The Song of the Cid (17 page)

Alvar Alvarez and Minaya Alvar Fáñez
Galloped in from the other side
—And thanks to God, the Moors were defeated.
My Cid used his lance, then drew his sword,
Killing so many Moors that no one could count them;
Their blood ran to his elbow, all down
His arm. He struck at King Yusuf three times,
But the king's horse was faster than my Cid's sharp blade,
And a hurried escape was made to the fort of Cullera,
My Cid and others galloping after, but in vain.
He who was born at a lucky hour turned back,
Well satisfied with the chase,
And with Babieca, fine from head to tail.
He had won everything; it was all in his hands.
Of the fifty thousand Moors
Only a hundred and four had escaped.
His men went up and down the battlefield,
Collecting three thousand marks, in gold and silver,
Plus more riches than had yet been counted.
My Cid was delighted, as were all his men,
That God's great grace had carried the day.
The King of Morocco now thoroughly routed,
My Cid put Alvar Fáñez in charge of the counting
And, with a hundred knights, rode back to Valencia;
His helmet was off, his hood was rolled down,
And sword in hand he came, riding Babieca.
He was welcomed by the ladies, who were waiting for him;
He reined in his horse, and stopped in front of them:
“My humble greetings, ladies! I've won you great rewards:
You took care of Valencia, and I conquered on the battlefield.
God and all his saints wanted exactly this
From the moment you arrived, and they gave us all we
wished for.
Look at my bloody sword and my horse dripping sweat:
This is how you beat the Moors, in war!
Pray for God to give me more years,
And you'll all be rich, with everyone kissing your hands!”
My Cid said these words as he dismounted,

Quándol' vieron de pie, que era descavalgado,
las dueñas e las fıjas e la mugier que vale algo
delant el Campeador los inojos fıncaron:
“Somos en vuestra merced e ¡bivades muchos años!”
En buelta con él entraron al palacio
e ivan posar con él en unos preciosos escaños.
“Ya mugier daña Ximena, ¿nom' lo aviedes rrogado?
Estas dueñas que aduxiestes, que vos sirven tanto,
quiero las casar con de aquestos mios vassallos;
a cada una d'ellas doles
dozientos
marcos de plata,
que lo sepan en Castiella a quién sirvieron tanto.
Lo de vuestras fıjas venir se á más por espacio.”
Levantáronse todas e besáronle las manos,
grant fue el alegría que fue por el palacio;
como lo dixo el Cid assí lo han acabado.
Minaya Álbar Fáñez fuera era en el campo
con todas estas yentes escriviendo e contando,
entre tiendas e armas e vestidos preciados
tanto fallan d'esto que es cosa sobejana.
Quiero vos dezir lo que es más granado,
non pudieron ellos saber la cuenta de todos los cavallos
que andan arrad[í]os e non ha qui tomallos,
los moros de las tierras ganado se an í algo;
maguer de todo esto,
a
l Campeador contado
de los buenos e otorgados cayéronle mill e
quinientos
cavallos;
quando a Mio Cid cayeron tantos
los otros bien pueden fıncar pagados.
¡Tanta tienda preciada e tanto tendal obrado
que á ganado Mio Cid con todos sus vassallos!
La tienda del rrey de Marruecos, que de las otras es cabo,
dos tendales la sufren, con oro son labrados,
mandó Mio Cid Rruy Díaz . . . . . . .
que fıta soviesse la tienda | e non la tolliesse dent cristiano:
“Tal tienda como ésta, que de Marruecos es passada,
enbiarla quiero a Alfonso el castellano,”
que croviesse sos nuevas de Mio Cid que avié algo.
Con aquestas rriquezas tantas a Valencia son entrados.
And when they saw him on his own two feet
All the women—ladies in waiting, the two girls, and his
wonderful wife—
Knelt in front of the Warrior:
“We all depend on you! Live for many, many years!”
Then he and the ladies went into the palace,
Where they seated themselves on finely made couches.
“Now! Doña Jimena, my wife! Isn't this what you wanted
from me?
I'd like your ladies in waiting, who have served you so well,
To marry some of my knights.
I'll give each and every bride two hundred silver marks,
So people in Castile will know how well they served, and whom.
We'll talk about your daughters later on.”
The ladies rose and kissed his hands,
The palace rang with happy laughter,
And what my Cid had said was what was done!
Minaya Alvar Fáñez was still on the battlefield,
He and all his men counting and making a record.
The tents held weapons and armor and costly clothes,
All in great abundance.
But I must tell you the best of all:
They could not even begin to count the horses
Jogging up and down, none with riders.
The Moors who lived nearby got a few,
But in spite of them the Warrior ended with fifteen
Hundred magnificent, well-trained steeds—
And when his share was so large,
Certainly, none of the others were left in need!
How many gorgeous tents and embroidery-covered tent poles
My Cid had won, he and his men!
The King of Morocco's was the best of them all,
With poles covered with gold:
My Cid ordered it left exactly as it was,
No Christian allowed to take it away:
“A tent like this, come all the way
From Morocco, I ought to send to King Alfonso:
Let him see for himself how much I have won.”

