The Lay of the Cid Part 26

By name his nephew Pero he has called out before; And stretching forth his hand, to him the sword Tizon gave o'er.

"Take it nephew. The sword's master now is fairer of renown."

To good Martin Antolinez the man of Burgos town, Stretching forth his hand Colada into his care he gave;

"Thou Martin Antolinez, who art a va.s.sal brave, Take Colada that I captured from a true knight without fail, From him of Barcelona, from Remond Berenguel.

That thou mayst guard it rightly, therefore I give it thee, I know if aught befall thee, if occasion e'er should be, Great fame and estimation with the sword shalt thou attain."

The lord Cid's hands he kissed them. He took the sword again.

My lord the Cid the Campeador unto his feet rose he; "Now thanks to the Creator and my lord the King to thee.

With the swords Colada and Tizon I am content indeed, But I have a farther issue 'gainst Carrion Heirs to plead: When with them from Valencia my daughters twain they bore, Three thousand marks of silver and gold I gave them o'er.

When I did this, the winning of all their end they saw.

Let them restore the treasure. They are not my sons-in-law."

Now might you hearken Carrion's Heirs, what a complaint made they.

To them said the Count don Remond: "Give answer, 'Yea' or 'Nay'!', And then the Heirs of Carrion, they made their answer plain: "Therefore to the Cid Campeador we gave his swords again That he might demand naught further, for his suit is closed thereby."

Then straightway the Count don Remond unto them made reply: "This say we: With the pleasure of the Sovereign if it stands, You shall give satisfaction in what the Cid demands."

The good King said: "The measure with my a.s.sent doth meet."

And now hath the Cid Campeador arisen to his feet:

"Say of those goods I gave you, will ye give them me anew Or render an accounting?"

Then Carrion's Heirs withdrew.

For the greatness of that treasure they could not as one consent, And the two Heirs of Carrion the whole of it had spent.

They returned with their decision, and spake their pleasure thus: "The Captor of Valencia, he presses sore on us.

Since l.u.s.t for our possession so on him hand hath laid, From our estates in Carrion the money shall be paid."

And then outspake the judges since the debt the Heirs avowed: "If it be the Cid's desire, it is not disallowed.

So we ordain, for such wise with our pleasure doth it sort, That ye repay it to him in this place before the court."

Out spake the King Alfonso when their words were at an end: "The inward of this lawing we wholly comprehend, That justice is demanded by the Cid Campeador.

Now of those marks three thousand, I have in hand tenscore; They were given to me duly by the Heirs of Carrion twain.

Since so sore are they impoverished, I will give it them again.

To the Cid born in fair hour, let them pay the money back.

To pay their debt, that money I will not let them lack."

As for Ferrand Gonzalvez, what he said ye now shall hear: "We have in our possession no minted goods and gear."

To him then the Count don Remond answered to this intent: "All of the gold and silver, the twain of you have spent.

Before the King Alfonso, our verdict we proclaim, That ye pay in goods. The Campeador, let him accept the same."

Now saw the Heirs of Carrion what need must be their course.

Ye might have seen led thither full many a swift horse, Many fat mules, moreover, and many a well-paced jade, And every sort of armour, and many a fine blade.

My lord the Cid accepted even as the court a.s.sessed, Beyond the tenscore marks whereof Alfonso stood possessed, To him who in good hour was born the Heirs have paid the price.

On others' goods they borrow, for their own will not suffice Know well for fools men took them, from that suit when 'scaped the twain.

Cx.x.xVIII.

All of those great possessions my lord the Cid has ta'en.

The men keep all that treasure, and they will ward it well.

When this was done, a-pondering on other things they fell:

Lord King, for love of charity, a further favor yet, Of my complaints the chiefest, I cannot now forget.

Let the whole court now hear me, and have pity on my woe: As for these Heirs of Carrion, the which have shamed me so, I brook not that unchallenged they may go hence away.

Cx.x.xIX.

"In what thing I affronted you, ye Heirs of Carrion say, In what fashion whatsoever, in earnest or in sport.

Let me make amends according to the judgment of the court.

Why did ye tear in tatters the fabric of my heart?

With great honor from Valencia what time ye did depart, I gave to you my daughters, and besides great wealth and gear.

Now say, ye dogs and traitors, since ye did not hold them dear, Why took ye from Valencia what was their dower of right, And wherefore with the girth and spur the ladies did ye smite?

Alone in Corpes Forest ye cast the twain away, Unto the savage creatures and the wood-fowl for a prey.

In all ye did unto them, like vile men did ye show.

Let the Court judge; satisfaction shall I get therefor or no?"

CXL.

And lo! Count don Garcia has risen up amain: "Let us now have thy favor, best of all kings in Spain.

Of the courts proclaimed is now the Cid well versed in the affairs.

Since he let it wax so mighty, 'tis a long beard he wears.

Some he affrights and others are for fear in sorry case.

But as for them of Carrion, theirs is a lofty race, His daughters e'en as lemans to love becomes them not.

Who to them for lawful consorts those ladies would allot?

When they cast them off, then did they as might the right befit.

All things he says soever we value not a whit."

And thereupon the Campeador his beard in hand gripped he: "To G.o.d who ruleth Heaven and the whole Earth glory be.

Since tenderly I kept it, is my beard grown so long.

Count, say what is the reason, that thou dost my beard this wrong, That since its first growth ever has been so gently reared.

No man born of woman has ever plucked that beard.

Nor has son of Moor or Christian e'er torn that beard of mine, As once in Cabra Castle I did, oh Count, to thine, When at one time on Cabra and thy beard my hand I set.

Not a lad but for the plucking his pinch thereof could get.

Nor is it yet grown even what portion I did tear.

Here hidden in my wallet those tokens yet I bear."

CXLI.

Now had Ferrand Gonzalvez risen to his feet that tide.

What thing ye now shall hearken that there so loud he cried:

"Cid, do thou now give over the suit which thou hast made, For the whole of thy possession into thine hands is paid.

Look that thou make not greater the feud twixt us and thee, For the two Counts of Carrion by lineage are we.

Of kings' and emperors' daughters are we fit to win the hands; To wed the girls of little chiefs scarce with our lineage stands.

When thy daughters we abandoned we did but what was right.

Not worse therefor but better, are we then in our own sight."

CXLII.

To Per Vermudoz Roy Diaz my lord the Cid looked now: "Speak then, good Pero Mudo, though a silent man art thou.

The ladies are my daughters, thy cousins twain are they.

Into thy teeth they cast it, when such a thing they say.

Thou shalt not do this battle, if I the answer make.

CXLIII.

And thereupon Per Vermudoz began the tale and spake.

No words he utters clearly, for 'tis a tongue-halt man.

Natheless no rest he gave them, be it known, when he began: "To thee, Cid, now I tell it, for such thy customs be, That in Court, Pero Mudo, ever thou callest me.