Chapter 8
Quoth Felez Múñoz: "Heart and soul that duty pleases me." Minaya Alvar Fañez before the Cid came he: "Back to the town of Valencia, Oh Cid, now let us go; For if our God and Father the Creator's will be so, To Carrión's lands thy daughters to visit we shall wend. Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra, to God do we commend. Such things may you accomplish as will make us glad and fain."
The sons-in-law gave answer: "Now that may God ordain."
They lamented much at parting. Daughters and sire wept sore, So also wept the cavaliers of the Cid Campeador. "Thou, cousin, Felez Múñoz, now hark to this aright. Thou shalt go by Molína, and there shalt lie one night, And greet fair the Morisco Avengalvón my friend; That he may most fair reception to my sons-in-law extend. Tell him I send my daughters to the lands of Carrión, In all their needs his courtesy as beseemeth shall be shown. Let him ward them to Medína for the love he beareth me. For all that he cloth for them I will give him a rich fee."
They parted then, as when the nail out of the flesh is torn.
He turned back to Valencia who in happy hour was born. And now the Heirs of Carrión have fettled them to fare. Saint Mary of Alvarrazín, their halting-place was there.
From thence the Heirs of Carrión plied furiously the spur. Ho! in Molína with the Moor Avengalvón they were. The Morisco when he heard it in his heart was well content, And forth with great rejoicings to welcome them he went. Ah, God! how well he served them in what e 'er their joy might be! The next day in the morning to horse with them got he. He bade two hundred horsemen for escort forth to ride. They crossed the mountains of Luzón (so are they signified), And the Vale of Arbujuélo to the Jalón they came. The place where they found lodging, Ansaréra is its name. Unto the daughters of the Cid, the Moor fair presents gave, And to either Heir of Carrión beside a charger brave. For the love he bore the Campeador, all this for them he wrought.
They looked upon the riches that the Moor with him had brought And then together treason did the brothers twain concert. "Since the daughters of the Campeador we shortly shall desert, If but we might do unto death Aengalvon the Moor, The treasure he possesses for ourselves we should secure Safe as our wealth in Carrión those goods we will maintain. And ne'er will the Cid Campeador avenge on us the stain." While they of Carrión this shame complotted each with each, In the midst a Moor o'erheard them, that could of Latin speech. He kept no secret. With it to Avengalvón he ran: "Thou art my lord. Be wary of these persons, Castellan. I heard the heirs of Carrión that plotted death for thee."
CXXVII. This same Avengalvón the Moor, a gallant man was he He got straightway on horseback with servitors ten score. He brandished high his weapons, he came the Heirs before. And the two Heirs with what he said but little pleased they are: "If for his sake I forebore not, my lord Cid of Bivár, I would do such deeds upon you as through all the world should ring,
And then to the true Campeador his daughters would I bring. And unto Carrión never should you enter from that day.
CXXVIII. What I have done against you, ho! Heirs of Carrión, say, For without guile I served you, and lo, my death ye plot. For wicked men and traitors I will leave you on the spot. Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra with your good leave I go; For of these men of Carrión I rate the fame but low. God will it and command it, who is Lord of all the Earth. That the Campeador hereafter of this match have joy and mirth." That thing the Moor has told them, and back he turned him there. When he crossed over thee Jalón, weapon he waved in air. He returned unto Molína like a man of prudent heart.
And now from Ansaréra did Carrión's Heirs depart; And they began thereafter to travel day and night. And they let Atiénza on the left, a craggy height. The forest of Miédes, now have they overpassed, And on through Montes Claros they pricked forward spurring fast. And then passed Griza on the left that Alamos did found. There be the caves where Elpha he imprisoned underground. And they left San Estévan, on their right that lay afar. Within the woods of Corpes, the Heirs of Carrión are. And high the hills are wooded, to the clouds the branches sweep, And savage are the creatures that roundabout them creep; And there upon a bower with a clear spring they light And there the Heirs of Carrión bade that their tent be pight. There with their men about them, that night they lay at rest. With their wives clasped to their bosom their affection they protest, But ill the twain fulfilled it, when the dawn came up the East. They bade put goods a plenty on the back of every beast. Where they at night found lodging, now have they struck the tent. The people of their household far on before them went. Of the two Heirs of Carrión so the commandment ran, That none behind should linger, a woman or a man. But Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra their wives shall tarry still, With whom it is their pleasure to dally to their fill.
