The Song of the Cid (18 page)

 

 

101

 

Besáronle las manos e entraron a posar;
bien los mandó servir de quanto huebos han.
De los iffantes de Carrión yo vos quiero contar,
fablando en su consejo, aviendo su poridad:
“Las nuevas del Cid mucho van adelant,
demandemos sus fıjas pora con ellas casar,
creçremos en nuestra ondra e iremos adelant.”
Vinién al rrey Alfonso con esta poridad:
“¡Merced vos pidimos como a rrey e señor natural!

 

 

102

 

“Con vuestro consejo lo queremos fer nós
que nos demandedes fıjas del Campeador;
casar queremos con ellas a su ondra e a nuestra pro.”
Una grant ora el rrey pensó e comidió:
“Yo eché de tierra al buen Campeador,
e faziendo yo a él mal e él a mí grand pro,
del casamiento non sé sis' abrá sabor,
mas pues bós lo queredes entremos en la rrazón.”
A Minaya Álbar Fáñez e a Pero Vermúez
el rrey don Alfonso essora los llamó,
a una quadra ele los apartó:
“Oídme, Minaya e vós, Per Vermúez,
sírvem' Mio Cid el Campeador,
él lo merece | e de mí abrá perdón,
viniéssem' a vistas, si oviesse dent sabor.
Otros mandados ha en esta mi cort:
Diego e Ferrando, los iffantes de Carrión,
sabor han de casar con sus fıjas amas a dos.
Sed buenos mensageros e rruégovoslo yo
que ge lo digades al buen Campeador:
abrá í ondra e creçrá en onor
por consagrar con los iffantes de Carrión.”

101

 

They kissed his hands, and went to lie down;
His servants would give them whatever they wanted.
But the Carrión nobles, you need to know,
Had met in secret, and a plan was formed:
“Cid's fame continues its rapid growth;
Let's ask for his daughters,
So our honor, too, and our wealth, can grow.”
They went to King Alfonso.

 

 

102

 

“We come to ask our lord and sovereign king
For his help! We would like
To marry the Warrior's daughters.
Their honor, and ours, can grow as one.”
The king did not speak at once; they could see him thinking.
“I sent this fine Warrior off into exile.
I did not help him, but he has helped me.
How can I say what he will decide?
But now that you ask, I will speak to him, and we'll see.”
Then King Alfonso summoned Minaya Alvar Fáñez
And Pedro Bermúdez, and spoke to them
Alone, the three of them in one room.
“Hear me, Minaya, and you, Pedro Bermúdez.
My Cid has served me well,
He deserves to be pardoned, and he will be.
If he so chooses, let him visit me.
Still other matters arise, here in my court:
Diego and Fernando, the two young Carrión lords,
Would like to marry the Warrior's daughters.
Please make yourselves my messengers
And let my Cid be fully informed.
It would do him honor, and his reputation no harm,
Fabló Minaya e plogo a Per Vermúez:
“Rrogar ge lo emos lo que dezides vós;
después faga el Cid lo que oviere sabor.”
“Dezid a Rruy Díaz, el que en buen ora nasco,
quel' iré a vistas dó fuere aguisado,
dó él dixiere í sea el mojón.
Andarle quiero a Mio Cid en toda pro.”
Espidiénse al rrey, con esto tornados son,
van pora Valencia ellos e todos los sos.
Quando lo sopo el buen Campeador,
apriessa cavalga, a rrecebirlos salió,
sonrrisós' Mio Cid e bien los abraçó:
“¡Venides, Minaya e vós, Pero Vermúez!
En pocas tierras á tales dos varones.
¿Cómo son las saludes de Alfonso mio señor?
¿Si es pagado o rrecibió el don?”
Dixo Minaya: “D'alma e de coraçón
es pagado e davos su amor.”
Dixo Mio Cid: “¡Grado al Criador!”
Esto diziendo, conpieçan la rrazón,
lo quel' rrogava Alfonso el de León
de dar sus fıjas a los ifantes de Carrión,
quel' connoscié í ondra e creç[
r
]ié en onor,
que ge lo consejava d'alma e de coraçón.
Quando lo oyó Mio Cid el buen Campeador,
una grand ora pensó e comidió:
“Esto gradesco a Christus el mio señor.
Echado fu de tierra, é tollida la onor,
con grand afán gané lo que he yo.
A Dios lo gradesco que del rrey he su gracia
e pídenme mis fıjas pora los ifantes de Carrión.
Ellos son mucho urgullosos e an part en la cort,
d'este casamiento non avría sabor,
mas pues lo conseja el que más vale que nós,
fablemos en ello, en la poridad seamos nós.
Afé Dios del cielo que nos acuerde en lo mijor.”
“Con todo esto a vós dixo Alfonso
que vos vernié a vistas dó oviéssedes sabor;

