BOOK came a great light into the palace, and a great odour, marvelXI. lous sweet. And as he was marvelling what it might be, there

Chr. del Cid. cap. 279. Chr. Gen. f. 305.

How the Cid spake to his people.

appeared before him a man as white as snow; he was in the
likeness of an old man, with grey hair and crisp, and he carried
certain keys in his hand; and before the Cid could speak to him
he said, Sleepest thou, Rodrigo, or what art thou doing? And
the Cid made answer, What man art thou who askest me? And
he said, I am St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, who come
unto thee with more urgent tidings than those for which thou art
taking thought concerning King Bucar, and it is, that thou art
to leave this world, and go to that which hath no end; and this
will be in thirty days. But God will show favour unto thee, so
that thy people shall discomfit King Bucar, and thou, being
dead, shalt win this battle for the honour of thy body: this will
be with the help of Santiago, whom God will send to the busi-
ness: but do thou strive to make atonement for thy sins, and so
thou shalt be saved. All this Jesus Christ vouchsafeth thee for
the love of me, and for the reverence which thou hast alway
shown to my Church in the Monastery of Cardeña. When the
Cid Campeador heard this he had great pleasure at heart, and
he let himself fall out of bed upon the earth, that he might kiss
the feet of the Apostle St. Peter; but the Apostle said, Strive
not to do this, for thou canst not touch me; but be sure that all
this which I have told thee will come to pass. And when the
blessed Apostle had said this he disappeared, and the palace
remained full of a sweeter and more delightful odour than heart
of man can conceive. And the Cid Ruydiez remained greatly
comforted by what St. Peter had said to him, and as certain
that all this world come to pass, as if it were already over.
III. Early on the morrow he sent to call all his honourable
men to the Alcazar; and when they were all assembled before
him, he began to say unto them, weeping the while, Friends

XI.

and kinsmen and true vassals and honourable men, many of ye BOOK must well remember when King Don Alfonso our Lord twice banished me from his land, and most of ye for the love which ye bore me followed me into banishment, and have guarded me ever since. And God hath shown such mercy to you and to me, that we have won many battles against Moors and Christians; those which were against Christians, God knows, were more through their fault than my will, for they strove to set themselves against the good fortune which God had given me, and to oppose his service, helping the enemies of the faith. Moreover we won this city in which we dwell, which is not under the dominion of any man in the world, save only of my Lord the King Don Alfonso, and that rather by reason of our natural allegiance than of any thing else. And now I would have ye know the state in which this body of mine now is; for be ye certain that I am in the latter days of my life, and that thirty days hence will be my last. Of this I am well assured; for for these seven nights past I have seen visions. I have seen my father Diego Laynez, and Diego Rodriguez my son; and every time they say to me, You have tarried long here, let us go now among the people who endure for ever. Now notwithstanding man ought not to put his trust in these things, nor in such visions, I know this by other means to be certain, for Sir St. Peter hath appeared to me this night, when I was awake and not sleeping, and he told me that when these thirty days were over, I should pass away from this world. Now ye know for certain that King Bucar is coming against us, and they say that thirty and six Moorish Kings are coming with him; and since he bringeth so great a power of Moors, and I have to depart so soon, how can ye defend Valencia! But be ye certain, that by the mercy of God I shall counsel ye so, that ye shall con- - cap. 279. quer King Bucar in the field, and win great praise and honour. 305.

Chr.del Cid,

Chr. Gen.

XI.

BOOK from him, and Doña Ximena, and ye and all that ye have, go hence in safety; how ye are to do all this I will tell ye hereafter, before I depart.

How the Cid

took to his

bed.

