The Song of the Cid Read online

  “¡Grado al Criador e a vós, Cid, barba vellida!

  Todo lo que vós feches es de buena guisa;

  non serán menguadas en todos vuestros días.”

  “Quando vós nos casáredes bien seremos rricas.”

  110

  “Mugier doña Ximena, ¡grado al Criador!

  A vós digo, mis fıjas, don Elvira e doña Sol:

  d’este vu[e]stro casamiento creçremos en onor,

  mas bien sabed verdad que non lo levanté yo;

  pedidas vos ha e rrogadas el mio señor Alfonso

  atan fırmemientre e de todo coraçón

  que yo nulla cosa nol’ sope dezir de no.

  Metívos en sus manos, fıjas amas a dos,

  bien me lo creades que él vos casa, ca non yo.”

  108

  That night, everyone went to their rooms.

  My Cid, the Warrior, came to the palace,

  Welcomed by Doña Jimena and their daughters:

  “You’ve come, my Warrior, knighted at so fortunate an hour!

  May we see you day after day, with these eyes of ours!”

  “Thank God I’m here, I’ve come, my honored wife!

  I give you two sons-in-law, who will honor us all.

  Be grateful, my daughters, I’ve married you so well.”

  His wife and daughters kissed his hands,

  As did the ladies in waiting:

  109

  “We thank the Lord God, and you, my Cid, with your splendid

  beard!

  Everything you do is always done right.

  For the rest of our days, we’ll never lack for a thing.”

  “You’ll marry us off and make us rich brides.”

  110

  “Doña Jimena, my wife, thanks indeed to the Lord!

  But though I tell you, my daughters,

  These marriages will bring us honor,

  I must also tell you, to speak the plain truth,

  This wasn’t my idea, but the king’s; he wanted it done,

  And pressed me so hard I could not say no,

  There was nothing else to do.

  I put you in his hands, my daughters;

  He will give you away, instead of your father.”

  111

  Pensaron de adobar essora el palacio,

  por el suelo e suso tan bien encortinado,

  tanta pórpola e tanto xamed e tanto paño preciado.

  Sabor abriedes de ser e de comer en el palacio.

  Todos sus cavalleros apriessa son juntados;

  por los iffantes de Carrión essora enbiaron,

  cavalgan los iffantes, adelant adeliñavan al palacio

  con buenas vestiduras e fuertemientre adobados,

  de pie e a sabor, ¡Dios, qué quedos entraron!

  Rrecibiólos Mio Cid con todos sus vas[s]allos;

  a él e a su mugier delant se le[s] omillaron

  e ivan posar en un precioso escaño.

  Todos los de Mio Cid tan bien son acordados,

  están parando mientes al que en buen ora nasco.

  El Campeador en pie es levantado:

  “Pues que a fazer lo avemos, ¿por qué lo imos tardando?

  ¡Venit acá, Álbar Fáñez, el que yo quiero e amo!

  Afé amas mis fıjas, métolas en vuestra mano,

  sabedes que al rrey assí ge lo he mandado,

  no lo quiero fallir por nada de quanto á í parado,

  a los ifantes de Carrión dadlas con vuestra mano

  e prendan bendiciones e vayamos rrecabdando.”

  Esto[n]z dixo Minaya: “Esto faré yo de grado.”

  Levántanse derechas e metiógelas en mano;

  a los ifantes de Carrión Minaya va fablando:

  “Afevos delant Minaya, amos sodes ermanos,

  por mano del rrey Alfonso que a mí lo ovo mandado

  dovos estas dueñas, amas son fıjas d’algo,

  que las tomássedes por mugieres a ondra e a rrecabdo.”

  Amos las rreciben d’amor e de grado,

  a Mio Cid e a su mugier van besar la mano.

  Quando ovieron aquesto fecho, salieron del palacio,

  pora Sancta María apriessa adeliñando;

  el obispo don Jerónimo vistiós’ tan privado,

  a la puerta de la eclegia sediéllos sperando;

  111

  They began to make the palace ready,

  With tapestries hung on walls, rugs unrolled on floors—

  Red and purple silks and wool were everywhere.

