Chronicle Of The Cid by Various

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XI. After this payment had been made the Cortes assembled again, and
the King and all the honourable men being each in his place, the Cid
rose from his ivory seat, and said, Sir, praise be to God and your
favour, I have recovered my swords, and my treasure; now then I pray
you let this other demand be heard which I have to make against the
Infantes. Full hard it is for me to make it, though I have it rooted in
my heart! I say then, let them make answer before you, and tell why it
was that they besought you to marry them with my daughters, and why
they took them away from me from Valencia, when they had it in heart to
dishonour me, and to strike them, and leave them as they were left, in
the Oak-forest of Corpes? Look, Sir, what dishonour they did them! they
stript them of the garments which they had not given them, as if they
had been bad women, and the children of a bad father. With less than
mortal defiance I shall not let them go!... How had I deserved this,
Infantes, at your hands? I gave you my daughters to take with you from
Valencia; with great honour and great treasures gave I them unto
you;... Dogs and Traitors,... ye took them from Valencia when ye did
not love them, and with your bridles ye smote and with your spurs ye
spurned and wounded them, and ye left them alone in the Oak-forest, to
the wild beasts, and to the birds of the mountain! King Don Alfonso,
they neither remembered God, nor you, nor me, nor their own good
fortune! And here was fulfilled the saying of the wise man, that harder
it is for those who have no understanding to bear with good than with
evil. Praise be to God and to your grace, such a one am I, and such
favour hath God shown me, from the day when I first had horse and arms,
until now, that not only the Infantes of Carrion, but saving yourself,
Sir, there is not a King in Christendom who might not think himself
honoured in marrying with either of my daughters,... how much more then
these traitors!... I beseech you give me justice upon them for the evil
and dishonour which they have done me! And if you and your Cortes will
not right me, through the mercy of God and my own good cause, I will
take it myself, for the offence which they have committed against God
and the faith, and the truth which they promised and vowed to their
wives. I will pull them down from the honour in which they now are;
better men than they have I conquered and made prisoners ere now! and
with your license, Sir, to Carrion will I follow them, even to their
inheritance, and there will I besiege them, and take them by the
throat, and carry them prisoners to Valencia to my daughters, and there
make them do penance for the crime which they have committed, and feed
them with the food which they deserve. If I do not perform this, call
me a flat traitor. When the King heard this he rose up and said, that
it might be seen how he was offended in this thing. Certes, Cid Ruydiez
Campeador, I asked your daughters of you for the Infantes of Carrion,
because, as they well know, they besought me to do so, I never having
thought thereof. It well seemeth now that they were not pleased with
this marriage which I made at their request, and great part of the
dishonour which they have done you, toucheth me. But seeing ye are here
in my presence, it is not fitting that you make your demand in any
other manner than through my Cortes; do you therefore accuse them, and
let them acquit themselves if they can before my Alcaldes, who will
pass sentence according to what is right. And the Cid kissed the King's
hand, and returned to his place upon the ivory seat.

XII. Then the Cid arose and said, God prosper you, Sir, in life, and
honour, and estate, since you have compassion for me and for the
dishonour which my daughters have received. And he turned towards the
Infantes of Carrion, and said, Ferrando Gonzalez and Diego Gonzalez, I
say that ye are false traitors for leaving your wives as ye left them
in the Oak-forest; and here before the King I attaint you as false
traitors, and defy you, and will produce your peers who shall prove it
upon you, and slay you or thrust you out of the lists, or make you
confess it in your throats. And they were silent. And the King said,
that seeing they were there present, they should make answer to what
the Cid had said. Then Ferrando Gonzalez the elder arose and said, Sir,
we are your subjects, of your kingdom of Castille, and of the best
hidalgos therein, sons of the Count Don Gonzalo Gonzalez; and we hold
that men of such station as ourselves were not well married with the
daughters of Ruydiez of Bivar. And for this reason we forsook them,
because they come not of blood fit for our wives, for one lineage is
above another. Touching what he says, that we forsook them, he saith
truly; and we hold that in so doing we did nothing wrong, for they were
not worthy to be our wives, and we are more to be esteemed for having
left them, than we were while they were wedded with us. Now then, Sir,
there is no reason why we should do battle upon this matter with any
one. And Diego Gonzalez his brother arose and said, You know, Sir, what
perfect men we are in our lineage, and it did not befit us to be
married with the daughters of such a one as Ruydiez; and when he had
said this he held his peace and sate down. Then Count Don García rose
and said, Come away, Infantes, and let us leave the Cid sitting like a
bridegroom in his ivory chair:... he lets his beard grow and thinks to
frighten us with it!... The Campeador put up his hand to his beard, and
said, What hast thou to do with my beard, Count? Thanks be to God, it
is long because it hath been kept for my pleasure; never son of woman
hath taken me by it; never son of Moor or of Christian hath plucked it,
as I did yours in your castle of Cabra, Count, when I took your castle
of Cabra, and took you by the beard; there was not a boy of the host
but had his pull at it. What I plucked then is not yet methinks grown
even!... And the Count cried out again, Come away, Infantes, and leave
him! Let him go back to Rio de Ovierna, to his own country, and set up
his mills, and take toll as he used to do!... he is not your peer that
you should strive with him. At this the knights of the Cid looked at
each other with fierce eyes and wrathful countenances; but none of them
dared speak till, the Cid bade them, because of the command which he
had given.

