Chronicle Of The Cid by Various
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Various >> Chronicle Of The Cid
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X. One day the companions of the Cid were talking before him of this
victory, and they were saying who were the young knights that had
demeaned themselves well in the battle and in the pursuit, and who had
not; but no mention was made of the Infantes; for though some there
were who whispered to each other concerning them, none would speak ill
of them before the Cid. And the Infantes saw this, and took counsel
with their uncle, who ought not to have given them the evil counsel
that he did, and they determined forthwith to put their wicked design
in execution. So they went before the Cid, and Ferrando Gonzalez,
having enjoined silence, began to say thus. Cid, thou knowest well the
good tie which there is between thee and us, for we hold thee in the
place of a father, and thou didst receive us as thy sons on the day
when thou gavest us thy daughters to be our wives; and from that day we
have alway abode with thee, and have alway endeavoured to do that which
was to thy service; and if we have at any time failed therein it hath
not been wilfully, but for lack of better understanding. Now inasmuch
as it is long time since we departed from Castille, from our father and
from our mother, and because neither we know how it fares with them,
nor they how it fares with us, we would now, if you and Doņa Ximena
should so think good, return unto them, and take our wives with us: so
shall our father and our mother and our kinsmen see how honourably we
are mated, and how greatly to our profit, and our wives shall be put in
possession of the towns which we have given them for their dower, and
shall see what is to be the inheritance of the children whom they may
have. And whensoever you shall call upon us, we will be ready to come
and do you service. Then the Cid made answer, weening that this was
spoken without deceit, My sons, I am troubled at what ye say, for when
ye take away my daughters ye take my very heart-strings: nevertheless,
it is fitting that ye do as ye have said. Go when ye will, and I will
give unto you such gifts that it shall be known in Gallicia and in
Castille and in Leon, with what riches I have sent my sons-in-law home.
XI. When the Cid had made this reply, he rose from his seat and went to
Doņa Ximena his wife, and spake with her and with Alvar Faņez, and told
them what had passed with his sons-in-law, and what answer he had
given. Greatly was Doņa Ximena troubled at this, and Alvar Faņez also,
that he had consented to what they asked; and she said, I do not think
it is wisely done to let them take our daughters from us, and carry
them into another country; for these our sons-in-law are traitorous and
false at heart, and if I areed them right they will do some dishonour
to our daughters, when there will be none there to call them to
account. And Alvar Faņez was of the same mind; but the Cid was
displeased at this, and marvelled greatly at what they said; and he
bade them speak no more thereof, for God would not let it be
so, ... neither were the Infantes of such a race as that they should do
this; neither, quoth he, would it come into their minds to do it, if
only because our Lord King Don Alfonso was he who made the marriage;
but if the Devil should tempt them, and they should commit this
wickedness, dearly would it cost them!
XII. So the Infantes of Carrion made ready for their departure, and
there was a great stir in Valencia. And the two sisters Doņa Elvira and
Doņa Sol, came and knelt before the Cid and before Doņa Ximena their
mother, and said, You send us to the lands of Carrion, and we must
fulfil your command: now then give us your blessing, and let us have
some of your people with us in Carrion, we beseech you. And the Cid
embraced them and kissed them, and the mother kissed them and embraced
them twice as much, and they gave them their blessing, and their
daughters kissed their hands. And the Cid gave unto his sons-in-law
great store of cloth of gold, and of serge, and of wool, and an hundred
horses bridled and saddled, and an hundred mules with all their
trappings, and ten cups of gold, and an hundred vessels of silver, and
six hundred marks of silver in dishes and trenchers and other things.
When all this was done they took their departure and went out of
Valencia, and the Cid rode out a long league with them. He looked at
the birds, and the augury was bad, and he thought that these marriages
would not be without some evil. And his heart smote him, and he began
to think on what Doņa Ximena had said, and to fear lest evil should
befall him from these sons-in-law, for the manner of their speech was
not as it was wont to be. Where art thou my nephew, where art thou
Felez Muņoz? thou art the cousin of my daughters, said he, both in
heart and in soul. Go with them even unto Carrion, and see the
possessions which are given them, and come back with tidings thereof
And Felez Muņoz said that he would do this. And the Cid bade him salute
the Moor Abengalvon in his name, with whom they should tarry a night at
Molina, and bid him do service unto his daughters, and his sons-in-law,
and accompany them as far as Medina; and for all that he shall do; said
the Cid, I will give him good guerdon. And when the ladies came to take
their leave of their father the Cid, and of their mother Doņa Ximena,
great were the lamentations on both sides, as if their hearts had
divined the evil which was to come; and the Cid strove to comfort them,
saying, that he should alway think of them, and would maintain them in
good estate: and he gave them his blessing and turned back toward
Valencia, and they went their way with their husbands, and that parting
was like plucking the nail from the flesh.
