The Lay of the Cid | Page 7

Raquél stepped forth apart thereon:
"Let us
give him a fair present for our profit he has won.
Good Martin
Antolínez in Burgos that dost dwell,
We would give thee a fair
present for thou deserves well.
Therewith get breeches and a cloak
and mantle rich and fine. Thou hast earned it. For a present these thirty
marks are thine. For it is but just and honest, and, moreover, thou wilt
stand Our warrant in this bargain whereto we set our hand."
Don Martin thanked them duly and took the marks again.
He yearned
to leave the dwelling and well he wished the twain. He is gone out from
Burgos. O'er the Arlanzon he went.
And him who in good hour was
born he found within his tent.
The Cid arose and welcomed him, with arms held wide apart:
"Thou
art come, Antolínez, good vassal that thou art!
May you live until the
season when you reap some gain of me."
"Here have I come, my Campeador, with as good heed as might be.
Thou hast won marks six hundred, and thirty more have I.
Ho! order
that they strike the tents and let us swiftly fly. In San Pedro de
Cardeñas let us hear the cock ere day.
We shall see your prudent lady,
but short shall be our stay. And it is needful for us from the kingdom
forth to wend,
For the season of our suffrance drawns onward to its
end."
XII.
They spake these words and straightaway the tent upgathered
then, My lord the Cid rode swiftly with all his host of men.
And forth
unto Saint Mary's the horse's head turned he,
And with his right hand

crossed himself: "God, I give thanks to thee
Heaven and Earth that
rulest. And thy favor be my weal
Holy Saint Mary, for forthright
must I now quit Castile.
For I look on the King with anger, and I
know not if once more I shall dwell there in my life-days. But may thy
grace watch o'er My parting, Blessed Virgin, and guard me night and
day.
If thou do so and good fortune come once more in my way,
I
will offer rich oblations at thine altar, and I swear
Most solemnly that
I will chant a thousand masses there."
XIII.
And the lord Cid departed fondly as a good man may.

Forthwith they loosed the horses, and out they spurred away. Said good
Martin Antolínez in Burgos that did dwell:
"I would see my lady
gladly and advise my people well
What they shall do hereafter. It
matters not to me
Though the King take all. Ere sunrise I shall come
unto thee."
XIV.
Martin went back to Burgos but my lord the Cid spurred on

To San Pedro of Cardeñas as hard as horse could run,
With all his
men about him who served him as is due.
And it was nigh to morning,
and the cocks full oft they crew, When at last my lord the Campeador
unto San Pedro came.
God's Christian was the Abbot. Don Sancho
was his name;
And he was saying matins at the breaking of the day.

With her five good dames in waiting Xiména there did pray.
They
prayed unto Saint Peter and God they did implore:
"O thou who
guidest all mankind, succor the Campeador."
XV.
One knocked at the doorway, and they heard the tidings then.
God wot the Abbot Sancho was the happiest of men.
With the lights
and with the candles to the court they ran forth right,
And him who in
good hour was born they welcomed in delight.
"My lord Cid," quoth the Abbot, "Now God be praised of grace! Do
thou accept my welcome, since I see thee in this place." And the Cid
who in good hour was born, hereunto answered he:

"My thanks to thee, don Sancho, I am content with thee.
For myself
and for my vassals provision will I make.
Since I depart to exile,
these fifty marks now take.
If I may live my life-span, they shall be
doubled you.
To the Abbey not a groatsworth of damage will I do.

For my lady do I give you an hundred marks again,
Herself, her
dames and daughters for this year do you maintain. I leave two
daughters with you, but little girls they be.
In thine arms keep them
kindly. I commend them here to thee. Don Sancho do thou guard them,
and of my wife take care.
If thou wantest yet and lackest for anything
whate'er,
Look well to their provision, thee I conjure once more,

And for one mark that thou spendest the Abbey shall have four." And
with glad heart the Abbot his full assent made plain.
And lo! the
Dame Xiména came with her daughters twain.
Each had her
dame-in-waiting who the little maiden bore.
And Dame Xiména bent
the knee before the Campeador.
And fain she was to kiss his hand,
and, oh, she wept forlorn!
"A boon! A boon! my Campeador. In a good hour wert thou born. And
because of wicked slanderers