The Song of the Cid Read online

  I did it, hoping to help your Warrior.

  How I wish it had never been done!

  My Cid and I are both heavy at heart.

  I will help him have justice, in the name of God!

  It has been a long time since I did this,

  But now I will send my heralds through all of Castile,

  Calling my nobles to court, in Toledo—

  And every count, every man who has a title.

  And I’ll summon the Carrións to come

  And do justice to my Cid, the Warrior:

  He will not have suffered for nothing, if I can help it.

  134

  “Tell the Warrior, that man born in a good hour,

  To be ready, he and his men, to come to Toledo

  In seven weeks: that will be how long it takes.

  I call this court for love of my Cid.

  Greet them all for me, tell them to be patient:

  This disaster they endured may yet be turned to honor!”

  Muño Gustioz said his farewells, and returned to my Cid.

  The king made sure that what he had said was exactly what was

  done:

  Alfonso, King of Castile, let nothing stand in his way.

  He sent word to León and Santiago,

  To the Portuguese and Galicians,

  To the Carrións and his own Castilians,

  Announcing their honored king was holding court in Toledo,

  Where they should arrive in seven weeks, no later.

  A nobleman who did not come no longer served Alfonso.

  Every one of his subjects felt quite sure

  The good king’s notice should not be ignored.

  135

  Ya les va pesando a los ifantes de Carrión

  porque en Toledo el rrey fazié cort;

  miedo han que í verná Mio Cid el Campeador.

  Prenden so consejo assí parientes como son,

  rruegan al rrey que los quite d’esta cort.

  Dixo el rrey: “No lo feré, ¡sín’ salve Dios!

  Ca í verná Mio Cid el Campeador;

  dar le [e]des derecho, ca rrencura ha de vós.

  Qui lo fer non quisiesse o no ir a mi cort,

  quite mio rreino, ca d’él non he sabor.”

  Ya lo vieron que es a fer los ifantes de Carrión,

  prenden consejo parientes como son;

  el conde don García en estas nuevas fue,

  enemigo de Mio Cid que mal siémprel’ buscó,

  aquéste consejó los ifantes de Carrión.

  Llegava el plazo, querién ir a la cort,

  en los primeros va el buen rrey don Alfonso,

  el conde don Anrrich e el conde don Rremond,

  aquéste fue padre del buen enperador,

  el conde don Fruella e el conde don Beltrán.

  Fueron í de su rreino otros muchos sabidores,

  de toda Castiella todos los mejores.

  El conde don García con ifantes de Carrión

  e As[s]ur Gonçález e Gonçalo Assúrez,

  e Diego e Ferrando í son amos a dos,

  e con ellos grand bando que aduxieron a la cort:

  e[n]baírle cuidan a Mio Cid el Campeador.

  De todas partes allí juntados son.

  Aún non era llegado el que en buen ora nació,

  porque se tarda el rrey non ha sabor.

  Al quinto día venido es Mio Cid el Campeador,

  [a] Álbar Fáñez adelántel’ enbió

  que besasse las manos al rrey so señor:

  bien lo sopiesse que í serié essa noch.

  Quando lo oyó el rrey, plógol’ de coraçón,

  135

  How it troubled the Carrións,

  The king calling this court in Toledo!

  They were afraid my Cid, the Warrior, would come.

  The whole family discussed the problem,

  Then begged the king to exempt them.

  He replied: “I will do no such thing!

  My Cid, the Warrior, is coming,

  And needs to have justice for what you’ve done.

  Whoever does not attend

  Had better leave this land, for he loses my favor.”

  The Carrións saw it was going to happen;

  The entire family discussed the problem.

  Count Don García Ordóñez took part—

  My Cid’s enemy, always trying to hurt him—

  And gave the Carrións his advice.

  The time came, they had to attend.

  Among the first to arrive were King Alfonso,

  Count Don Enrique, and Count Don Ramón—

  Count Ramón was the good emperor’s father—

  Count Don Fruela, and Count Don Beltrán.

  Many deeply learned men attended the court,

  The best of all there were, from all Castile.

