IX. How the Cid given Bavieca to the King. XIX. On the morrow the Cid went to take leave of the King, BOOK and the King went some way out of the town with him, and all the good men who were in the court also, to do him honour as he desery- would have ed. And when he was about to dispeed himself of the King they brought him his precious horse Bavieca, and he turned to the King and said, Sir, I should depart ill from hence if I took with me so good a horse as my Bavieca, and did not leave him for you, for such a horse as this is fit for you and for no other master: and that you may see what he is, I will do before you what it is long since I have done except in the battles which I have had with my enemies. Then he mounted his horse, with his ermine housings, and gave him the spur. Who can tell the goodness of the horse Bavieca, and of the Cid who rode him? And as the Cid was doing this the horse brake one of his reins, yet he came and stopt before the King as easily as if both the reins had been whole. Greatly did the King and all they who were with him marvel at this, saying that they had never seen or heard of so good a horse as that. And the Cid besought the King that he would be pleased to take the horse, but the King answered, God forbid that I should take him!.. rather would I give you a better if I had one, for he is better bestowed on you than on me or any other, for upon that horse you have done honour to yourself, and to us, and to all Christendom, by the good feats which Poema del you have atchieved.. Let him go as mine, and I will take him 3534. when I please. Then the Cid kissed the King's hand and dispeed- cap. 262. ed himself, and the King embraced him and returned to Toledo. f. 299. XX. Now when the Cid had taken leave of the King, and of what the of the other honourable men and Counts, and Ricos-omes his three knights. who were with him, Pero Bermudez and Martin Antolinez and Muño Gustioz went on yet awhile with him; and he counselled them how to demean themselves so as to clear him of the shame which had been done him, and to be held for good knights them Cid. 3523. Chr. del Cid. Chr. Gen. Cid said to IX. BOOK selves, and to take vengeance for King Don Alfonso, and for him, and for themselves, that he might receive good tidings from them in Valencia. And they took his counsel well, as they afterwards manifested when there was occasion. But Martin Antolinez made answer, Why do you say this, Sir? we have undertaken the business and we shall go through it; and they said unto him, God have you in his guidance, Sir, and be you sure and certain, that by the mercy and help of God we shall so demean ourselves as to come to you without shame. But if for our sins it should betide otherwise, never more shall we Poema del appear before you dead or living,.. for slain we may be, but never vanquished. Then he bade them return to the King, praying to God to have them in his keeping, and assist them in fulfilling their demand, as he knew that their cause was right. Cid. 3535. 3544. Chr.del Cid. cap. 263. Chr. Gen. f. 299. HERE BEGINNETH THE TENTH BOOK OF THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. X. How the King went to Car rion. I. Now King Alfonso misdoubted the Infantes of Carrion that BOOK they would not appear at the time appointed, and therefore he said that he would go to Carrion, and the battle should be fought there. And he took with him the Counts whom he had appointed Alcaldes, and Pero Bermudez and Martin Antolinez and Muño Gustioz went with the Count Don Remond, to whose charge the King had given them. And on the third day after the Cid departed from Toledo the King set forth for Carrion; but it so chanced that he fell sick upon the road, and could not arrive within the three weeks, so that the term was enlarged to five. And when the King's health was restored he proceeded and reached Carrion, and gave order that the combat should be performed, and appointed the day, and named the plain of Carrion for the place thereof. And the Infantes came there with a great company of all their friends and kindred, for their kinsmen were many and powerful; and they all came with one .299. Poema del Cap 264. Chr. Gen, X. BOOK accord, that if before the battle they could find any cause they would kill the knights of the Cid: nevertheless, though they had determined upon this they dared not put it in effect, because they stood in fear of the King. How the Infantes sent to Colada and Tizona might not be them. II. And when the night came of which the morrow was apdesire that pointed for the combat, they on one side and on the other kept vigil in the Churches, each in that Church to which he had the used against most devotion. Night is past away, and the dawn is now breaking; and at day-break a great multitude was assembled in the field, and many Ricos-omes came there for the pleasure which they would have in seeing this battle, and the King sent and commanded the champions to make ready. Moreover he made the two Counts his sons-in-law, Don Anrrich and Don Remond, and the other Counts and their people, arm themselves and keep the field, that the kinsmen of the Infantes might not make a tumult there. Who can tell the great dole and sorrow of Count Gonzalo Gonzalez for his sons the Infantes of Carrion, because they had to do battle this day! and in the fullness of his heart he curst the day and the hour in which he was born, for his heart divined the sorrow which he was to have for his children. Great was the multitude which was assembled from all Spain to behold this battle. And there in the field near the lists the champions of the Cid armed themselves on one side, and the Infantes on the other. And Count Don Remond armed the knights of the Cid, and instructed them how to do their devoir, and Count Garci Ordoñez helped arm the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle Suero Gonzalez, and they sent to ask the King of his favour that he would give command that the swords But Colada and Tizona should not be used in that combat. the King would not, and he answered that each must take the best sword and the best arms that he could, save only that the one should not have more than the other. Greatly were they X. Cid. v.3556. cap. 264. Chr. Gen. ff. 299. entered the troubled at this reply, and greatly did they fear those good BOOK swords, and repent that they had taken them to the Cortes of Toledo. And from that hour the Infantes and Suero Gonzalez bewrayed in their countenances that they thought ill of what they had done, and happy men would they have thought them- Poema del selves if they had not committed that great villainy, and he if he 3582. had not counselled it; and gladly would they have given all that they had in Carrion so it could now have been undone. III. And the King went to the place where the Infantes were How they arming, and said unto them, If ye feared these swords ye should lists. have said so in the Cortes of Toledo, for that was the place, and not this;.. there is now nothing to be done but to defend yourselves stoutly, as ye have need against those with whom ye have to do. Then went he to the knights of the Cid, whom he found armed; and they kissed his hand and said unto him, Sir, the Cid hath left us in your hand, and we beseech you see that no wrong be done us in this place, where the Infantes of Carrion have their party; and by God's mercy we will do ourselves right upon them. And the King bade them have no fear for that. Then their horses were brought, and they crost the saddles, and mounted, with their shields hanging from the neck; and they took their spears, each of which had its streamer, and with many good men round about they went to the lists; and on the other side the Infantes and Count Suero Gonzalez came up with a great company of their friends and kinsmen and vassals. And the King said with a loud voice, Hear what I say, Infantes of Carrion!.. this combat I would have had waged in Toledo, but ye said that ye were not ready to perform it there, and therefore I am come to this which is your native place, and have brought the knights of the Cid with me. They are come here under my safeguard. Let not there. fore you nor your kinsmen deceive yourselves, thinking to over |