BOOK Chafe not thyself, Pero Bermudez, for the man who thinketh by VIII. chafing to expedite his business, leaveth off worse than he began. Be you certain, that if I die not I shall take vengeance upon those traitors, and I trust in God not to die till I have taken it. Now therefore, give me no more anger than I feel in my own heart, for Felez Muñoz hath given me enough. I thank my Lord King Don Alfonso for the answer which he gave you, and for appointing the Cortes, and in such guise will I appear there as shall gall them who wish ill to me. God willing, we will take our departure in good time! Do you now return to Molina, and Poema de bring on my daughters, for I would fain see them; and I will talk with them that they may tell me the whole truth of this thing, that I may know the whole when I go to the court of the the King to demand vengeance. Cid. 2839. 2843. Chr. del Cid. cap. 245. 246. Chr. Gen. ff. 290. How the dames returned to Valencia. XXIII. Pero Bermudez returned the next day to Molina, where Abengalvon had done great honour to the dames, and to Alvar Fañez, and all that were with him. And they departed from Molina, and Abengalvon with them, for he would not leave them till he had brought them to Valencia to his Lord the Cid. And when the Cid knew that they were drawing nigh he rode out two leagues to meet them, and when they saw him they made great lamentation, they and all his company, not only the Christians but the Moors also who were in his service. But my Cid embraced his daughters, and kissed them both, and smiled and said, Ye are come, my children, and God will heal you! I accepted this marriage for you, but I could do no other; by God's pleasure ye shall be better mated hereafter. And when they reached Valencia and went into the Alcazar to their mother Poema del Doña Ximena, who can tell the lamentation which was made by the mother over her daughters, and the daughters with their mother, and by the women of their household. Three days did this great lamentation last. And the Cid thanked Abengalvon, Cid. v.2895. 2905. Chr. del Cid. cap 246 Chr. Gen. f.191. VIII. his vassal, for the honour which he had shown to his children and BOOK their company, and promised to protect him from all who should come against him. And Abengalvon returned to Molina well pleased. HERE BEGINNETH THE NINTH BOOK OF THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. BOOK I. My Cid the Campeador made ready to appear at the IX. Cortes in Toledo, and he left the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and How the Cid Martin Pelaez the Asturian, to command in Valencia, and five departed for the Cortes. hundred knights with them, all hidalgos. And he spake with his daughters, and commanded and besought them to tell him the whole truth, how this matter had been, and not say the thing which was false; and they did accordingly, and related unto him all, even as it had befallen them. And the Cid departed from Valencia, and with him went Alvar Fañez Minaya with two hundred knights, and Pero Bermudez with one hundred, and Martin Antolinez with fifty, and Martin Fernandez with other fifty, and Felez Ferruz and Benito Sanchez with fifty each; .. these were five hundred knights. And there went fifty with Martin Garcia and Martin Salvadorez, and fifty with Pero Gonzalvez and Martin Muñoz, and Diego Sanchez of Arlanza went with fifty, and Don Nuño, he who colonized Cu IX.. biella, and Alvar Bermudez he who colonized Osma, went with BOOK forty, and Gonzalo Muñoz of Orbaneja, and Muño Ravia, and Yvañez Cornejo with sixty, and Muño Fernandez the Lord of Monteforte, and Gomez Fernandez he who colonized Pampliega with sixty; ard Don Garcia de Roa and Serrazin his brother, Lord of Aza, with ninety; and Antolin Sanchez of Soria took with him forty knights who were his children or his kin: . . nine hundred knights were they in all. And there went with them five hundred esquires on foot, all hidalgos, beside those who were bred in his household, and beside other footmen, who were many in number. All these went well clad in right good garments, and with good horses, to serve the Cid both in cap. 247. the Cortes and in war. Chr.del Cid.. Chr. Gen. ff. 291. fantes would fain have been held excused. II. King Don Alfonso made no delay, but sent out his letters How the Inthrough Leon and Santiago, to the Portugueze and the Galicians, and they of Carrion, and the Castillians, that he would hold a Cortes in Toledo at the end of seven weeks, and that they who did not appear should no longer be accounted his vassals. At this greatly were the Infantes of Carrion troubled, for they feared the coming of my Cid the Campeador. And they took counsel with their kin and prayed the King that he would hold them excused from that Cortes; and the King made answer, that nothing but God should excuse them from it, for the Campeador was coming to demand justice against them, and he, quoth the King, who will not appear, shall quit my kingdoms. So when they saw that they must needs appear, they took counsel with the Count Don Garcia, the enemy of my Cid, whoalway wished him ill, and they went with the greatest company 24. Poema del 'The number is not accurate, and the Chronica General, which differs in the detail, is also erroneous in the sum total. BOOK that they could assemble, thinking to dismay my Cid the Cam IX. peador. And they arrived before him. Of the meet- III. When my Cid drew nigh unto Toledo, he sent Alvar the Cid and Fañez forward to kiss the King's hand, and let him wit that ing between 'the King. he should be there that night. When the King heard this it rejoiced his heart, and he took horse and went out with a great company to meet him who was born in happy hour; and there went with him his sons-in-law, the Count Don Anrrich, and the Count Don Remond; this one was the father of the good Emperor 2. When they came in sight, the Cid dismounted and fell to the ground, and would have abased himself to honour his Lord, but the King cried out to him and said, By St. Isidro this must not be to-day! Mount, Cid, or I shall not be well pleased! I welcome you with heart and soul; .. and my heart is grieved for your grief. God send that the court be honoured by you! Amen, said my Cid the Campeador, and he kissed his hand, and afterwards saluted him. And the Cid said, I thank God that I see you, Sir; and he humbled himself to Count Don Anrrich, and Count Don Remond, and the others, and said, God save all our friends, and chiefly you, Sir! my wife Doña Ximena kisses your hand, and my daughters also, that this thing which hath befallen us, may be found displeasing unto you. And the King said, That will it be, unless God prevent. So they rode toward Toledo. And the King said unto him, I have ordered you to be lodged in my Palaces of Galiana, that you may be near me. And the Cid answered, Gramercy, This line looks as if the 'Good Emperor' were reigning when it was written. |