The Song of the Cid

by AnonYMous

plogo a Mio Cid e a todos sos vassallos:

  “Aún, si Dios quisiere e el Padre que está en alto,

  amos los mios yernos buenos serán en ca[m]po.”

  Esto van diziendo e las yentes se allegando,

  en la hueste de los moros los atamores sonando,

  a marav[i]lla lo avién muchos d’essos cristianos

  ca nunqua lo vieran, ca nuevos son llegados.

  Más se maravillan entre Diego e Ferrando,

  por la su voluntad non serién allí llegados.

  Oíd lo que fabló el que en buen ora nasco:

  “¡Ala, Pero Vermúez, el mio sobrino caro!

  Cúriesme a [don] Diego e cúriesme a don Fernando,

  mios yernos amos a dos, la cosa que mucho amo,

  ca los moros, con Dios, non fıncarán en canpo.”

  116

  “Yo vos digo, Cid, por toda caridad,

  que oy los ifantes a mí por amo non abrán;

  We others long for a battle, and you for your home,

  So enjoy yourself, here in Valencia,

  While my men and I go after the Moors:

  With God’s own blessing, we’ll make them run!”

  115

  [There is a full page missing from the manuscript, perhaps fifty lines; we know from the chronicles that the first speaker, below, is one of the Carrións, who had proposed to join the fighting but turned and ran when a Moor attacked; Pedro Bermúdez kills the Moor and brings the man’s horse to the Carrión, so he can claim to have won it in battle.]

  “. . . May I be able, some day, to pay you back twice over!”

  Then they rode back like a pair of warriors,

  And Pedro confirmed the Carrión’s boasting.

  This story pleased my Cid and all his men:

  “May God, our Father on high,

  Make my sons-in-law good fighters!”

  As they spoke, the soldiers took their formations,

  And from the Moorish host the great drums sounded,

  Which many Christians new to their ways

  Had never heard. They were amazed.

  But the Carrión brothers were simply afraid

  And wished they could be someplace else.

  He who was born at just the right time heard them:

  “Ah, Pedro Bermúdez, my dear good nephew!

  Do something for me. Take care of my sons-in-law,

  Because I’m very fond of them.

  As for the Moors, well, we’ll all take good care of them!”

  116

  “Now let me tell you, Cid, straight from the heart,

  I don’t want to coddle Carrións anymore.

  cúrielos qui quier, ca d’ellos poco m’incal.

  Yo con los míos ferir quiero delant,

  vós con los vuestros fırmemientre a la çaga tengades,

  si cueta fuere, bien me podredes uviar.”

  Aquí llegó Minaya Álbar Fáñez:

  “¡Oíd, ya Cid, Canpeador leal!

  Esta batalla el Criador la ferá

  e vós tan dinno que con él avedes part.

  Mandadno’ los ferir de quál part vos semejar,

  el debdo que á cada uno a conplir será.

  Ver lo hemos con Dios e con la vuestra auze.”

  Dixo Mio Cid: “Ayamos más de vagar.”

  Afevos el obispo don Jerónimo muy bien armado,

  paravas’ delant al Campeador siempre con la buen auze:

  “Oy vos dix la missa de Sancta Trinidade;

  por esso salí de mi tierra e vin vos buscar

  por sabor que avía de algún moro matar;

  mi orden e mis manos querría las ondrar

  e a estas feridas yo quiero ir delant.

  Pendón trayo a corças e armas de señal,

  si ploguiesse a Dios querríalas ensayar,

  mio coraçón que pudiesse folgar

  e vós, Mio Cid, de mí más vos pagar.

  Si este amor non’ feches, yo de vós me quiero quitar.”

  Essora dixo Mio Cid: “Lo que vós queredes plazme.

  Afé los moros a ojo, idlos ensayar.

  Nós d’aquent veremos cómo lidia el abat.”

  117

  El obispo don Jerónimo priso a espolonada

  e ívalos ferir a cabo del albergada.

  Por la su ventura e Dios quel’ amava

  a los primeros colpes dos moros matava de la lanç[a];

  el astil á quebrado e metió mano al espada,

  ensayavas’ el obispo, ¡Dios, qué bien lidiava!

  Let someone who wants it have that job: I don’t give a damn!

  I want to take my men and attack these front lines,

  While you and yours pin down the Moors in back.

  That way you’ll help me, if I go too far.”

  Then Minaya Alvar Fáñez joined them:

  “Listen, O Cid, noble Warrior!

  God will decide who wins this battle,

  And no one’s worthier for a warrior’s role than you.

  Order an attack wherever you want:

  We know our duty, we’ll do our part.

  Your destiny and God are on our side!”

  “Stay calm,” said my Cid. “Don’t get excited.”

  Then Bishop Don Jerónimo, well armored, arrived,

  And stood in front of the Warrior who was blessed with good

  fortune:

  “This day, I’ve said a Holy Trinity mass for you.

  I left my country and sought for you

  Because I was hungry for killing Moors.

  My sacred vows and itching hands demand

  That I be placed in front, wherever you attack.

  I carry a holy banner, as well as a lance,

  And—may it please God!—I want to use them,

  As my heart passionately wishes,

  For your pleasure as well as mine.

