The Song of the Cid

by AnonYMous

  Desfechos nos ha el Cid, sabet, si no nos val;

  soltariemos la ganancia, que nos diesse el cabdal.”

  “Yo lo veré con el Cid, si Dios me lieva allá;

  por lo que avedes fecho buen cosiment í avrá.”

  Dixo Rrachel e Vidas: “¡El Criador lo mande!

  Si non, dexaremos Burgos, ir lo hemos buscar.”

  Ido es pora San Pero Minaya Álbar Fáñez,

  muchas yentes se le acogen, pensó de cavalgar,

  grand duelo es al partir del abat:

  “¡Sí vos vala el Criador, Minaya Álbar Fáñez!

  To bring my Cid this message:

  “Say to my Cid—may God keep him from all evil!—

  That the king has released his wife and daughters, and I have

  them;

  He is escorting us, well provided, to the borders of Castile.

  In fifteen days—may God be willing!—

  Your wife, your daughters, and all the ladies

  Who care for them (and good ladies they are) will be with you.”

  The knights rode off, knowing what they had to do;

  Minaya waited at San Pedro. And knights came

  From everywhere, all over Spain,

  Wanting to join my Cid, he of Vivar, in Valencia,

  Begging Alvar Fáñez to give them his backing.

  He told them: “I will be glad to.”

  So Minaya added sixty-five knights

  To the hundred he came with, which gave him

  A fine escort to accompany the ladies.

  Minaya gave half the thousand silver marks to the abbot.

  Here’s what he did with the other five hundred:

  In Burgos, he bought Doña Jimena and her daughters,

  And all the good ladies who attended on them,

  The most beautiful dresses he could find,

  As well as the best palfreys and mules he could buy,

  So their appearance would be grand and fine.

  When everyone was dressed and ready,

  And Minaya was about to start their ride,

  Raguel and Vidas appeared, and fell at his feet:

  “Mercy, Minaya, O worthy knight!

  My Cid will destroy us, truly he will, if he doesn’t pay on time.

  We forgive him the interest, if he’ll pay back the loan.”

  “I’ll talk to my Cid, God willing that I get there.

  You’ll be well paid for the favor you did him.”

  “May God grant it!” said Raguel and Vidas.

  “If not, we’ll have to leave Burgos and hunt for him.”

  Minaya left Burgos, returned to San Pedro;

  Eager knights were still appearing, anxious to join him.

  The farewell from the abbot was deeply moving:

  “You’ll be blessed by God, Minaya Alvar Fáñez,

  Por mí al Campeador las manos le besad,

  aqueste monesterio no lo quiera olbidar,

  todos los días del sieglo en levarlo adelant

  el Cid siempre valdrá más.”

  Rrespuso Minaya: “Fer lo he de veluntad.”

  Yas’ espiden e piensan de cavalgar,

  el portero con ellos que los ha de aguardar,

  por la tierra del rrey mucho conducho les dan.

  De San Pero fasta Medina en cinco días van,

  felos en Medina las dueñas e Álbar Fáñez.

  Dirévos de los cavalleros que levaron el mensaje,

  al ora que lo sopo Mio Cid el de Bivar,

  plógol’ de coraçón e tornós’ a alegrar,

  de la su boca conpeçó de fablar:

  “Qui buen mandadero enbía tal deve sperar.

  Tú, Muño Gustioz, e Pero Vermúez delant,

  e Martín Antolínez, un burgalés leal,

  el obispo don Jerónimo, coronado de prestar,

  cavalguedes con ciento guisados pora huebos de lidiar;

  por Sancta María vós vayades passar,

  vayades a Molina que yaze más adelant,

  tiénela Ave[n]galvón, mio amigo es de paz,

  con otros ciento cavalleros bien vos consigrá;

  id pora Medina quanto lo pudiéredes far,

  mi mugier e mis fıjas con Minaya Álbar Fáñez,

  as[s]í como a mí dixieron, í los podredes fallar;

  con grand ondra aduzídmelas delant.

  E yo fıncaré en Valencia, que mucho costádom’ ha,

  grand locura serié si la desenparás;

  yo fıncaré en Valencia ca la tengo por heredad.”