XIII. So the Infantes of Carrion went their way, by the Campo del
Quarto to Chiva, and to Bonilla, and to Requena, and to Campo-Robres,
and they took up their lodging at Villa Taxo. And on the morrow they
took the road to Amaja, and leaving it on the right came to Adamuz, and
passed by Colcha, and rested at Quintana. And when Abengalvon knew that
the daughters of the Cid were coming, he went out joyfully from Molina
to meet them, and pitched tents for them in the field, and had food
brought there in abundance. God, how well he served them! and on the
morrow the Moor gave full rich and noble gifts to the daughters of his
Lord the Cid, and to each of the Infantes he gave a goodly horse. And
he took horse himself and rode on with them, having two hundred knights
in his company. They crossed the mountains of Luzon and passed
Arbuxuelo, and came to Salon, and the Moor lodged them in the place
which is called Ansarera; all this he did for the love of the Cid
Campeador. Now the Infantes seeing the riches which this Moor had with
him, took counsel together for treason, and said, Lo now if we could
slay this Moor Abengalvon, we should possess all these riches as safely
as if we were in Carrion, and the Cid could never take vengeance. And a
Moor who understood the Latin of the country, heard them and knew what
they said, and he went to Abengalvon, and said unto him, _Acaiaz_, that
is to say, Sire, take heed, for I heard the Infantes of Carrion
plotting to kill thee. Abengalvon the Moor was a bold Baron, and when
this was told him, he went with his two hundred men before the
Infantes, and what he said to them did not please them. Infantes of
Carrion, he said, tell me, what have I done? I have served ye without
guile, and ye have taken counsel for my death. If it were not for the
sake of my Cid, never should you reach Carrion! I would carry back his
daughters to the loyal Campeador, and so deal with you that it should
be talked of over the whole world. But I leave ye for traitors as ye
are. Doņa Elvira and Doņa Sol, I go with your favour. God grant that
this marriage may please your father! Having said this the good Moor
returned to Molina.
XIV. They went on by Valdespino, and by Parra, and Berrocal, and Val
de Endrinas, and they left Madina Celi on the right, and crost the
plain of Barahona, and past near Berlanga; and they crost the Douro by
a ford below the town, and rode on and came into the Oak-wood of
Corpes. The mountains were high, and the trees thick and lofty, and
there were wild beasts in that place. And they came to a green lawn in
the midst of that oak forest, where there was a fountain of clear
water, and there the Infantes gave order that their tents should be
pitched; and they passed the night there, making show of love to their
wives, which they badly fulfilled when the sun was risen, for this was
the place where they thought to put them to shame. Early in the morning
they ordered the sumpter beasts to be laden, and the tent struck, and
they sent all their company on, so that none remained with them,
neither man nor woman, but they and their wives were left alone that
they might disport with them at pleasure. And Doņa Elvira said to her
husband, Why wouldst thou that we should remain alone in this place?
And he said, Hold thy peace, and thou shall see! And the Infantes tore
away the mantles from off their wives, and the garments which they
wore, save only their inner garment, and they held them by the hair of
their head with one hand, and with the other took the girths of their
horses. And the women said, Don Diego and Don Ferrando, ye have strong
swords and of sharp edge; the one is called Colado and the other
Tizona; cut off our heads and we shall become martyrs! But set not this
evil example upon us, for whatever shame ye do unto us shall be to your
own dishonour. But the Infantes heeded not what they said, and heat
them cruelly with the saddle-girths, and kicked them with their spurs,
so that their garments were torn, and stained with blood. Oh, if the
Cid Campeador had come upon them at that hour! And the women cried out,
and called upon God and Holy Mary to have mercy upon them; but the more
they cried, the more cruelly did those Infantes beat and kick them,
till they were covered with blood, and swooned away. Then the Infantes
took their mantles and their cloaks, and their furs of ermine and other
garments, and left them for dead, saying, Lie there, daughters of the
Cid of Bivar, for it is not fitting that ye should be our wives, nor
that ye should have your dower in the lands of Carrion! We shall see
how your father will avenge you, and we have now avenged ourselves for
the shame he did us with the Lion. And they rode away as they said
this, leaving them to the mountain birds and to the beasts of the
forest. Oh if the Cid Campeador had come upon them at that hour! And
the Infantes rode on glorying in what they had done, for they said that
the daughters of the Cid were worthy to be their harlots, but not their
wives.
