The Lay of the Cid | Page 4

death, and protection. Thereupon by order of King?Ferdinand the Cid and Ximena are married. Later we have Ximena's complaints that her husband's activity in the field against the Moors have tried her spirit sorely. There are many ballads that treat of the arming and consecration of the Cid in newly conquered Coimbra, of his victory over five Moorish kings who gave him the name Cid (Master), and became his tributaries, of the testament of Ferdinand in virtue of which the Cid is made the adviser of Sancho and Urraca. The siege of Zamora and the death of Sancho are fertile topics. At the accession of Alphonso the Cid forces him to swear a solemn oath that he was not party to the murder of his brother Sancho. Finally when the Cid is independent master of Valencia, the Sultan of Persia, hearing of his exploits, sends him rich presents and a magic balsam. This the Cid drinks when he is at the point of death. It preserves his dead body with such perfect semblance of life that, mounted on Babiéca, he turns the victory of the Moor Bucar into utter rout.
Not the least curious is the legend of the Jew who having feared the living Cid, desired to pluck his sacred beard as he lay in state in St. Peter's at Cardena. "This is the body of the Cid," said he, "so praised of all, and men say that while he lived none plucked his beard. I would fain seize it and take it in my hand, for since he lies here dead he shall not prevent this." The Jew stretched forth his hand, but ere he touched that beard the Cid laid his hand upon his sword Tizóna and drew it forth from its scabbard a handsbreadth. When the Jew beheld this he was struck with mighty fear, and backward he fell in a swoon for terror. Now this Jew was converted and ended his days in St. Peter's, a man of God.
The uninitiated reader will doubtless miss in the Epic more than one of his most fondly cherished episodes. If he prefer the Cid of romance and fable, let him turn to the ballads and the Chronicle of the Cid. If he would cling to the punctilious, gallant hidalgo of the early seventeenth century, let him turn to the Cid of Guillem de Castro, or to Corneille's paragon. Don Quixote wisely said: "That there was a Cid there is no doubt, or Bernardo del Carpio either; but that they did the deeds men say they did, there is a doubt a-plenty." In the heroic heart of the Epic Cid one finds the simple nobility that later centuries have obscured with adornment.

THE LAY OF THE CID
CANTAR I
THE BANISHMENT OF THE CID
I.?He turned and looked upon them, and he wept very sore?As he saw the yawning gateway and the hasps wrenched off the door, And the pegs whereon no mantle nor coat of vair there hung. There perched no moulting goshawk, and there no falcon swung. My lord the Cid sighed deeply such grief was in his heart?And he spake well and wisely:?"Oh Thou, in Heaven that art?Our Father and our Master, now I give thanks to Thee.?Of their wickedness my foemen have done this thing to me."
II.?Then they shook out the bridle rein further to ride afar.?They had the crow on their right hand as they issued from Bivár; And as they entered Burgos upon their left it sped.?And the Cid shrugged his shoulders, and the Cid shook his head: "Good tidings, Alvar Fa?ez. We are banished from our weal,?But on a day with honor shall we come unto Castile."
III.?Roy Diaz entered Burgos with sixty pennons strong,?And forth to look upon him did the men and women throng.?And with their wives the townsmen at the windows stood hard by, And they wept in lamentation, their grief was risen so high. As with one mouth, together they spake with one accord:?"God, what a noble vassal, an he had a worthy lord.
IV.?Fain had they made him welcome, but none dared do the thing For fear of Don Alfonso, and the fury of the King.?His mandate unto Burgos came ere the evening fell.?With utmost care they brought it, and it was sealed well?'That no man to Roy Diaz give shelter now, take heed?And if one give him shelter, let him know in very deed?He shall lose his whole possession, nay! the eyes within his head Nor shall his soul and body be found in better stead.'
Great sorrow had the Christians, and from his face they hid. Was none dared aught to utter unto my lord the Cid.
Then the Campeador departed unto his lodging straight.?But when he was come thither, they had locked and barred the gate. In their fear of King Alfonso had