  Count Don García was there, along with the Carrións,

  And Ansur González, Suero González,

  And Diego and Fernando, our pair of Carrión brothers,

  And with them a horde, their men and others,

  Assembled for assaulting my Cid, the Warrior.

  Members of the court had come from all over,

  But he who was born at a fortunate hour

  Was late, and the king was annoyed.

  On the fifth day my Cid, the Warrior, appeared;

  He had sent Alvar Fáñez in advance,

  To show respect for the king, his lord, and to kiss his hands

  And say he was coming that night.

  Hearing this, the king was delighted,

  con grandes yentes el rrey cavalgó

  e iva rrecebir al que en buen ora nació.

  Bien aguisado viene el Cid con todos los sos,

  buenas conpañas que assí an tal señor.

  Quando lo ovo a ojo el buen rrey don Alfonso,

  fıriós’ a tierra Mio Cid el Campeador,

  biltarse quiere e ondrar a so señor.

  Quando lo oyó el rrey por nada non tardó:

  “¡Par Sant Esidro verdad non será oy!

  Cavalgad, Cid, si non, non avría de[n]d sabor,

  saludar nos hemos d’alma e de coraçón.

  De lo que a vós pesa a mí duele el coraçón,

  ¡Dios lo mande que por vós se ondre oy la cort!”

  “Amen,” dixo Mio Cid el Campeador,

  besóle la mano e después le saludó:

  “Grado a Dios quando vos veo, señor.

  Omíllom’ a vós e al conde do Rremond

  e al conde don A[n]rrich e a quantos que í son,

  ¡Dios salve a nuestros amigos e a vós más, señor!

  Mi mugier doña Ximena, dueña es de pro,

  bésavos las manos, e mis fıjas amas a dos,

  d’esto que nos abino que vos pese, señor.”

  Rrespondió el rrey: “Sí fago, ¡sín’ salve Dios!”

  136

  Pora Toledo el rrey tornada da,

  essa noch Mio Cid Tajo non quiso passar:

  “¡Merced, ya rrey, sí el Criador vos salve!

  Pensad, señor, de entrar a la cibdad

  e yo con los míos posaré a San Serván;

  las mis compañas esta noche llegarán.

  Terné vigilia en aqueste sancto logar,

  cras mañana entraré a la cibdad

  e iré a la cort enantes de yantar.”

  Dixo el rrey: “Plazme de veluntad.”

  El rrey don Alfonso a Toledo es entrado,

  And with many others rode out to welcome

  The man born at an hour so right.

  My Cid came well prepared, with all his knights,

  Men who were worthy of him, their lord; they knew how to fight.

  Seeing Don Alfonso, his king,

  Warrior Cid dismounted,

  Intending to honor his noble lord.

  But immediately the king forbade it:

  “In the name of Saint Isidore, don’t do that, today!

  Keep riding, my Cid, or I’ll be a
ngry.

  We’ll greet each other only in our hearts and souls.

  Your suffering presses hard on my heart:

  May this court be led by God, and do you honor!”

  “Amen!” replied my Cid, the Warrior,

  Kissing the king’s hands, and then his mouth.

  “My lord,” he said, “I’m grateful to you for appearing here!

  My humble greetings to you, and to Count Ramón,

  And Don Enrique, and all those who are here.

  God save our friends, and especially you, my lord!

  Doña Jimena, my worthy wife,

  Kisses your hands, and so do my daughters,

  Since you have shared our misfortune, and felt its importance.”

  “I do,” said the king. “By God, I do!”

  136

  The king then turned, intending to ride to Toledo.

  But my Cid did not want to cross the Tagus that night.

  “A favor, my king! May God give you salvation.

  Proceed to Toledo, my lord,

  And I and my men will rest at San Servando.

  The rest of my men will meet us there,

  And in that holy place we’ll say our prayers together.

  I plan to ride to Toledo, in the morning,

  And go to the court before we eat.”

  “I gladly consent,” said the king,

  Who then proceeded to Toledo,

  Mio Cid Rruy Díaz en San Serván posado.

