say that he will fight against Valencia, and
take thee and thy wife and thy daughters, and torment thee grievously,
in such manner that all Christians who shall hear tell of it shall talk
thereof for evermore. This is the bidding of my Lord King Bucar.

VI. When the Cid heard this, notwithstanding he was wroth at heart, he
would not manifest it, but made answer in few words and said, Go tell
thy Lord King Bucar I will not give him up Valencia: great labour did I
endure in winning it, and to no man am I beholding for it in the world,
save only to my Lord Jesus Christ, and to my kinsmen and friends and
vassals who aided me to win it. Tell him that I am not a man to be
besieged, and when he does not expect it I will give him battle in the
field; and would that even as he has brought with him twenty and nine
Kings, so he had brought all the Moors of all Pagandom, for with the
mercy of God in which I trust, I should think to conquer them all. Bear
this answer to your Lord, and come here no more with messages, neither
on this account nor on any other. When Ximen de Algezira, the Moorish
messenger, heard this, he left Valencia, and went unto his Lord and
told him before the twenty and nine Kings all that the Cid had said.
And they were astonished at the brave words of the Cid, for they did
not think that he would have resisted, so great was their power,
neither did they ween that he would so soon come out to battle. And
they began to give order to set their siege round about Valencia, as
the history, and as Gilbert also relateth. This King Bucar and his
brother King Yucef were kinsmen of Alimaymon, who had been King of
Toledo and Valencia, and this was the reason why Bucar said that
Valencia had belonged to his forefathers.

VII. No sooner had Ximen, the messenger of King Bucar, left the city,
than the Cid ordered the bell to be struck, at the sound of which all
the men at arms in Valencia were to gather together. Incontinently they
all assembled before the Cid, and he told them all to be ready full
early on the morrow to go out and give battle to the Moors. And they
made answer with one accord that they were well pleased to do this, for
they trusted in God and in his good fortune that they should overcome
them. On the morrow therefore at the first cock-crow, they confessed
and communicated, as was their custom, and before the morning brake
they went forth from Valencia. And when they had got through the narrow
passes among the gardens, the Cid set his army in array. The van he
gave to Alvar Fañez Minaya, and to Pero Bermudez who bore his banner;
and he gave them five hundred horsemen, and a thousand and five hundred
men a-foot. In the right wing was that honourable one with the shaven
crown, Don Hieronymo the Bishop, with the like number both of horse and
foot; and in the left Martin Antolinez of Burgos and Alvar Salvadores,
with as many more. The Cid came in the rear with a thousand horsemen
all in coats of mail, and two thousand five hundred men a-foot. And in
this array they proceeded till they came in sight of the Moors. As soon
as the Cid saw their tents he ordered his men to slacken their pace,
and got upon his horse Bavieca, and put himself in the front before all
his army, and his sons-in-law the Infantes of Carrion advanced
themselves with him. Then the Bishop Don Hieronymo came to the Cid and
said, This day have I said the mass of the Holy Trinity before you, I
left my own country and came to seek you, for the desire I had to kill
some Moors, and to do honour to my order and to my own hands. Now would
I be the foremost in this business; I have my pennon and my armorial
bearing, and will employ them by God's help, that my heart may rejoice.
And my Cid, if you do not for the love of me grant this I will go my
ways from you. But the Cid bade him do his pleasure, saying that it
would please him also. And then the great multitude of the Moors began
to come out of their tents, and they formed their battle in haste, and
came against the Christians, with the sound of trumpets and tambours,
and with a great uproar; and as they came out upon the alarm, not
expecting that the Cid would come against them so soon, they did not
advance in order, as King Bucar had commanded. And when the Cid saw
this, he ordered his banner to be advanced, and bade his people lay on
manfully. The Bishop Don Hieronynio he pricked forward; two Moors he
slew with the two first thrusts of the lance; the haft broke, and he
laid hand on his sword, God,... how well the Bishop fought! two he slew
with the lance and five with the sword; the Moors came round about him
and laid on load of blows, but they could not pierce his arms. He who
was born in happy hour had his eyes upon him, and he took his shield
and placed it before him, and lowered his lance, and gave Bavieca the
spur, that good horse. With heart and soul he went at them, and made
his way into their first battle; seven the Campeador smote down, and
four he slew. In short time they joined battle in such sort that many
were slain and many overthrown, on one side and on the other, and so
great was the din of strokes and of tambours that none could hear what
another said; and they smote away cruelly, without rest or respite.