XV. When the Infantes, before they committed this great cruelty,
ordered their company to ride forward, Felez Muņoz the nephew of the
Cid, rode on with the rest: but this order nothing pleased him, and he
was troubled at heart, insomuch that he went aside from his companions,
and struck into the forest, and there waited privily till he should see
his cousins come, or learn what the Infantes had done to them.
Presently he saw the Infantes, and heard what they said to each other.
Certes if they had espied him he could not have escaped death. But they
pricked on not seeing him, and he rode back to the fountain, and there
he found the women lying senseless, and in such plight as ye have
heard. And he made great lamentation over them, saying, Never can it
please God that ye my cousins should receive such dishonour! God and
St. Mary give them who have done this an evil guerdon! for ye never
deserved this, neither are ye of a race to deserve that this or any
other evil should betide ye! By this time the women began to come to
themselves, but they could not speak, for their hearts were breaking.
And Felez Muņoz called out to them, Cousins! Cousins! Doņa Elvira! Doņa
Sol! for the love of God rouse yourselves that we may get away before
night comes, or the wild beasts will devour us! and they came to
themselves and began to open their eyes, and saw that he who spake to
them was Felez Muņoz; and he said to them, For the love of God take
heart and let us be gone; for the Infantes will soon seek for me, and
if God do not befriend us we shall all be slain. And Doņa Sol said to
him in her great pain, Cousin, for all that our father hath deserved at
your hands, give us water. Felez Muņoz took his hat and filled it with
water and gave it to them. And he comforted them and bade them take
courage, and besought them to bear up. And he placed them upon his
horse, and covered them both with his cloak, and led them through the
oak forest, into the thickest part thereof, and there he made a bed of
leaves and of grass, and laid them on it, and covered them with his
cloak, and he sate down by them and began to weep, for he knew not what
he should do: for he had no food, and if he went to seek it, great
danger was there because they were wounded and bloody, that the wild
beasts and the birds of the mountain would attack them; and on the
other hand, unless he went to his uncle the Cid, to tell him of this
wickedness, none other knew what had been done, and thus there would be
no vengeance taken.
XVI. While Felez Muņoz was in this great trouble the Infantes joined
their company, and their spurs were bloody and their hands also from
the wounds which they had given their wives. And when their people saw
them in this plight, and that their wives were not with them, they
weened that some wickedness had been done; and all they who were of
good heart and understanding among them went apart, to the number of an
hundred, with one who was named Pero Sanchez; and he spake unto them,
saying, Friends, these Infantes have done a foul deed upon their wives,
the daughters of our Lord the Cid; and they are our liege Ladies, for
we did homage to them before their father, and accepted them as such;
and the Cid made us knights that we should discharge the duty which we
owe to them. Now then, it behoveth us that we arm ourselves, and demand
of the Infantes what they have done with our ladies, and require them
at their hands. And if they will not deliver them to us, then will we
fight against them even to death; for thus shall we do right, and
otherwise we shall be ill spoken of, and not worthy to live in the
world. This was the counsel which Pero Sanchez gave, and they all held
it good and did accordingly. And the Infantes, when they saw them
coming and heard their demand, were greatly afraid, and they said, Go
to the fountain in the Oak-forest of Corpes, and there ye may find
them; we left them safe and sound, and no harm have we done unto them;
but we would not take them with us. Ill have ye done, replied those
knights, to forsake such wives, and the daughters of such a father, and
ill will ye fare for it! And from henceforward, we renounce all
friendship with ye, and defy ye for the Cid, and for ourselves, and for
all his people. And the Infantes could not reply. And when they saw
that the Infantes did not answer, they said, Get ye gone for traitors
and false caitiffs: there is no way in the world by which ye can escape
from the enemies whom ye have now made! But for all this the Infantes
made no reply, and went their way.
