Chronicle Of The Cid by Various
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Various >> Chronicle Of The Cid
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XIII. Then King Don Garcia being desirous to be in the pursuit himself,
delivered his brother into the hands of six knights that they should
guard him, which be ought not to have done. And when he was gone King
Don Sancho said unto the knights, Let me go and I will depart out of
your country and never enter it again; and I will reward ye well as
long as ye live; but they answered him, that for no reward would they
commit such disloyalty, but would guard him well, not offering him any
injury, till they had delivered him to his brother the King Don Garcia.
While they were parleying Alvar Faņez Minaya came up, he to whom the
King had given horse and arms before the battle; and he seeing the King
held prisoner, cried out with a loud voice, Let loose my Lord the King:
and he spurred his horse and made at them; and before his lance was
broken he overthrew two of them, and so bestirred himself that he put
the others to flight; and he took the horses of the two whom he had
smote down, and gave one to the King, and mounted upon the other
himself, for his own was hurt in the rescue; and they went together to
a little rising ground where there was yet a small body of the knights
of their party, and Alvar Faņez cried out to them aloud, Ye see here
the King our Lord, who is free; now then remember the good name of the
Castillians, and let us not lose it this day. And about four hundred
knights gathered about him. And while they stood there they saw the Cid
Ruydiez coming up with three hundred knights, for he had not been in
the battle, and they knew his green pennon. And when King Don Sancho
beheld it his heart rejoiced, and he said, Now let us descend into the
plain, for he of good fortune cometh: and he said, Be of good heart,
for it is the will of God that I should recover my kingdom, for I have
escaped from captivity, and seen the death of Don Rodrigo Frojaz who
took me, and Ruydiez the fortunate one cometh. And the King went down
to him and welcomed him right joyfully, saying, In happy time are you
come, my fortunate Cid; never vassal succoured his Lord in such season
as you now succour me, for the King my brother had overcome me. And the
Cid answered, Sir, be sure that you shall recover the day, or I will
die; for wheresoever you go, either you shall be victorious or I will
meet my death.
XIV. By this time King Don García returned from the pursuit, singing as
he came full joyfully, for he thought that the King his brother was a
prisoner, and his great power overthrown. But there came one and told
him that Don Sancho was rescued and in the field again, ready to give
him battle a second time. Bravely was that second battle fought on both
sides; and if it had not been for the great prowess of the Cid, the end
would not have been as it was: in the end the Galegos and Portugueze
were discomfited, and the King Don García taken in his turn. And in
that battle the two brethren of Don Rodrigo Frojaz, Don Pedro and Don
Vermui, were slain, and the two sons of Don Pedro, so that five of that
family died that day. And the King Don Sancho put his brother in better
ward than his brother three hours before had put him, for he put him in
chains and sent him to the strong castle of Luna.
XV. When King Don Sancho had done this he took unto himself the kingdom
of Galicia and of Portugal, and without delay sent to his brother King
Don Alfonso, commanding him to yield up to him the kingdom of Leon, for
it was his by right. At this was the King of Leon troubled at heart;
howbeit he answered that he would not yield up his kingdom, but do his
utmost to defend it. Then King Don Sancho entered Leon, slaying and
laying waste before him, as an army of infidels would have done; and
King Don Alfonso sent to him to bid him cease from this, for it was
inhuman work to kill and plunder the innocent: and he defied him to a
pitched battle, saying that to whichsoever God should give the victory,
to him also would he give the kingdom of Leon: and the King of Castille
accepted the defiance, and a day was fixed for the battle, and the
place was to be Lantada, which is near unto Carrion. The chief
counsellor of King Don Alfonso was Don Pero Ansures, a notable and
valiant knight, of the old and famous stock of the Ansures, Lords of
Monzon, which is nigh unto Palencia; the same who in process of time
was Count of Carrion and of Saldaņa and Liebana, and Lord of
Valladolid, a city which was by him greatly increased. This good knight
commanded the army of his King Don Alfonso, and on the part of King Don
Sancho came Ruydiez the Cid. Both Kings were in the field that day, and
full hardily was the battle contested, and great was the mortality on
either side, for the hatred which used to be between Moors and
Christians was then between brethren. And that day also was the saying
of Arias Gonzalo fulfilled. But in the end the skill and courage of my
Cid prevailed, and King Don Alfonso was fain to avail himself of his
horse's feet to save himself.
