VIII. BOOK for it! And from henceforward, we renounce all friendship with ye, and defy ye for the Cid, and for ourselves, and for all his people. And the Infantes could not reply. And when they saw that the Infantes did not answer, they said, Get ye gone for traitors and false caitiffs; there is no way in the world by which ye can escape from the enemies whom ye 241. Chr. have now made! But for all this the Infantes made no reply, and went their way. Chr. del Cid. cap. Gen. ff. 287. How those knights XVII. Pero Sanchez and those other knights rode back made their to the green lawn in the Oak-forest, where they had left the complaint to the King, dames; and when they came to the fountain they saw that there was blood round about, but the dames were not there; and they were greatly troubled, and knew not where to seek them. And they went about the forest seeking them, calling them aloud, and making great lamentation for the ill that had befallen, and also, because they could not find them. Now Felez Muñoz and the women heard their voices, and were in great fear, for they weened that it was the Infantes and their company, who were returned with intent to kill them; and in their great fear they remained still, and would fain have been far from that place. So Pero Sanchez and they who were with him went about seeking them in vain. Then spake up a knight called Martin Ferrandez, who was a native of Burgos, saying, Friends, it boots us to turn back from hence and follow after the Infantes, and do battle with them, even unto death, because of this wickedness which they have committed, rather than return to the Cid; for if we do not strive to take vengeance, we are not worthy to appear before him. And if, peradventure, we cannot come up with them upon the road, let us go before the King Don Alfonso, and discover unto him this foul deed, and tell him the truth thereof, to the intent that he may order justice to be done for such a thing; for certes, greatly will he be troubled when he knoweth it, and greatly will he be incensed against them, inasmuch as he it was who besought the Cid to give them his daughters to wife. And we will not depart VIII. from the King's house, nor take unto ourselves any other BOOK Lord till the Cid shall have obtained justice in this matter. And all those knights held this counsel to be good, and agreed to do so. And they took their way and followed after the Infantes as fast as they could, taking no rest; but the Infantes had ridden away full speed, and they could not overtake them. And when they saw this they went their way to King Don Alfonso who was at Palencia, and they came before him and kissed his hands, and then with sorrowful hearts told him of the evil which had befallen the -Cid, in this dishonor done unto his daughters by the Infantes of Carrion. And when the King heard it, he was grievously offended, as one who had great part therein; and he said unto them, It must needs be, that before many days we shall receive tidings of this from the Cid Campeador, and then upon his complaint we will enter into the business in such wise, that every one shall have justice. Then Pero Sanchez Chr. del and the other knights kissed the King's hands for what he 242. had said; and they abode in his court, waiting tidings from ff. 288. the Cid. Cid. cap. Chr. Gen. the dames house. XVIII. When Felez Muñoz saw that the voices which How Felez Muñoz they heard had ceased, he went after a while to a village found a good man which was at hand, to seek food for the dames and for him- who took self; and in this manner he kept them for seven days. And to his in that village he found a good man, who was a husbandman, and who lived a godly life with his wife and with his daughters; and this good man knew the Cid Ruydiez, for the Cid had lodged in his house, and he had heard tell of his great feats. And when Felez Muñoz knew this he took the man aside, seeing how good a man he was, and how well he spake of the Cid, and told him what had befallen those dames, and how he had hidden them in the wood. And when the good man heard it he had great ruth for them, but he held himself a happy man in that he could do them service; and he took two asses and went with Felez Muñoz to the place where they were hidden, and took with him his VIII. BOOK two sons, who were young men. And when the dames saw them they marvelled who they might be, and were ashamed and would have hidden themselves; but they could not. And the good man bent his knees before them, weeping, and said, Ladies, I am at the service of the Cid your father, who hath many times lodged in my house, and I served him the best I could, and he alway was bountiful toward me. And now, this young man, who saith his name is Felez Muños, hath told me the great wrong and dishonor which your husbands, the Infantes of Carrion, have done unto you. And when I heard it I was moved to great sorrow, and for the great desire I have to do service to the Cid and to you, I am come hither, to carry you, if you will be so pleased, upon these beasts, to my house; for you must not remain in this wild forest, where the beasts would devour you. And when you are there, I and my wife and my daughters will serve you the best we can; and you may then send this squire to your father, and we will keep you