  My Cid’s brave knights came rushing;

  The noble Carrión heirs were summoned:

  They rode to the palace, dismounted—

  Handsomely dressed, beautifully groomed

  And elegant—how quietly they entered!

  My Cid and his knights gave them good welcome;

  They bowed to the Warrior, and to his wife,

  Then seated themselves on a well-carved bench.

  Those who followed my Cid listened as one,

  Attentive, as the Warrior, he who was born at a fortunate hour,

  Rose and began to address them:

  “This ceremony awaits us: why keep it waiting?

  Come here, Alvar Fáñez, for whom I feel great love!

  Here are my two daughters, I put them in your hands,

  Exactly as my king commanded:

  Nothing I promised will be left undone.

  Let the noble Carrións have what I’ve given you;

  There’ll be a blessing; we’ll do it all as it should be done.”

  To which Minaya replied: “Gladly!”

  The girls stood up, Minaya took them by the hands

  And spoke to the two Carrión heirs:

  “Here in front of you stands Minaya.

  King Alfonso has given me, and I give you,

  These two noble ladies, sisters to each other,

  As lawful, proper wives to you two brothers.”

  The Carrións took them with warmth and pleasure,

  And dutifully kissed both my Cid’s hands and his wife’s.

  When this was done, they left the palace,

  Going straight to Saint Mary’s church,

  Where Bishop Don Jerónimo, quickly donning his vestments,

  Awaited them at the door,

  Blessed them all, and sang a mass.

  dioles bendictiones, la missa á cantado.

  Al salir de la eclesia cavalgaron tan privado,

  a la glera de Valencia fuera dieron salto;

  ¡Dios, qué bien tovieron armas el Cid e sus vassallos!

  Tres cavallos cameó el que en buen ora nasco.

  Mio Cid de lo que veyé mucho era pagado,

  los ifantes de Carrión bien an cavalgado.

  Tórnanse con las dueñas, a Valencia an entrado,

  rricas fueron las bodas en el alcáçar ondrado,

  e al otro día fızo Mio Cid fıncar siete tablados;

  antes que entrassen a yantar todos los quebrantaron.

  Quinze días conplidos en las bodas duraron,

  cerca de los quinze días yas’ van los fıjos d’algo.

  Mio Cid don Rrodrigo, el que en buen ora nasco,

  entre palafrés e mulas e corredores cavallos,

  en bestias sines ál ciento á mandados;

  mantos e pelliçones e otros vestidos largos;

  non fueron en cuenta los averes monedados.

  Los vassallos de Mio Cid assí son acordados,

  cada uno por sí sos dones avién dados.

  Qui aver quiere prender bien era abastado;

  rricos’ tornan a Castiella los que a las bodas llegaron.

  Yas’ ivan partiendo aquestos ospedados,

  espidiendos’ de Rruy Díaz, el que en buen ora nasco,

  e a todas las dueñas e a los fıjos d’algo;

  por pagados se parten de Mio Cid e de sus vassallos,

  grant bien dizen d’ellos, ca será aguisado.

  Mucho eran alegres Diego e Fernando,

  estos
fueron fıjos del conde don Gonçalo.

  Venidos son a Castiella aquestos ospedados,

  el Cid e sos yernos en Valencia son rrastados.

  Í moran los ifantes bien cerca de dos años,

  los amores que les fazen mucho eran sobejanos.

  Alegre era el Cid e todos sus vassallos.

  ¡Plega a Sancta María e al Padre sancto

  ques’ pague d’és casamiento Mio Cid o el que lo [ovo a algo]!

  Las coplas d’este cantar aquís’ van acabando.

  ¡El Criador vos vala con todos los sos sanctos!

  After church, they galloped to the arena,

  Where they played at war games—

  God! My Cid and his men knew how to fight!

  He who was born at a lucky time changed horses three times,

  And was absolutely delighted with what he saw:

  The Carrión brothers truly knew how to ride.