XIII. When the Cid saw that none of his people made answer he turned to
Pero Bermudez and said, Speak, Pero Mudo, what art thou silent for? He
called him Mudo, which is to say, Dumb-ee, because he snaffled and
stuttered when he began to speak; and Pero Bermudez was wroth that he
should be so called before all that assembly. And he said, I tell you
what, Cid, you always call me Dumb-ee in Court, and you know I cannot
help my words; but when anything is to be done, it shall not fail for
me. And in his anger he forgot what the Cid had said to him and to the
others that they should make no broil before the King. And he gathered
up his cloak under his arm and went up to the eleven Counts who were
against the Cid, to Count Garcia, and when he was nigh him he clenched
his fist, and gave him a blow which brought him to the ground. Then was
the whole Cortes in an uproar by reason of that blow, and many swords
were drawn, and on one side the cry was Cabra and Grañon, and on the
other side it was Valencia and Bivar; but the strife was in such sort
that the Counts in short time voided the Palace, King Don Alfonso
meantime cried out aloud, forbidding them to fight before him, and
charging them to look to his honour; and the Cid then strove what he
could to quiet his people, saying to the King. Sir, you saw that I
could bear it no longer, being thus maltreated in your presence; if it
had not been before you, well would I have had him punished. Then the
King sent to call those Counts who had been driven out; and they came
again to the Palace, though they fain would not, complaining of the
dishonour which they had received. And the King said unto them that
they should defend themselves with courtesy and reason, and not revile
the Cid, who was not a man to be reviled; and he said that he would
defend as far as he could the rights of both parties. Then they took
their seats on the estrados as before.

XIV. And Pero Bermudez rose and said to Count Garcia, Foul mouth, in
which God hath put no truth, thou hast dared let thy tongue loose to
speak of the Cid's beard. His is a praiseworthy beard, and an
honourable one, and one that is greatly feared, and that never hath
been dishonoured, nor overcome! and if you please you may remember when
he fought against you in Cabra, hundred to hundred, he threw you from
your horse, and took thee by the beard, and made thee and thy knights
prisoners, and carried thee prisoner away across a pack-saddle; and his
knights pulled thy beard for thee, and I who stand here had a good
hand-full of it: how then shall a beard that hath been pulled speak
against one that hath alway been honourable! If you deny this, I will
fight you upon this quarrel before the King our Lord. Then Count Suero
González rose in great haste and said, Nephews, go you away and leave
these rascally companions: if they are for fighting, we will give them
their fill of that, if our Lord the King should think good so to
command; that shall not fail for us, though they are not our peers.
Then Don Alvar Fañez Minaya arose and said, Hold thy peace, Count Suero
Gonzalez! you have been to breakfast before you said your prayers, and
your words are more like a drunkard's than one who is in his senses.
Your kinsmen like those of the Cid!... if it were not out of reverence
to my Lord and King, I would teach you never to talk again in this way.
And then the King saw that these words were going on to worse, and
moreover that they were nothing to the business; and he commanded them
to be silent, and said, I will determine this business of the defiance
with the Alcaldes, as shall be found right; and I will not have these
disputes carried on before me, least you should raise another uproar in
my presence.