  If you are displeased, I’ll turn away and leave you.”

  My Cid said: “I’m pleased to grant your wish.

  You can see the Moors, right there. Attack them!

  We’ll watch you from here, and see how a bishop fights!”

  117

  Bishop Don Jerónimo spurred his horse

  And rode straight at the Moorish forces.

  Because God loved him, and he was lucky,

  He killed two Moors with his first few strokes.

  The haft of his lance broke, so he drew his sword,

  And knew how to use it. Lord, how well he fought!

  Dos mató con lança e cinco con el espada;

  los moros son muchos, derredor le cercavan,

  dávanle grandes colpes mas nol’ falsan las armas.

  El que en buen ora nasco los ojos le fıncava,

  enbraçó el escudo e abaxó el asta,

  aguijó a Bavieca, el cavallo que bien anda,

  ívalos ferir de coraçón e de alma.

  En las azes primeras el Campeador entrava,

  abatió a siete e a quatro matava.

  Plogo a Dios, aquésta fue el arrancada.

  Mio Cid con los suyos cae en alcança,

  veriedes quebrar tantas cuerdas e arrancarse las estacas

  e acostarse los tendales, con huebras eran tantas.

  Los de Mio Cid a los de Búcar de las tiendas los sacan.

  118

  Sácanlos de las tiendas, cáenlos en alcaz,

  tanto braço con loriga veriedes caer apart,

  tantas cabeças con yelmos que por el campo caen,

  cavallos sin dueños salir a todas partes;

  siete migeros conplidos duró el segudar.

  Mio Cid al rrey Búcar cayól’ en alcaz:

  “¡Acá torna, Búcar! Venist d’allent mar,

  ver te as con el Cid, el de la barba grant,

  saludar nos hemos amos e tajaremos amistad.”

  Rrespuso Búcar al Cid: “¡Cofonda Dios tal amistad!

  El espada tienes desnuda en la mano e véot’ aguijar,

  assí como semeja, en mí la quieres ensayar;
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  mas si el cavallo non estropieça o comigo non caye,

  non te juntarás comigo fata dentro en la mar.”

  Aquí rrespuso Mio Cid: “¡Esto non será verdad!”

  Buen cavallo tiene Búcar e grandes saltos faz,

  mas Bavieca el de Mio Cid alcançándolo va.

  Alcançólo el Cid a Búcar a tres braças del mar,

  arriba alçó Colada, un grant colpe dádol’ ha,

  las carbonclas del yelmo tollidas ge la[s] ha,

  His lance had killed two, now his sword killed five.

  It was a huge army, and Moors crowded around him,

  Swinging hard, but unable to pierce his armor.

  He who was born at a lucky hour watched for a while,

  Then took up his shield; raised his sword;

  Then spurred Babieca; the horse galloped hard,

  And my Cid fought with all his heart,

  Smashing into the Moors’ front ranks,

  Driving seven out of their saddles and killing four.

  God wanted the Christians to win.

  My Cid and his men made the Moors run.

  You should have seen the tent ropes snap, and the stakes crack,

  The poles yanked out, gilted and carved and fine.

  My Cid’s men made Búcar’s army run for their lives.

  118

  Having routed the Moors, they began to pursue them.

  Arms wearing mail shirts lay lonely on the ground;

  Heads wearing helmets had fallen down, too;

  Horses that had no riders were everywhere.

  They carried the chase for a full seven miles.

  Galloping up behind King Búcar, my Cid called out:

  “Turn back, Búcar, from across the sea!

  Come to terms with long-bearded Cid, who is me!

  We ought to greet each other, and talk like friends.”

  Búcar replied: “The devil with that kind of friendship!

  You’re trying to catch me, my death’s

  What you want: that blade is bare, and swift.

  But if my horse keeps going, by God,

  I’ll reach the sea before you catch up!”

  My Cid declared: “That isn’t going to happen!”

  Búcar’s horse was fast, with a long, loose stride,

  But Babieca gained, and finally, six lengths from the sea, ran

  alongside.

  My Cid struck the king’s helmet:

  Pearls and other gems were scattered,

  cortól’ el yelmo e, librado todo lo ál,

  fata la cintura el espada llegado ha.

  Mató a Búcar, al rrey de allén mar,

  e ganó a Tizón que mill marcos d’oro val.

  Venció la batalla maravillosa e grant,

  aquís’ ondró Mio Cid e quantos con él son.

  119

  Con estas ganancias yas’ ivan tornando,

  sabet, todos de fırme rrobavan el campo.

  A las tiendas eran llegados dó estava | el que en buen ora

  nasco.

  Mio Cid Rruy Díaz el Campeador contado

  con dos espadas que él preciava algo

  por la matança vinía tan privado,

  la cara fronzida e almófar soltado,

  cofıa sobre los pelos fronzida d’ella yaquanto.

  Algo v[e]yé Mio Cid de lo que era pagado,

  alçó sos ojos, esteva adelant catando

  e vio venir a Diego e a Fernando;

  amos son fıjos del conde don Go[n]çalo.

