The Song of the Cid Read online

  around it.”

  Minaya said: “This is both wise and sensible.”

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  His men were called to the courtyard, all of them together,

  And once they’d assembled, he had them counted.

  My Cid, from Vivar, was now followed by three thousand

  six hundred—

  Which warmed his heart and made him smile:

  “Minaya, our thanks to God, and Saint Mary, his holy mother!

  There were not so many of us, when we left Vivar.

  We are rich men, now, and will be much richer.

  If you will, Minaya, and it isn’t too much trouble,

  I’d like to send you to Castile, where you can find my lord

  Alfonso, and my estates.

  A hundred of the horses we’ve won

  Will go with you, for King Alfonso.

  Kiss his hand for me, and beg him

  To grant me, if he will, my wife and daughters.

  I will send for them; give them this message:

  ‘My Cid’s wife and his two little daughters

  de guisa irán por ellas que a grand ondra vernán

  a estas tierras estrañas que nos pudiemos ganar.’”

  Essora dixo Minaya: “De buena voluntad.”

  Pues esto an fablado, piénsanse de adobar;

  ciento omnes le dio Mio Cid a Álbar Fáñez

  por servirle en la carrer[a] . . . . . .

  e mandó mill marcos de plata a San Pero levar

  e que los diesse a don Sancho [e]l abat.

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  En estas nuevas todos se alegrando,

  de parte de orient vino un coronado,

  el obispo don Jerónimo so nombre es llamado,

  bien entendido es de letras e mucho acordado,

  de pie e de cavallo mucho era arreziado.

  Las provezas de Mio Cid andávalas demandando,

  sospirando el obispo ques’ viesse con moros en el campo,

  que sis’ fartás lidiando e fıriendo con sus manos

  a los días del sieglo non le llorassen cristianos.

  Quando lo oyó Mio Cid, de aquesto fue pagado:

  “¡Oíd, Minaya Álbar Fáñez, por Aquel que está en alto!

  Quando Dios prestar nos quiere, nós bien ge lo gradescamos,

  en tierras de Valencia fer quiero obispado

  e dárgelo a este buen cristiano;

  vós, quando ides a Castiella, levaredes buenos mandados.”

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  Plogo a Álbar Fáñez de lo que dixo don Rrodrigo;

  a este don Jerónimo yal’ otorgan por obispo,

  diéronle en Valencia ó bien puede estar rrico.

  ¡Dios, qué alegre era todo cristianismo

  que en tierras de Valencia señor avié obispo!

  Alegre fue Minaya e spidiós’ e vinos’.

  Will be very happy, and received with great honor,

  Here in these foreign lands which we have fought for

  and won.’”

  Then Minaya said: “Gladly.”

  Plans for this journey were quickly made.

  My Cid gave Alvar Fáñez a hundred men for the trip,

  And asked him, if he would, to take with him

  A thousand silver marks for the church at San Pedro,

  And hand them to the abbot, Don Sancho.

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  Castile received Minaya’s message with great applause.

  A priest newly arrived from France—

  Named Bishop Don Jerónimo,

  Well-educated, sensible, and knowing,

  An accomplished fighter, on foot or on a horse—

  Was trying to learn as much as he could

  Of my Cid’s great deeds, yearning to fight with the Moors,

  Saying he’d be more than satisfied to die in such warfare,

  And no one would ever need to mourn him.

  When my Cid heard this, he was delighted:

  “Hear me, Minaya Alvar Fáñez! O blessèd God on high!

  How grateful we should be, when the Lord himself helps us!

  I want there to be a bishop here in Valencia

  And this good Christian wearing that holy headdress.

  On your next visit to Castile, you’ll carry good news!”

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  Alvar Fáñez was pleased by these words of Don Rodrigo.

  Valencia’s bishop was to be this Don Jerónimo,

  Who could live there like a king.

  Lord, what happiness for all of Christendom,

  Knowing Valencia would finally have a bishop!

  Minaya was happy, said his farewells, and headed to Castile again.