  Esto era dicho, piensan de cavalgar

  e quanto que pueden non fıncan de andar.

  Trocieron a Sancta María e vinieron albergar a Frontael

  e el otro día vinieron a Molina posar.

  El moro Ave[n]galvón, quando sopo el mensaje,

  saliólos rrecebir con grant gozo que faze:

  “¡Venides, los vassallos de mio amigo natural!

  A mí non me pesa, sabet, mucho me plaze.”

  If you’ll kiss the Warrior’s hands, on my behalf!

  Don’t let him forget this monastery:

  He’ll rise and go on rising forever,

  If he always keeps us in mind.”

  Minaya answered: “I will certainly remind him.”

  So at last they started off on their journey,

  The royal courier still with them, and constantly helpful.

  They were well escorted and cared for, the whole way to the

  border.

  They arrived in Medinaceli in five days—

  And we will leave them there, Alvar Fáñez and the ladies.

  Now I’ll turn to the knights, Minaya’s messengers to my Cid.

  The moment he, the man of Vivar, heard the words they brought

  him

  He smiled, his heart flooded with warmth,

  And from his mouth flowed these words:

  “He who sends good news is entitled to a good welcome!

  You two go on ahead, Muño Gustioz, and you, Pedro Bermúdez.

  You, Martín Antolínez, loyal merchant of Burgos,

  And you, Bishop Don Jerónimo, much-honored priest,

  Ride off with a hundred men, armed as if for war,

  And go to Santa María de Albarracín,

  And then still farther, on to Molina,

  Ruled by Abengalbón, the Moor. I’ve made peace with him,

  And I know he’ll join you, with another hundred men.

  And then you dash to Medinaceli, just as fast as you can:

  Minaya Alvar Fáñez is waiting there, along with my wife

  And my daughters—you’ll surely find them—

  Bring them here in the highest honor and dignity.

  I will set myself in Valencia, for which we fought so valiantly:

  It would be sheer madness to leave it exposed and empty.

  I will be in Valencia, which now belongs to me.”

  He finished speaking; they rode off the next minute,

  Galloping as fast as their horses could go.

  They rode through Santa María de Albarracín, rested at

  Bronchales,

  Then reached Molina the next day.

  Hearing they had come, the Moor, Abengalbón,

  Fabló Muño Gustioz, non speró a nadi:

  “Mio Cid vos saludava e mandólo rrecabdar

  co[n] ciento cavalleros que privádol’ acorrades;

  su mugier e sus fıjas en Medina están;

  que vayades por ellas, adugádesgelas acá

  e fata en Valencia d’ellas non vos partades.”

  Dixo Ave[n]galvón: “Fer lo he de veluntad.”

  Essa noch conducho les dio grand,

  a la mañana piensan de cavalgar;

  ciéntol’ pidieron, mas él con dozientos’ va.

  Passan las montañas que son fıeras e grandes,

  passaron Mata de Toranz

  de tal guisa que ningún miedo non han,

  por el val de Arbuxedo piensan a deprunar
.

  E en Medina todo el rrecabdo está,

  envió dos cavalleros Minaya Álbar Fáñez

  . . . . . . . . que sopiesse la verdad;

  esto non detard[an] ca de coraçón lo han,

  el uno fıncó con ellos e el otro tornó a Álbar Fáñez:

  “Virtos del Campeador a nós vienen buscar;

  afevos aquí Pero Vermúez

  e Muño Gustioz, que vos quieren sin art,

  e Martín Antolínez, el burgalés natural,

  e el obispo don Jerónimo, coranado leal,

  e el alcayaz Ave[n]galvón con sus fuerças que trahe

  por sabor de Mio Cid de grand óndral’ dar,

  todos vienen en uno, agora llegarán.”

  Essora dixo Minaya: “Vay[a]mos cavalgar.”

  Esso fue apriessa fecho, que nos’ quieren detardar,

  bien salieron dén ciento que non parecen mal,

  en buenos cavallos a cuberturas de cendales

  e petrales a cascaveles; e escudos a los cuellos,

  e en las manos lanças que pendones traen,

  que sopiessen los otros de qué seso era Álbar Fáñez

  o cuémo saliera de Castiella con estas dueñas que trahe.