The others have departed. They four are left alone. Great evil had been plotted by the Heirs of Carrión. "Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra, ye may take this for true: Here in the desert wildwood shall a mock be made of you. Today is our departure, we will leave you here behind. And in the lands of Carrión no portion shall you find. Let them hasten with these tidings to the Cid Campeador. Thus, the matter of the lion, we avenge ourselves therefor."
Their furs and their mantles, from the ladies they have whipped. In their shifts and their tunics they left the ladies stripped. With spur on heel before them those wicked traitors stand, And saddle-girths both stout and strong they have taken in the hand. When the ladies had beheld it, then out spake Sol the dame: "Don Diégo, don Ferrándo, we beeech you in God's name. You have two swords about you, that for strength and edge are known. And one they call Coláda, the other is Tizón. Strike off our heads together, and martyrs we shall die. The Moriscos and the Christians against this deed shall cry. It stands not with our deserving that we should suffer thus. So evil an example, then do not make of us. Unto our own abasement, if you scourge us, you consent, That men will bring against you in parle and parliament."
Naught profits it the ladies, however hard they pray. And now the Heirs of Carrión upon them 'gan to lay. With the buckled girths they scourged them in fashion unbeseen, And exceeding was their anguish from the sharp spurs and keen. They rent the shifts and wounded the bodies of the two, And forth upon the tunics the clear blood trickled through. In their very hearts the ladies have felt that agony. What a fair fortune were it, if God's will it might be, Had then appeared before them the Cid the Campeador.
Powerless were the ladies, and the brothers scourged them sore. Their shifts and their sullies throughout the blood did stain. Of scourging the two ladies wearied the brothers twain,
Which man should smite most fiercely they had vied each with each. Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra had no longer power of speech. Within the wood of Corpes for dead they left the pair.
CXXIX. Their cloaks and furs of ermine along with them they bare, In their shifts and tunics, fainting, they left them there behind, A prey to every wild-fowl and beast of savage kind.
Know you, for dead, not living, they left them in such cheer. Good hap it were if now the Cid, Roy Diaz, should appear.
CXXX. The Heirs of Carrión for dead have left them thus arrayed, For the one dame to the other, could give no sort of aid. They sang each other's praises as they journeyed through the wood: "For the question of our marriage we have made our vengeance good. Unbesought, to be our lemans we should not take that pair, Because as wedded consorts for our arms unfit they were. For the insult of the lion vengeance shall thus be ta'en."
CXXXI. They sang each other's praises, the Heirs of Carrión twain. But now of Felez Múñoz will I tell the tale once more. Even he that was nephew to the Cid Campeador. They had bidden him ride onward, but he was not well content. And his heart smote within him as along the road he went. Straightway from all the others' a space did he withraw. There Felez Múñoz entered into a thick-grown straw, Till the coming of his cousins should be plain to be perceived Or what the Heirs of Carrión as at that time achieved. And he beheld them coming, and heard them say their say, But they did not espy him, nor thought of him had they. Be it known death he had not scaped, had they on him laid eye. And the two Heirs rode onward, pricking fast the spur they ply. On their trail Felez Múñoz has turned him back again. He came upon his cousins. In a swoon lay the twain. And crying "Oh my cousins!" straightway did he alight. By the reins the horse he tethered, and went to them forthright.
"Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra, cousins of mine that be, The two Heirs of Carrión have borne them dastardly. Please God that for this dealing they may get a shameful gain." And straightway he bestirred him to life to bring the twain. Deep was their swoon. Of utterance all power they had forlorn. Of his heart the very fabric thereby in twain was torn. "Oh my cousins Dame Elvíra and Dame Sol," he cried and spake, "For the love of the Creator, my cousins twain, awake, While yet the day endureth, ere falls the evening-hour, Lest in the wood our bodies the savage beast devour."
In Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra fresh life began to rise; And they looked on Felez Múñoz when at last they oped their eyes: "For the love of God my cousins, now be of courage stout. From the time the Heirs of Carrión shall miss me from their rout, With utmost speed thereafter will they hunt me low and high. And if God will not help us, in this place we then must die." To him out spoke the Lady Sol in bitter agony: "If the Campeador, our father, deserveth well of thee, My cousin give us water, so may God help thee too." A hat had Felez Múñoz, from Valencia, fine and new, Therein he caught the water, and to his cousins bore. To drink their fill he gave them, for they were stricken sore. Till they rose up, most earnestly he begged them and implored. He comforts them and heartens them until they are restored. He took the two and quickly set them a-horse again. He wrapped them in his mantle. He took the charger's rein And sped them on, and through Corpes Wood they took their way. They issued from the forest between the night and day. The waters of Duéro they at the last attain. At Dame Urráca's tower he left behind the twain, And then unto Saint Stephen's did Felez Múñoz fare. He found Diégo Tellez, Alvar Fañez' vassal, there. When he had heard those tidings on his heart great sorrow fell. And he took beasts of burden and garments that excel. Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra to welcome did he go. He lodged the in Saint Stephen's. Great honor did he show Those ladies. In Saint Stephen's very gentle are the men, When they had heard the tidings their hearts were sorry then. To the Cid's daughters tribute of plenteous fare they yield. In that place the ladies tarried, till the time when they were healed.