XVI. Nevertheless the power of King Don Alfonso was not yet destroyed,
and he would not yield up his kingdom: and he sent to his brother a
second time to bid him battle, saying that whosoever conquered should
then certainly remain King of Leon; and the place appointed was at
Vulpegera, beside the river Carrion. And the two armies met and joined
battle, and they of Leon had the victory, for my Cid was not in the
field. And King Don Alfonso had pity upon the Castillians because they
were Christians, and gave orders not to slay them; and his brother King
Don Sancho fled. Now as he was flying, my Cid came up with his green
pennon; and when he saw that the King his Lord had been conquered it
grieved him sorely: howbeit he encouraged him saying, This is nothing,
Sir! to fail or to prosper is as God pleases. But do you gather
together your people who are discomfited, and bid them take heart. The
Leonese and Galegos are with the King your brother, secure as they
think themselves in their lodging, and taking no thought of you; for it
is their custom to extol themselves when their fortune is fair, and to
mock at others, and in this boastfulness will they spend the night, so
that we shall find them sleeping at break of day, and will fall upon
them. And it came to pass as he had said. The Leonese lodged themselves
in Vulpegera, taking no thought of their enemies, and setting no watch;
and Ruydiez arose betimes in the morning and fell upon them, and
subdued them before they could take their arms. King Don Alfonso fled
to the town of Carrion, which was three leagues distant, and would have
fortified himself there in the Church of St. Mary, but he was
surrounded and constrained to yield.
XVII. Now the knights of Leon gathered together in their flight, and
when they could not find their King they were greatly ashamed, and they
turned back and smote the Castillians; and as it befell, they
encountered King Don Sancho and took him prisoner, not having those in
his company whom he should have had, for his people considered the
victory as their own, and all was in confusion. And thirteen knights
took him in their ward and were leading him away,--but my Cid beheld
them and galloped after them: he was alone, and had no lance, having
broken his in the battle. And he came up to them and said, Knights,
give me my Lord and I will give unto you yours. They knew him by his
arms, and they made answer, Ruydiez, return in peace and seek not to
contend with us, otherwise we will carry you away prisoner with him.
And he waxed wroth and said, Give me but a lance and I will, single as
I am, rescue my Lord from all of ye: by God's help I will do it. And
they held him as nothing because he was but one, and gave him a lance.
But he attacked them therewith so bravely that he slew eleven of the
thirteen, leaving two only alive, on whom he had mercy; and thus did he
rescue the King. And the Castillians rejoiced greatly at the King's
deliverance: and King Don Sancho went to Burgos, and took with him his
brother prisoner.
XVIII. Great was the love which the Infanta Doņa Urraca bore to her
brother King Don Alfonso, and when she heard that he was made prisoner,
she feared least he should be put to death: and she took with her the
Count Don Peransures, and went to Burgos. And they spake with the Cid,
and besought him that he would join with them and intercede with the
King that he should release his brother from prison, and let him become
a Monk at Sahagun. Full willing was the Cid to serve in any thing the
Infanta Doņa Urraca, and he went with her before the King. And she
knelt down before the King her brother, and besought mercy for Don
Alfonso, his brother and hers. And the King took her by the hand and
raised her from her knees, and made her sit beside him, and said unto
her, Now then, my sister, say what you would have. And she besought him
that he would let their brother Don Alfonso take the habit of St.
Benedict, in the royal Monastery of Sahagun, and my Cid, and Count
Peransures and the other chief persons who were there present, besought
him in like manner. And the King took my Cid aside, and asked counsel
of him what he should do; and the Cid said, that if Don Alfonso were
willing to become a Monk, he would do well to set him free upon that
condition, and he besought him so to do. Then King Don Sancho, at my
Cid's request, granted to Doņa Urraca what she had asked. And he
released King Don Alfonso from prison, and Don Alfonso became a Monk in
the Monastery at Sahagun, more by force than of free will. And being in
the Monastery he spake with Don Peransures, and took counsel with him,
and fled away by night from the Monks, and went among the Moors to King
Alimaymon of Toledo. And the Moorish King welcomed him with a good
will, and did great honour to him, and gave him great possessions and
many gifts.
