Journeys Through Bookland, Volume 4 | Page 4

take the selections which are printed
in this volume. According to the Spanish accounts, Rodrigo was born
in 1026 in Burgos, the son of Diego Laynez, who was then the head of
the house of Layn Calvo. As a youth he was strong in arms and of high
repute among his friends, for he early bestirred himself to protect the
land from the Moors.
While Rodrigo was still in his early youth, his father was grievously
insulted and struck in the face by Count Don Gomez. Diego was a man
so old that his strength had passed from him, and he could not take
vengeance, but retired to his home to dwell in solitude and lament over
his dishonor. He took no pleasure in his food, neither could he sleep by
night nor would he lift up his eyes from the ground, nor stir out of his
house, nor commune with his friends, but turned from them in silence
as if the breath of his shame would taint them. The Count was a mighty
man in arms and so powerful that he had a thousand friends among the
mountains. Rodrigo, young as he was, considered this power as nothing
when he thought of the wrong done to his father, and determined to
take his own revenge. His father, seeing of how good heart he was,
gave him his sword and his blessing. Rodrigo went out, defied the
Count, fought with and killed him, and cutting off his head carried it

home. The old man was sitting at table, the food lying before him
untasted, when Rodrigo returned, and, pointing to the head which hung
from the horse's collar, dropping blood, bade him look up, saying,
"Here is the herb which will restore to you your appetite. The tongue
which insulted you is no longer a tongue, the hand no longer a hand."
Then the old man arose, embraced his son and placed him above him at
the table, saying, "The man who brought home that head must be the
head of the house of Layn Calvo."
At about this time, the king, Don Ferrando, who honors upon Rodrigo
for his success against the Moors, called him to aid against the King of
Aragon, who claimed the city of Calahorra, but had consented to let the
ownership of the city rest upon a trial by combat between two of their
greatest knights. The King of Aragon chose Don Martin Gonzalez, and
Don Ferrando, Rodrigo. The latter was well pleased at the prospect of
the battle, but before the day of the combat he started on a pilgrimage,
which he had previously vowed.
[Illustration: RODRIGO AND THE LEPER]
"Rodrigo forthwith set out upon the road, and took with him twenty
knights. And as he went he did great good, and gave alms, feeding the
poor and needy. And upon the way they found a leper, struggling in a
quagmire, who cried out to them with a loud voice to help him for the
love of God; and when Rodrigo heard this, he alighted from his beast
and helped him, and placed him upon the beast before him, and carried
him with him in this manner to the inn where he took up his lodging
that night. At this were his knights little pleased. And when supper was
ready he bade his knights take their seats, and he took the leper by the
hand, and seated him next himself, and ate with him out of the same
dish. The knights were greatly offended at this foul sight, insomuch
that they rose up and left the chamber. But Rodrigo ordered a bed to be
made ready for himself and for the leper, and they twain slept together.
When it was midnight and Rodrigo was fast asleep, the leper breathed
against him between his shoulders, and that breath was so strong that it
passed through him, even through his breast; and he awoke, being
astounded, and felt for the leper by him, and found him not; and he
began to call him, but there was no reply. Then he arose in fear, and
called for light, and it was brought him; and he looked for the leper and
could see nothing; so he returned into the bed, leaving the light burning.

And he began to think within himself what had happened, and of that
breath which had passed through him, and how the leper was not there.
After a while, as he was thus musing, there appeared before him one in
white garments, who said unto him, 'Sleepest thou or wakest thou,
Rodrigo?' and he answered and said, 'I do not sleep: but who art thou
that bringest with thee such brightness and so sweet an odour?' Then
said he, 'I am Saint Lazarus, and know that