  Mandó fazer candelas e poner en el altar,

  sabor á de velar en essa santidad,

  al Criador rrogando e fablando en poridad.

  Entre Minaya e los buenos que í ha

  acordados fueron quando vino la man.

  Matines e prima dixieron faza’l alba.

  137

  Suelta fue la missa antes que saliesse el sol

  e su ofrenda han fecha muy buena e conplida.

  “Vós, Minaya Álbar Fáñez, el mio braço mejor,

  vós iredes comigo e el obispo don Jerónimo

  e Pero Vermúez e aqueste Muño Gustioz

  e Martín Antolínez, el burgalés de pro,

  e Álbar Álbarez e Álbar Salvadórez

  e Martín Muñoz, que en buen punto nació,

  e mio sobrino Félez Muñoz;

  comigo irá Mal Anda, que es bien sabidor,

  e Galind Garcíez, el bueno d’Aragón;

  con éstos cúnplanse ciento de los buenos que í son.

  Velmezes vestidos por sufrir las guarnizones,

  de suso las lorigas tan blancas como el sol;

  sobre las lorigas armiños e pelliçones

  e, que non parescan las armas, bien presos los cordones,

  so los mantos las espadas dulces e tajadores;

  d’aquesta guisa quiero ir a la cort

  por demandar mios derechos e dezir mi rrazón.

  Si desobra buscaren ifantes de Carrión,

  dó tales ciento tovier, bien seré sin pavor.”

  Rrespondieron todos: “Nós esso queremos, señor.”

  Assí como lo á dicho, todos adobados son.

  Nos’ detiene por nada el que en buen ora nació:

  calças de buen paño en sus camas metió,

  sobr’ellas unos çapatos que a grant huebra son,

  vistió camisa de rrançal tan blanca como el sol,

  While Ruy Díaz, my Cid, remained in San Servando.

  He had candles placed on the altar, in that holy place,

  Meaning to spend the night praying,

  Quietly begging God for his favor.

  Minaya and my Cid’s other good men

  Were more than ready, when daylight came.

  137

  Mass and morning prayers had been said

  Before the sun appeared.

  They left many generous offerings.

  “You, Minaya Alvar Fáñez,” said my Cid,

  “You, my right arm, and Bishop Don Jerónimo, will come

  with me,

  And Pedro Bermúdez, and our Muño Gustioz,

  And Martín Antolínez, that fine fellow from Burgos.

  And Alvar Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadórez,

  And Martín Muñoz, born at the right time,

  And my nephew, Félix Muñoz.

  I’ll also take Mal Anda, a learnèd man of law,

  And Galín García, from Aragon: a good man to have.

  Fill up my hundred with other good men, and that will be all.

  Wear padded vests under your armor,

  And then your mail shirts, gleaming like the sun,

  And over them your fur-lined capes—

  To let your armor shine, tie them tight at the waist,

  But hide your sweet sharp swords beneath them.

  This is how I’ll go to court

  And ask for justice, stating my case.

  If the Carrións look for trouble, I can’t be afraid,

  Followed by a hundred men this good!”

  They shouted: “We’ll do whatever you ask!”

  Saying this, they got themselves ready.

  He who was born at a fortunate hour didn’t sit around waiting:

  He pulled on a pair of well-woven stockings

  con oro e con plata todas las presas son,

  al puño bien están, ca él se lo mandó;

  sobr’ella un brial primo de ciclatón,

  obrado es con oro, parecen por ó son;

  sobr’esto una piel vermeja, las bandas d’oro son,

  siempre la viste Mio Cid el Campeador;

  una cofıa sobre los pelos d’un escarín de pro,

  con oro es obrada, fecha por rrazón,

  que non le contal[l]assen los pelos al buen Cid Canpeador;

  la barba avié luenga e prísola con el cordón,

  por tal lo faze esto que rrecabdar quiere todo lo suyo;

  de suso cubrió un manto, que es de grant valor.

  En él abrién que ver quantos que í son.