  80

  Tierras de Valencia rremanidas en paz,

  adeliñó pora Castiella Minaya Álbar Fáñez;

  dexarévos las posadas, non las quiero contar.

  Demandó por Alfonso, dó lo podrié fallar.

  Fuera el rrey a San Fagunt aún poco ha,

  tornós’ a Carrión, í lo podrié fallar.

  Alegre fue de aquesto Minaya Álbar Fáñez,

  con esta presenteja adeliñó pora allá.

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  De missa era exido essora el rrey Alfonso,

  afé Minaya Álbar Fáñez dó llega tan apuesto,

  fıncó sos inojos ante tod’ el pueblo,

  a los pies del rrey Alfonso cayó con grand duelo,

  besávale las manos e fabló tan apuesto:

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  “¡Merced, señor Alfonso, por amor del Criador!

  Besávavos las manos Mio Cid lidiador,

  los pies e las manos, como a tan buen señor,

  quel’ ayades merced, ¡sí vos vala el Criador!

  Echástesle de tierra, non ha la vuestra amor,

  maguer en tierra agena él bien faze lo so:

  ganada [á] a Xérica e a Onda por nombre,

  priso a Almenar e a Murviedro que es miyor,

  assí fızo Cebolla e adelant Castejón

  e Peña Cadiella que es una peña fuert;

  con aquestas todas de Valencia es señor,

  obispo fızo de su mano el buen Campeador

  e fızo cinco lides campales e todas las arrancó.

  Grandes son las ganancias quel’ dio el Criador,

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  And while he was on his way

  Valencia, and all around it, remained at peace.

  I omit the places he stopped at; they have no interest for me.

  He asked for Alfonso, and where he might find him;

  The king had been in Sahagún, not long ago,

  But now had come back to Carrión, he was told.

  Minaya Alvar Fáñez was pleased to hear this;

  With the gifts he was bringing, he hurried to Carrión.

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  Mass had just been said, and Alfonso was leaving church:

  What a perfect moment for Minaya’s arrival!

  He went down on his knees in front of the king,

  Where everyone could see him, bent with grief,

  Kissed the king’s hands, and spoke these noble words:

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  “Have mercy, Lord Alfonso, for the love of God, who made us all!

  My Cid, the great Warrior, kisses your hands

  And feet, as befits so excellent a master,

  And begs for your grace—as you beg God for his!

  You sent him into exile, he is still out of favor,

  Yet in foreign lands he is doing wonderful things:

  He has captured Jérica, and also Onda,

  He took Almenara, and an even bigger prize, Murviedro;

  He’s taken Cebolla, Castejón, and that powerful fortress,

  Benicadell;

  And on top of all this, the Warrior is lord of Valencia

  And able, himself, to restore the bishopric there.

  He has won five pitched battles against the Moors.

  Our God has granted him rich rewards—

  fevos aquí las señas, verdad vos digo yo,

  cient cavall
os gruessos e corredores,

  de siellas e de frenos todos guarnidos son,

  bésavos las manos que los prendades vós;

  rrazonas’ por vuestro vassallo e a vós tiene por señor.”

  Alçó la mano diestra, el rrey se sanctigó:

  “De tan fıeras ganancias como á fechas el Campeador

  ¡sí me vala Sant Esidro! plazme de coraçón

  e plázem’ de las nuevas que faze el Campeador;

  rrecibo estos cavallos quem’ enbía de don.”

  Maguer plogo al rrey, mucho pesó a Garcí Ordóñez:

  “Semeja que en tierra de moros non á bivo omne

  quando assí faze a su guisa el Cid Campeador.”

  Dixo el rrey al conde: “Dexad essa rrazón,

  que en todas guisas mijor me sirve que vós.”

  Fablava Minaya í a guisa de varón:

  “Merced vos pide el Cid, si vos cayesse en sabor,

  por su mugier doña Ximena e sus fıjas amas a dos:

  saldrién del monesterio dó elle las dexó

  e irién pora Valencia al buen Campeador.”

