The Lay of the Cid Part 24

When to him who in good honor was born the news of it was sent, Swiftly he got on horseback, and forth to greet them went.

As he rode he brandished weapons; very joyful was his face.

My lord the Cid came forward his daughters to embrace.

And after he had kissed them he smiled upon the two: "Are ye then come my daughters? 'Gainst ill G.o.d succor you.

This marriage I accepted, daring not say otherwise.

May the Creator grant it, who dwelleth in the skies, That you with better husbands hereafter I may see.

G.o.d! on my sons of Carrion grant me avenged to be.

"The hands of their father to kiss, the two bent down.

And under arms they hastened and came into the town.

Their mother Dame Ximena with them good cheer she made.

And he who in good hour was born, he tarried not nor stayed, But there unto his comrades so privily he spake: To King Alfonso of Castile those tidings shall they take.

Cx.x.xIII.

"Where art thou, Muno Gustioz, va.s.sal of fair report In a good time I cherished and reared thee in my court.

To King Alfonso in Castile these tidings do thou take.

His hands with heart and spirit do thou kiss them for my sake-- I am known for his va.s.sal, he for my lord is known-- At the dishonor done me by the heirs of Carrion Shall the good King be troubled in his soul and in his heart.

He gave to wed my daughters, therein I had no part.

Since my girls they have deserted with great dishonor thus, If they have put an insult by that action upon us, The great part and the little, my lord's is all the scorn.

My possessions, which are mighty, off with them have they borne, This and the other insult well may make me ill content.

Bring them to parley with me in a.s.size or parliament, So that I may have justice on the heirs of Carrion, For in my heart the anguish exceeding great is grown."

Thereupon Muno Gustioz swiftly the steed bestrode.

To wait upon his pleasure two hors.e.m.e.n with him rode, And with him were esquires that of his household were.

They departed from Valencia as fast as they could spur, They gave themselves no respite either by night or noon.

And the King don Alfonso he found at Sahagun.

Of Castile is he the ruler, of Leon furthermore.

And likewise of Asturias, yea, to San Salvador.

As far as Santiago for lord paramount is he known.

The counts throughout Galicia him for their sovereign own.

As soon as Muno Gustioz got down from horseback there, Before the Saints he kneeled him, and to G.o.d he made his prayer.

Where the court was in the palace straightway his steps he bent.

The hors.e.m.e.n two that served him as their lord beside him went.

As soon as they had entered amid the royal train The King saw them and knew lightly Muno Gustioz again.

The King rose up and n.o.bly he welcomed him and well.

before the King Alfonso on bended knee he fell.

The King's feet, Muno Gustioz, that wight, has kissed withal: "A boon, King, thee the sovereign of kingdoms broad they call.

The Campeador, he kisses so well thy feet and hands; Thou art his lord; thy va.s.sal as at all times he stands.

To Carrion's Heirs his daughters were given to wed by thee.

It was a glorious marriage for it was thy decree.

The honor that befel us is to thee already known, What flout was put upon us by the Heirs of Carrion.

Fiercely they scourged the daughters of the Cid Campeador.

Naked, in great dishonor and from the scourging sore, In Corpes Wood unguarded they cast the dames away, Unto the savage creatures and the forest-fowl a prey, And lo! now to Valencia his daughters are restored.

For this thy hand he kisses as a va.s.sal to his lord, That thou bring them to confront him in a.s.size or parliament.

He holds himself dishonored, but fouler art thou shent.

And King, sore should it grieve thee, and he prays, for wise art thou, That my lord Cid may have justice on the Heirs of Carrion now."

The king long while was silent, pondering thereon apart: "The truth will I say to thee. It grieves me to the heart.

So hast thou, Muno Gustioz, herein a true thing said, For to Carrion's Heirs, his daughters I gave indeed to wed.

For good I did it, deeming that there his vantage lay.

But would now that that marriage had ne'er been made today.

