The Song of the Cid (15 page)

If you'll kiss the Warrior's hands, on my behalf!
Don't let him forget this monastery:
He'll rise and go on rising forever,
If he always keeps us in mind.”
Minaya answered: “I will certainly remind him.”
So at last they started off on their journey,
The royal courier still with them, and constantly helpful.
They were well escorted and cared for, the whole way to the
border.
They arrived in Medinaceli in five days—
And we will leave them there, Alvar Fáñez and the ladies.
Now I'll turn to the knights, Minaya's messengers to my Cid.
The moment he, the man of Vivar, heard the words they brought
him
He smiled, his heart flooded with warmth,
And from his mouth flowed these words:
“He who sends good news is entitled to a good welcome!
You two go on ahead, Muño Gustioz, and you, Pedro Bermúdez.
You, Martín Antolínez, loyal merchant of Burgos,
And you, Bishop Don Jerónimo, much-honored priest,
Ride off with a hundred men, armed as if for war,
And go to Santa María de Albarracín,
And then still farther, on to Molina,
Ruled by Abengalbón, the Moor. I've made peace with him,
And I know he'll join you, with another hundred men.
And then you dash to Medinaceli, just as fast as you can:
Minaya Alvar Fáñez is waiting there, along with my wife
And my daughters—you'll surely find them—
Bring them here in the highest honor and dignity.
I will set myself in Valencia, for which we fought so valiantly:
It would be sheer madness to leave it exposed and empty.
I will be in Valencia, which now belongs to me.”
He finished speaking; they rode off the next minute,
Galloping as fast as their horses could go.
They rode through Santa María de Albarracín, rested at
Bronchales,
Then reached Molina the next day.
Hearing they had come, the Moor, Abengalbón,

Fabló Muño Gustioz, non speró a nadi:
“Mio Cid vos saludava e mandólo rrecabdar
co[
n
] ciento cavalleros que privádol' acorrades;
su mugier e sus fıjas en Medina están;
que vayades por ellas, adugádesgelas acá
e fata en Valencia d'ellas non vos partades.”
Dixo Ave[
n
]galvón: “Fer lo he de veluntad.”
Essa noch conducho les dio grand,
a la mañana piensan de cavalgar;
ciéntol' pidieron, mas él con dozientos' va.
Passan las montañas que son fıeras e grandes,
passaron Mata de Toranz
de tal guisa que ningún miedo non han,
por el val de Arbuxedo piensan a deprunar.
E en Medina todo el rrecabdo está,
envió dos cavalleros Minaya Álbar Fáñez
. . . . . . . . que sopiesse la verdad;
esto non detard[an] ca de coraçón lo han,
el uno fıncó con ellos e el otro tornó a Álbar Fáñez:
“Virtos del Campeador a nós vienen buscar;
afevos aquí Pero Vermúez
e Muño Gustioz, que vos quieren sin art,
e Martín Antolínez, el burgalés natural,
e el obispo don Jerónimo, coranado leal,
e el alcayaz Ave[
n
]galvón con sus fuerças que trahe
por sabor de Mio Cid de grand óndral' dar,
todos vienen en uno, agora llegarán.”
Essora dixo Minaya: “Vay[
a
]mos cavalgar.”
Esso fue apriessa fecho, que nos' quieren detardar,
bien salieron dén ciento que non parecen mal,
en buenos cavallos a cuberturas de cendales
e
petrales a cascaveles; e escudos a los cuellos,
e en las manos lanças que pendones traen,
que sopiessen los otros de qué seso era Álbar Fáñez
o cuémo saliera de Castiella con estas dueñas que trahe.
Los que ivan mesurando e llegando delant
luego toman armas e tómanse a deportar,
por cerca de Salón tan grandes gozos van.

Hurried out to give them a joyous greeting:
“Welcome, you who live for my great friend!
I am delighted, truly, to see you here.”
Muño Gustioz did not wait a second:
“My Cid greets you and asks that you help us,
With a hundred men, as fast as you can.
His wife and daughters are now in Medinaceli:
Ride to Valencia with us, so his women
Have your protection for the rest of their journey.”
Abengalbón did not blink an eye. “Gladly,” he said.
That night he gave them a great feast;
The next morning they started to ride—
And though they requested a hundred men,
He brought a full two hundred.
They rode over towering, wild-wooded mountains,
Stampeding across Campo Taranz, unconcerned, unmolested,
Then straight down into Arbujuelo valley.
Medinaceli was on high alert, and finding
So large a force approaching, Minaya sent two men to inquire.
Bravely, they galloped right out—then one remained,
The other rode back to Minaya:
“Men from our great Warrior, looking for us:
Pedro Bermúdez is with them,
And Muño Gustioz—both good friends—
And Martín Antolínez, that fine fellow from Burgos,
And Bishop Don Jerónimo, a faithful friend,
And Lord Abengalbón, the Moor, bringing two hundred men,
All to honor my Cid—they're all together.
And they're almost here already.”
“We ride out to meet them!” cried Minaya,
And no one waited to be told twice:
A hundred knights who rode in great style,
Their horses draped with silken coverings, breast plates rich
With tiny bells; the warriors with shields hung on their backs,
Their lances dangling banners—
All meant to display Minaya's skill and good sense
And how well the ladies would be cared for, as they left Castile.
The scouts and those who first arrived
Dón llegan los otros, a Minaya Álvar Fáñez se van homillar;
quando llegó Ave[
n
]galvón, dont a ojo [
lo
] ha,
sonrrisándose de la boca ívalo abraçar,
en el ombro lo saluda ca tal es su usaje:
“¡Tan buen día convusco, Minaya Álbar Fáñez!
Traedes estas dueñas por ó valdremos más,
mugier del Cid lidiador e sus fıjas naturales.
Ondrar vos hemos todos ca tal es la su auze,
maguer que mal le queramos, non ge lo podremos fer,
en paz o en guerra de lo nuestro abrá,
múchol' tengo por torpe qui non conosce la verdad.”
Sorrisós' de la boca Minaya Álbar Fáñez:

 

 

84

 

“¡Y[
a
] Ave[
n
]galvón, amígol' sodes sin falla!
Si Dios me llegare al Cid e lo vea con el alma,
d'esto que avedes fecho vós non perderedes nada.
Vayamos posar, ca la cena es adobada.”
Dixo Avengalvón: “Plazme d'esta presentaja,
antes d'este te[
r
]cer día vos la daré doblada.”
Entraron en Medina, sirvíalos Minaya,
todos fueron alegres del cervicio que tomaron;
el portero del rrey quitarlo mandava,
ondrado es Mio Cid en Valencia dó estava
de tan grand conducho como en Medínal' sacaron;
el rrey lo pagó todo e quito se va Minaya.
Passada es la noche, venida es la mañana,
oída es la missa e luego cavalgavan;
salieron de Medina e Salón passavan,
Arbuxuelo arriba privado aguijavan,
el campo de Torancio luégol' atravessavan,
vinieron a Molina, la que Ave[
n
]galvón mandava.
El obispo don Jerónimo, buen cristiano sin falla,
las noches e los días las dueñas aguarda
va,

Took up arms and began to have a good time,
Brave men playing at battle, along the banks of the river Jalón.
Others arrived, and Minaya Alvar Fáñez was properly greeted,
Then Albengalbón came, and as soon as he saw Minaya
Embraced him, smiling broadly and,
According to his custom, kissed him on the shoulder:
“How good to see you, Minaya Alvar Fáñez!
This is a great honor for us, your bringing
Warrior Cid's wife and his daughters,
To whom we show honor, one and all, as his fortune
Deserves—for no one can harm him; in peace or war
He is destined for triumph, whatever we do.
Only an idiot can keep himself from seeing the truth.”
Minaya Alvar Fáñez smiled and said:

 

 

84

 

“Ah, Abengalbón, you're an ideal friend!
If God lets me see him again, as I so long to,
Nothing of what you've done will be forgotten.
But now we should rest, for a banquet is coming.”
Abengalbón said: “Your hospitality is much appreciated:
Before three days have gone by, I will reciprocate.”
They rode into Medinaceli as Minaya's guests,
And were very happy with the treatment they received.
The king's courtier said his farewells, and left them,
Honoring my Cid, far-off in Valencia,
With the king's order that everything in Medinaceli
Be charged to him, and nothing to Minaya.
Night passed, morning came,
They heard mass, and then rode away,
Crossing over the river Jalón
And riding down the banks of the Arbujuelo,
Through the fields of Campo Taranz,
And quickly approaching Molina, where Abengalbón governed.
The bishop, Don Jerónimo, always a good Christian,
Watched over the ladies, night and day,

e buen cavallo en diestro que va ante sus armas;
entre él e Álbar Fáñez ivan a una compaña,
entrados son a Molina, buena e rrica casa,
el moro Ave[
n
]galvón bien los sirvié sin falla,
de quanto que quisieron non ovieron falla,
aun las ferraduras quitárgelas mandava;
a Minaya e a las dueñas ¡Dios, cómo las ondrava!
Otro día mañana luego cavalgavan,
fata en Valencia sirvíalos sin falla,
lo so despendié el moro, que d'el[
l
]os non tomava nada.
Con estas alegrías e nuevas tan ondradas
aprés son de Valencia a tres leguas contadas.

 

 

85

 

A Mio Cid, el que en buen ora nasco,
dentro a Valencia liévanle el mandado.
Alegre fue Mio Cid que nunqua más nin tanto
ca de lo que más amava yal' viene el mandado.
Dozi[
en
]tos cavalleros mandó exir privado
que rreciban a Minaya e a las dueñas fıjas d'algo;
él sedié en Valencia curiando e guardando
ca bien sabe que Álbar Fáñez trahe todo rrecabdo.