  Then they took the ladies back to the city,

  And celebrated this wedding in the Warrior’s castle.

  The next day, my Cid had seven wooden targets set out;

  Before they touched their food, all seven were knocked apart.

  The celebration went on for fifteen days,

  And it was fifteen days before guests began to leave.

  My Cid, Ruy Díaz, born at a lucky time,

  Distributed palfreys and mules and good fast horses—

  A full hundred animals in all—

  Plus cloaks and fur-lined coats, and all kinds of other clothing.

  No one could count the gold and silver he gave away.

  And my Cid’s good men gave too, with open hands:

  Whoever asked, got what he wanted,

  Whoever took, surely got a lot.

  The guests from Castile were rich when they rode home.

  So the visitors left, one by one,

  Saying farewell to Ruy Díaz, he who was born at a lucky hour,

  And to all the ladies and noble gentlemen;

  And they left exceedingly happy they had come,

  Praising their hosts, which was certainly proper.

  The Carrión heirs, Diego and Fernando, sons

  Of Count Gonzalo, were delighted.

  After the guests had gone home

  To Castile, my Cid and his sons-in-law

  Lived on in Valencia for about two years,

  And the Carrións were treated with very great warmth.

  My Cid and all his men were pleased.

  Pray that Saint Mary and our sacred Father

  Make this marriage a good one, for my Cid and the king who

  made it!

  And now this Canto has been completed:

  May God’s blessings fall on you, with those of all his saints!

  CANTO THREE

  112

  En Valencia seí Mio Cid con todos sus vassallos,

  con él amos sus yernos los ifantes de Carrión.

  Yaziés’ en un escaño, durmié el Campeador,

  mala sobrevienta, sabed, que les cuntió:

  saliós’ de la rred e desatós’ el león.

  En grant miedo se vieron por medio de la cort;

  enbraçan los mantos los del Campeador

  e cercan el escaño e fıncan sobre so señor.

  Ferrán Gonçález . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  non vio allí dós’ alçasse, nin cámara abierta nin torre,

  metiós’ so’l escaño, tanto ovo el pavor.

  Diego Gonçález por la puerta salió,

  diziendo de la boca: “¡Non veré Carrión!”

  Tras una viga lagar metiós’ con grant pavor,

  el manto e el brial todo suzio lo sacó.

  En esto despertó el que en buen ora nació,

  vio cercado el escaño de sus buenos varones:

  “¿Qué’s esto, mesnadas, o qué queredes vós?”

  “Ya señor ondrado, rrebata nos dio el león.”

  Mio Cid fıncó el cobdo, en pie se levantó,

  el manto trae al cuello e adeliñó pora’ [l] león.

  El león, quando lo vio, assí envergonçó,

  ante Mio Cid la cabeça premió e el rrostro fıncó.

  Mio Cid don Rrodrigo al cuello lo tomó

  e liévalo adestrando, en la rred le metió.

  A maravilla lo han quantos que í son

  e tornáronse al palacio pora la cort.

  112

  My Cid was in Valencia, with all his men

  And both his sons-in-law, the Carrións.

  The Warrior was lying on a couch, asleep—

  When, suddenly, a serious problem arose:

  Their lion was out of his cage, and walking free.

  Terror spread through the palace;

  My Cid’s men belted their cloaks

  And made a circle around their sleeping lord.

  Fernando, my Cid’s son-in-law, could see no place to hide

  And, shaking with fear, went crawling under the couch;

  His brother, Diego, ran straight for the door,

  Screaming, “I’ll never see my home again!”

  Trembling, he squeezed himself behind a beam in the wine press,

  His cloak and shirt grimy with sweat.

  Then the man born at the right time awoke,

  And saw the backs of his men around him.

  “Good men, what’s this, what’s going on?”

  “O honored lord, our lion’s free!”

  My Cid leaned up on his elbow, rose to his feet,

  And with his cloak on his shoulder went walking toward the

  beast.