  Los que ivan mesurando e llegando delant

  luego toman armas e tómanse a deportar,

  por cerca de Salón tan grandes gozos van.

  Hurried out to give them a joyous greeting:

  “Welcome, you who live for my great friend!

  I am delighted, truly, to see you here.”

  Muño Gustioz did not wait a second:

  “My Cid greets you and asks that you help us,

  With a hundred men, as fast as you can.

  His wife and daughters are now in Medinaceli:

  Ride to Valencia with us, so his women

  Have your protection for the rest of their journey.”

  Abengalbón did not blink an eye. “Gladly,” he said.

  That night he gave them a great feast;

  The next morning they started to ride—

  And though they requested a hundred men,

  He brought a full two hundred.

  They rode over towering, wild-wooded mountains,

  Stampeding across Campo Taranz, unconcerned, unmolested,

  Then straight down into Arbujuelo valley.

  Medinaceli was on high alert, and finding

  So large a force approaching, Minaya sent two men to inquire.

  Bravely, they galloped right out—then one remained,

  The other rode back to Minaya:

  “Men from our great Warrior, looking for us:

  Pedro Bermúdez is with them,

  And Muño Gustioz—both good friends—

  And Martín Antolínez, that fine fellow from Burgos,

  And Bishop Don Jerónimo, a faithful friend,

  And Lord Abengalbón, the Moor, bringing two hundred men,

  All to honor my Cid—they’re all together.

  And they’re almost here already.”

  “We ride out to meet them!” cried Minaya,

  And no one waited to be told twice:

  A hundred knights who rode in great style,

  Their horses draped with silken coverings, breast plates rich

  With tiny bells; the warriors with shields hung on their backs,

  Their lances dangling banners—

  All meant to display Minaya’s skill and good sense

  And how well the ladies would be cared for, as they left Castile.

  The scouts and those who first arrived

  Dón llegan los otros, a Minaya Álvar Fáñez se van homillar;

  quando llegó Ave[n]galvón, dont a ojo [lo] ha,

  sonrrisándose de la boca ívalo abraçar,

  en el ombro lo saluda ca tal es su usaje:

  “¡Tan buen día convusco, Minaya Álbar Fáñez!

  Traedes estas dueñas por ó valdremos más,

  mugier del Cid lidiador e sus fıjas naturales.

  Ondrar vos hemos todos ca tal es la su auze,

  maguer que mal le queramos, non ge lo podremos fer,

  en paz o en guerra de lo nuestro abrá,

  múchol’ tengo por torpe qui non conosce la verdad.”

  Sorrisós’ de la boca Minaya Álbar Fáñez:

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  “¡Y[a] Ave[n]galvón, amígol’ sodes sin falla!

  Si Dios me llegare al Cid e lo vea con el alma,

  d’esto que avedes fecho vós non perderedes nada.

  Vayamos posar, ca la cena es adobada.”

  Dixo Avengalvón: “Plazme d’esta presentaja,

  antes d’este te[r]cer día vos la daré doblada.”

  Entraron en Medina, sirvíalos Minaya,

  todos fueron alegres del cervicio que tomaron;

  el portero del rrey quitarlo mandava,

  ondrado es Mio Cid en Valencia dó estava

  de tan grand conducho como en Medínal’ sacaron;

  el rrey lo pagó todo e quito se va Minaya.

  Passada es la noche, venida es la mañana,

  oída es la missa e luego cavalgavan;

  salieron de Medina e Salón passavan,

  Arbuxuelo arriba privado aguijavan,

  el campo de Torancio luégol’ atravessavan,

  vinieron a Molina, la que Ave[n]galvón mandava.

  El obispo don Jerónimo, buen cristiano sin falla,

  las noches e los días las dueñas aguardava,

  Took up arms and began to have a good time,

  Brave men playing at battle, along the banks of the river Jalón.

