The Song of the Cid Read online

  Until Minaya Alvar Fáñez gave him this wise advice:

  “Cid, where has your courage gone? You were born to your

  mother

  In good fortune! What a waste of time! We need to ride.

  All our sorrows can still be turned to delight;

  The God who gave us souls can also give advice.”

  Abbot Don Sancho was admonished, again,

  To care for Doña Jimena and her daughters

  And all her ladies as well.

  The abbot knew he’d be richly rewarded.

  As the priest was leaving, Alvar Fáñez said:

  “Abbot, if more men come looking for us,

  Tell them to follow our hoofprints, and hurry:

  ca en yermo o en poblado poder nos [han] alcançar.”

  Soltaron las rriendas, piessan de andar,

  cerca viene el plazo por el rreino quitar.

  Vino Mio Cid yazer a Spinaz de Can,

  grandes yentes se le acojen essa noch de todas partes.

  Otro día mañana piensa de cavalgar,

  ixiendos’ va de tierra el Canpeador leal,

  de siniestro Sant Estevan, una buena cipdad,

  de diestro Alilón las torres que moros las han,

  passó por Alcobiella, que de Castiella fın es ya,

  la calçada de Quinea ívala traspassar,

  sobre Navas de Palos el Duero va passar,

  a la Figueruela Mio Cid iva posar;

  vánsele acogiendo yentes de todas partes.

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  Í se echava Mio Cid después que fue cenado,

  un suéñol’ priso dulce, tan bien se adurmió;

  el ángel Gabriel a él vino en sueño:

  “¡Cavalgad, Cid, el buen Campeador!

  Ca nunqua | en tan buen punto cavalgó varón;

  mientra que visquiéredes bien se fará lo to.”

  Quando despertó el Cid, la cara se sanctigó,

  sinava la cara, a Dios se acomendó,

  mucho era pagado del sueño que á soñado.

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  Otro día mañana piensan de cavalgar,

  és día á de plazo, sepades que non más.

  A la sierra de Miedes ellos ivan posar.

  They can catch up, out in these fields, or else in some town.”

  Then they loosened the reins and rode off:

  There was little left of my Cid’s nine days.

  He slept, that night, at Espinazo de Can—

  Where many more men joined them, coming from all over.

  They rode on, the next morning.

  As my Cid was about to leave Castile, the homeland he loved,

  San Esteban—a good-sized city—was on his left,

  And on his right, the fortress walls of Moorish Ayllón.

  He rode past Alcubilla, right on the borders of Castile,

  Rode across Quinea, an ancient Roman road,

  Crossing the Duero river at Navapalos,

  Then stopped at Figueruela—and there more men

  Came crowding into his army, coming from everywhere.

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  My Cid had his dinner, then lay down;

  Falling deeply asleep, a sweet dream came to him,

  In which the angel Gabriel appeared, and spoke:

  “Go on, Cid, go on, you wonderful Warrior!

  No man has ever come riding out at such a perfect moment:

  For as long as you live, whatever you start will always end well.”

  When he awoke, my Cid traced a cross over his forehead,

  Then silently framed a thankful prayer to the Lord,

  Pleased and encouraged by what his dream had brought him.

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  The next morning, they rode rapidly on,

  Well aware that this was the very last of my Cid’s nine days.

  They planned to stop at the high Sierra de Miedes,

  Near the forts of Atienza, held by the Moors.

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  Aún era de día, non era puesto el sol,

  mandó ver sus yentes Mio Cid el Campeador,

  sin las peonadas e omnes valientes que son,

  notó trezientas lanças que todas tienen pendones.

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  “Temprano dat cevada, ¡sí el Criador vos salve!

  El qui quisiere comer; e qui no, cavalgue.

  Passaremos la sierra que fıera es e grand,

  la tierra del rrey Alfonso esta noch la podemos quitar;

  después, qui nos buscare, fallarnos podrá.”

  De noch passan la sierra, vinida es la man

  e por la loma ayuso piensan de andar.

  En medio d’una montaña maravillosa e grand

  fızo Mio Cid posar e cevada dar,

  díxoles a todos cómo querié trasnochar;

  vassallos tan buenos por coraçón lo an,

  mandado de so señor todo lo han a far.

  Ante que anochesca piensan de cavalgar,

  por tal lo faze Mio Cid que no [l]o ventasse nadi,

  andidieron de noch, que vagar non se dan.

  Ó dizen Castejón, el que es sobre Fenares,

  Mio Cid se echó en celada con aquellos que él trae.

  Toda la noche yaze en celada el que en buen ora nasco

  como los consejava Minaya Álbar Fáñez.

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  “¡Ya Cid, en buen ora cinxiestes espada!

  Vós con ciento de aquesta nuestra conpaña,

  pues que a Castejón sacaremos a celada . . .”

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  Night had not yet fallen, the sun still hung in the sky

  When my Cid paused to review his growing army:

  Not counting foot soldiers, fierce and courageous men,

  He counted three hundred knights, each with a banner fluttering

  on his lance.

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  “Those who expect God to help us, get up early and feed your

  animals.