XVII. Pero Sanchez and those other knights rode back to the green lawn
in the Oak-forest, where they had left the dames; and when they came to
the fountain they saw that there was blood round about, but the dames
were not there; and they were greatly troubled, and knew not where to
seek them. And they went about the forest seeking them, calling them
aloud, and making great lamentation for the ill that had befallen, and
also, because they could not find them. Now Felez Muņoz and the women
heard their voices, and were in great fear, for they weened that it was
the Infantes and their company, who were returned with intent to kill
them; and in their great fear they remained still, and would fain have
been far from that place. So Pero Sanchez and they who were with him
went about seeking them in vain. Then spake up a knight called Martin
Ferrandez, who was a native of Burgos, saying, Friends, it boots us to
turn back from hence and follow after the Infantes, and do battle with
them, even unto death, because of this wickedness which they have
committed, rather than return to the Cid; for if we do not strive to
take vengeance, we are not worthy to appear before him. And if,
peradventure, we cannot come up with them upon the road, let its go
before the King Don Alfonso, and discover unto him this foul deed, and
tell him the truth thereof, to the intent that he may order justice to
be done for such a thing; for certes, greatly will he be troubled when
he knoweth it, and greatly will he be incensed against them, inasmuch
as he it was who besought the Cid to give them his daughters to wife.
And we will not depart from the King's house, nor take unto ourselves
any other Lord till the Cid shall have obtained justice in this matter.
And all those knights held this counsel to be good, and agreed to do
so. And they took their way and followed after the Infantes as fast as
they could, taking no rest; but the Infantes had ridden away full
speed, and they could not overtake them. And when they saw this they
went their way to King Don Alfonso who was at Palencia, and they came
before him and kissed his hands, and then with sorrowful hearts told
him of the evil which had befallen the Cid, in this dishonour done unto
his daughters by the Infantes of Carrion. And when the King heard it he
was grievously offended, as one who had great part therein; and he said
unto him, It must needs be, that before many days we shall receive
tidings of this from the Cid Campeador, and then upon his complaint we
will enter into the business in such wise, that every one shall have
justice. Then Pero Sanchez and the other knights kissed the King's
hands for what he had said; and they abode in his court, waiting
tidings from the Cid.
XVIII. When Felez Muņoz saw that the voices which they heard had
ceased, he went after awhile to a village which was at hand, to seek
food for the dames and for himself; and in this manner he kept them for
seven days. And in that village he found a good man, who was a
husbandman, and who lived a godly life with his wife and with his
daughters; and this good man knew the Cid Ruydiez, for the Cid had
lodged in his house, and he had heard tell of his great feats. And when
Felez Muņoz knew this he took the man aside, seeing how good a man he
was, and how well he spake of the Cid, and told him what had befallen
those dames, and how he had hidden them in the wood. And when the good
man heard it he had great ruth for them, but he held himself a happy
man in that he could do them service; and he took two asses and went
with Felez Muņoz to the place where they were hidden, and took with him
his two sons, who were young men. And when the dames saw them they
marvelled who they might be, and were ashamed and would have hidden
themselves; but they could not. And the good man bent his knees before
them, weeping, and said, Ladies, I am at the service of the Cid your
father, who hath many times lodged in my house, and I served him the
best I could, and he alway was bountiful toward me. And now, this young
man, who saith his name is Felez Muņoz, hath told me the great wrong
and dishonour which your husbands, the Infantes of Carrion, have done
unto you. And when I heard it I was moved to great sorrow, and for the
great desire I have to do service to the Cid and to you, I am come
hither, to carry you, if you will be so pleased, upon these beasts, to
my house; for you must not remain in this wild forest, where the beasts
would devour you. And when you are there, I and my wife and my
daughters will serve you the best we can; and you may then send this
squire to your father, and we will keep you secretly and well till your
father shall send for you; this place is not fit for you, for you would
die of cold and hunger. When the good man had said this, Doņa Sol
turned to Doņa Elvira and said, Sister, the good man saith well, and it
is better that we should go with him than remain and die here, for so
shall we see the vengeance which I trust in God our father will give
us. So they gave thanks to God, and to that man. And he set them upon
his beasts, and led them to the village, when it was now night; and
they entered his house secretly, so that none knew of their coming save
the good man and his family, whom he charged that they should tell no
man thereof. And there his wife and his daughters ministered uoto them
with pure good will.
