VII.

BOOK 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 returned, many were they who repented that they had not gone there.

HERE BEGINNETH THE EIGHTH BOOK

OF THE

CHRONICLE OF THE CID.

VIII.

How King

ready to

revenge his

brother

I. Now the history relateth that Gilbert, a sage who wrote BOOK the history of the Moorish Kings who reigned in Africa, saith,. that Bucar remembering the oath which he had made to Bucar made his brother King Yucef, how he would take vengeance for him for the dishonour which he had received from the Cid King Yucef. Ruydiez before Valencia, ordered proclamation to 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 due time.

II. Two years after their marriage did the Infantes of Carrion sojourn in Valencia in peace and pleasure, to their own great contentment, and their uncle Suero Gonzalez with them;

Chr.del Cid.

cap 229.

BOOK and at the end of those two years, there came to pass a great VIII. misadventure, by reason of which they fell out with the Cid,

Of the cowardice shown by

of Carrion when the lion brake loose.

in whom there was no fault. There was a lion in the house the Infantes 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 court yard, 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 honourable 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 open he went out of the

court and came down into the palace, even into the hall where BOOK VIII. 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 the seat whereon the Cid was sleeping, and in his haste he 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 Chr. del Cid. for the time to come. And when he had done this he returned Chr. Gen. to the hall and took his seat again; and all they who beheld Poema del it were greatly astonished.

cap. 230.

282.

Cid. 2288. 2313.

fantes plot

themselves

III. After some time Ferrando Gonzalez crept from under How the Inthe seat where he had hidden himself, and he came out with tedtorevenge a pale face, not having yet lost his fear, and his brother Diego uponthe Cid. got from among the lees: and when they 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

Thus the Poem, with more feeling of propriety than both the Chronicles, which make him publicly reproach the Infantes for their cowardice.

BOOK wash himself and change his garments, and he sent to call VIII. his brother forth, and they took counsel together in secret,

and said to each other, Lo now, what great dishonour 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 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 Colada 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 ye remove the dishonour from yourselves, and cast it upon him and Chr. delCid. 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.

cap. 230.

231. .Chr. Gen. f. 283.

Poema del Cid. 2314. 2320.

How the In

fantes were

IV. After Suero Gonzalez and his nephews had taken afraid when this evil counsel together, they went to their lodging, and on the morrow they went to the Alcazar and came to the Cid

they beheld

the great power of the Moors.