  Whoever wants to eat, eat, and whoever doesn’t, ride on.

  We’re crossing this wild mountain range, which reaches so high,

  And when we come down on the other side, we’ll be free of

  Castile.

  Whoever looks to join us won’t have much trouble.”

  They crossed the mountain that night, and as dawn broke

  They began their downward descent.

  Earlier, in the middle of a dense and wonderful wood,

  My Cid had them stop, as before, to feed the horses,

  And also to tell his men he meant to ride all night;

  Soldiers as good as these knew he was right,

  They would always accept his orders.

  He meant to keep them out of sight,

  So as it grew dark, they rode on again,

  Not resting all through the long night.

  But when they reached Castejón, and the river Henares,

  He had them stop and hide, preparing an ambush.

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  They waited all night, and he who was born at a lucky hour

  Lay listening to advice from Minaya Alvar Fáñez:

  “Since you plan to lead the Castejón Moors into an ambush,

  [There is a brief gap in the manuscript; Cid speaks:]

  “Vós con los dozientos idvos en algara,

  allá vaya Álbar Á[l]barez | e Álbar Salvadórez sin falla,

  e Galín García, una fardida | lança,

  cavalleros buenos que aconpañen a Minaya;

  a osadas corred, que por miedo non dexedes nada,

  Fita ayuso e por Guadalfajara,

  fata Alcalá lleguen las alg[aras]

  e bien acojan todas las ganancias

  que por miedo de los moros non dexen nada;

  e yo con lo[s] ciento aquí fıncaré en la çaga,

  terné yo Castejón dón abremos grand enpara.

  Si cueta vos fuere alguna al algara,

  fazedme mandado muy privado a la çaga,

  ¡d’aqueste acorro fablará toda España!”

  Nonbrados son los que i
rán en el algara

  e los que con Mio Cid fıcarán en la çaga.

  Ya quiebran los albores e vinié la mañana,

  ixié el sol, ¡Dios, qué fermoso apuntava!

  En Castejón todos se levantavan,

  abren las puertas, de fuera salto davan

  por ver sus lavores e todas sus heredades;

  todos son exidos, las puertas abiertas an dexadas

  con pocas de gentes que en Castejón fıncaron;

  las yentes de fuera todas son derramadas.

  El Campeador salió de la celada,

  corre a Castejón sin falla.

  Moros e moras aviénlos de ganancia

  e essos gañados quantos en derredor andan.

  Mio Cid don Rrodrigo a la puerta adeliñava,

  los que la tienen, quando vieron la rrebata,

  ovieron miedo e fue dese[m]parada.

  Mio Cid Rruy Díaz por las puertas entrava,

  en mano trae desnuda el espada,

  quinze moros matava de los que alcançava.

  Gañó a Castejón e el oro e la plata,

  sos cavalleros llegan con la ganancia,

  déxanla a Mio Cid, todo esto non precia[n] nada.

  You ought to take a hundred of our men . . .”

  [There is a brief gap in the manuscript; Cid speaks:]

  “Go in advance, with two hundred men;

  Take Alvar Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadórez, too,

  And that brave knight, Galín García,

  Good men to go with Minaya.

  Ride like proud demons, afraid of nothing.

  Go down along the Hita, right through Guadalajara,

  As far as Alcalá, taking everything

  You find, don’t leave them a thing—

  And pay no attention to the Moors: they’re nothing to worry

  about.

  I’ll bring up the rear, with another hundred men,

  Based in Castejón—a good defensive position.

  If you’re attacked and need assistance,

  Send me word immediately:

  You’ll have the kind of help no one in Spain will ever forget!”

  Those who were in the raiding party were named,

  And those who would stay with my Cid.

  Daylight began to break through, and morning came,

  And the sun with it. Lord, what a beautiful dawn!

  People woke up, in Castejón,

  Opened their doors and left their houses,

  Going out to check on their fields and their workers,

  Leaving almost no men in town.

  Then the Warrior came out of hiding

  And galloped straight into the place.

  He captured Moorish men and Moorish women,

  And all the cattle being herded out.

  My Cid rode straight up to the gate,

  And those who guarded it were terribly afraid,

  Seeing him come; they ran for their lives.

  My Cid rode right through, and into the town,

  His sword held high and bare in his hand.

  He killed fifteen Moors as they ran.

  There was silver, there was gold,

  And his knights kept coming to him with more,

  Free and easy, piling treasure on his horde.

  Afevos Jos dozientos e tres en el algara

  e sin dubda corren; . . . . . . . . . . .

  fasta Alcalá llegó la seña de Minaya

  e desí arriba tórnanse con la ganancia,

  Fenares arriba e por Guadalfajara.

  Tanto traen las grandes gana[n]cias,

  muchos gañados | de ovejas e de vacas,

  e de rropas e de otras rriquizas largas;

  derecha viene la seña de Minaya,

  non osa ninguno dar salto a la çaga.

  Con aqueste aver tórnanse essa conpaña,

  fellos en Castejón ó el Campeador estava;

  el castiello dexó en so poder, el Canpeador cavalga,

  saliólos rrecebir con esta su mesnada,

  los braços abiertos rrecibe a Minaya:

  “¡Venides, Álbar Fáñez, una fardida lança!