  The lion was so afraid, at the sight of him,

  That he stopped and bent his head,

  And my Cid, Don Ruy Díaz, took hold of his mane

  And walked him back to his cage.

  Everyone there was amazed,

  And all came back to the court.

  Mio Cid por sos yernos demandó e no los falló,

  maguer los están llamando, ninguno non rresponde.

  Quando los fallaron, assí vinieron sin color,

  non viestes tal juego como iva por la cort;

  mandó lo vedar Mio Cid el Campeador.

  Muchos’ tovieron por enbaídos los ifantes de Carrión,

  fıera cosa les pesa d’esto que les cuntió.

  113

  Ellos en esto estando, dón avién grant pesar,

  fuerças de Marruecos Valencia vienen cercar,

  cinquaenta mill tiendas fıncadas ha de las cabdales,

  aquéste era el rrey Búcar, sil’ ouyestes contar.

  114

  Alegravas’ el Cid e todos sus varones

  que les crece la ganancia, grado al Criador;

  mas, sabed, de cuer les pesa a los ifantes de Carrión

  ca veyén tantas tiendas de moros de que non avié[n] sabor.

  Amos ermanos apart salidos son:

  “Catamos la ganancia e la pérdida no,

  ya en esta batalla a entrar abremos nós,

  esto es aguisado por non ver Carrión,

  bibdas rremandrán fıjas del Campeador.”

  Oyó la poridad aquel Muño Gustioz,

  vino con estas nuevas a Mio Cid Rruy Díaz el Canpeador:

  “Evades qué pavor han vuestros yernos tan osados,

  por entrar en batalla desean Carrión.

  Idlos conortar, sí vos vala el Criador,

  que sean en paz e non ayan í rración.

  Nós convusco la vençremos e valer nos ha el Criador.”

  Mio Cid don Rrodrigo sonrrisando salió:

  “Dios vos salve, yernos, ifantes de Carrión.

  En braços tenedes mis fıjas tan blancas como el sol.

  My Cid asked for the Carrións, who couldn’t be found,

  And though they called out names, no one answered.

  Then they saw them, pale as ghosts—

  And O! the giggling and chuckling around the court!

  My Cid, the Warrior, commanded them to stop.

 
; But the Carrións felt disgraced and scorned,

  And never got over their flood of shame.

  113

  And while they were still boiling with anger,

  Moroccan armies suddenly surrounded Valencia;

  Fifty thousand huge tents sprouted right in front of them.

  This was King Búcar, of whom you may have heard.

  114

  My Cid and all his men were delighted,

  Already counting up their loot—may God be praised!

  But, in fact, the Carrións were terrified at the sight

  Of so many Moorish tents, which they did not like.

  They conferred, in private:

  “We calculated our gains and expected no losses:

  We’ll have to ride out and face those forces!

  We’ll never see Carrión again!

  And Cid’s daughters will both be widows!”

  Muño Gustioz happened to overhear this,

  And informed my Cid, Ruy Díaz, the Warrior:

  “Your sons-in-law are shaking with fear: fighting is

  Not on their minds—only running for home!

  For God’s sake, go calm them down!

  Let them stay here and not lift a hand:

  God will give us victory, with you in command!”

  My Cid, Ruy Díaz, went to them, smiling:

  “May God bless you, my sons-in-law, you Carrión heirs!

  Your arms are holding my daughters, bright and fair!

  Yo desseo lides e vós a Carrión,

  en Valencia folgad a todo vuestro sabor

  ca d’aquellos moros yo só sabidor,

  arrancar me los trevo con la merced del Criador.”

  115

  [There is a full page missing from the manuscript, perhaps fifty lines; we know from the chronicles that the first speaker, below, is one of the Carrións, who had proposed to join the fighting but turned and ran when a Moor attacked; Pedro Bermúdez kills the Moor and brings the man’s horse to the Carrión, so he can claim to have won it in battle.]

  “aún vea el ora que vos meresca dos tanto.”

  En una conpaña tornados son amos,

  assí lo otorga don Pero cuemo se alaba Ferrando;