The Song of the Cid Read online

  quando llegó a San Pero el buen Campeador

  con estos cavalleros quel’ sirven a so sabor.

  El abat don Sancho, cristiano del Criador,

  rrezava los matines abuelta de los albores,

  í estava doña Ximena con cinco dueñas de pro,

  rrogando a San Pero e al Criador:

  “¡Tú que a todos guías vál a Mio Cid el Canpeador!”

  15

  Llamavan a la puerta, í sopieron el mandado,

  ¡Dios, qué alegre fue el abat don Sancho!

  Con lu[n]bres e con candelas al corral dieron salto,

  con tan grant gozo rreciben al que en buen ora nasco.

  “Gradéscolo a Dios, Mio Cid,” dixo el abat don Sancho,

  “pues que aquí vos veo, prendet de mí ospedado.”

  “Gracias, don abat, e só vuestro pagado,

  yo adobaré conducho pora mí e pora mis vassallos;

  mas porque me vo de tierra, dovos cinquaenta marcos,

  si yo algún día visquier, ser vos han doblados.

  Non quiero fazer en el monesterio un dinero de daño,

  evades aquí pora doña Ximena dovos ciento marcos,

  a ella e a sus dueñas sirvádeslas est año.

  Dues fıjas dexo niñas e prendetlas en los braços,

  aquí vos llas acomiendo a vós, abat don Sancho,

  “I’ll see my wife, my only comfort,

  Advise her what to do, now that I’m gone.

  Let the king take what he wants to, I don’t mind.

  I’ll be with you, tomorrow, before the sun shines high.”

  14

  Martín Antolínez turned back toward Burgos,

  My Cid rode to San Pedro of Cardeña, as fast as possible,

  Riding with his loyal men.

  Cocks had begun crowing, the sun was trying to rise again,

  When the Warrior reached San Pedro.

  Don Sancho, the abbot, a man of true Christian faith,

  Was saying morning prayers as dawn rolled through the gray

  Mists. Doña Jimena, Cid’s wife, was there,

  With five of her ladies, praying to Saint Peter and God:

  “You who guide and rule us all, defend my Cid.”

  15

  My Cid knocked at the door, his presence was reported.

  Lord, how Don Sancho, the abbot, was rejoicing!

  They brightened the courtyard with lamps and candles,

  Welcoming the Warrior, born a lucky man.

  “God be thanked, my Cid,” said Don Sancho,

  “That I see you here. Please accept my hospitality.”

  He who was born at the right time replied:

  “Thank you, dear abbot, I appreciate your generosity.

  Could you have food prepared for me and my men?

  I’ve been exiled from this land, but let me give you fifty

  Marks—and double that, if I live on.

  There must be no loss to this monastery, on my account,

  So I give you a hundred marks for Doña Jimena:

  Let her, with her daughters and her ladies, be cared for here,

  for a year.

  d’ellas e de mi mugier fagades todo rrecabdo.

  Si essa despensa vos falleciere o vos menguare algo,

  bien las abastad, yo assí vos lo mando,

  por un marco que despendades, al monesterio daré yo

  [quatr]o.”

  Otorgado ge lo avié el abat de grado.

  Afevos doña Ximena con sus fıjas dó va llegando,

  señas dueñas las traen e adúzenlas adelant;

  ant’el Campeador doña Ximena fıncó los inojos amos,

  llorava de los ojos, quísol’ besar las manos:

  “¡Merced, Canpeador, en ora buena fuestes nado!

  Por malos mestureros de tierra sodes echado.

  16

  “¡Merced, ya Cid, barba tan conplida!

  Fem’ ante vós, yo e vuestras fıjas,

  iffantes son e de días chicas,

  con aquestas mis dueñas de quien só yo servida.

  Yo lo veo que estades vós en ida

  e nós de vós partir nos hemos en vida.

  ¡Dadnos consejo, por amor de Sancta María!”