  Dó yo vos enbiás bien abría tal esperança;

  esso con esto sea ajuntado,

  dovos la quinta, si la quisiéredes, Minaya.”

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  “Mucho vos lo gradesco, Campeador contado;

  d’aquesta quinta que me avedes mand[ad]o

  pagar se ía d’ella Alfonso el castellano.

  Yo vos la suelto e avello quitado;

  a Dios lo prometo, a Aquel que está en alto,

  fata que yo me pague sobre mio buen cavallo

  lidiando con moros en el campo,

  que enpleye la lança e al espada meta mano

  e por el cobdo ayuso la sangre destellando

  ante Rruy Díaz el lidiador contado,

  non prendré de vós quanto vale un dinero malo.

  Pues que por mí ganaredes quesquier que sea d’algo,

  todo lo otro afelo en vuestra mano.”

  His two hundred and thirty men in the raiding party

  Never slowed or stopped, sacking everywhere they went.

  Minaya’s banner was seen as far as Alcalá,

  And from that point they turned back,

  Following the Henares through Guadalajara,

  Carrying great quantities of loot—oxen,

  Sheep, cows, all kinds of clothing and other rich things.

  Minaya’s banner flew high, he went wherever he wanted;

  No one dared to bother his rear guard.

  And so they returned, richly burdened,

  Right into Castejón, where they found my Cid.

  He rode out from the castle he’d conquered,

  He and his men, welcoming their comrades,

  And the Warrior threw his arms around Minaya:

  “Here you are, Alvar Fáñez, you daring knight!

  Bringing back the kind of victory I always expect from you.

  What we already have, together with what you bring,

  Minaya, is one-fifth yours, if you want it.”

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  “I am deeply grateful to you, famous Warrior,

  And I am sure King Alfonso himself would be pleased

  If he had this one-fifth share you have offered me.

  But I hand it back to you, and there let it be.

  I swear to God, to him who lives on high,

  That until I prove myself—on this good horse of mine,

  Fighting Moors on fields of battle,

  Using my lance and this sword, here in my hand,

  And blood comes dripping down to my elbow,

  In the very presence of Ruy Díaz, greatest of Warriors—

  Until then, I will not take a penny from you.

  Until you’re presented with something tremendous—

  And not before then, by God!—everything is yours.”

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  Estas ganancias allí eran juntadas.

  Comidiós’ Mio Cid, el que en buen ora fue nado,

  el rrey Alfonso que llegarién sus compañas,

  quel’ buscarié mal con todas sus mesnadas.

  Mandó partir tod’ aqueste aver,

  sos quiñoneros que ge los diessen por carta.

  Sos cavalleros í an arribança,

  a cada uno d’ellos caen ciento marcos de plata

  e a los peones la meatad sin falla,

  toda la quinta a Mio Cid fıncava.

  Aquí non lo puede vender nin dar en presentaja,

  nin cativos nin cativas non quiso traer en su conpaña.

  Fabló con los de Castejón e envió a Fita e a Guadalfajara

  esta quinta por quánto serié conprada,

  aun de lo que diessen oviessen grand ganancia,

  asmaron los moros tres mill marcos de plata;

  plogo a Mio Cid d’aquesta presentaja,

  a tercer día dados fueron sin falla.

  Asmó Mio Cid con toda su conpaña

  que en el castiello
non í avrié morada,

  e que serié rretenedor mas non í avrié agua:

  “Moros en paz, ca escripta es la carta,

  buscar nos ie el rrey Alfonso con toda su mesnada;

  quitar quiero Castejón, ¡oíd, escuelas e Minyaya!

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  “Lo que yo dixier non lo tengades a mal,

  en Castejón non podriemos fıncar,

  cerca es el rrey Alfonso e buscarnos verná.

  Mas el castiello non lo quiero ermar,

  ciento moros e ciento moras quiero las quitar

  porque lo pris d’ellos que de mí non digan mal.

  Todos sodes pagados e ninguno por pagar,

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  They made a heap of everything they’d won.

  Then he who’d been born at just the right time, my Cid,

  Began to wonder if King Alfonso might be getting closer,

  He and his armies hunting them down.

  So he ordered those whose job it was

  To quickly distribute this treasure, keeping careful records.

  Each of his knights was rewarded

  With a full hundred marks,

  And every foot soldier got half that much;

  One-fifth of the total was reserved for my Cid.

  But what could be sold or given away, there in the mountains?

  —And he wanted no captives with him, no men, no women.

  So he spoke to the people of Castejón, sent messengers to Hita

  And Guadalajara, asking what his share would be worth,

  Since anything they offered him would be pure profit.

  The Moors said three thousand marks

  And my Cid cheerfully accepted.

  Three days later, they paid the bill in full.

  It was not wise, my Cid believed,

  To remain in the Castejón castle:

  They could defend it, yes, but there would be no water.

  “Let’s leave these Moors in peace: we’ve taken their money,

  They’ve paid every penny—and King Alfonso’s army

  Could be coming. Hear me, Minaya and all my men: let’s leave!