  Essora dixo el rrey: “Plazme de coraçón;

  yo les mandaré dar conducho mientra que por mi tierra

  fueren,

  de fonta e de mal curiallas e de desonor;

  quando en cabo de mi tierra aquestas dueñas fueren,

  catad cómo las sirvades vós e el Campeador.

  ¡Oídme, escuelas e toda la mi cort!

  Non quiero que nada pierda el Campeador:

  a todas las escuelas que a él dizen señor,

  por que los deseredé, todo ge lo suelto yo;

  sírvanle[s] sus herdades dó fuere el Campeador,

  atrégoles los cuerpos de mal e de ocasión,

  por tal fago aquesto que sirvan a so señor.”

  Minaya Álbar Fáñez las manos le besó.

  Sonrrisós’ el rrey, tan vellido fabló:

  “Los que quisieren ir se[r]vir al Campeador

  de mí sean quitos e vayan a la gracia del Criador.

  Más ganaremos en esto que en otra desonor.”

  And in proof of what he has won

  I bring you a hundred strong horses,

  Saddled, harnessed, and ready for riding:

  He kisses your hands and hopes you will take them,

  For he remains your servant and proclaims you his lord.”

  The king raised his right hand and made the sign of the cross:

  “In the name of Saint Isidore, I declare my pleasure

  At what he has won: it warms my heart,

  As do all his wonderful triumphs.

  I am glad to accept these gifts from his hands.”

  The king was pleased; Count García Ordóñez, my Cid’s enemy,

  Was not: “I gather no men are left in Moorish lands,

  Since our great Warrior, this Cid, can do as he pleases.”

  The king declared: “Enough of that,

  Since in all things he does more for me than you ever do.”

  Then Minaya said, speaking strongly:

  “My Cid begs, if it pleases you to grant this,

  That his wife, Doña Jimena, and his two daughters

  May leave the monastery where he left them,

  And join him in Valencia, of which he is now master.”

  The king then said: “I grant that most gladly.

  I will have them escorted until they leave my lands;

  They need fear nothing, neither danger nor dishonor.

  But once these ladies reach the borders of Castile,

  They fall into your and the Warrior’s hands.

  “Now hear me, everyone here in my court!

  I wish the Warrior to be deprived of nothing—

  Neither he nor those who have chosen to fight at his side:

  I hereby give them back their former property rights.

  Whatever may be earned, while they serve my Cid,

  Is theirs, wherever they may be. Nor are they themselves

  Subject to any kind of penalty.”

  Minaya then kissed the king’s hands,

  And the king, smiling, spoke most graciously:

  “Those who wish to leave my service and join him

  Are hereby freed to do so—and God go with them.

  Castile is better thus served than by dishonor.”

  The nobles of Carrión began to whisper together:

  Aquí entraron en fabla los iffantes de Carrión:

  “Mucho crecen las nuevas de Mio Cid el Campeador,

  bien casariemos con sus fıjas pora huebos de pro;

  non la osariemos acometer nós esta rrazón,

  Mio Cid es de Bivar e nós de los condes de Carrión.”

  Non lo dizen a nadi e fıncó esta rrazón.

  Minaya Álbar Fáñez al buen rrey se espidió.

  “¡Ya vos ides, Minaya, id a la gracia del Criador!

  Levedes un portero, tengo que vos avrá pro;

  si leváredes las dueñas, sírvanlas a su sabor,

  fata dentro en Medina denles quanto huebos les fuer,

  desí adelant piense d’ellas el Campeador.”

  Espidiós’ Minaya e vasse de la cort.

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  Los iffantes de Carrión . . . . . . . .

  dando ivan conpaña a Minaya Álbar Fáñez:

  “En todo sodes pro, en esto assí lo fagades:

  saludadnos a Mio Cid, el de Bivar,

  somos en so pro quanto lo podemos far;

  el Cid que bien nos quiera nada non perderá.”

  Rrespuso Minaya: “Esto non me á por qué pesar.”

  Ido es Minaya, tórnanse los iffantes.

  Adeliñó pora San Pero ó las dueñas están,

  tan grand fue el gozo quándol’ vieron assomar.