XV. Then the King rose and called to the Alcaldes, and went apart with
them into a chamber, and the Cid and all the others remained in the
Hall. And when the King and the Alcaldes had taken counsel together
concerning what was right in this matter, they came out from the
chamber, and the King went and seated himself in his chair, and the
Alcaldes each in his place, and they commanded all persons to be silent
and hear the sentence which the King should give. Then the King spake
thus: I have taken counsel with these Counts whom I appointed to be
Alcaldes in this cause between the Cid and the Infantes of Carrion, and
with other honourable and learned men: and this is the sentence which I
give; that both the Infantes and Count Suero Gonzalez their fosterer
and uncle, forasmuch as it is given me to understand that he was the
adviser and abettor in the dishonour which they did unto the daughters
of the Cid, shall do battle with such three of the Cid's people as it
may please him to appoint, and thereby acquit themselves if they can.
When the King had given this sentence, the Cid rose and kissed, his
hand and said, May God have you, Sir, in his holy keeping long and
happy years, seeing you have judged justly, as a righteous King and our
natural Lord. I receive your sentence; and now do I perceive that it is
your pleasure to show favour unto me, and to advance mine honour, and
for this reason I shall ever be at your service. Then Pero Bermudez
rose up and went to the Cid and said, A boon, Sir! I beseech you let me
be one of those who shall do battle on your part, for such a one do I
hold myself to be, and this which they have done is so foul a thing,
that I trust in God to take vengeance for it. And the Cid made answer
that he was well pleased it should be so, and that he should do battle
with Ferrando Gonzalez the eldest; and upon that Pero Bermudez kissed
his hand. Then Martin Antolinez of Burgos rose and besought the Cid
that he might be another, and the Cid granted his desire, and said that
he should do battle with Diego Gonzalez the younger brother. And then
Muño Gustioz of Linquella rose and besought the Cid that he might be
the third, and the Cid granted it, and appointed him to do battle with
Count Suero Gonzalez. And when the Cid had appointed his three
champions, the King gave command that the combat should be performed on
the morrow; but the Infantes were not prepared to fight so soon, and
they besought him of his favour that he would let them go to Carrion,
and that they would come prepared for the battle. And the King would
not allow this time which they requested; howbeit the Counts Don
Anrrich and Don Remond his sons-in-law, and Count Don Nuño, spake with
him, and besought him of his grace that he would allow them three
weeks; and the King at their intreaty granted it with the pleasure of
the Cid.

XVI. Now when all this had been appointed, as ye have heard, and while
they were all in the court, there came into the Palace messengers from
the Kings of Aragon and of Navarre, who brought letters to King Don
Alfonso, and to the Cid Campeador, wherein those Kings sent to ask the
daughters of the Cid in marriage, the one for the Infante Don Sancho of
Aragon, the other for the Infante Garcia Ramirez of Navarre. And when
they came before the King, they bent their knees and gave him the
letters, and delivered their message; the like did they to the Cid.
Much were the King and the Cid also pleased at this news, and the King
said unto him, What say you to this? And the Cid answered, I and my
daughters are at your disposal, do you with us as you shall think good.
And the King said, I hold it good that they wed with these Infantes,
and that from henceforward they be Queens and Ladies; and that for the
dishonour which they have received, they now receive this honour. And
the Cid rose and kissed the hands of the King, and all his knights did
the like. These messengers hight, he of Aragon Yñigo Ximenez, and he of
Navarre Ochoa Perez. And the King gave order that his letters of
consent to these marriages should be given, and the Cid did the like.
And those knights did homage before the King, that in three months from
that day the Infantes of Aragon and of Navarre should come to Valencia,
to the Cid, to be wedded to his daughters. Great joy had the companions
of the Cid that these marriages were appointed, seeing how their honour
was increased; and contrariwise, great was the sorrow of the Infantes
of Carrion and their friends, because it was to their confusion and
great shame. And King Don Alfonso said aloud unto the Cid before them
all, Praised be the name of God, because it hath pleased him that the
dishonour which was done to me and to you and your daughters, should
thus be turned into honour: for they were the wives of the sons of
Counts, and now shall they he the wives of the sons of Kings, and
Queens hereafter. Great was the pleasure of the Cid and his company at
these words of the King, for before they had sorrow, and now it was
turned into joy. And the Infantes went away from the Palace full sadly,
and went to their lodging, and prepared to go to Carrion that they
might make ready for the combat, which was to be in three weeks from
that time.