XIX. When Doņa Urraca knew that her brother King Don Alfonso had fled
to Toledo, she sent to him three good men of the kingdom of Leon, that
they should be his counsellors, for she loved him well. These were Don
Pero Ansures, and Don Ferran Ansures, and Don Gonzalo Ansures, all
three brethren: and they went with King Don Sancho's permission, for it
was God's pleasure. Now Alimaymon rejoiced in the King Don Alfonzo, and
loved him as if he had been his own son. And Don Alfonso made a
covenant with him to love him and defend him and serve him alway, so
long as he should remain with him, and not to depart from him without
his leave; and the King covenanted on his side to love him and honour
him, and defend him to the utmost of his power. And Alimaymon ordered
fair palaces to be edified for him, by the wall of the Alcazar, on the
outer part, that the Moors of the city might do no displeasure neither
to him nor to his companions: and they were hard by a garden of the
King's, that he might go out and disport himself therein whensoever it
pleased him. And for these things King Don Alfonso loved to serve King
Alimaymon. Nevertheless when he saw the great honour of the King of
Toledo, and how powerful he was, and that he was the Lord of so great
chivalry, and of the noblest city which had belonged unto the Gothic
Kings, from whom he himself was descended, it grieved him in his heart
to see that city in the hands of the Moors: and he said within his
heart, Lord God and Father Jesus Christ, it is wholly in thy power to
give and to take away, and right it is that thy will should be done,
even as thou hast done it to me, to whom thou gavest a kingdom, and it
was thy will to take it away from me, and thou hast made me come hither
to serve the enemies who were at the service of the King my father.
Lord, I put my hope in thee that thou wilt deliver me from this
servitude, and give me a land and kingdom to command, and that thou
wilt show unto me such favour that this land and this city shall by me
be won, that thy holy body may be sacrificed in it to the honour of
Christendom. This prayer he made with great devotion and with many
tears; and the Lord God heard him, as hereafter you shall hear in this
history. In those days King Alimaymon was at war with other Moorish
Kings his enemies, and King Don Alfonso fought against them on his
side, and did such good service that he quelled their power, and they
durst no longer offend him. And in time of peace Don Alfonso and his
companions went fowling along the banks of the Tagus, for in those days
there was much game there, and venison of all kinds; and they killed
venison among the mountains. And as he was thus spoiling he came to a
place which is now called Brihuega, and it pleased him well, for it was
a fair place to dwell in, and abounded with game, and there was a
dismantled castle there, and he thought that he would ask the King for
this place. And he returned to Toledo and asked it of the King, and
King Alimaymon gave it him, and he placed there his huntsmen and his
fowlers who were Christians, and fortified the place as his own. And
the lineage of these people continued there till Don Juan, the third
archbishop of Toledo, enlarged it, and peopled the parish of St. Pedro.
XX. It came to pass after this that both the Kings one day came out of
Toledo, and past over the bridge of Alcantara, and went into the royal
garden to disport themselves therein and take their pleasure. And at
evening Don Alfonso lay down upon a bed to sleep, and King Alimaymon
fell in talk with his favourites concerning his city of Toledo, how
strong it was and how well provided with all things, and that he feared
neither war of Moor nor Christian against it; and he asked them if it
could, by any, means be lost in war. Then one of them answered and
said, Sir, if you would not hold it ill, I would tell you how it might
be lost, and by no other manner in the world could it be so. And the
King bade him say on. And the favourite then said, If this city were
beset for seven years, and the bread and the wine and the fruits should
be cut down year by year, it would be lost for lack of food. All this
King Don Alfonso heard, for he was not sleeping, and he took good heed
of it. Now the Moors knew not that he was lying there. And when they
had thus spoken, Alimaymon arose to walk in the palace, and he saw King
Don Alfonso lying there as if he were sleeping: and it troubled him,
and he said to his favourites, We did not heed Alfonso who is lying
there, and has heard all that we have said. And the favourites made
answer, Kill him, Sir. But the King said, How shall I go against my
true promise? moreover he sleepeth, and peradventure hath heard
nothing. And they said to him, Would you know whether or not he
sleepeth? and he answered, Yea: and they said, Go then and wake him,
and if he have drivelled he hath slept, but if not he hath been awake
and hath heard us. Then King Don Alfonso immediately wetted the pillow,
and feigned himself hard to be awakened, so that Alimaymon thought he
slept.