secretly and well till your father shall send for you; this place is not fit for you, for you would die of cold and hunger. When the good man had said this, Doña Sol turned to Doña Elvira and said, Sister, the good man saith well, and it is better that we should go with him than remain and die here, for so shall we see the vengeance which I trust in God our father will give us. So they gave thanks to God, and to that good And he set them upon his beasts, and led them to the village, when it was now night; and they entered his house secretly, so that none knew of their coming save the good man and his family, whom he charged that they should tell Chr. Gen. no man thereof. And there his wife and his daughters ministered unto them with pure good will. Chr. del Cid. cap. 243. ff. 288. How Diego Tellez took dames to man. XIX. Then these dames wrote a letter to their father the these Cid, which was a letter of credence, that he should believe Santeste- the tidings which Felez Muñoz would deliver, and they wrote it with the blood from their wounds. And Felez Muñoz went his way toward Valencia; and when he came ban. VIII. to Santesteban he spake with Diego Tellez, who had been BOOK of the company of Alvar Fañez, and told him what had befallen. He, so soon as he heard this great villany, took beasts and seemly raiment, and went for those dames, and brought them from the house of that good man' to Santesteban, and did them all honor that he could. They of Santesteban were always gentle men; and they comforted the daughters of the Cid, and there they were healed of their hurts. In the mean time Felez Muñoz proceeded on his journey; and it came to pass that he met Alvar Fañez Minaya, and Pero Bermudez on the way, going to the King with a present which the Cid had sent him; and the present was this, two hundred horses, from those which he had won in the battle of Quarto from King Bucar, and an hundred Moorish prisoners, and many good swords, and many rich saddles. And as Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez rode on in talk, they thought that it was he, and marvelled greatly; and he when he drew nigh began to tear his hair, and make great lamentation, so that. they were greatly amazed. And they alighted, asking him what it was. And he related unto them all that had befallen. But when they heard this, who can tell the lamentation which they made? And they took counsel together what they should do, and their counsel was this, . . that they should proceed to the King, and demand justice at his hands in the name of the Cid, and that Felez Muñoz should proceed to Valencia. he told them the name of the good man with whom he left the dames, and the place where he dwelt, and also how Cid. cap. he had spoken with Diego Tellez at Santesteban, and then Chr. Gen. they parted. 1 So Poema del Cid. 2823. had 2833. The Poem says that they came to the Douro, and he left them at the Tower of Doña Urraca, and went on to Santesteban; saying nothing of the 'good man,' on the contrary, both Chronicles say nothing of Diego Tellez. They are easily reconciled, by supposing that one supplies what the other omits. ... Chr. del 244. ff. 288. BOOK XX. Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez held on their way, and came to the King, whom they found in ValladoHow Alvar lid. And he received them right well, and asked them for Fañez de the King against the Infantes. manded the Cid, and they kissed his hand, and said, Sir, the Cid justice of commends himself to your grace; he hath had a good affair with King Bucar of Morocco, and hath defeated him, and nine and twenty Kings who came with him, in the field of Quarto, and great booty did he gain there in gold and in silver, and in horses and tents and cattle; and he hath slain many and taken many prisoners. And in acknowledgment of you as his natural Lord, he sends you two hundred horses, and an hundred black Moors, and many rich saddles and precious swords, beseeching you to accept them at his hand, in token of the desire he hath to do service to God and to you, maintaining the faith of Jesus Christ. And King Don Alfonso made answer and said, that he took the present of the Cid with a right good will, as of the truest and most honorable vassal as ever Lord had: and he gave order to his people to receive it, and bade Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez seat themselves at his feet. After a while Alvar Fañez rose and said, Sir, when we departed from the Cid we left him in great honor and prosperity; but on our way we met a squire who is his nephew, by name Felez Muñoz, and he hath told us the evil and the dishonor which both we and the Cid endure in the villany which the Infantes of Carrion have committed upon his daughters. You, Sir, know how great this villany hath been, and how nearly it toucheth you, for the marriage was of your appointment, and I gave them by your command to the Infantes. Pero Sanchez hath told you that the dames were dead, as he believed them to be; but we, Sir, know that they are yet alive, having been grievously hurt and wounded with bridles and spurs, and stript of their garments, . . in which plight Felez Muñoz found them. Certes such a thing as this cannot please God in Heaven, and you who are Lord here in your own realm. ought to offend Now therefore |