 

 

86

 

Afevos todos aquéstos rreciben a Minaya
e a las dueñas e a las niñas e a las otras conpañas.
Mandó Mio Cid a los que ha en su casa
que guardassen el alcáçar e las otras torres altas
e todas las puertas e las exidas e las entradas
e aduxiéssenle a Bavieca, poco avié quel' ganara,
aún non sabié Mio Cid, el que en buen ora cinxo espada,
si serié corredor o si abrié buena parada;
a la puerta de Valencia, dó fuesse en so salvo,

His warhorse always on his right hand, his weapons on a horse
behind him,
He and Alvar Fáñez, to his left, enjoying each other's company.
And then they reached Molina, that fine, rich town,
Where the Moor Abengalbón took very good care of them,
And everything they wanted he gave them—
Even paying for their horses' new shoes!
As for Minaya and the ladies, God! how warmly he honored them!
The next morning they rode on again,
But Abengalbón stayed at their side all the way
To Valencia, and whatever was spent was always by him.
And in such joy and pledges of mutual friendship
They came within half a dozen miles of Valencia.

 

 

85

 

My Cid, he who was born at such a good time,
Was told that they were arriving.
He had never been happier in all his life,
Hearing that those he loved best had come.
He had two hundred knights galloping out, at once,
In welcome for Minaya and all the noble ladies,
While he stayed in Valencia, waiting
And guarding his city: he knew Minaya could be trusted.

 

 

86

 

How everyone welcomed Minaya, and the ladies,
And the little girls, and everyone else besides!
My Cid had his household out on the ramparts,
And all the high towers, and gates, and exits, and entrances.
And he called for his horse, Babieca—won
Not long ago, for as yet my Cid (who took up his sword at just
the right time)
Was unsure how good a horse this was, and how easily he
handled.

delante su mugier e sus fıjas querié tener las armas.
Rrecebidas las dueñas a una grant ondrança,
el obispo don Jerónimo adelant se entrava,
í dexava el cavallo, pora la capiella adeliñava;
con quantos que él puede, que con oras se acordar
a
n,
sobrepel[
l
]iças vestidas e con cruzes de plata,
rrecibir salién [
a
] las dueñas e al bueno de Minaya.
El que en buen ora nasco non lo detardava,
vistiós' el sobregonel, luenga trahe la barba;
ensiéllanle a Bavieca, cuberturas le echavan,
Mio Cid salió sobr'él e armas de fuste tomava.
Por nombre el cavallo Bavieca cavalga,
fızo una corrida, ésta fue tan estraña,
quando ovo corrido, todos se maravillavan,
d'és día se preció Bavieca en quant grant fue España.
En cabo del cosso Mio Cid desca[
va
]lgava,
adeliñó a su mugier e a sus fıjas amas;
quando lo vio doña Ximena, a pies se le echava:
“¡Merced, Campeador, en buen ora cinxiestes espada!
Sacada me avedes de muchas vergüenças malas;
afeme aquí, señor, yo e vuestras fıjas amas;
con Dios e convusco buenas son e criadas.”
A la madre e a las fıjas bien las abraçava,
del gozo que avién de los sos ojos lloravan.
Todas las sus mesnadas en grant deleite estavan,
armas teniendo e tablados quebrantando.
Oíd lo que dixo el que en buen ora nasco:
“Vós, querida mugier e ondrada
e amas mis fıjas, | mi coraçón e mi alma,
entrad comigo en Valencia la casa,
en esta heredad que vos yo he ganada.”
Madre e fıjas las manos le besavan,
a tan grand ondra ellas a Valencia entravan.

At Valencia's gates, where he knew it was safe,
He thought he'd show off a bit, for his daughters and his wife.
The ladies had already been welcomed, with all due honor.
Bishop Don Jerónimo rode on ahead, dismounted,
And entered the chapel, where he and other priests,
Wearing surplices and bearing crosses made of silver,
Celebrated morning rites and prayers, then went
To receive the ladies and that good friend of them all, Minaya.
My Cid, he who was born at a fortunate hour,
Mounted Babieca the moment the horse was ready,
Carrying a wooden sword and shield
And wearing a flowing tunic, his long beard floating behind him.
And Babieca galloped,
And galloped—so fast that people gasped
And wondered at his speed and quick responses.
From that day on, Babieca was famous all over Spain.
When he'd finished this fabulous race, my Cid dismounted
And strode toward his wife and daughters.
Doña Jimena knelt at his feet:
“Bless you, Warrior, you who raised your sword at just the right
time!
How many shameful moments I have escaped, because of you.
I'm here, my husband, my lord, and my two daughters with me:
God be thanked, they're good girls, and well behaved.”
He embraced the girls and their mother,
The three of whom wept for joy.
My Cid's men were moved, and delighted;
They whirled their weapons, smashing wooden targets.
Then he who was born in a blessèd hour said:
“My dearest and deeply honored wife,
And my daughters—my heart, my soul—
Come with me to our home, in Valencia,
The joy and prosperity I have won for you.”
His daughters and their mother kissed his hands,
And they made a grand and honorable entrance to Valencia.