VII. BOOK Ximena in the middle, and beside him he placed Doña Elvira his eldest daughter, and by her, her spouse the Infante Diego Gonzalez; and Doña Sol was seated on the other side, by her mother, and the Infante Ferrando by her. And when they had solaced themselves awhile, the Cid said that now they would go eat, and that the marriage should be performed on the morrow, and he besought and commanded Cid. cap. the Bishop Don Hieronymo to perform it in such a manner Chr. Gen. that no cost should be spared, but that every thing should be Poema del done so completely, that they who came from Castille to this 2193. 2245. wedding might alway have something to tell of. Chr. del 227. 228. ff. 282. Cid. Of the XXXIII. On the morrow they went to the Church of St. marriage. Mary, and there the Bishop Don Hieronoymo sate awaiting them, and he blest them all four at the altar. Who can tell the great nobleness which the Cid displayed at that wedding, the feasts and the bull-fights, and the throwing at the target, and the throwing canes, and how many joculars were there, and all the sports which are proper at such weddings? As soon as they came out of Church they took horse and rode. to the Glera; three times did the Cid change his horse that day; seven targets were set up on the morrow, and before they went to dinner all seven were broken. Fifteen days did the feasts at this wedding continue; then all they who had come there to do honor to the Cid took leave of him and of the Infantes. Who can tell the great and noble gifts which the Cid gave to them, both to great and little, each according to his quality, vessels of gold and silver, rich cloth, cloaks, furs, horses, and money beyond all reckoning, so that all were well pleased. And when it was told in Castille with what gifts they who had been to the wedding were re282. Poe- turned, many were they who repented that they had not gone ma del Cid there. Chr. del Cid. cap. 228. Chr. Gen. ff. 2247. 2279. HERE BEGINNETH THE EIGHTH BOOK OF THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. VIII. had How King Bucar made ven- ready to re venge his King Yu I. Now the history relateth that Gilbert, a sage who BOOK wrote the history of the Moorish Kings who reigned in Africa, saith, that Bucar remembering the oath which he made to his brother King Yucef, how he would take geance for him for the dishonor which he had received from brother the Cid Ruydiez before Valencia, ordered proclamation to cef. be made throughout all the dominions of his father, and gathered together so great a power of Moors, that among the Captains of his host there were twenty and nine Kings; this he could well do, for his father was Miramamolin, which is as much as to say Emperor. And when he had gathered together this mighty host, he entered into his ships. and crost the sea and came unto the port of Valencia, and what there befell him with the Cid the history shall relate in Cid. cap. due time. Chr.del 229. ardice the In II. Two years after their marriage did the Infantes of of the cowCarrion sojourn in Valencia in peace and pleasure, to their shown by own great contentment, and their uncle Suero Gonzalez fantes of with them; and at the end of those two years, there came to when the pass a great misadventure, by reason of which they fell out loose. with the Cid, in whom there was no fault. There was a lion Carrion lion brake VIII. BOOK in the house of the Cid, who had grown a large one, and a strong, and was full nimble: three men had the keeping of this lion, and they kept him in a den which was in a courtyard, high up in the palace; and when they cleansed the court they were wont to shut him up in his den, and afterward to open the door that he might come out and eat: the Cid kept him for his pastime, that he might take pleasure with him when he was minded so to do. Now it was the custom of the Cid to dine every day with his company, and after he had dined, he was wont to sleep awhile upon his seat. And one day when he had dined there came a man and told him that a great fleet was arrived in the port of Valencia, wherein there was a great power of the Moors, whom King Bucar had brought over, the son of the Miramamolin of Morocco. And when the Cid heard this, his heart rejoiced and he was glad, for it was nigh three years since he had had a battle with the Moors. Incontinently he ordered a signal to be made that all the honorable men who were in the city should assemble together. And when they were all assembled in the Alcazar and his sons-in-law with them, the Cid told them the news, and took counsel with them in what manner they should go out against this great power of the Moors. And when they had taken counsel the Cid went to sleep upon his seat, and the Infantes and the others sate playing at tables and chess. Now at this time the men who were keepers of the lion were cleaning the court, and when they heard the cry that