  Con aquestos ciento que adobar mandó

  apriessa cavalga, de San Serván salió;

  assí iva Mio Cid adobado a lla cort.

  A la puerta de fuera descavalga a sabor,

  cuerdamientre entra Mio Cid con todos los sos:

  él va en medio e los ciento aderredor.

  Quando lo vieron entrar al que en buen ora nació,

  levantós’ en pie el buen rrey don Alfonso

  e el conde don Anrrich e el conde don Rremont

  e desí adelant, sabet, todos los otros;

  a grant ondra lo rreciben al que en buen ora nació.

  Nos’ quiso levantar el Crespo de Grañón,

  nin todos los del bando de ifantes de Carrión.

  El rrey dixo al Cid: “Venid acá ser, Campeador,

  en aqueste escaño quem’ diestes vós en don;

  maguer que [a] algunos pesa, mejor sodes que nós.”

  Essora dixo muchas mercedes el que Valencia gañó:

  “Sed en vuestro escaño como rrey e señor,

  acá posaré con todos aquestos míos.”

  Lo que dixo el Cid al rrey plogo de coraçón.

  En un escaño torniño essora Mio Cid posó,

  los ciento quel’ aguardan posan aderredor.

  Catando están a Mio Cid quantos ha en la cort,

  a la barba que avié luenga e presa con el cordón,

  en sos aguisamientos bien semeja varón,

  And handsomely crafted shoes;

  His linen shirt was white as the sun,

  With cuff links of silver and gold,

  Made to his instructions,

  And over it a tunic of the finest silk,

  Brocaded with gold, and glittering.

  Over this he wore a coat, lined with purple fur—

  And this was how my Cid, the Warrior, always dressed.

  His head was crowned by a linen cap,

  Gold-brocaded, meant to ensure

  No one could pull his hair.

  His great long beard was tied and shorten
ed by a cord,

  So whoever might want to pull his beard couldn’t.

  And over all the rest he wore a costly cloak

  Which caught the eye of anyone who saw it.

  With the hundred men he’d summoned

  He galloped away from San Servando:

  My Cid had readied himself for court.

  At the outer gate, he dismounted,

  With him in the middle, his men all around him,

  He went in, carefully surrounded.

  At the sight of this man born at a fortunate hour,

  Good King Don Alfonso rose,

  And so did Count Don Enrique, and Count Don Ramón.

  And, let me tell you, almost everyone else.

  He who was born at the right time was given high honors.

  But Count Don García Ordóñez did not feel like standing,

  Nor did the Carrións or any of their men.

  “Come sit with me, Warrior,” said the king,

  “On this bench of mine, a gift from you.

  No matter who thinks different, you’re better than us all!”

  He who had conquered Valencia answered, most politely:

  “Stay where you are, seated as king and my lord;

  I’ll sit over there, with my men.”

  The king took deep pleasure in this reply.

  So my Cid seated himself on a well-made bench,

  And his hundred warriors sat around him.

  Everyone there was staring at him,

  nol’ pueden catar de vergüença ifantes de Carrión.

  Essora se levó en pie el buen rrey don Alfonso:

  “¡Oíd, mesnadas, sí vos vala el Criador!

  Yo, de que fu rrey, non fız más de dos cortes,

  la una fue en Burgos e la otra en Carrión;

  esta tercera a Toledo la vin fer oy

  por el amor de Mio Cid, el que en buen ora nació,

  que rreciba derecho de ifantes de Carrión.

  Grande tuerto le han tenido, sabémoslo todos nós;

  alcaldes sean d’esto el conde don Anrrich e el conde don

  Rremond

  e estos otros condes que del vando non sodes.

  Todos meted í mientes, ca sodes coñoscedores,

  por escoger el derecho, ca tuerto non mando yo.

  D’ella e d’ella part en paz seamos oy:

  juro par Sant Esidro, el que bolviere mi cort

  quitar me á el rreino, perderá mi amor.

  Con el que toviere derecho yo d’essa parte me só.

  Agora demande Mio Cid el Campeador;

  sabremos qué rresponden ifantes de Carrión.”