Loud they sang each other's praises, those Heirs of Carrión, And of their deeds the tidings through all these lands were known. Of the good King don Alfonso the heart for grief was torn. To Valencia the city now are the tidings borne. To my lord Cid the Campeador that message when they brought, Thereon for a full hour's space, he pondered and he thought. His hand he has uplifted and gripped his beard amain: "Now unto Christ be glory who o'er all the earth doth reign. Since thus sought they of Carrión to keep mine honor whole. Now by this beard that never was plucked by living soul, Thereby the Heirs of Carrión no pleasure shall they gain. As for the dames my daughters, I shall marry well the twain.
The Cid and all his courtiers were sorry grievously, Heart and soul Alvar Fañez a sad man was he. Minaya with Per Vermudóz straightway the steed bestrode, And good Martin Antolínez in Burgos that abode, With ten score horse that to that end the Cid set in array. Most earnestly he charged them to ride both night and day, And to the town Valencia his daughters twain to bring. About their lord's commandment there was no tarrying. Swiftly they got on horseback and rode both day and night. Into Gormaz they entered, a strong place of might. In sooth one night they lodged there. To Saint Stephen's tidings flew That Minaya was come thither to bring home his cousins two. The dwellers in Saint Stephen's, as becomes the true and brave, To Minaya and his henchmen a noble welcome gave, And for tribute to Minaya brought that night of cheer good store. He desired not to accept it, but he thanked them well therefor; "Thanks, stout men of Saint Stephen's, for ye bear you wise and well. For the honor that ye did us, for the thing that us befel, Where bides the Cid the Campeador he gives true thanks to you, As I do here. May God on high give you your payment due."
Therewith they thanked him greatly, with him were all content Then swiftly to their lodging to rest that night they went. Where bode his kin, Minaya to see them went his ways. Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra upon him fixed their gaze: "So heartily we thank thee, as our eyes on God were set, And prithee thank Him for it, since we are living yet. In the days of ease thereafter, in Valencia when we dwell, The tale of our affliction, we shall have strength to tell.
CXXXII. The dames and Alvar Fañez, the tears flowed from their eyes. Per Vermudóz because of them was sorely grieved likewise. "Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra, be not down-hearted still, Since you are well and living and without other ill. Ye have lost a good marriage, better matches shall ye make. Oh may we soon behold the day when vengeance we shall take!" So all that night they lay there keeping a merry tide. The next day in the morning they fettled them to ride. The people of Saint Stephen's their party escort bore, With every sort of solace e'en to Riodamor. There they took leave, and got them in stead to travel back. Minaya and the ladies rode forward on the track. They have passed Alcoceva. On the right Gormaz left they. They have come o'er the river in the place called Vadorrey, And in the town Berlanga their lodging have they made. The next day in the morning set forth the cavalcade. In the place called Medína their shelter have they sought. From Medína to Molína on the next day were they brought. And there the Moor Avengalvón was pleased in heart thereby. Forth with good will he issued to give them welcome high, For my lord Cid's love a supper he gave them rich and great. Thence on unto Valencia they have departed straight. When to him who in good honor was born the news of it was sent, Swiftly he got on horseback, and forth to greet them went. As he rode he brandished weapons; very joyful was his face. My lord the Cid came forward his daughters to embrace. And after he had kissed them he smiled upon the two: "Are ye then come my daughters? 'Gainst ill God succor you. This marriage I accepted, daring not say otherwise. May the Creator grant it, who dwelleth in the skies, That you with better husbands hereafter I may see. God! on my sons of Carrión grant me avenged to be. "The hands of their father to kiss, the two bent down. And under arms they hastened and came into the town. Their mother Dame Xiména with them good cheer she made. And he who in good hour was born, he tarried not nor stayed, But there unto his comrades so privily he spake: To King Alfonso of Castile those tidings shall they take. CXXXIII. "Where art thou, Muño Gustióz, vassal of fair report In a good time I cherished and reared thee in my court. To King Alfonso in Castile these tidings do thou take. His hands with heart and spirit do thou kiss them for my sake-- I am known for his vassal, he for my lord is known-- At the dishonor done me by the heirs of Carrión Shall the good King be troubled in his soul and in his heart. He gave to wed my daughters, therein I had no part. Since my girls they have deserted with great dishonor thus, If they have put an insult by that action upon us, The great part and the little, my lord's is all the scorn. My possessions, which are mighty, off with them have they borne, This and the other insult well may make me ill content. Bring them to parley with me in assize or parliament, So that I may have justice on the heirs of Carrión, For in my heart the anguish exceeding great is grown."
