The Song of the Cid (21 page)

Mio Cid por sos yernos demandó e no los falló,
maguer los están llamando, ninguno non rresponde.
Quando los fallaron, assí vinieron sin color,
non viestes tal juego como iva por la cort;
mandó lo vedar Mio Cid el Campeador.
Muchos' tovieron por enbaídos los ifantes de Carrión,
fıera cosa les pesa d'esto que les cuntió.

 

 

113

 

Ellos en esto estando, dón avién grant pesar,
fuerças de Marruecos Valencia vienen cercar,
cinquaenta mill tiendas fıncadas ha de las cabdales,
aquéste era el rrey Búcar, sil' ouyestes contar.

 

 

114

 

Alegravas' el Cid e todos sus varones
que les crece la ganancia, grado al Criador;
mas, sabed, de cuer les pesa a los ifantes de Carrión
ca veyén tantas tiendas de moros de que non avié[
n
] sabor.
Amos ermanos apart salidos son:
“Catamos la ganancia e la pérdida no,
ya en esta batalla a entrar abremos nós,
esto es aguisado por non ver Carrión,
bibdas rremandrán fıjas del Campeador.”
Oyó la poridad aquel Muño Gustioz,
vino con estas nuevas a Mio Cid Rruy Díaz el Canpeador:
“Evades qué pavor han vuestros yernos tan osados,
por entrar en batalla desean Carrión.
Idlos conortar, sí vos vala el Criador,
que sean en paz e non ayan í rración.
Nós convusco la vençremos e valer nos ha el Criador.”
Mio Cid don Rrodrigo sonrrisando salió:
“Dios vos salve, yernos, ifantes de Carrión.
En braços tenedes mis fıjas tan blancas como el sol.

My Cid asked for the Carrións, who couldn't be found,
And though they called out names, no one answered.
Then they saw them, pale as ghosts—
And O! the giggling and chuckling around the court!
My Cid, the Warrior, commanded them to stop.
But the Carrións felt disgraced and scorned,
And never got over their flood of shame.

 

 

113

 

And while they were still boiling with anger,
Moroccan armies suddenly surrounded Valencia;
Fifty thousand huge tents sprouted right in front of them.
This was King Búcar, of whom you may have heard.

 

 

114

 

My Cid and all his men were delighted,
Already counting up their loot—may God be praised!
But, in fact, the Carrións were terrified at the sight
Of so many Moorish tents, which they did not like.
They conferred, in private:
“We calculated our gains and expected no losses:
We'll have to ride out and face those forces!
We'll never see Carrión again!
And Cid's daughters will both be widows!”
Muño Gustioz happened to overhear this,
And informed my Cid, Ruy Díaz, the Warrior:
“Your sons-in-law are shaking with fear: fighting is
Not on their minds—only running for home!
For God's sake, go calm them down!
Let them stay here and not lift a hand:
God will give us victory, with you in command!”
My Cid, Ruy Díaz, went to them, smiling:
“May God bless you, my sons-in-law, you Carrión heirs!
Your arms are holding my daughters, bright and fair!

Yo desseo lides e vós a Carrión,
en Valencia folgad a todo vuestro sabor
ca d'aquellos moros yo só sabidor,
arrancar me los trevo con la merced del Criador.”

 

 

115

“aún vea el ora que vos meresca dos tanto.”
En una conpaña tornados son amos,
assí lo otorga don Pero cuemo se alaba Ferrando;
plogo a Mio Cid e a todos sos vassallos:
“Aún, si Dios quisiere e el Padre que está en alto,
amos los mios yernos buenos serán en ca[
m
]po.”
Esto van diziendo e las yentes se allegando,
en la hueste de los moros los atamores sonando,
a marav[
i
]lla lo avién muchos d'essos cristianos
ca nunqua lo vieran, ca nuevos son llegados.
Más se maravillan entre Diego e Ferrando,
por la su voluntad non serién allí llegados.
Oíd lo que fabló el que en buen ora nasco:
“¡Ala, Pero Vermúez, el mio sobrino caro!
Cúriesme a [
don
] Diego e cúriesme a don Fernando,
mios yernos amos a dos, la cosa que mucho amo,
ca los moros, con Dios, non fıncarán en canpo.”

 

 

116

 

“Yo vos digo, Cid, por toda caridad,
que oy los ifantes a mí por amo non abrán;

We others long for a battle, and you for your home,
So enjoy yourself, here in Valencia,
While my men and I go after the Moors:
With God's own blessing, we'll make them run!”