  Decido es Minaya, a San Pero va rrogar,

  quando acabó la oración, a las dueñas se tornó:

  “Omíllom’, doña Ximena, Dios vos curie de mal,

  assí faga a vuestras fıjas amas.

  Salúdavos Mio Cid allá onde elle está;

  sano lo dexé e con tan grand rrictad.

  El rrey por su merced sueltas me vos ha

  por levaros a Valencia que avemos por heredad.

  Si vos viesse el Cid sanas e sin mal,

  todo serié alegre, que non avrié ningún pesar.”

  Dixo doña Ximena: “¡El Criador lo mande!”

  “My Cid, the Warrior, is certainly standing very high:

  Marriage with his daughters would do us very well—

  If we could risk saying such a thing,

  Since we are nobles of Carrión, and my Cid is just someone from

  Vivar.”

  So they said nothing, and as yet nothing was done.

  Minaya Alvar Fáñez said farewell to the good king.

  “You’re leaving us, Minaya? May the grace of God go with you!

  Take a royal courier: I think he’ll be helpful.

  If you travel with the three ladies, serve them well,

  Be sure they lack for nothing, until they’re in Medinaceli,

  After which the Warrior will see to their care.”

  Then Minaya, having said farewell, departed.

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  The nobles of Carrión escorted Minaya Alvar Fáñez.

  “Whatever you touch, Minaya, goes well. Do something for us.

  Give our greetings to my Cid, he who comes from Vivar.

  Tell him he has our support, in whatever we’re able to do,

  And he can lose nothing by smiling on us.”

  Minaya replied: “That won’t cost me much.”

  So Minaya left, and the Carrión nobles

  Rode back to San Pedro, to the three ladies,

  Who smiled, and laughed, and wept to see him.

  But he stopped, first, at the church,

  And prayed, and then returned to the women.

  “My humble greetings, Doña Jimena. May God keep you

  From all evil—you and both yo
ur daughters!

  My Cid greets you, far-off as he is;

  I left him healthy and happy with his riches.

  King Alfonso has graciously freed you, and I am permitted

  To guide you to Valencia, which we now possess.

  If my Cid sees you there, healthy, safe from all harm,

  His happiness will be complete, his worries will be gone.”

  Doña Jimena replied: “May God bring that to pass!”

  Minaya Alvar Fáñez directed three knights

  Dio tres cavalleros Minaya Álbar Fáñez,

  enviólos a Mio Cid a Valencia dó está:

  “Dezid al Canpeador, que Dios le curie de mal,

  que su mugier e sus fıjas el rrey sueltas me las ha,

  mientra que fuéremos por sus tierras conducho nos mandó dar.

  De aquestos quinze días, si Dios nos curiare de mal,

  seremos [í] yo e su mugier e sus fıjas que él á

  y todas las dueñas con ellas, quantas buenas ellas han.”

  Idos son los cavalleros e d’ello pensarán,

  rremaneció en San Pero Minaya Álbar Fáñez.

  Veriedes cavalleros venir de todas partes,

  irse quiere[n] a Valencia a Mio Cid el de Bivar;

  que les toviesse pro rrogavan a Álbar Fáñez,

  diziendo esto Mianaya: “Esto feré de veluntad.”

  A Minaya sessaenta [e] cinco cavalleros acrecídol’ han

  e él se tenié ciento que aduxiera d’allá;

  por ir con estas dueñas buena conpaña se faze.

  Los quinientos marcos dio Minaya al abat,

  de los otros quinientos dezir vos he qué faze:

  Minaya a doña Ximina e a sus fıjas que ha

  e a las otras dueñas que las sirven delant,

  el bueno de Minaya pensólas de adobar

  de los mejores guarnimientos que en Burgos pudo fallar,

  palafrés e mulas, que non parescan mal.

  Quando estas dueñas adobadas las ha,

  el bueno de Minaya pensar quiere de cavalgar,

  afevos Rrachel e Vidas a los pies le caen:

  “¡Merced, Minaya, cavallero de prestar!