To accept this proposal of marriage.”
Minaya spoke for them both:
“Indeed, he will surely be told.
And then my Cid will let us all know.”
“Tell Ruy Díaz, born at such a fortunate hour,
That I will visit him, at whatever place he chooses.
Ask him to let me know.
I wish to honor him in whatever I do.”
The king left them, and they hurried off,
With all their men, back to Valencia.
Hearing that they were coming, the good Warrior
Galloped out to meet them, embracing them both,
Smiling with happiness and warmth:
“So here you are, Minaya, and you, Pedro Bermúdez?
Not many countries can show two such men!
How did my lord, King Alfonso, welcome you both?
Was he pleased? Did he like my gift?”
Minaya said: “He was pleased in heart and soul;
He was very pleased, and greets you warmly.”
My Cid said: “May God be praised!”
And then they began to tell him
What Alfonso of León proposed:
Marriage of his daughters to the heirs of Carrión,
An honor for them and also for him.
The king had strongly approved the plan.
My Cid was silent for a very long time,
The good Warrior reflecting on what he had heard.
“I owe everything to my Lord, Jesus Christ!
I was thrown out of my country, my honor taken away;
I have struggled hard and long for what I now have.
By the grace of God, the king grants me his favor
And asks me to marry my daughters to the Carrión heirs.
They are very haughty people, active courtiers.
This is not a marriage I would have chosen.
But since it has been suggested by him who is far above us,
Let's talk about it, quietly, among ourselves—
And in the end, may God in heaven show us the right way!”
“There's more,” said Minaya. “Alfonso says
querer vos ie ver e darvos su amor,
acordar vos iedes después a todo lo mejor.”
Essora dixo el Cid: “Plazme de coraçón.”
“Estas vistas ó las ayades vós,”
dixo Minaya, “vós sed sabidor.”
“Non era maravilla si quisiesse el rrey Alfonso;
fasta dó lo fallássemos buscarlo ir[
i
]emos nós,
por darle grand ondra como a rrey de tierra.
Mas lo que él quisiere esso queramos nós.
Sobre Tajo, que es una agua cabdal,
ayamos vistas quando lo quiere mio señor.”
Escrivién cartas, bien las selló,
con dos cavalleros luego las enbió:
“Lo que el rrey quisiere esso ferá el Campeador.”

 

 

103

 

Al rrey ondrado delant le echaron las cartas;
quando las vio, de coraçón se paga:
“Saludadme a Mio Cid, el que en buen ora cinxo espada,
sean las vistas d'estas
tres
semanas;
s[
i
] yo bivo só, allí iré sin falla.”
Non lo detardan, a Mio Cid se tornavan.
D'ella part e d'ella pora la[
s
] vistas se adobavan;
¿quién vio por Castiella tanta mula preciada
e tanto palafré que bien anda,
cavallos gruessos e corredores sin falla,
tanto buen pendón meter en buenas astas,
escudos boclados con oro e con plata,
mantos e pielles e buenos cendales d'A[
n
]dria?
Conduchos largos el rrey enbiar mandava
a las aguas de Tajo ó las vistas son aparejadas.
Con el rrey atantas buenas conpañas;
los iffantes de Carrió[
n
] mucho alegres andan,
lo uno adebdan e lo otro pagavan,
como ellos tenién, crecer les ía la gana[
n
]cia,

He'll come to meet you; you can choose the place.
He wants to see you, and show you his favor,
And then everything can be settled for the best.”
Then my Cid said: “That warms my heart!”
“But you,” said Minaya, “must choose where to meet him.
He leaves that decision entirely in your hands.”
“I wouldn't have been surprised, had King Alfonso
Summoned us to come wherever he is holding court,
Commanding us as our king and lord.
But his mere wish is our command.
I like the banks of our great Tagus;
We will meet him there, whenever he wants us.”
Letters were written, my Cid sealed them,
And two of his knights took them to the king.
Whatever the king wanted, the Warrior would do.

 

 

103

 

These letters reached the honored king,
Who was deeply pleased to receive them:
“Greet my Cid for me, he who took up his sword at a lucky hour.
Let our visits take place in exactly three weeks:
If I'm still among the living, I will be there without fail.”
There was no hesitation, bringing this answer back.
Both sides made themselves ready:
When had Castile seen so many priceless mules,
So many fine palfreys, with dainty hooves,
So many full-bodied horses, sure-footed and fast,
So many costly banners dangling from spears,
Strong shields plated with silver and gold,
So many cloaks and rich furs, such splendid silk from Andros?
The king had ordered enormous supplies of food
To await them, along the banks of the Tagus.
Courtiers galore, and ladies, would come with the king.
The Carrión nobles were happy,
Buying things on credit, and sometimes paying money,
As if my Cid's vast fortune was already theirs,

quantos quisiessen averes d'oro o de plata.
El rrey don Alfonso apriessa cavalgava,
cuendes e podestades e muy grandes mesnadas.
Los ifantes de Carrión lievan grandes conpañas.
Con el rrey van leoneses e mesnadas galizianas,
non son en cuenta, sabet, las castellanas.
Sueltan las rriendas, a las vistas se van adeliñadas.