  Enclinó las manos la barba vellida,

  a las sus fıjas en braço’ las prendía,

  llególas al coraçón, ca mucho las quería;

  llora de los ojos, tan fuertemientre sospira:

  “Ya doña Ximena la mi mugier tan conplida,

  como a la mi alma yo tanto vos quería.

  Ya lo vedes que partir nos emos en vida,

  yo iré e vós fıncaredes rremanida.

  ¡Plega a Dios e a Sancta María

  que aún con mis manos case estas mis fıjas,

  o que dé ventura e algunos días vida

  e vós, mugier ondrada, de mí seades servida!”

  Fold your arms around my two little girls:

  I entrust them to you, Don Sancho,

  I leave them all in your hands.

  If more money is needed, for you or them,

  Spend whatever you need to:

  I promise you four for every mark you spend.”

  The abbot cheerfully agreed.

  Now see Doña Jimena and her daughters approaching,

  Each little girl in a nurse’s arms.

  Doña Jimena dropped to her knees, in front of the Warrior.

  Tears flowing, she kissed his hands:

  “I call to your grace, O Cid, you who were born for grandeur!

  You’ve been driven out of Castile by malicious informers.

  16

  “Grant me a favor—you, who wear so flowing a beard!

  Behold, in front of you, myself and your daughters,

  Both still tiny, their lives an infancy,

  And also my women, who go with me.

  I see you have come in a hurry, and you’ll go, and too soon,

  We’ll have to live alone.

  For the love of our Mother Mary, tell me what to do!”

  He stretched out his hands, his heart as soft as his beard;

  He picked up the little girls, and held them

  Close to his breast, held them and loved them,

  Weeping. He sighed from deep in his heart:

  “O Doña Jimena, my wonderful wife,

  I love you so much, and I always have.

  You see I have to leave you, O soul of my life—

  I go, and you must stay behind.

  May it please God, and his mother Mary,

  That some day these hands will give them in marriage—

  And let fortune favor me, adding some days to my life,

  To serve you, O you, my much-honored wife!”

  17

  Grand yantar le fazen al buen Canpeador;

  tañen las campanas en San Pero a clamor.

  Por Castiella oyendo van los pregones

  cómo se va de tierra Mio Cid el Canpeador,

  unos dexan casas e otros onores.

  En aqués día a la puent de Arla[n]çón,

  ciento quinze cavalleros todos juntados son,

  todos demandan por Mio Cid el Canpeador,

  Martín Antolínez con ellos’ cojó,

  vanse pora San Pero dó está el que en buen punto nació.

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  Quando lo sopo Mio Cid el de Bivar

  quel’ crece conpaña por que más valdrá,

  apriessa cavalga, rrecebirlos salié,

  . . . . . . . tornós a sonrrisar;

  lléganle todos, la mánol’ ban besar,

  fabló Mio Cid de toda voluntad:

  “Yo rruego a Dios e al Padre spiritual

  vós que por mí dexades casas e heredades,

  enantes que yo muera, algún bien vos pueda far,

  lo que perdedes doblado vos lo cobrar.”

  Plogo a Mio Cid porque creció en la yantar,

  plogo a los otros omnes todos quantos con él están.

  Los seis días de
plazo passados los an,

  tres an por trocir, sepades que non más.

  Mandó el rrey a Mio Cid a aguardar,

  que, si después del plazo en su tiérral’ pudiés tomar,

  por oro nin por plata non podrié escapar.

  El día es exido, la noch querié entrar,

  a sos cavalleros mandólos todos juntar:

  “Oíd, varones, non vos caya en pesar,

  poco aver trayo, darvos quiero vuestra part.

  17

  A glorious farewell feast was given the Warrior.

  The bells of San Pedro clanged a great clamor,

  Sending a message all over Castile, calling:

  “He’s leaving our land, my Cid, the Warrior, the great one.

  Come join him!” Some left their houses, some left great estates.

  That very day, on the Arlanzón bridge,

  A hundred and fifteen knights crossed all together,

  All of them looking for my Cid, the Warrior:

  Martín Antolínez took charge

  And brought them to San Pedro, to the man born at the right hour.