XXI. And when the Easter of the Sheep was come, which the Moors
celebrate, the King of Toledo went out of the city to kill the sheep at
the place accustomed, as he was wont to do, and King Don Alfonso went
with him. Now Don Alfonso was a goodly personage and of fair demeanour,
so that the Moors liked him well. And as he was going by the side of
the King, two honourable Moors followed them, and the one said unto the
other, How fair a knight is this Christian, and of what good customs!
well doth he deserve to be the lord of some great land. And the other
made answer, I dreamed a dream last night, that this Alfonso entered
the city riding upon a huge boar, and many swine after him, who rooted
up all Toledo with their snouts, and even the Mosques therein: Certes,
he will one day become King of Toledo. And while they were thus
communing every hair upon King Don Alfonso's head stood up erect, and
Alimaymon laid his hand upon them to press them down, but so soon as
his hand was taken off they rose again; and the two Moors held it for a
great token, and spake with each other concerning it, and one of King
Alimaymon's favourites heard all which they said. And after the sheep
had been sacrificed they returned into the city, and the favourite told
the King what he had heard the two Moors say; and the King sent for
them forthwith, and questioned them, and they repeated to him what they
had said, even as ye have heard. And King Alimaymon said unto them,
What then shall I do? and they made answer, that he should put Don
Alfonso to death; but the King replied, that this he would not do, nor
go against the true promise which he had given him, but that he would
so deal that no evil should ever come towards himself from Alfonso. So
he sent for Don Alfonso and bade him swear that he would never come
against him, nor against his sons, and that no evil should come against
them from him; and King Don Alfonso did as Alimaymon required, and did
him homage to this effect. And thenceforth was the King of Toledo more
secure of him, and held him even in greater favour than before. All
this while did King Don Alfonso govern himself by the advice of Count
Peransures, who alway advised him discreetly and well.
XXII. But when King Don Sancho heard how his brother had fled from the
Monastery, he drew out his host and went against the city of Leon. The
Leonese would fain have maintained the city against him, but they could
not, and he took the city of Leon, and all the towns and castles which
had been under the dominion of his brother King Don Alfonso. And then
he put the crown upon his head, and called himself King of the three
kingdoms. He was a fair knight and of marvellous courage, so that both
Moors and Christians were dismayed at what they saw him do, for they
saw that nothing which he willed to take by force could stand against
him. And when the Infanta Doņa Urraca, and the men of Zamora, saw that
he had quiet possession of both his brother's kingdoms, they feared
that he would come against them and disherit his sister also. And for
this reason they took Don Arias Gonzalo to be their chief captain, Doņa
Urraca's foster-father, that by his means they might protect
themselves, if need should be. And it came to pass as they had feared,
for King Don Sancho knew that his sisters greatly loved Don Alfonso,
and he thought that by their counsel he had fled from the Monastery,
especially by Doņa Urraca's, because Don Alfonso guided himself in all
things by her counsel, holding her in place of a mother, for she was a
lady of great understanding. And he went forth with his army, and took
from the Infanta Doņa Elvira the half of the Infantazgo which she
possessed, and also from Doņa Urraca the other half. And he went
against Toro, the city of Doņa Elvira, and took it; and then he went to
Zamora to Doņa Urraca, bidding her yield him up the city, and saying
that he would give her lands as much as she required in the plain
country. But she returned for answer, that she would in no manner yield
unto him that which the King her father had given her; and she besought
him that he would suffer her to continue to dwell peaceably therein,
saying that no disservice should ever be done against him on her part.