 

 

115

“. . . May I be able, some day, to pay you back twice over!”
Then they rode back like a pair of warriors,
And Pedro confirmed the Carrión's boasting.
This story pleased my Cid and all his men:
“May God, our Father on high,
Make my sons-in-law good fighters!”
As they spoke, the soldiers took their formations,
And from the Moorish host the great drums sounded,
Which many Christians new to their ways
Had never heard. They were amazed.
But the Carrión brothers were simply afraid
And wished they could be someplace else.
He who was born at just the right time heard them:
“Ah, Pedro Bermúdez, my dear good nephew!
Do something for me. Take care of my sons-in-law,
Because I'm very fond of them.
As for the Moors, well, we'll all take good care of them!”

 

 

116

 

“Now let me tell you, Cid, straight from the heart,
I don't want to coddle Carrións anymore.

cúrielos qui quier, ca d'ellos poco m'incal.
Yo con los míos ferir quiero delant,
vós con los vuestros fırmemientre a la çaga tengades,
si cueta fuere, bien me podredes uviar.”
Aquí llegó Minaya Álbar Fáñez:
“¡Oíd, ya Cid, Canpeador leal!
Esta batalla el Criador la ferá
e vós tan dinno que con él avedes part.
Mandadno' los ferir de quál part vos semejar,
el debdo que á cada uno a conplir será.
Ver lo hemos con Dios e con la vuestra auze.”
Dixo Mio Cid: “Ayamos más de vagar.”
Afevos el obispo don Jerónimo muy bien armado,
paravas' delant al Campeador siempre con la buen auze:
“Oy vos dix la missa de Sancta Trinidade;
por esso salí de mi tierra e vin vos buscar
por sabor que avía de algún moro matar;
mi orden e mis manos querría las ondrar
e a estas feridas yo quiero ir delant.
Pendón trayo a cor
ç
as e armas de señal,
si ploguiesse a Dios querríalas ensayar,
mio coraçón que pudiesse folgar
e vós, Mio Cid, de mí más vos pagar.
Si este amor non' feches, yo de vós me quiero quitar.”
Essora dixo Mio Cid: “Lo que vós queredes plazme.
Afé los moros a ojo, idlos ensayar.
Nós d'aquent veremos cómo lidia el abat.”

 

 

117

 

El obispo don Jerónimo priso a espolonada
e ívalos ferir a cabo del albergada.
Por la su ventura e Dios quel' amava
a los primeros colpes dos moros matava de la lanç[
a
];
el astil á quebrado e metió mano al espada,
ensayavas' el obispo, ¡Dios, qué bien lidiava!

Let someone who wants it have that job: I don't give a damn!
I want to take my men and attack these front lines,
While you and yours pin down the Moors in back.
That way you'll help me, if I go too far.”
Then Minaya Alvar Fáñez joined them:
“Listen, O Cid, noble Warrior!
God will decide who wins this battle,
And no one's worthier for a warrior's role than you.
Order an attack wherever you want:
We know our duty, we'll do our part.
Your destiny and God are on our side!”
“Stay calm,” said my Cid. “Don't get excited.”
Then Bishop Don Jerónimo, well armored, arrived,
And stood in front of the Warrior who was blessed with good
fortune:
“This day, I've said a Holy Trinity mass for you.
I left my country and sought for you
Because I was hungry for killing Moors.
My sacred vows and itching hands demand
That I be placed in front, wherever you attack.
I carry a holy banner, as well as a lance,
And—may it please God!—I want to use them,
As my heart passionately wishes,
For your pleasure as well as mine.
If you are displeased, I'll turn away and leave you.”
My Cid said: “I'm pleased to grant your wish.
You can see the Moors, right there. Attack them!
We'll watch you from here, and see how a bishop fights!”

 

 

117

 

Bishop Don Jerónimo spurred his horse
And rode straight at the Moorish forces.
Because God loved him, and he was lucky,
He killed two Moors with his first few strokes.
The haft of his lance broke, so he drew his sword,
And knew how to use it. Lord, how well he fought!

Dos mató con lança e
cinco
con el espada;
los moros son muchos, derredor le cercavan,
dávanle grandes colpes mas nol' falsan las armas.
El que en buen ora nasco los ojos le fıncava,
enbraçó el escudo e abaxó el asta,
aguijó a Bavieca, el cavallo que bien anda,
ívalos ferir de coraçón e de alma.
En las azes primeras el Campeador entrava,
abatió a
siete
e a
quatro
matava.
Plogo a Dios, aquésta fue el arrancada.
Mio Cid con los suyos cae en alcança,
veriedes quebrar tantas cuerdas e arrancarse las estacas
e acostarse los tendales, con huebras eran tantas.
Los de Mio Cid a los de Búcar de las tiendas los sacan.

