The Lay of the Cid Part 25

G.o.d ordereth that by thee the court this day shall honored be."

My lord Cid, the true Campeador, to this "Amen" said he.

He kissed his hand and fairly gave him greeting then: "To G.o.d now thanks be given, that I see thee, lord, again.

To thee I bow, so also to Count don Remond I bow, To Count Henry and to all men that are in presence now.

G.o.d save our friends and foremost, sire, may he cherish thee.

My wife the Dame Ximena--a worthy dame is she-- Kisses thy hands. My daughters, the twain do so as well, That so thou mayst have pity for the ill thing that befel."

"Verily, so G.o.d help me," answered the King thereto.

Cx.x.xVI.

Then homeward to Toledo, the King returned anew.

Unfain to cross the Tagus was my lord Cid that night: "A boon, King. The Creator, may he shield thee in His might!

Oh sire, do thou get ready to enter in the town.

In San Servan my henchman and I will lay us down, For hither in the night-tide shall come those bands of mine; And I will keep my vigil here by the holy shrine.

I will come to town tomorrow at the breaking of the day, And, ere I eat my dinner, to court will take my way."

To him the King gave answer: "Surely, I am content."

Then the King don Alfonso into Toledo went.

My lord the Cid Roy Diaz lieth in San Servan.

To make candles and to set them on the shrine, his order ran.

To watch that sanctuary was gladness to his heart, As he prayed to the Creator and spake to him apart.

Minaya, and as many as were gathered of good fame Were in accord together when at length the morning came.

Cx.x.xVII.

Matins and prime they sang there till the dawn had begun, Before the sun had risen the ma.s.s was o'er and done.

With rich and timely offering that chapel they endow.

"Minaya Alvar Fanez--my strongest arm art thou-- Thyself shall hear me company and the Bishop, don Jerome So too this Muno Gustioz and Per Vermudoz shall come, And Martin Antolinez from Burgos true and tried And with Alvar Salvadorez, Alvar Alvarez beside, And Martin Munoz who was born in a season of good grace, So likewise Felez Munoz a nephew of my race.

Mal Anda wise exceeding, along with me shall go And the good Galind Garciaz of Aragon also.

With these knights a round hundred of the good men here ordain.

Let all men wear their tunics the harness to sustain, Let them a.s.sume the hauberks that white as sunlight glare, And upon the hauberks ermines and mantles of the vair Let them lace tight their armour, let not the arms be seen.

They shall bear beneath their mantles the swords both sweet and keen.

To the court in such a fashion to enter am I fain, My rights there to demand them and to speak my meaning plain.

If there the Heirs of Carrion seek to dishonor me, No whit then shall I fear them, though a hundred strong they be."

To him all gave their answer: "Such, lord, is our desire,"

Even as he had commanded they ordered their attire.

He who in happy hour was born would brook no more delay.

Upon his legs the hosen of fair cloth he drew straightway, And shoes adorned most richly upon his feet has done; he donned a shirt of linen fine as white as is the sun; The sleeves are laced, moreover, with gold and silver braid.

The cuff fit close upon them for he bade them so be made.

Thereo'er a silken tunic most fairly wrought he drew.

The threads of gold shone brightly that were woven through and through.

A red fur gown gold-belted he cast his tunic o'er.

That gown alway he weareth, my lord Cid Campeador.

He hath of finest linen a cap upon his hair, With the gold wrought, moreover, and fashioned with due care, That the locks of the good Campeador might not be disarrayed.

And with a cord his mighty beard my lord the Cid doth braid.

All this he did desiring well his person to dispose.

O'er his attire a mantle of mighty worth he throws.

Thereat might all men wonder that thereabouts did stand.

Then with the chosen hundred whereto he gave command From San Servan forth issuing he got to horse apace.

Under arms the Cid departed unto the judgment-place.

Duly without the postern he descended from his horse, And prudently he entered the palace with his force.

Midmost he went; his hundred girt him round on every side.

When they had seen him enter, who was born in happy tide, Then the good King Alfonso upon his feet did rise, So also Count don Henry, and Count don Remond likewise.