  18

  When my Cid heard new men were coming,

  His forces suddenly growing,

  He quickly mounted, rode out to greet them,

  His face remembering how to smile again.

  Each one of them reached for his hand, and kissed it.

  And my Cid said, speaking with passion:

  “May God, our Father in heaven, ensure

  That those who have left their homes and come to me

  Will be rewarded at my hands, before I die,

  Double whatever their loss may be!”

  My Cid was happy to have more mouths to feed.

  Everyone fully agreed.

  Six days of his reprieve already gone,

  Three remained, and then there were none.

  The king’s men were there, waiting, watching:

  When all nine days had passed, they could catch him,

  And nothing would save him, neither silver nor gold.

  That day went by, and then it was dark,

  And my Cid assembled them all:

  “Listen, you noble knights: there’s nothing to worry about.

  I have no riches with me, but I’ll share what I have all around.

  Sed me[n]brados como lo devedes far:

  a la mañana quando los gallos cantarán,

  non vos tardedes, mandedes ensellar;

  en San Pero a matines tandrá el buen abat,

  la missa nos dirá, ésta será de Sancta Trinidad;

  la missa dicha, pensemos de cavalgar,

  ca el plazo viene acerca, mucho avemos de andar.”

  Cuemo lo mandó Mio Cid, assí lo an todos a far.

  Passando va la noch, viniendo la man,

  a los mediados gallos piessan de ensellar.

  Tañen a matines a una priessa tan grand,

  Mio Cid e su mugier a la eglesia van,

  echós’ doña Ximena en los grados delant’el altar,

  rrogando al Criador quanto ella mejor sabe

  que a Mio Cid el Campeador que Dios le curiás de mal:

  “Ya Señor glorioso, Padre que en cielo estás,

  fezist cielo e tierra, el tercero el mar,

  fezist estrellas e luna e el sol pora escalentar;

  prisist encarnación en Sancta María madre,

  en Beleem aparecist como fue tu voluntad,

  pastores te glorifıcaron, oviéronte a laudare,

  tres rreyes de Arabia te vinieron adorar,

  Melchior e Gaspar e Baltasar

  oro e tus e mirra | te ofrecieron, como fue tu veluntad;

  [salveste] | a Jonás quando cayó en la mar,

  salvest a Daniel con los leones en la mala cárcel,

  salvest dentro en Rroma al señor San Sabastián,

  salvest a Sancta Susanna del falso criminal;

  por tierra andidiste treinta e dos años, Señor spiritual,

  mostrando los miráculos por én avemos qué fablar:

  del agua fezist vino e de la piedra pan,

  rresucitest a Lázaro ca fue tu voluntad;

  a los judíos te dexeste prender; dó dizen Monte Calvarie

  pusiéronte en cruz por nombre en Golgotá,

  dos ladrones contigo, éstos de señas partes,

  el uno es en paraíso, ca el otro non entró allá;

  estando en la cruz vertud fezist muy grant:

  Longinos era ciego que nu[n]quas vio alguandre,

  Be wise, and do what must be done:

  In the morning, when crowing cocks have begun,

  Quickly saddle up your horses.

  Don Sancho will ring the bells for morning prayers

  And sing us the mass of the Holy Trinity.

  And when that mass has been sung

  We’ll leave, with a long ride still to come.”

  So it was settled; when morning came, it was done:

  As the cocks crowed their second call

  They were saddled and ready, one and all.

  At that moment, the matin bells resounded;

  My Cid and his wife entered the church.

  Doña Jimena knelt at the steps in front of the altar,

  Praying every bit as hard

  As she could for God to keep my Cid from harm:

  “O glorious Father, high in heaven,

  Who raised the sky and made the world, and the next day the sea,

  Who made the stars and the moon, and the sun to warm us,

  You who were incarnated in our Mother, Saint Mary,

  Who, as you chose to, appeared in Bethlehem,

  Glorified by shepherds, who sang your praise,

  And three great Arab kings who came,

  Melchior, and Gaspar, and Balthasar,

  Offering gold, and fragrant myrrh, and frankincense,

  Which also was your wish.