IV. After the Cid had said this he sickened of the malady of which he died. And the day before his weakness waxed great, he ordered the gates of the town to be shut, and went to the Church of St. Peter; and there the Bishop Don Hieronymo being present, and all the clergy who were in Valencia, and the knights and honourable men and honourable dames, as many as the Church could hold, the Cid Ruydiez stood up, and made a full noble preaching, showing that no man whatsoever, however honourable or fortunate they may be in this world, can escape death; to which, said he, I am now full near ; and since ye know that this body of mine hath never yet been conquered, nor put to shame, I beseech ye let not this befall it at the end, for the good fortune of man is only accomplished at his end. How this is to be done, and what ye all have to do, I will leave in the hands of the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Alvar Fañez, and Pero Bermudez. And when he had said this he placed himself at the feet of the Bishop, and there before all the people made a general confession of all his sins, and all the faults which he had committed against our Lord Jesus Christ. And the Bishop appointed him his penance, and assoyled him of his sins. Then he arose and took leave of the people, weeping plenteously, and returned to the Alcazar, and betook himself to his bed, and never rose from it again; and every day he waxed weaker and weaker, till seven days only remained of the time appointed. Then he called for the caskets of gold in which was the balsam and the myrrh which the Soldan of Persia had sent him; and when these were put before him he bade them bring him the golden cup, of which he was wont to drink; and he took of that balsam and of that myrrh as much as a lit

XI.

tle spoon-full, and mingled it in the cup with rose-water, and BOOK drank of it; and for the seven days which he lived he neither ate nor drank aught else than a little of that myrrh and balsam mingled with water. And every day after he did this, his body and his countenance appeared fairer and fresher than before, and his voice clearer, though he waxed weaker and weaker daily, cap. 280. so that he could not move in his bed.

Chr. del Cid.

Chr. Gen.

f. 306.

appointed

be done af

V. On the twenty-ninth day, being the day before he depart- How the Cid ed, he called for Doña Ximena, and for the Bishop Don Hier- what should onymo, and Don Alvar Fañez Minaya, and Pero Bermudez, ter his death. and his trusty Gil Diaz; and when they were all five before him, he began to direct them what they should do after his death; and he said to them, Ye know that King Bucar will presently be here to besiege this city, with seven and thirty Kings whom he bringeth with him, and with a mighty power of Moors. Now therefore the first thing which ye do after I have departed, wash my body with rose-water many times and well, as blessed be the name of God it is washed within and made pure of all uncleanness to receive his holy body to-morrow, which will be my last day. And when it has been well washed and made clean, ye shall dry it well, and anoint it with this myrrh and balsam, from these golden caskets, from head to foot, so that every part shall be anointed, till none be left. And you my Sister Doña Ximena, and your women, see that ye utter no cries, neither make any lamentation for me, that the Moors may not know of my death. And when the day shall come in which King Bucar arrives, order all the people of Valencia to go upon the walls, and sound your trumpets and tambours, and make the greatest rejoicings that ye can. And when ye would set out for Castille, let all the people know in secret, that they make themselves ready, and take with them all that they have, so that none of the Moors in the suburb may know thereof; for certes

BOOK ye cannot keep the city, neither abide therein after my death. XI. And see ye that sumpter beasts be laden with all that there is in

Chr. del Cid. cap. 280.

Chr. Gen. f. 306.

How the Cid

made his tes

departed.

Valencia, so that nothing which can profit may be left. And this I leave especially to your charge, Gil Diaz. Then saddle ye my horse Bavieca, and arm him well; and ye shall apparel my body full seemlily, and place me upon the horse, and fasten and tie me thereon so that it cannot fall: and fasten my sword Tizona in my hand. And let the Bishop Don Hieronymo go on one side of me, and my trusty Gil Diaz on the other, and he shall lead my horse. You, Pero Bermudez, shall bear my banner, as you were wont to bear it; and you, Alvar Fañez, my cousin, gather your company together, and put the host in order as you are wont to do. And go ye forth and fight with King Bucar; for be ye certain and doubt not that ye shall win this battle; God hath granted me this. And when ye have won the fight, and the Moors are discomfited, ye may spoil the field at pleasure. Ye will find great riches. What ye are afterwards to

do I will tell ye to-morrow, when I make my testament. VI. Early on the morrow the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and tament and Alvar Fañez, and Pero Bermudez, and Martin Antolinez, came to the Cid. Gil Diaz and Doña Ximena were alway with him; and the Cid began to make his testament. And the first thing which he directed, after commending his soul to God, was, that his body should be buried in the Church of St. Pedro de Cardeña, where it now lies; and he bequeathed unto that Monastery many good inheritances, so that that place is at this day the richer and more honourable. Then he left to all his company and household according to the desert of every one. To all the knights who had served him since he went out of his own country, he gave great wealth in abundance. And to the other knights who had not served him so long, to some a thousand marks of silver, to others two, and some there were to whom he