The Lay of the Cid | Page 6

meadow
and his field, And the chests he cannot bring you lest he should stand
revealed. The Campeador those coffers will deliver to your trust.
And
do you lend unto him whatsoever may be just.
Do you take the chests
and keep them, but swear a great oath here That you will not look
within them for the space of all this year."
The two took counsel:
"Something to our profit must inure
In all
barter. He gained something in the country of the Moor When he

marched there, for many goods he brought with him away. But he
sleeps not unsuspected, who brings coined gold to pay. Let the two of
us together take now the coffers twain.
In some place let us put them
where unseen they shall remain.
"What the lord Cid demandeth, we prithee let us hear,
And what will
be our usury for the space of all this year?"
Said Martin Antolínez like a prudent man and true:
"Whatever you
deem right and just the Cid desires of you.
He will ask little since his
goods are left in a safe place. But needy men on all sides beseech the
Cid for grace.
For six hundred marks of money, the Cid is sore
bested."
"We shall give them to him gladly," Raquél and Vidas said.
"'Tis night. The Cid is sorely pressed. So give the marks to us.
Answered Raquél and Vidas: "Men do not traffic thus.
But first they
take their surety and thereafter give the fee." Said Martin Antolínez:

"So be it as for me.
Come ye to the great Campeador for 'tis but just
and fair
That we should help you with the chests, and put them in
your care,
So that neither Moor nor Christian thereof shall hear the
tale."
"Therewith are we right well content," said Vidas and Raquél, "You
shall have marks six hundred when we bring the chests again."
And Martin Antolínez rode forth swiftly with the twain.
And they
were glad exceeding. O'er the bridge he did not go, But through the
stream, that never a Burgalese should know
Through him thereof.
And now behold the Campeador his tent. When they therein had
entered to kiss his hands they bent.
My lord the Cid smiled on them
and unto them said he:
"Ha, don Raquél and Vidas, you have forgotten me!
And now must I
get hence away who am banished in disgrace,
For the king from me

in anger hath turned away his face.
I deem that from my chattels you
shall gain somewhat of worth. And you shall lack for nothing while
you dwell upon the earth.'
A-kissing of his hands forthwith Raquél and Vidas fell.
Good Martin
Antolínez had made the bargain well,
That to him on the coffers
marks six hundred they should lend. And keep them safe, moreover, till
the year had made an end. For so their word was given and sworn to
him again,
If they looked ere that within them, forsworn should be
the twain, The Cid would never give them one groat of usury.
Said Martin, "Let the chests be ta'en as swiftly as may be, Take them,
Raquél and Vidas, and keep them in your care.
And we shall even go
with you that the money we may bear,
For ere the first cock croweth
must my lord the Cid depart."
At the loading of the coffers you had seen great joy of heart. For they
could not heave the great chests up though they were stark and hale.

Dear was the minted metal to Vidas and Raquél;
And they would be
rich forever till their two lives it were o'er
X.
The hand of my good lord the Cid, Raquél had kissed once more:
"Ha! Campeador, in happy hour thou girdedst on the brand.
Forth
from Castile thou goest to the men of a strange land. Such is become
thy fortune and great thy gain shall be
Ah Cid, I kiss thine hands
again--but make a gift to me
Bring me a Moorish mantle splendidly
wrought and red."
"So be it. It is granted," the Cid in answer said,

"If from abroad I bring it, well doth the matter stand;
If not, take it
from the coffers I leave here in your hand."
And then Raquél and Vidas bore the two chests away.
With Martin
Antolínez into Burgos entered they.
And with fitting care, and
caution unto their dwelling sped. And in the midmost of the hall a
plaited quilt they spread. And a milk-white cloth of linen thereon did
they unfold.
Three hundred marks of silver before them Martin told.


And forthwith Martin took them, no whit the coins he weighed. Then
other marks three hundred in gold to him they paid.
Martin had five
esquires. He loaded all and one.
You shall hear what said don Martin
when all this gear was done:
"Ha! don Raquél and Vidas, ye have the coffers two.
Well I deserve a
guerdon, who obtained this prize for you."
XI.
Together Vidas and