And they arose, the others of the court, ye well may know.

To him who in good hour was born great honor did they show.

One man there was arose not--'twas Crespo de Granon-- Nor any of the party of the Heirs of Carrion.

The King has ta'en my lord Cid's hand: "Come sit thee, Campeador, On the bench here beside me--thy gift to me of yore.

Thou art our better, though there be umbrage therefor that take."

Then he who won Valencia for grat.i.tude he spake: "Sit like a king and master on thy bench, for it is thine; In this station will I tarry here with these men of mine."

Of what my lord Cid uttered was the King's heart glad and fain.

Upon a bench well carven the Cid his seat has ta'en; The hundred men that guard him are seated round him there.

And all men in the Cortes upon my lord Cid stare, And the long beard he weareth that is braided with a cord.

He seems by his apparel to be a splendid lord.

For shame the Heirs of Carrion his gaze they could not meet.

The good King don Alfonso then rose unto his feet: "Hearken ye gentle companies, so G.o.d your hands sustain.

But two court have I holden in the s.p.a.ce of all my reign.

In Burgos one, in Carrion the next did I array; The third here in Toledo have I come to hold today, For the Cid's love, whose birth-hour for a glad time is known, That so he may have justice on the Heirs of Carrion.

Let all men know they did him a bitter injury.

The Counts Remond and Henry judges thereof shall be, And all you counts, moreover, in the feud who bear no part.

In your minds turn it over, for ye are wise of heart.

See that ye render justice. All falseness I gainsay.

On one side and the other let us keep the peace this day.

Who breaks our peace, I swear it by the Saint Isidore Shall be banished from my kingdom, nor have my favor more.

His side I will maintain it whose cause is right and fair.

Therefore let the Cid Campeador forthwith his suit declare.

Then shall we hear what Carrion's Heirs in answer shall depose."

My lord Cid kissed the King his hand. Then to his feet he rose: "My sovereign and my master great thanks I give to thee That thou this court hast summoned out of pure love for me.

Against the Heirs of Carrion this matter I reclaim.

They cast away my daughters. I had thereby no shame, For thou gavest them in marriage. What deed to do today Thou know'st well. From Valencia when they took my girls away, I loved with heart and spirit the Heirs of Carrion, And the two swords I gave them, Colada and Tizon-- I won them in such manner as a good knight became-- That they might do you service and do honor to their fame.

When in the Wood of Corpes they left my girls forlorn, They lost my love forever, for they made of me a scorn.

Since my sons-in-law they are not, let them give me either sword."

"All of the claim is righteous,'' so the judges gave accord.

Then said Count don Garcia: "Of this let us debate."

Apart from the a.s.sizes went the Heirs of Carrion straight, And all their following with them and the kindred of their name.

And swiftly they debated, and to their resolve they came: "Now the Cid Campeador for us doth a great favor do, Since for his girls' dishonor for no damage doth he sue.

With the King don Alfonso, we soon shall be at one.

The swords them let us give him, for so the suit is done; They will hold the court no longer, when he has the swords once more.

From us no further justice for the Cid Campeador."

That parley being over, to court they get them now.

"Thy favor, King Alfonso, our overlord art thou.

And we cannot deny it, for he gave us the two brands.

And since that we return them he desires now and demands, Into his hand to give them in thy presence are we fain."

Then they brought forth Colada and Tizon, the falchions twain, Straightway they gave them over to the King their sovereign's hands.

The whole court shone glorious when they brought forth the brands.

The pommels and the hilt-bars are all of ma.s.sy gold; To the true henchmen of the court 'twas a marvel to behold.

The King my lord Cid summoned, to him the swords he gave.

His sovereign's hands he kisseth. He receiveth either glaive.

To the bench whence he had risen, he turned him back again, And in his hands he held them, he looked upon the twain.

Changelings they could not give him; he knew the two aright, And his heart laughed within him, he was filled with all delight.

"Now by my beard none ever plucked," gripping it hard he spake, For Dame Sol and Dame Elvira high vengeance I will take."