XVII. Then the Cid said unto the King, Sir, I have appointed those who
are to do battle with the Infantes and their uncle for the enmity and
treason which they committed against me and my daughters; and now, Sir,
as there is nothing more for me to do here, I will leave them in your
hand, knowing that you will not suffer them to receive any displeasure
or wrong soever, and that you will defend their right. And if it please
you I would fain return to Valencia, where I have left my wife and
daughters, and my other companions; for I would not that the Moors
should rise up against me during my absence, thinking peradventure that
I have not sped so well in this matter as I have done, praised be God
and you. And moreover I have to make ready for these marriages which
you have now appointed. And the King bade him go when he pleased, and
good fortune with him, and said that he would protect his knights and
maintain his right in all things. Then the Cid kissed the King's hand
for this which he had said, and commended the knights to his keeping.
And the King called for Count Don Remond his son-in-law, and gave the
knights of the Cid to his charge, and bade them not depart from him;
and then the King rose and returned to the Alcazar.

XVIII. Then the Cid took off his coif of _ranzal,_ which was as white
as the sun, and he loosed his beard, and took it out of the cord with
which it was bound. All they who were there could not be satisfied with
looking at him. And the Counts Don Anrrich and Don Remond came up to
him, and he embraced them, and thanked them and the other good men who
had been Alcaldes in this business, for maintaining his right; and he
promised to do for them in requital whatever they might require; and he
besought them to accept part of his treasures. And they thanked him for
his offer, but said that it was not seemly. Howbeit he sent great
presents to each of them, and some accepted them and some did not. Who
can tell how nobly the Cid distributed his treasure before he departed?
And he forgave the King the two hundred marks which should have been
paid on account of the Infantes. And to the knights who had come from
Aragon and Navarre concerning the marriages, he gave many horses, and
money in gold, and sent them with great honour into their own country.

XIX. On the morrow the Cid went to take leave of the King, and the King
went some way out of the town with him, and all the good men who were
in the court also, to do him honour as he deserved. And when he was
about to dispeed himself of the King they brought him his precious
horse Bavieca, and he turned to the King and said, Sir, I should depart
ill from hence if I took with me so good a horse as my Bavieca, and did
not leave him for you, for such a horse as this is fit for you and for
no other master: and that you may see what he is, I will do before you
what it is long since I have done except in the battles which I have
had with my enemies. Then he mounted his horse, with his ermine
housings, and gave him the spur. Who can tell the goodness of the horse
Bavieca, and of the Cid who rode him? And as the Cid was doing this the
horse brake one of his reins, yet he came and stopt before the King as
easily as if both the reins had been whole. Greatly did the King and
all they who were with him marvel at this, saying that they had never
seen or heard of so good a horse as that. And the Cid besought the King
that he would be pleased to take the horse, but the King answered, God
forbid that I should take him!... rather would I give you a better if I
had one, for he is better bestowed on you than on me or any other, for
upon that horse you have done honour to yourself, and to us, and to all
Christendom, by the good feats which you have atchieved. Let him go as
mine, and I will take him when I please. Then the Cid kissed the King's
hand and dispeeded himself, and the King embraced him and returned to
Toledo.

XX. Now when the Cid had taken leave of the King, and of the other
honourable men and Counts, and Ricos-omes who were with him, Pero
Bermudez and Martin Antolinez and Muño Gustioz went on yet awhile with
him: and he counselled them how to demean themselves so as to clear him
of the shame which had been done him, and to be held for good knights
themselves, and to take vengeance for King Don Alfonso, and for him,
and for themselves, that he might receive good tidings from them in
Valencia. And they took his counsel well, as they afterwards manifested
when there was occasion. But Martin Antolinez made answer, Why do you
say this, Sir? we have undertaken the business and we shall go through
it; and they said unto him, God have you in his guidance. Sir, and be
you sure and certain, that by the mercy and help of God we shall so
demean ourselves as to come to you without shame. But if for our sins
it should betide otherwise, never more shall we appear before you dead
or living,... for slain we may be, but never vanquished. Then he bade
them return to the King, praying to God to have them in his keeping,
and assist them in fulfilling their demand, as he knew that their cause
was right.

BOOK X.