Thereupon Muño Gustióz swiftly the steed bestrode. To wait upon his pleasure two horsemen with him rode, And with him were esquires that of his household were. They departed from Valencia as fast as they could spur, They gave themselves no respite either by night or noon. And the King don Alfonso he found at Sahagún. Of Castile is he the ruler, of León furthermore. And likewise of Asturias, yea, to San Salvador. As far as Santiago for lord paramount is he known. The counts throughout Galicia him for their sovereign own. As soon as Muño Gustióz got down from horseback there, Before the Saints he kneeled him, and to God he made his prayer. Where the court was in the palace straightway his steps he bent. The horsemen two that served him as their lord beside him went. As soon as they had entered amid the royal train The King saw them and knew lightly Muño Gustióz again. The King rose up and nobly he welcomed him and well. before the King Alfonso on bended knee he fell. The King's feet, Muño Gustióz, that wight, has kissed withal: "A boon, King, thee the sovereign of kingdoms broad they call. The Campeador, he kisses so well thy feet and hands; Thou art his lord; thy vassal as at all times he stands. To Carrión's Heirs his daughters were given to wed by thee. It was a glorious marriage for it was thy decree. The honor that befel us is to thee already known, What flout was put upon us by the Heirs of Carrión. Fiercely they scourged the daughters of the Cid Campeador. Naked, in great dishonor and from the scourging sore, In Corpes Wood unguarded they cast the dames away, Unto the savage creatures and the forest-fowl a prey, And lo! now to Valencia his daughters are restored. For this thy hand he kisses as a vassal to his lord, That thou bring them to confront him in assize or parliament. He holds himself dishonored, but fouler art thou shent. And King, sore should it grieve thee, and he prays, for wise art thou, That my lord Cid may have justice on the Heirs of Carrión now." The king long while was silent, pondering thereon apart: "The truth will I say to thee. It grieves me to the heart. So hast thou, Muño Gustióz, herein a true thing said, For to Carrión's Heirs, his daughters I gave indeed to wed. For good I did it, deeming that there his vantage lay. But would now that that marriage had ne'er been made today. My lord the Cid and I myself, sore grieved at heart are we. I must help him unto justice, so God my savior be. Though I would not at this season, I must do even so. And now through all my Kingdom forth shall mine heralds go, For in Toledo city a court shall they proclaim, So that counts may come and nobles that be of lesser name. The Heirs of Carrión thither I will summon furthermore; And there shall they give justice to my lord Cid Campeador. Yet while I can prevent it, he shall have no cause to mourn. CXXXIV. "And say unto the Campeador, who in good hour was born, That he may with his vassals for these seven weeks prepare To come unto Toledo. That term I grant him fair. I will hold these assizes since the Cid to me is dear. Greet them all for me fairly, let them be of joyful cheer. For what befel, of honor they yet shall have no lack." His leave ta'en, Muño Gustióz to my lord Cid turned back. Since he had undertaken that the charge on him should fall, Alfonso the Castilian delayed it not at all. To León and Santiago he sent letters without fail, And unto the Galicians, and the men of Portingale. Tidings to them in Carrión and in Castile they bring Of a Court held in Toledo by the much honored King, And that there they should be gathered when seven weeks should end. Who stayed at home, true vassalage no longer could pretend. And all men so determined throughout his breadth of lands Not to fail in the fulfillment of the King's high commands. CXXXV. Now are the Heirs of Carrión troubled by the report That the King within Toledo was about to hold his court. They fear my lord Cid Campeador will have his part therein, And they took counsel, seeing that they were near of kin. The King for dispensation to stay from court they prayed. Said the King: "I will not do it, as God shall stand mine aid. For my lord Cid the Campeador that place shall come unto, And you shall do him justice for he makes complaint of you. Who refuses, or denies it to come unto mine assize, Let him quit my realm. The fellow finds no favor in mine eyes."