the Moors were coming, they opened the den, and came down into the palace where the Cid was, and left the door of the court open. And when the lion had ate his meat and saw that the door was opened he went out of the court and came into the palace, even into the hall where they all were; and when they who were there saw him, there was a great stir among them; but the Infantes of Carrion showed greater cowardice than all the rest. Ferrando Gonzalez having no shame, neither for the Cid nor for the others who were present, crept under VIII. the seat whereon the Cid was sleeping, and in his haste he BOOK burst his mantle and his doublet also at the shoulders. And Diego Gonzalez, the other, ran to a postern door, crying, I shall never see Carrion again! This door opened upon a court-yard where there was a wine press, and he jumped out and by reason of the great height could not keep on his feet, but fell among the lees and defiled himself therewith. And all the others who were in the hall wrapt their cloaks around their arms, and stood round about the seat whereon the Cid was sleeping, that they might defend him. The noise which they made awakened the Cid, and he saw the lion coming towards him, and he lifted up his hand and said, What is this? . . and the lion hearing his voice stood still; and he rose up and took him by the mane, as if he had been a gentle mastiff, and led him back to the court where he was before, and ordered his keepers to look better to him for the Cil. cap. And when he had done this he returned to Gen. ff. the hall and took his seat again; and all they who beheld it 282. Poema were greatly astonished. time to come. Chr. del 230. Chr. del Cid. 2288. 2313. Infantes from How the came plotted to revenge upon the III. After some time Ferrando Gonzalez crept under the seat where he had hidden himself, and he out with a pale face, not having yet lost his fear, and his themselves brother Diego got from among the lees: and when they Cid. who were present saw them in this plight you never saw such sport as they made; but my Cid forbade their laughter.' And Diego went out to wash himself and change his garments, and he sent to call his brother forth, and they took counsel together in secret, and said to each other, Lo now, what great dishonor this Ruydiez our father-in-law hath done us, for he let this lion loose for the nonce, to put us to shame. But in an evil day were we born if we do not revenge this upon his daughters. Badly were we matched with them, and now for the after-feast he hath made this 'Thus the Poem, with more feeling of propriety than both the Chronicles, which make him publicly reproach the Infantes for their cowardice. VIII. BOOK mockery of us! But we must keep secret this which we bear in mind, and not let him wit that we are wrath against him, for otherwise he would not let us depart from hence, neither give us our wives to take with us, and he would take from us the swords Colado and Tizona which he gave us.. We will therefore turn this thing into merriment before him and his people, to the end that they may not suspect what we have at heart. While they were thus devising their uncle Suero Gonzalez came in, and they told him of their intent. And he counselled them to keep their wrath secret, as they said, till this stir of the Moors from beyond sea was over, and then they should demand their wives of the Cid that they might take them to their own country: This, said he, the Cid can have no reason to deny, neither for detaining ye longer with him; and when ye are got away far out of his land, then may ye do what ye will with his daughters, and ill will ye do if ye know not how to revenge yourselves; so shall remove the dishonor from yourselves, and cast it ye upon him and his children. This wicked counsel did Suero Gonzalez give unto his nephews, which he might have well excused giving, and then both he and they would not have come off so badly as the history will in due season relate. Chr.delCid, cap. 230. 231. Chr. Gen. ff. 283. Poema del Cid. 2314. 2320. How the beheld the of the Moors. IV. After Suero Gonzalez and his nephews had taken were afraid this evil counsel together, they went to their lodging, and on when they the morrow they went to the Alcazar, and came to the Cid great power where he was preparing for business. And when they drew nigh, the Cid rose and welcomed them right well, and they carried a good countenance towards him, and made sport of what had happened about the lion. And the Cid began to give order in what array they should go out to battle. While they were in this discourse, a great cry was heard in the town and a great tumult, and this was because King Bucar was come with his great power into the place which is called the Campo del Quarto, which is a league from Valencia, and there he was pitching his tents; and when this was done the camp made a mighty show, for the history saith |