Mediaeval Tales Part 10

XXIX.

With that Guarinos, lance in rest, against the scoffer rode, Pierced at one thrust his envious breast, and down his turban trode.

Now ride, now ride, Guarinos--nor lance nor rowel spare-- Slay, slay, and gallop for thy life.--The land of France lies _there_!

THE COMPLAINT OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA.

This ballad is intended to represent the feelings of Don Sancho, Count of Saldenha or Saldana, while imprisoned by King Alphonso, and, as he supposed, neglected and forgotten, both by his wife, or rather mistress, Donna Ximena, and by his son, the famous Bernardo del Carpio.

I.

The Count Don Sancho Diaz, the Signior of Saldane, Lies weeping in his prison, for he cannot refrain:-- King Alphonso and his sister, of both doth he complain, But most of bold Bernardo, the champion of Spain.

II.

"The weary years I durance brook, how many they have been, When on these h.o.a.ry hairs I look, may easily be seen; When they brought me to this castle, my curls were black, I ween, Woe worth the day! they have grown grey these rueful walls between.

III.

"They tell me my Bernardo is the doughtiest lance in Spain, But if he were my loyal heir, there's blood in every vein Whereof the voice his heart would hear--his hand would not gainsay;-- Though the blood of kings be mixed with mine, it would not have all the sway.

IV.

"Now all the three have scorn of me--unhappy man am I!

They leave me without pity--they leave me here to die.

A stranger's feud, albeit rude, were little dole or care, But he's my own, both flesh and bone; his scorn is ill to bear.

V.

"From Jailer and from Castellain I hear of hardiment And chivalry in listed plain on joust and tourney spent;-- I hear of many a battle, in which thy spear is red, But help from thee comes none to me where I am ill bested.

VI.

"Some villain spot is in thy blood to mar its gentle strain, Else would it show forth hardihood for him from whom 'twas ta'en; Thy hope is young, thy heart is strong, but yet a day may be, When thou shalt weep in dungeon deep, and none thy weeping see."

THE FUNERAL OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA.

The ballads concerning Bernardo del Carpio are, upon the whole, in accordance with his history as given in the _Coronica General_.

According to the Chronicle, Bernardo being at last wearied out of all patience by the cruelty of which his father was the victim, determined to quit the Court of his King, and seek an alliance among the Moors.

Having fortified himself in the Castle of Carpio, he made continual incursions into the territory of Leon, pillaging and plundering wherever he came. The King at length besieged him in his stronghold, but the defence was so gallant, that there appeared no prospect of success; whereupon many of the gentlemen in Alphonso's camp entreated the King to offer Bernardo immediate possession of his father's person, if he would surrender his castle.

Bernardo at once consented; but the King gave orders to have Count Sancho Diaz taken off instantly in his prison. "When he was dead they clothed him in splendid attire, mounted him on horseback, and so led him towards Salamanca, where his son was expecting his arrival. As they drew nigh the city, the King and Bernardo rode out to meet them; and when Bernardo saw his father approaching, he exclaimed,--'O G.o.d! is the Count of Saldana indeed coming?'--'Look where he is,' replied the cruel King; 'and now go and greet him whom you have so long desired to see.'

Bernardo went forward and took his father's hand to kiss it; but when he felt the dead weight of the hand, and saw the livid face of the corpse, he cried aloud, and said,--'Ah, Don Sandiaz, in an evil hour didst thou beget me!--Thou art dead, and I have given my stronghold for thee, and now I have lost all.'"

I.

All in the centre of the choir Bernardo's knees are bent, Before him for his murdered sire yawns the old monument.

II.

His kinsmen of the Carpio blood are kneeling at his back, With knightly friends and va.s.sals good, all garbed in weeds of black.

III.

He comes to make the obsequies of a basely slaughtered man, And tears are running down from eyes whence ne'er before they ran.

IV.

His head is bowed upon the stone; his heart, albeit full sore, Is strong as when in days bygone he rode o'er Frank and Moor;

V.

And now between his teeth he mutters, that none his words can hear; And now the voice of wrath he utters, in curses loud and clear.

VI.

He stoops him o'er his father's shroud, his lips salute the bier; He communes with the corse aloud, as if none else were near.

VII.

His right hand doth his sword unsheath, his left doth pluck his beard;-- And while his liegemen held their breath, these were the words they heard:--

VIII.

"Go up, go up, thou blessed ghost, into the arms of G.o.d; Go, fear not lest revenge be lost, when Carpio's blood hath flowed;

IX.

"The steel that drank the blood of France, the arm thy foe that shielded, Still, Father, thirsts that burning lance, and still thy son can wield it."

BERNARDO AND ALPHONSO.

The incident recorded in this ballad may be supposed to have occurred immediately after the funeral of the Count of Saldenha. As to what was the end of the knight's history, we are left almost entirely in the dark, both by the Chronicle and by the Romancero. It appears to be intimated, that after his father's death, he once more "took service"

among the Moors, who are represented in several of the ballads as accustomed to exchange offices of courtesy with Bernardo.

I.

With some good ten of his chosen men, Bernardo hath appeared Before them all in the palace hall, the lying King to beard; With cap in hand and eye on ground, he came in reverend guise, But ever and anon he frowned, and flame broke from his eyes.