  Others arrived, and Minaya Alvar Fáñez was properly greeted,

  Then Albengalbón came, and as soon as he saw Minaya

  Embraced him, smiling broadly and,

  According to his custom, kissed him on the shoulder:

  “How good to see you, Minaya Alvar Fáñez!

  This is a great honor for us, your bringing

  Warrior Cid’s wife and his daughters,

  To whom we show honor, one and all, as his fortune

  Deserves—for no one can harm him; in peace or war

  He is destined for triumph, whatever we do.

  Only an idiot can keep himself from seeing the truth.”

  Minaya Alvar Fáñez smiled and said:

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  “Ah, Abengalbón, you’re an ideal friend!

  If God lets me see him again, as I so long to,

  Nothing of what you’ve done will be forgotten.

  But now we should rest, for a banquet is coming.”

  Abengalbón said: “Your hospitality is much appreciated:

  Before three days have gone by, I will reciprocate.”

  They rode into Medinaceli as Minaya’s guests,

  And were very happy with the treatment they received.

  The king’s courtier said his farewells, and left them,

  Honoring my Cid, far-off in Valencia,

  With the king’s order that everything in Medinaceli

  Be charged to him, and nothing to Minaya.

  Night passed, morning came,

  They heard mass, and then rode away,

  Crossing over the river Jalón

  And riding down the banks of the Arbujuelo,

  Through the fields of Campo Taranz,

  And quickly approaching Molina, where Abengalbón governed.

  The bishop, Don Jerónimo, always a good Christian,

  Watched over the ladies, night and day,

  e buen cavallo en diestro que va ante sus armas;

  entre él e Álbar Fáñez ivan a una compaña,

  entrados son a Molina, buena e rrica casa,

  el moro Ave[n]galvón bien los sirvié sin falla,

  de quanto que quisieron non ovieron falla,

  aun las ferraduras quitárgelas mandava;

  a Minaya e a las dueñas ¡Dios, cómo las ondrava!

  Otro día mañana luego cavalgavan,

  fata en Valencia sirvíalos sin falla,


  lo so despendié el moro, que d’el[l]os non tomava nada.

  Con estas alegrías e nuevas tan ondradas

  aprés son de Valencia a tres leguas contadas.

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  A Mio Cid, el que en buen ora nasco,

  dentro a Valencia liévanle el mandado.

  Alegre fue Mio Cid que nunqua más nin tanto

  ca de lo que más amava yal’ viene el mandado.

  Dozi[en]tos cavalleros mandó exir privado

  que rreciban a Minaya e a las dueñas fıjas d’algo;

  él sedié en Valencia curiando e guardando

  ca bien sabe que Álbar Fáñez trahe todo rrecabdo.

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  Afevos todos aquéstos rreciben a Minaya

  e a las dueñas e a las niñas e a las otras conpañas.

  Mandó Mio Cid a los que ha en su casa

  que guardassen el alcáçar e las otras torres altas

  e todas las puertas e las exidas e las entradas

  e aduxiéssenle a Bavieca, poco avié quel’ ganara,

  aún non sabié Mio Cid, el que en buen ora cinxo espada,

  si serié corredor o si abrié buena parada;

  a la puerta de Valencia, dó fuesse en so salvo,

  His warhorse always on his right hand, his weapons on a horse

  behind him,

  He and Alvar Fáñez, to his left, enjoying each other’s company.

  And then they reached Molina, that fine, rich town,

  Where the Moor Abengalbón took very good care of them,

  And everything they wanted he gave them—

  Even paying for their horses’ new shoes!

  As for Minaya and the ladies, God! how warmly he honored them!

  The next morning they rode on again,

  But Abengalbón stayed at their side all the way

  To Valencia, and whatever was spent was always by him.

  And in such joy and pledges of mutual friendship

  They came within half a dozen miles of Valencia.

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  My Cid, he who was born at such a good time,

  Was told that they were arriving.

  He had never been happier in all his life,

  Hearing that those he loved best had come.

  He had two hundred knights galloping out, at once,

  In welcome for Minaya and all the noble ladies,

  While he stayed in Valencia, waiting

  And guarding his city: he knew Minaya could be trusted.

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  How everyone welcomed Minaya, and the ladies,