 

 

118

 

Sácanlos de las tiendas, cáenlos en alcaz,
tanto braço con loriga veriedes caer apart,
tantas cabeças con yelmos que por el campo caen,
cavallos sin dueños salir a todas partes;
siete
migeros conplidos duró el segudar.
Mio Cid al rrey Búcar cayól' en alcaz:
“¡Acá torna, Búcar! Venist d'allent mar,
ver te as con el Cid, el de la barba grant,
saludar nos hemos amos e tajaremos amista
d
.”
Rrespuso Búcar al Cid: “¡Cofonda Dios tal amistad!
El espada tienes desnuda en la mano e véot' aguijar,
assí como semeja, en mí la quieres ensayar;
mas si el cavallo non estropieça o comigo non caye,
non te juntarás comigo fata dentro en la mar.”
Aquí rrespuso Mio Cid: “¡Esto non será verdad!”
Buen cavallo tiene Búcar e grandes saltos faz,
mas Bavieca el de Mio Cid alcançándolo va.
Alcançólo el Cid a Búcar a tres braças del mar,
arriba alçó Colada, un grant colpe dádol' ha,
las carbonclas del yelmo tollidas ge la[
s
] ha,
His lance had killed two, now his sword killed five.
It was a huge army, and Moors crowded around him,
Swinging hard, but unable to pierce his armor.
He who was born at a lucky hour watched for a while,
Then took up his shield; raised his sword;
Then spurred Babieca; the horse galloped hard,
And my Cid fought with all his heart,
Smashing into the Moors' front ranks,
Driving seven out of their saddles and killing four.
God wanted the Christians to win.
My Cid and his men made the Moors run.
You should have seen the tent ropes snap, and the stakes crack,
The poles yanked out, gilted and carved and fine.
My Cid's men made Búcar's army run for their lives.

 

 

118

 

Having routed the Moors, they began to pursue them.
Arms wearing mail shirts lay lonely on the ground;
Heads wearing helmets had fallen down, too;
Horses that had no riders were everywhere.
They carried the chase for a full seven miles.
Galloping up behind King Búcar, my Cid called out:
“Turn back, Búcar, from across the sea!
Come to terms with long-bearded Cid, who is me!
We ought to greet each other, and talk like friends.”
Búcar replied: “The devil with that kind of friendship!
You're trying to catch me, my death's
What you want: that blade is bare, and swift.
But if my horse keeps going, by God,
I'll reach the sea before you catch up!”
My Cid declared: “That isn't going to happen!”
Búcar's horse was fast, with a long, loose stride,
But Babieca gained, and finally, six lengths from the sea, ran
alongside.
My Cid struck the king's helmet:
Pearls and other gems were scattered,

cortól' el yelmo e, librado todo lo ál,
fata la cintura el espada llegado ha.
Mató a Búcar, al rrey de allén mar,
e ganó a Tizón que mill marcos d'oro val.
Venció la batalla maravillosa e grant,
aquís' ondró Mio Cid e quantos con él son.

 

 

119

 

Con estas ganancias yas' ivan tornando,
sabet, todos de fırme rrobavan el campo.
A las tiendas eran llegados dó estava | el que en buen ora
nasco.
Mio Cid Rruy Díaz el Campeador contado
con dos espadas que él preciava algo
por la matança vinía tan privado,
la cara fronzida e almófar soltado,
cofıa sobre los pelos fronzida d'ella yaquanto.
Algo v[
e
]yé Mio Cid de lo que era pagado,
alçó sos ojos, esteva adelant catando
e vio venir a Diego e a Fernando;
amos son fıjos del conde don Go[
n
]çalo.
Alegrós' Mio Cid, fermoso sonrrisando:
“¡Venides, mios yernos, mios fıjos sodes amos!
Sé que de lidiar bien sodes pagados,
a Carrión de vós irán buenos mandados
cómo al rrey Búcar avemos arrancado.
Como yo fío por Dios e en todos los sos sanctos,
d'esta arrancada nós iremos pagados.”
De todas partes sos vassallos van llegando,
Minaya Álbar Fáñez essora es llegado,
el escudo trae al cuello e todo espad[
ad
]o,
de los colpes de las lanças non avié rrecabdo,
aquellos que ge los dieran non ge lo avién logrado.
Por el cobdo ayuso la sangre destellando,
de
veínte
arriba ha moros matado:
“Grado a Dios e al padre que está en alto