I. Now King Alfonso misdoubted the Infantes of Carrion that they would
not appear at the time appointed, and therefore he said that he would
go to Carrion, and the battle should be fought there. And he took with
him the Counts whom he had appointed Alcaldes, and Pero Bermudez and
Martin Antolinez and Muño Gustioz went with the Count Don Remond, to
whose charge the King had given them. And on the third day after the
Cid departed from Toledo the King set forth for Carrion; but it so
chanced that he fell sick upon the road, and could not arrive within
the three weeks, so that the term was enlarged to five. And when the
King's health was restored he proceeded and reached Carrion, and gave
order that the combat should be performed, and appointed the day, and
named the plain of Carrion for the place thereof. And the Infantes came
there with a great company of all their friends and kindred, for their
kinsmen were many and powerful; and they all came with one accord, that
if before the battle they could find any cause they would kill the
knights of the Cid: nevertheless, though they had determined upon this
they dared not put it in effect, because they stood in fear of the
King.

II. And when the night came of which the morrow was appointed for the
combat, they on one side and on the other kept vigil in the Churches,
each in that Church to which he had the most devotion. Night is past
away, and the dawn is now breaking; and at day-break a great multitude
was assembled in the field, and many Ricos-omes came there for the
pleasure which they would have in seeing this battle, and the King sent
and commanded the champions to make ready. Moreover he made the two
Counts his sons-in-law, Don Anrrich and Don Remond, and the other
Counts and their people, arm themselves and keep the field, that the
kinsmen of the Infantes might not make a tumult there. Who can tell the
great dole and sorrow of Count Gonzalo Gonzalez for his sons the
Infantes of Carrion, because they had to do battle this day! and in the
fullness of his heart he curst the day and the hour in which he was
born, for his heart divined the sorrow which he was to have for his
children. Great was the multitude which was assembled from all Spain to
behold this battle. And there in the field near the lists the champions
of the Cid armed themselves on one side, and the Infantes on the other.
And Count Don Remond armed the knights of the Cid, and instructed them
how to do their devoir, and Count Garci Ordoñez helped arm the Infantes
of Carrion and their uncle Suero Gonzalez, and they sent to ask the
King of his favour that he would give command that the swords Colada
and Tizona should not be used in that combat. But the King would not,
and he answered that each must take the best sword and the best arms
that he could, save only that the one should not have more than the
other. Greatly were they troubled at this reply, and greatly did they
fear those good swords, and repent that they had taken them to the
Cortes of Toledo. And from that hour the Infantes and Suero Gonzalez
bewrayed in their countenances that they thought ill of what they had
done, and happy men would they have thought themselves if they had not
committed that great villainy, and he if he had not counselled it; and
gladly would they have given all that they had in Carrion so it could
now have been undone.

III. And the King went to the place where the Infantes were arming, and
said unto them, If ye feared these swords ye should have said so in the
Cortes of Toledo, for that was the place, and not this; ... there is
now nothing to be done but to defend yourselves stoutly, as ye have
need against those with whom ye have to do. Then went he to the knights
of the Cid, whom he found armed; and they kissed his hand and said unto
him, Sir, the Cid hath left us in your hand, and we beseech you see
that no wrong be done us in this place, where the Infantes of Carrion
have their party; and by God's mercy we will do ourselves right upon
them. And the King bade them have no fear for that. Then their horses
were brought, and they crost the saddles, and mounted, with their
shields hanging from the neck; and they took their spears, each of
which had its streamer, and with many good men round about they went to
the lists; and on the other side the Infantes and Count Suero Gonzalez
came up with a great company of their friends and kinsmen and vassals.
And the King said with a loud voice, Hear what I say, Infantes of
Carrion!... this combat I would have had waged in Toledo, but ye said
that ye were not ready to perform it there, and therefore I am come to
this which is your native place, and have brought the knights of the
Cid with me. They are come here under my safeguard. Let not therefore
you nor your kinsmen deceive yourselves, thinking to overpower them by
tumult, or in any other way than by fair combat; for whosoever shall
begin a tumult, I have given my people orders to cut him in pieces upon
the spot, and no enquiry shall be made touching the death of him who
shall so have offended. Full sorrowful were the Infantes of Carrion for
this command which the King had given. And the King appointed twelve
knights who were hidalgos to be true-men and place the combatants in
the lists, and show them the bounds at what point they were to win or
to be vanquished, and to divide the sun between them. And he went with
a wand in his hand, and saw them placed on both sides; then he went out
of the lists, and gave command that the people should fall back, and
not approach within seven spears-length of the lines of the lists.

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