  You who saved Jonah, who fell in the sea,

  You who protected Daniel in the den of lions,

  And saved Saint Susannah from lecherous liars,

  You who saved Saint Sebastian, in harsh old Rome—

  For thirty-two years you walked and roamed

  The earth, performing wonders we must remember:

  The water you turned to wine, the bread you made of stones,

  And Lazarus you raised from the grave, returned from the dead;

  Allowing Jews to take you high on Calvary

  And, at Golgotha, putting you on the cross,

  Along with two thieves, on either side of you,

  One of whom came to heaven, the other did not.

  And even on the cross you worked your miracles:

  diot’ con la lança en el costado dont ixió la sangre,

  corrió por el astil ayuso, las manos se ovo de untar,

  alçólas arriba, llególas a la faz,

  abrió sos ojos, cató a todas partes,

  en ti crovo al ora, por end es salvo de mal;

  en el monumento rresucitest, fust a los infıernos | como fue tu

  voluntad,

  quebranteste las puertas e saqueste los sanctos padres.

  Tú eres rrey de los rreyes e de tod’ el mundo padre,

  a ti adoro e creo de toda voluntad

  e rruego a San Peidro que me ayude a rrogar

  por Mio Cid el Campeador que Dios le curie de mal;

  quando oy nos partimos, en vida nos faz juntar.”

  La oración fecha, la missa acabada la an,

  salieron de la eglesia, ya quieren cavalgar.

  El Cid a doña Ximena ívala abraçar,

  doña Ximena al Cid la mánol’ va besar,

  llorando de los ojos que non sabe qué se far,

  e él a las niñas tornólas a catar:

  “A Dios vos acomiendo, fıjas, e al Padre spiritual,

  agora nos partimos, Dios sabe el ajuntar.”

  Llorando de los ojos que non viestes atal,

  assís’ parten unos d’otros como la uña de la car
ne.

  Mio Cid con los sos vassallos pensó de cavalgar,

  a todos esperando, la cabeça tornando va;

  a tan grand sabor fabló Minaya Álbar Fáñez:

  “Cid, ¿dó son vuestros esfuerços? En buen ora nasquiestes de

  madre;

  pensemos de ir nuestra vía, esto sea de vagar.

  Aún todos estos duelos en gozo se tornarán,

  Dios que nos dio las almas consejo nos dará.”

  Al abat don Sancho tornan de castigar

  cómo sirva a doña Ximena e a la[s] fıjas que ha

  e a todas sus dueñas que con ellas están;

  bien sepa el abat que buen galardón d’ello prendrá.

  Tornado es don Sancho e fabló Álbar Fáñez:

  “Si viéredes yentes venir por connusco ir, | abat,

  dezildes que prendan el rrastro e piessen de andar

  Blind Longinus, who had no sight at all,

  Pierced your side with his spear, your blood poured out,

  And running down the shaft, anointed his hands:

  He raised his bloodstained fingers to his face

  And, opening his eyes, could see, and saw wherever he looked,

  And then and there believed in you, and so was saved forever.

  You rose from your grave, you willingly descended to hell,

  Smashed its gates, and carried off our holy fathers.

  You are King of all kings, Father of the whole world,

  In whom I wholly believe, and whom I adore,

  So may Saint Peter help me as I beg of you, O Lord,

  To keep my Cid, this Warrior, free of harm.

  We separate, today, but I beg you to bring us together once more.”

  Her prayer was over, the mass was sung;

  They left the church, ready, now, to ride.

  My Cid went to Doña Jimena, and put his arms around her,

  As she kissed his hands

  And wept the tears she could not hold back.

  The Warrior turned, looking at his daughters:

  “I leave you in the hands of our Lord, our holy Father.

  Only God knows when we’ll meet again.”

  You’ll never see such a flood of tears as he shed,

  Their parting was like fingernails pulled from the flesh.

  He and his men prepared to ride,

  But my Cid kept looking eagerly back,