XIX. Then these dames wrote a letter to their father the Cid, which was
a letter of credence, that he should believe the tidings which Felez
Muņoz would deliver, and they wrote it with the blood from their
wounds. And Felez Muņoz went his way toward Valencia; and when he came
to Santesteban he spake with Diego Tellez, who had been of the company
of Alvar Faņez, and told him of what had befallen. He, so soon as he
heard this great villainy, took beasts and seemly raiment, and went for
those dames, and brought them from the house of that good man to
Santesteban, and did them all honour that he could. They of Santesteban
were always gentlemen; and they comforted the daughters of the Cid, and
there they were healed of their hurts. In the mean time Felez Muņoz
proceeded on his journey; and it came to pass that he met Alvar Faņez
Minaya, and Pero Bermudez on the way, going to the King with a present
which the Cid had sent him; and the present was this, ... two hundred
horses, from those which he had won in the battle of Quarto from King
Bucar, and an hundred Moorish prisoners, and many good swords, and many
rich saddles. And as Alvar Faņez and Pero Bermudez rode on in talk,
they thought that it was he, and marvelled greatly; and he when he drew
nigh began to tear his hair, and make great lamentation, so that they
were greatly amazed. And they alighted, asking him what it was. And he
related unto them all that had befallen. But when they heard this, who
can tell the lamentation which they made? And they took counsel
together what they should do, and their counsel was this, ... that they
should proceed to the King, and demand justice at his hands in the name
of the Cid, and that Felez Muņoz should proceed to Valencia. So he told
them the name of the good man with whom he had left the dames, and the
place where he dwelt, and also how he had spoken with Diego Tellez at
Santesteban, and then they parted.
XX. Alvar Faņez and Pero Bermudez held on their way, and came to the
King, whom they found in Valladolid. And he received them right well,
and asked them for the Cid, and they kissed his hand and said, Sir, the
Cid commends himself to your grace; he hath had a good affair with King
Bucar of Morocco, and hath defeated him, and nine and twenty Kings who
came with him, in the field of Quarto, and great booty did he gain
there in gold and in silver, and in horses and tents and cattle; and he
hath slain many and taken many prisoners. And in acknowledgment of you
as his natural Lord, he sends you two hundred horses, and an hundred
black Moors, and many rich saddles and precious swords, beseeching you
to accept them at his hand, in token of the desire he hath to do
service to God and to you, maintaining the faith of Jesus Christ. And
King Don Alfonso made answer and said, that he took the present of the
Cid with a right good will, as of the truest and most honourable vassal
that ever Lord had: and he gave order to his people to receive it, and
bade Alvar Faņez and Pero Bermudez seat themselves at his feet. After a
while Alvar Faņez rose and said, Sir, when we departed from the Cid we
left him in great honour and prosperity; but on our way we met a squire
who is his nephew, by name Felez Muņoz, and he hath told us the evil
and the dishonour which both we and the Cid endure in the villainy
which the Infantes of Carrion have committed upon his daughters. You,
Sir, know how great this villainy hath been, and how nearly it toucheth
you, for the marriage was of your appointment, and I gave them by your
command to the Infantes. Pero Sánchez hath told you that the dames were
dead, as he believed them to be; but we, Sir, know that they are yet
alive, having been grievously hurt and wounded with bridles and spurs,
and stript of their garments, ... in which plight Felez Muņoz found
them. Certes such a thing as this cannot please God in heaven, and
ought to offend you who are Lord here in your own realm. Now therefore
we beseech you that you take justice for yourself, and give us and the
Cid ours. And let not the Cid be dishonoured in your time, for blessed
be God, he hath never been dishonoured yet, but hath gone on alway
advancing in honour since King Don Ferrando your father knighted him in
Coimbra. To this the King made answer and said, God knoweth the trouble
which I resent for this dishonour which hath been done to the Cid, and
the more I hear of it the more doth it trouble me, and many reasons are
there why it should; for my own sake, and for the sake of the Cid, and
for the sake of his daughters; but since they are yet alive the evil is
not so great, for as they have been wrongfully put to shame, nothing
meriting such treatment, they may be rightfully avenged, as my Cortes
shall determine. Moreover it is a grief to me that my vassals the
Infantes of Carrion should have erred so badly and with such cruelty;
but since it hath been so I cannot but do justice. I hold it good
therefore to summon them to my Cortes, which I will assemble for this
matter in Toledo, and the time assigned them shall be three months from
this day; and do ye tell the Cid to come there with such of his people
as he shall think good. Glad were Alvar Faņez and Pero Bermudez of this
reply, and they kissed his hand, and dispeeded themselves. And the King
ordered mules to be given them for the dames, with right noble saddles
and trappings of gold and cloth of gold and of wool, with menever and
gris.
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