My lord the Cid and I myself, sore grieved at heart are we.

I must help him unto justice, so G.o.d my savior be.

Though I would not at this season, I must do even so.

And now through all my Kingdom forth shall mine heralds go, For in Toledo city a court shall they proclaim, So that counts may come and n.o.bles that be of lesser name.

The Heirs of Carrion thither I will summon furthermore; And there shall they give justice to my lord Cid Campeador.

Yet while I can prevent it, he shall have no cause to mourn.

Cx.x.xIV.

"And say unto the Campeador, who in good hour was born, That he may with his va.s.sals for these seven weeks prepare To come unto Toledo. That term I grant him fair.

I will hold these a.s.sizes since the Cid to me is dear.

Greet them all for me fairly, let them be of joyful cheer.

For what befel, of honor they yet shall have no lack."

His leave ta'en, Muno Gustioz to my lord Cid turned back.

Since he had undertaken that the charge on him should fall, Alfonso the Castilian delayed it not at all.

To Leon and Santiago he sent letters without fail, And unto the Galicians, and the men of Portingale.

Tidings to them in Carrion and in Castile they bring Of a Court held in Toledo by the much honored King, And that there they should be gathered when seven weeks should end.

Who stayed at home, true va.s.salage no longer could pretend.

And all men so determined throughout his breadth of lands Not to fail in the fulfillment of the King's high commands.

Cx.x.xV.

Now are the Heirs of Carrion troubled by the report That the King within Toledo was about to hold his court.

They fear my lord Cid Campeador will have his part therein, And they took counsel, seeing that they were near of kin.

The King for dispensation to stay from court they prayed.

Said the King: "I will not do it, as G.o.d shall stand mine aid.

For my lord Cid the Campeador that place shall come unto, And you shall do him justice for he makes complaint of you.

Who refuses, or denies it to come unto mine a.s.size, Let him quit my realm. The fellow finds no favor in mine eyes."

And now the Heirs of Carrion saw that it must be done Since they are very near of kin, counsel they took thereon.

Count Garcia that to ruin the Cid sought evermore, My lord the Cid's arch-foeman, share in these matters bore.

This man has given counsel to the Heirs of Carrion twain.

Time came: to the a.s.sizes to hasten they were fain.

Thither among the foremost doth good King Alfonso go, With him the Count don Henry, and Count don Remond also-- For the sire of the most n.o.ble the Emperor was he known.

There came the Count don Froila and the Count don Birbon.

Out of his realm came many of wise hearts and leal All the best men were gathered of the kingdom of Castile.

And there with Crespo de Granon, Count don Garcia came And he who ruled in Oca--Alvar Diaz was his name.

With Gonzalvo Ansuorez, Ansuor Gonzalvez stood.

Know ye well with them was Pero of the Ansuorez blood.

Diego and Ferrando both to the place resort, And with them a great company that they had brought to Court.

Upon my lord Cid Campeador 'tis their intent to fall.

Unto the place they gather from every side and all.

But he who in good hour was born, not yet hath he drawn nigh.

Because so long he tarries is the king displeased thereby.

My lord the Cid the Campeador is come on the fifth day.

He has sent Alvar Fanez ahead of his array, That he might kiss the King his hands that is his lord of right, The King might know it surely, he would be at hand that night.

Now when the King had heard it, his heart was glad indeed.

With companies most mighty the King leaped on the steed, And him who in good hour was born he went to welcome there.

Came the Cid and all his henchmen equipped exceeding fair.

Oh! n.o.ble troops that follow a captain of such might!

When good King don Alfonso of my lord the Cid got sight, My lord the Cid, the Campeador, cast himself on the sward.

Himself he thus could humble and do honor to his lord.

When the King saw he tarried not.

"Saint Isidore to speed!

This day so shalt thou never. Mount, Cid, upon the steed!

If not, so ends my pleasure. Let us greet on either part With heart and soul. What grieveth thee hath hurt me to the heart.