VIII. Now it came to pass in this battle that the Infante Diego
Gonzalez encountered a Moor of Africa who was of great stature and full
valiant withal, and this Moor came fiercely against him; and when the
Infante saw how fiercely he was coming, he turned his back and fled. No
one beheld this but Felez Muñoz the nephew of the Cid, who was a
squire; he set himself against the Moor with his lance under his arm,
and gave him such a thrust in the breast, that the streamer of the
lance came out all red with blood between his shoulders, and he down'd
with the dead man and took his horse by the bridle, and began to call
the Infante Diego Gonzalez. When the Infante heard himself called by
his name he turned his head to see who called him, and when he saw that
it was his cousin Felez Muñoz, he turned and awaited him. And Felez
Muñoz said, Take this horse, cousin Diego Gonzalez, and say that you
killed the Moor; nobody shall ever know otherwise from me, unless you
give just cause. While they were talking the Cid came up, after another
Moorish knight, whom he reached just as he came up to them, and smote
him with his sword upon the head, so that he split it down to the
teeth. When Felez Muñoz saw the Cid, he said, Sir, your son-in-law Don
Diego Gonzalez hath great desire to serve and help you in this day's
work, and he hath just slain a Moor from whom he hath won this horse:
and this pleased the Cid much, for he weened that it was true. And then
they all three advanced themselves toward the midst of the battle,
giving great strokes, and smiting and slaying. Who can tell how
marvellously the Bishop Don Hieronymo behaved himself in this battle,
and how well all the rest behaved, each in his way, and above all, the
Cid Campeador, as the greatest and best of all! nevertheless the power
of the Moors was so great that they could not drive them to flight, and
the business was upon the balance even till the hour of nones. Many
were the Christians who died that day among the foot-soldiers; and the
dead, Moors and Christians together, were so many, that the horses
could scant move among their bodies. But after the hour of nones the
Cid and his people smote the Moors so sorely that they could no longer
stand against them, and it pleased God and the good fortune of the Cid
that they turned their backs; and the Christians followed, hewing them
down, and smiting and slaying; ana they tarried not to lay hands on
those whom they felled, but went on in the pursuit as fast as they
could. Then might you have seen cords broken, and stakes plucked up as
the Christians came to the tents; my Cid's people drove King Bucar's
through their camp, and many an arm with its sleeve-mail was lopt off,
and many a head with its helmet fell to the ground; and horses ran
about on all sides without riders. Seven full miles did the pursuit
continue. And while they were thus following their flight the Cid set
eyes upon King Bucar, and made at him to strike him with the sword; and
the Moorish King knew him when he saw him coming; Turn this way Bucar,
cried the Campeador, you who came from beyond sea, to see the Cid with
the long beard. We must greet each other and cut out a friendship! God
confound such friendship, cried King Bucar, and turned his bridle, and
began to fly towards the sea, and the Cid after him, having great
desire to reach him. But King Bucar had a good horse and a fresh, and
the Cid went spurring Bavieca who had had hard work that day, and he
came near his back; and when they were nigh unto the ships, and the Cid
saw that he could not reach him, he darted his sword at him, and struck
him between the shoulders; and King Bucar being badly wounded rode into
the sea, and got to a boat, and the Cid alighted and picked up his
sword. And his people came up, hewing down the Moors before them, and
the Moors in their fear of death ran into the sea, so that twice as
many died in the water as in the battle; nevertheless so many were they
who were slain in the field, that they were thought to be seventeen
thousand persons and upward: but a greater number died in the sea. And
so many were they who were taken prisoner, that it was a wonder; and of
the twenty and nine Kings who came with King Bucar, seventeen were
slain. And when the Cid saw that of the Moors some had gotten to the
ships and the others were slain or taken, he returned toward their
tents.

IX. My Cid Ruydiez the Campeador returned from the slaughter; the hood
of his mail was thrown back, and the coif upon his head bore the marks
of it. And when he saw his sons-in-law the Infantes of Carrion, he
rejoiced over them, and said to them to do them honour, Come here, my
sons, for by your help we have conquered in this battle. Presently
Alvar Fañez came up: the shield which hung from his neck was all
battered: more than twenty Moors had he slain, and the blood was
running from his wrist to his elbow. Thanks be to God, said he, and to
the Father who is on high, and to you, Cid, we have won the day. All
these spoils are yours and your vassals. Then they spoiled the field,
where they found great riches in gold, and in silver, and in pearls,
and in precious stones, and in sumptuous tents, and in horses, and in
oxen, which were so many that it was a wonder. The poorest man among
the Christians was made full rich that day. So great was the spoil that
six hundred horses fell to the Cid as his fifth, beside sumpter beasts
and camels, and twelve hundred prisoners; and of the other things which
were taken no man can give account, nor of the treasure which the Cid
won that day in the Campo del Quarto. God be praised! said the
Campeador...once I was poor, but now am I rich in lands and in
possessions, and in gold and in honour. And Moors and Christians both
fear me. Even in Morocco, among their Mosques, do they fear least I
should set upon them some night. Let them fear it! I shall not go to
seek them, but here will I be in Valencia, and by God's help they shall
pay me tribute. Great joy was made in Valencia for this victory, and
great was the joy of the Infantes of Carrion; five thousand marks came
to them for their portion of the spoil. And when they saw themselves so
rich, they and their uncle Suero Gonzalez took counsel together, and
confirmed the wicked resolution which they had taken.

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