XXIII. Then King Don Sancho went to Burgos, because it was not the
season for besieging a town, being winter. And he sent his letters
through all the land, calling upon his vassals to assemble together
upon the first day of March in Sahagun, upon pain of forfeiting his
favour. Now though the King was yet but a young man, whose beard was
but just coming, he was of so great courage that the people feared him,
and dared not do otherwise than as he commanded. And they assembled
together in Sahagun on the day appointed; and when the King heard in
what readiness they were, it gladdened him, and he lifted up his hands
to God and said, Blessed be thy name, O Lord, because thou hast given
me all the kingdoms of my father. And when he had said this he ordered
proclamation to be made through the streets of Burgos, that all should
go forth to protect the host and the body of the King their Lord. And
the day in which they left Burgos they took up their lodging at
Fromesta; and the next day they came to Canion, but the King would not
lodge there, and he went on to Sahagun, where the army awaited him, and
took up his lodging without the town; and on the following morning he
bade the host advance, and they made such speed that in three days they
arrived before Zamora, and pitched their tents upon the banks of the
Douro; and he ordered proclamation to be made throughout the host that
no harm should be done until he had commanded it. And he mounted on
horseback with his hidalgos and rode round the town, and beheld how
strongly it was situated upon a rock, with strong walls, and many and
strong towers, and the river Douro running at the foot thereof; and he
said unto his knights, Ye see how strong it is, neither Moor nor
Christian can prevail against it; if I could have it from my sister
either for money or exchange, I should be Lord of Spain.
XXIV. Then the King returned to his tents, and incontinently he sent
for the Cid, and said unto him, Cid, you well know how manifoldly you
are bound unto me, both by nature, and by reason of the breeding which
the King my father gave you; and when he died he commended you to me,
and I have ever shown favour unto you, and you have ever served me as
the loyalest vassal that ever did service to his Lord; and I have for
your good deserts given unto you more than there is in a great county,
and have made you the chief of all my household. Now therefore I
beseech you as my friend and true vassal, that you go to Zamora to my
sister Doņa Urraca, and say unto her again, that I beseech her to give
me the town either for a price, or in exchange, and I will give to her
Medina de Rio-seco, with the whole Infantazgo, from Villalpando to
Valladolid, and Tiedra also, which is a good Castle; and I will swear
unto her, with twelve knights of my vassals, never to break this
covenant between us; but if she refuseth to do this I will take away
the town from her by force. And my Cid kissed the hand of the King and
said unto him, This bidding, Sir, should be for other messenger, for it
is a heavy thing for me to deliver it; for I was brought up in Zamora
by your father's command, in the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, with Doņa
Urraca and with his sons, and it is not fitting that I should be the
bearer of such bidding. And the King persisted in requiring of him that
he should go, insomuch that he was constrained to obey his will. And he
took with him fifteen of his knights and rode towards Zamora, and when
he drew nigh he called unto those who kept guard in the towers not to
shoot their arrows at him, for he was Ruydiez of Bivar, who came to
Doņa Urraca with the bidding of her brother King Don Sancho. With that
there came down a knight who was nephew to Arias Gonzalo, and had the
keeping of the gate, and he bade the Cid enter, saying that he would
order him to be well lodged while he went to Doņa Urraca to know if she
would be pleased to see him. So the Cid went in, and the knight went to
the Infanta, and told her that Ruydiez of Bivar was come with a message
from King Don Sancho; and it pleased her well that he should be the
messenger, and she bade him come before that she might know what was
his bidding; and she sent Arias Gonzalo and the other knights of her
party to meet him and accompany him. And when the Cid entered the
palace Doņa Urraca advanced to meet him, and greeted him full well, and
they seated themselves both upon the Estrado. And Doņa Urraca said unto
him, Cid, you well know that you were brought up with me here in
Zamora, in the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, and when my father was at
the point of death he charged you that you should alway counsel his
sons the best you could. Now therefore tell me I beseech you what is it
which my brother goes about to do, now that he has called up all Spain
in arms, and to what lands he thinks to go, whether against Moors or
Christians. Then the Cid answered and said, Lady, to messenger and a
letter no wrong should be done; give me safe assurance and I will tell
unto you that which the King your brother hath sent me to say. And she
said she would do as Don Arias Gonzalo should advise her. And Don Arias
answered that it was well to hear what the King her brother had sent to
say: Peradventure, said he, he goeth against the Moors, and requires
aid of you, which it would be right to give; and for such service I and
my sons would go with him, and I would give fifteen of my people well
mounted and armed, and supply them with food for ten years, if he
needed them. Doņa Urraca then said to the Cid, that he might speak his
bidding safely. Then said my Cid, The King your brother sends to greet
you, and beseeches you to give him this town of Zamora, either for a
price or in exchange; and he will give to you Medina de Rio-seco, with
the whole Infantazgo, from Villalpando to Valladolid, and the good
castle of Tiedra, and he will swear unto you, with twelve knights his
vassals, never to do you hurt or harm; but if you will not give him the
town, he will take it against your will.
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