El obispo don Jerónimo, caboso coronado,
quando es farto de lidiar con amas las sus manos,
non tiene en cuenta los moros que ha matados;
lo que cayé a él mucho era sobejano,
Mio Cid don Rrodrigo, el que en buen ora nasco,
de toda la su quinta el diezmo l'á mandado.

 

 

96

 

Alegres son por Valencia las yentes cristianas,
tantos avién de averes, de cavallos e de armas;
alegre es doña Ximena e sus fıjas amas
e todas la[
s
] otras dueñas que[
s
'] tienen por casadas.
El bueno de Mio Cid non lo tardó por nada:
“¿Dó sodes, caboso? Venid acá, Minaya;
de lo que a vós cayó vós non gradecedes nada;
d'esta mi quinta, dígovos sin falla,
prended lo que quisiéredes, lo otro rremanga;
e cras a la mañana ir vos hedes sin falla
con cavallos d'esta quinta que yo he ganada,
con siellas e con frenos e con señas espadas;
por amor de mi mugier e de mis fıjas amas,
porque assí las enbió dond ellas son pagadas,
estos dozientos cavallos irán en presentajas
que non diga mal el rrey Alfonso del que Valencia manda.”
Mandó a Pero Vermúez que fuesse con Minaya.
Otro día mañana privado cavalgavan
e dozientos omnes lievan en su conpaña
con saludes del Cid que las manos le besava:
d'esta lid que ha arrancada
dozientos
cavallos le enbiava en presentaja,
“E servir lo he sienpre,” mientra que ovisse el alma.

Indeed, they carried immense riches into Valencia.
Bishop Don Jerónimo, as good a priest as could be,
Swung weapons with both hands: when he'd finished fighting
He could no longer count the Moors he had killed.
Nor did he do badly, when it came to booty,
For my Cid, Ruy Díaz, born at a lucky hour,
Gave him a tenth of what he himself had earned.

 

 

96

 

The Christians of Valencia were exceedingly happy
With their new riches, and weapons and armor, and horses.
Doña Jimena was happy, too, and so were her daughters,
And the ladies in waiting, who felt as good as married.
My Cid's gifts never stopped:
“Where are you, my fine Minaya? Come here:
You've earned every bit of your share,
And more, so take what you want from mine—
Just do it, be quiet!—and leave me what's left.
Tomorrow morning, bright and early,
Take two hundred of my new horses,
Saddled and bridled, each one with a sword,
And since King Alfonso has sent me my family,
For love of my wife and daughters take these presents to him,
So he will think well of the man who now rules Valencia.”
Pedro Bermúdez was sent with him.
The next day, they galloped off
With two hundred men, the entire company
Bearing my Cid's greetings, and to kiss the king's hands for him.
My Cid, Ruy Díaz, had won these horses, and much more;
He sent them to his royal master with a message:
“I will serve you forever, as long as I live!”

 

 

97

 

Salidos son de Valencia e piensan de andar,
tales ganancias traen que son a aguardar.
Andan los días e las noches . . . . . .
e passada han la sierra | que las otras tierras parte.
Por el rrey don Alfonso tómanse a preguntar.

 

 

98

 

Passando van las sierras e los montes e las aguas,
llegan a Valladolid dó el rrey Alfonso estava;
enviávanle mandado Per Vermúez e Minaya
que mandasse rrecebir a esta conpaña;
Mio Cid el de Valencia enbía su presentaja.

 

 

99

 

Alegre fue el rrey, non viestes atanto,
mandó cavalgar apriessa todos sos fıjos d'algo,
í en los primeros el rrey fuera dio salto
a ver estos mensajes del que en buen ora nasco.
Los ifantes de Carrión, sabet, ís' acertaron,
[
e
] el conde don García, so enemigo malo.
A los unos plaze e a los otros va pesando.
A ojo lo[
s
] avién los del que en buen ora nasco,
cuédanse que es almofalla ca non vienen con mandado,
el rrey don Alfonso seíse sanctiguando.
Minaya e Per Vermúez adelante son llegados,
fıriéronse a tierra, decendieron de los cavallos,
ante'l rrey Alfonso, los inojos fıncados,
besan la tierra e los pies amos:
“¡Merced, rrey Alfonso, sodes tan ondrado!
Por Mio Cid el Campeador todo esto vos besamos,
a vós llama por señor e tienes' por vuestro vassallo,

 

 

97

 

When they left Valencia, they traveled hard,
Carefully guarding the wealth placed in their charge.
They rode day and night, not stopping to rest,
And crossed the great mountains between the two regions.
They arrived, and asked where the king could be found.