 

 

104

 

Dentro en Valencia Mio Cid el Campeador
non lo detarda, pora las vistas se adobó.
Tanta gruessa mula e tanto palafré de sazón,
tanta buena arma e tanto buen cavallo corredor,
tanta buena capa e mantos e pelliçones,
chicos e grandes vestidos son de colores.
Minaya Álbar Fáñez e aquel Pero Vermúez,
Martín Muñoz . . . . . . . . .
e Martín Antolínez, el burgalés de pro,
el obispo don Jerónimo, coranado mejor,
Álvar Álvarez e Álvar Sa[
l
]vadórez,
Muño Gustioz, el cavallero de pro,
Galind Garcíaz, el que fue de Aragón,
éstos se adoban por ir con el Campeador
e todos los otros que í son.
[
A
] Álbar Salvadórez e Galind Garcíaz el de Aragón
a aquestos dos mandó el Campeador
que curien a Valencia | d'alma e de coraçón
e todos los [
otros
] que en poder d'éssos fossen;
las puertas del alcáçar . . . . . . . .
que non se abriessen de día nin de noch;
dentro es su mugier e sus fıjas amas a dos,
en que tiene su alma e su coraçón,
e otras dueñas que las sirven a su sabor;
rrecabdado ha, como tan buen varón,
que del alcáçar una salir non puede
fata ques' torne el que en buen ora nasco.

All the silver and gold they could ever desire.
King Alfonso galloped quickly,
Riding with counts and grand, important people in authority;
The Carrión nobles rode in their own great company.
Men from León and Galicia were with the king,
But, believe me, many more Castilians.
They all gave their horses the rein, and galloped on.

 

 

104

 

In Valencia, meanwhile, my Cid, great Warrior,
Made sure everything was readied for the meeting:
So many fat mules, so many first-rate palfreys,
So much fine armor, so many swift horses,
So many beautiful clothes, and capes, and fur-lined mantles!
Nobles and nobodies, all dressed to the hilt!
Minaya Alvar Fáñez, and Pedro Bermúdez,
Martín Muñoz, and Martín Antolínez from Burgos,
Bishop Don Jerónimo, worthiest of priests,
Alvar Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadórez,
Muño Gustioz, a first-class knight,
Galín García, who came from Aragon—
And all the many others who were coming.
But Alvar Alvarez and Galín García from Aragon
Were ordered by my Cid to stay at home
In Valencia, guarding with their hearts and souls
All those who stayed inside its gates—
Closed, the Warrior ordered, both night and day—
Among them his wife and his daughters,
Who were heart and soul to him,
And also their ladies in waiting.
Locked into Valencia, this way,
As he of lucky birth desired, they could not leave.
Cid and his men left Valencia, spurring their horses—
So many handsome steeds, strong and fast,
Which my Cid had won: the Moors had not been giving out
gifts.

Salién de Valencia, aguijan e espolonavan,
tantos cavallos en diestro, gruessos e corredores,
Mio Cid se los gañara, que non ge los dieran en don;
yas' va pora las vistas que con el rrey paró.
De un día es llegado antes el rrey don Alfonso;
quando vieron que vinié el buen Campeador
rrecebirlo salen con tan grand onor.
Dón lo ovo a ojo el que en buen ora nasco,
a todos los sos estar los mandó
sinon a estos cavalleros que querié de coraçó[
n
];
con unos
quinze
a tierras' fırió,
como lo comidía el que en buen ora nació,
los inojos e las manos en tierra los fıncó,
las yerbas del campo a dientes las tomó,
llorando de los ojos tanto avié el gozo mayor;
assí sabe dar omildança a Alfonso so señor.
De aquesta guisa a los pies le cayó;
tan grand pesar ovo el rrey don Alfonso:
“Levantados en pie, ya Cid Campeador,
besad las manos ca los pies no[n];
si esto non feches, non avredes mi amor.”
Inojos fıtos sedié el Campeador:
“Merced vos pido a vós, mio natural señor,
assí estando, dédesme vuestra amor,
que lo oyan quantos aquí son.”
Dixo el rrey: “Esto feré d'alma e de coraçón;
aquí vos perdono e dovos mi amor
[
e
] en todo mio rreino parte desde oy.”
Fabló Mio Cid e dixo:
“¡Merced! Yo lo rrecibo, Alfonso mio señor;
gradéscolo a Dios del cielo e después a vós
e a estas mesnadas que están aderredor.”
Inojos fıtos las manos le besó,
levós' en pie e en la bócal' saludó.
Todos los demás d'esto avién sabor;
pesó a Álbar Díaz e a Garcí Ordóñez.
Fabló Mio Cid e dixo esta rrazón:
“Esto gradesco al Criador