The Lay of the Cid Part 3

The Cid, the n.o.bly bearded, reached down unto the twain, And in his arms his daughters has lifted up again, And to his heart he pressed them, so great his love was grown, And his tears fell fast and bitter, and sorely did he moan: "Ximena as mine own spirit I loved thee, gentle wife; But o'er well dost thou behold it, we must sunder in our life.

I must flee and thou behind me here in the land must stay.

Please G.o.d and sweet Saint Mary that yet upon a day I shall give my girls in marriage with mine own hand rich and well, And thereafter in good fortune be suffered yet to dwell, May they grant me, wife, much honored, to serve thee then once more."

XVII.

A mighty feast they had prepared for the Great Campeador The bells within San Pedro they clamor and they peal.

That my lord the Cid is banished men cry throughout Castile.

And some have left their houses, from their lands some fled away.

Of knights an hundred and fifteen were seen upon that day, By the bridge across the Arlanzon together they came o'er.

One and all were they calling on the Cid Campeador.

And Martin Antolinez has joined him with their power.

They sought him in San Pedro, who was born in a good hour.

XVIII.

When that his host was growing, heard the great Cid of Bivar, Swift he rode forth to meet them, for his fame would spread afar.

When they were come before him, he smiled on them again.

And one and all drew near him and to kiss his hand were fain.

My lord the Cid spake gladly: "Now to our G.o.d on high I make my supplication that ere I come to die I may repay your service that house and land has cost, And return unto you double the possession that ye lost."

My lord the Cid was merry that so great his commons grew, And they that were come to him they all were merry too.

Six days of grace are over, and there are left but three, Three and no more. The Cid was warned upon his guard to be, For the King said, if thereafter he should find him in the land, Then neither gold nor silver should redeem him from his hand.

And now the day was over and night began to fall His cavaliers unto him he summoned one and all:

"Hearken, my n.o.ble gentlemen. And grieve not in your care.

Few goods are mine, yet I desire that each should have his share.

As good men ought, be prudent. When the c.o.c.ks crow at day, See that the steeds are saddled, nor tarry nor delay.

In San Pedro to say matins the Abbot good will be; He will say ma.s.s in our behalf to the Holy Trinity.

And when the ma.s.s is over, from the abbey let us wend, For the season of our sufferance draws onward to an end.

And it is sure, moreover, that we have far to go."

Since so the Cid had ordered, they must do even so.

Night pa.s.sed, and came the morning. The second c.o.c.k he crew; Forthwith upon the horses the caparisons they threw.

And the bells are rung for matins with all the haste they may.

My lord Cid and his lady to church they went their way.

On the steps Ximena cast herself, that stood the shrine before, And to G.o.d pa.s.sionately she prayed to guard the Campeador:

"Our Father who art in Heaven, such glory is in Thee!

Thou madest firmament and earth, on the third day the sea.

The stars and moon Thou madest, and the great sun to warm.

In the womb of Mary Mother, Thou tookest human form.

Thou didst appear in Bethlehem as was Thy will and choice.

And in Thy praise and glory shepherds lifted up their voice.

And thither to adore Thee from Arabia afar Came forth the three kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.

And gold and myrrh and frankincense they proffered eagerly.

Thou didst spare the prophet Jonah when he fell into the sea.

And Thou didst rescue Daniel from the lions in the cave.

And, moreover, in Rome city Saint Sebastian didst Thou save.

From the sinful lying witness Saint Susanna didst Thou ward.

And years two and thirty didst Thou walk the Earth, our Lord, Showing, the which all men take heed, Thy miracles divine.

Of the stone, bread Thou madest, and of the water, wine.

Thou didst raise up Saint Lazarus according to Thy will.

Thou didst let the Hebrews take Thee. On Calvary the hill, In the place Golgotha by name, Thee, Lord, they crucified.

And the two thieves were with Thee, whom they hanged on either side, One is in heaven, the other he came not thereunto.

A miracle most mighty on the cross there didst Thou do.

Blind was Longinus never had seen from his birth-year.

The side of our Lord Jesus he pierced it with the spear.

Forth the blood issued swiftly, and ran down the shaft apace.

It stained his hands. He raised them and put them to his face.

Forthwith his eyes were opened and in every way might see.

He is ransomed from destruction for he straight believed on Thee.

From the sepulchre Thou rosest, and into h.e.l.l didst go, According to Thy purpose, and its gates didst overthrow, To bring forth the Holy Fathers. And King of Kings Thou art, And of all the world the Father, and Thee with all my heart Do I worship and acknowledge, and further I implore That Saint Peter speed my prayer for the Cid Campeador, That G.o.d keep his head from evil; and when this day we twain Depart, then grant it to us that we meet in life again."

And now the prayer is over and the ma.s.s in its due course.

From church they came, and already were about to get to horse.

And the Cid clasped Ximena, but she, his hand she kissed.

Sore wept the Dame, in no way the deed to do she wist.

He turned unto his daughters and he looked upon the two: "To the Spiritual Father, have I commended you.

We must depart. G.o.d knoweth when we shall meet again."

Weeping most sore--for never hast thou beheld such pain As the nail from the flesh parteth, from each other did they part.

And Cid with all his va.s.sals disposed himself to start, And as he waited for them anew he turned his head, Minaya AIvar Fanez then in good season said:

"Cid! Where is now thy courage? Upon a happy day Wast thou born. Let us bethink us of the road and haste away.

A truce to this. Rejoicing out of these griefs shall grow.

The G.o.d who gave us spirits shall give us aid also."

Don Sancho the good Abbot, they charged him o'er again To watch and ward Ximena and likewise her daughters twain, And the ladies that were with them. That he shall have no lack Of guerdon let the Abbot know. By this was he come back, Then out spake Alvar Fanez: "Abbot, if it betide That men should come desirous in our company to ride, Bid them follow but be ready on a long road to go Through the sown and through the desert; they may overtake us so."

They got them upon horseback, they let the rein go slack.

The time drew near when on Castile they needs must turn the back.

Spinaz de Can, it was the place where the Cid did alight.

And a great throng of people welcomed him there that night.

On the next day at morning, he got to horse once more, And forth unto his exile rode the true Campeador.

To the left of San Estevan the good town did he wheel.

He marched through Alcobiella the frontier of Castile.

O'er the highway to Quinea his course then has he bent.

Hard by Navas de Palos o'er Duero stream he went.

All night at Figueruela did my lord the Cid abide.

And very many people welcomed him on every side..

XIX.

When it was night the Cid lay down. In a deep sleep he fell, And to him in a vision came the angel Gabriel:

"Ride, Cid, most n.o.ble Campeador, for never yet did knight Ride forth upon an hour whose aspect was so bright.

While thou shalt live good fortune shall be with thee and shine."

When he awoke, upon his face he made the holy sign.

XX.