 

 

98

 

There were more mountains to cross, and rivers,
Before they reached Valladolid, where Alfonso was staying.
Pedro Bermúdez and Minaya sent him a message,
Asking if he would like to see this company,
Sent by my Cid, in Valencia, with presents for the king.

 

 

99

 

The king was delighted, happier than he'd ever been seen.
He ordered his courtiers to gallop out and meet
These messengers from the man born at a fortunate hour—
And riding in front was the king himself.
The nobles of Carrión, please understand, were among them,
As was Count Don García, who hated my Cid.
Some of these noblemen were pleased, and some were not.
But when they saw the company sent by my Cid,
They thought this might be an enemy army,
And King Alfonso crossed himself, as if heading into battle.
Minaya and Pedro Bermúdez came closer,
Quickly dismounted and knelt
In front of the king, kissing
His feet and the ground he stood on.
“Your mercy, King Alfonso! All honor to you!
We kiss you on behalf of my Cid, the Warrior—
He who knows you as his lord, and who is truly your servant.

mucho precia la ondra el Cid quel' avedes dado.
Pocos días ha, rrey, que una lid á arrancado;
a aquel rrey de Marruecos, Yúcef por nombrado,
con cinquaenta mill arrancólos del campo.
Las ganancias que fızo mucho son sobejanas,
rricos son venidos todos los sos vassallos
e embíavos dozientos cavallos e bésavos las manos.”
Dixo el rrey don Alfonso: “Rrecíbolos de grado;
gradéscolo a Mio Cid que tal don me ha enbiado,
aún vea [
el
] ora que de mí sea pagado.”
Esto plogo a muchos e besáronle las manos.
Pesó al conde don García e mal era irado,
con
diez
de sus parientes aparte davan salto:
“¡Maravilla es del Cid que su ondra crece tanto!
En la ondra que él ha nós seremos abiltados;
por tan biltadamientre vencer rreyes del campo,
como si los fallasse muertos aduzirse los cavallos,
por esto que él faze nós abremos enbargo.”

 

 

100

 

Fabló el rrey don Alfonso e dixo esta rrazón:
“Grado al Criador e al señor Sant Esidro el de León
estos dozientos cavallos quem' enbía Mio Cid.
Mio rreino adelant mejor me podrá servir.
A vós, Minaya Álbar Fáñez, e a Pero Vermúez aquí
mándovos los cuerpos ondradamientre servir e vestir
e guarnirvos de todas armas, como vós dixiéredes aquí,
que bien parescades ante Rruy Díaz Mio Cid;
dovos
tres
cavallos e prendedlos aquí.
Assí como semeja e la veluntad me lo diz,
todas estas nuevas a bien abrán de venir.”

He is honored by what you have given him.
Just a few days ago, good King, he won a battle
Against Yusuf, King of Morocco,
Who brought an army of fifty thousand men.
My Cid won immense treasure;
All his men have suddenly become wealthy.
So he sends you two hundred horses, and kisses your hands.”
King Alfonso answered: “I accept this most gladly.
I am deeply grateful to my Cid for sending these gifts.
May the time come when I can return the favor.”
Many were pleased, and kissed his hands,
But Count Don García was angry,
And walked away a little, with some of his family:
“This Cid is doing wonders, his honor grows and grows,
But the higher his, the lower ours is going.
If he continues, easily beating kings in battle, taking horses
As if these royal armies were corpses,
He'll make a host of problems for us!”

 

 

100

 

King Alfonso then made a declaration:
“I thank the Lord God and Saint Isidore of Léon
For these two hundred horses, sent by my Cid.
He's likely to do still more for me, in time to come.
Now you, Minaya Alvar Fáñez, and you too, Pedro Bermúdez,
I want both of you properly clothed, as loyal servants,
With whatever armor and weapons you choose:
Let Ruy Díaz, my Cid, see you as I wish you to be viewed.
And I give you three horses; take them right away.
I see this turn of things, today,
Bringing all kinds of blessings this way.”