  Alegrós’ Mio Cid, fermoso sonrrisando:

  “¡Venides, mios yernos, mios fıjos sodes amos!

  Sé que de lidiar bien sodes pagados,

  a Carrión de vós irán buenos mandados

  cómo al rrey Búcar avemos arrancado.

  Como yo fío por Dios e en todos los sos sanctos,

  d’esta arrancada nós iremos pagados.”

  De todas partes sos vassallos van llegando,

  Minaya Álbar Fáñez essora es llegado,

  el escudo trae al cuello e todo espad[ad]o,

  de los colpes de las lanças non avié rrecabdo,

  aquellos que ge los dieran non ge lo avién logrado.

  Por el cobdo ayuso la sangre destellando,

  de veínte arriba ha moros matado:

  “Grado a Dios e al padre que está en alto

  Colada went through the head and neck

  And all the way to the waist.

  He’d killed Búcar, and won his sword,

  Tizón, worth a thousand golden marks.

  It had been a marvelous battle, my Cid had won it:

  He and all his men earned great honor.

  119

  Pursuit ended, everyone returned,

  By God, loaded down with loot.

  Reaching the tents, they found

  Him who was born at the right time,

  With a pair of swords, both worth a great deal,

  Dashing across the battlefield,

  Hood and helmet off, face all bare,

  Cap askew on his hair.

  And then something pleasant occurred:

  Riding toward him he saw

  Diego and Fernando,

  Both of them sons of Don Gonzalo.

  This made Cid happy, he smiled like the sun:

  “So here you are, my sons-in-law, now become

  My sons! I’m pleased at how you fought;

  There’ll be word of the honor you gained,

  Defeating King Búcar, and Carrión will know.

  By God and all his saints, this victory

  Is nothing we’ll be ashamed of!”

  Cid’s men were returning from around the field.

  Then Minaya Alvar Fáñez arrived,

  His battered shield, pierced in places, hung from his neck,

  Marked by scattered lance thrusts,

  Not one of which had touched him—

  Nor had they helped those who’d made them.

  Blood from the twenty Moors he’d killed

  Still trickled down his arm:

  “Thanks to God, and our Father on high,

  e a vós, Cid, que en buen ora fuestes nado.

  Matastes a Búcar e arrancamos el canpo.

  Todos estos bienes de vós son e de vuestros vassallos,

  e vuestros yernos aquí son ensayados,

  fartos de lidiar con moros en el campo.”

  Dixo Mio Cid: “Yo d’esto só pagado,

  quando agora son buenos, adelant serán preciados.”

  Por bien lo dixo el Cid, mas ellos lo tovieron a mal.

  Todas las ganancias a Valencia son llegadas,

  alegre es Mio Cid con todas sus conpañas

  que a la rración caye seiscientos marcos de plata.

  Los yernos de Mio Cid quando este aver tomaron

  d’esta arrancada, que lo tenién en so salvo,

  cuidaron que en sus días nunqua serién minguados,

  fueron en Valencia muy bien arreados,

  conduchos a sazones, buenas pieles e buenos mantos.

  Mucho son alegres Mio Cid e sus vassallos.

  120

  Grant fue el día [por] la cort del Campeador

  después que esta batalla vencieron e al rrey Búcar mató,

  alçó la mano, a la barba se tomó:

  “Grado a Christus, que del mundo es señor,

  quando veo lo que avía sabor

  que lidiaran comigo en campo mios yernos amos a dos;

  mandados buenos irán d’ellos a Carrión

  cómo son ondrados e aver vos [an] grant pro.

  121

  “Sobejanas son las ganancias que todos an ganadas,

  lo uno es nuestro, lo otro han en salvo.”

  And to you, Cid, born at just the right time!

  You killed Búcar, we’ve swept the field.

  All this wealth is yours and ours.

  And your sons-in-law have fought hard,

  Like all the rest of our fighting men.”

  M
y Cid said: “I’m pleased. I’ll say it again.

  A start this fine will lead them to finer.”

  He meant these words, but the brothers thought he despised

  them.

  They carried their loot into Valencia.

  My Cid was happy, and so were his warriors,

  Each of whom earned six hundred silver marks.

  Between them, the Carrión brothers thought,

  This was surely riches enough

  To last the rest of their lives.

  They returned to Valencia with their purses loaded,

  From which they bought themselves fine furs and clothing.

  My Cid and all his men were delighted.

  120

  It was a wonderful day at the Warrior’s court,

  With the battle won and King Búcar dead.

  My Cid raised his hand and tugged on his beard:

  “Thanks to Christ, great Lord of this world,

  For letting me see what I’ve longed for—

  My new sons beside me, fighting our war!

  Good news will travel to Carrión: honor

  For my sons, and the promise of much, much more.

  121

  “The spoils of this war are rich, and properly shared.

  I take mine, and you take yours—but save some!”

  Mandó Mio Cid, el que en buen ora nasco,

  d’esta batalla que han arrancado

  que todos prisiessen so derecho contado

  e la su quinta non fuesse olbidado.

  Assí lo fazen todos, ca eran acordados,

  cayéronle en quinta al Cid seixcientos cavallos

  e otras azémilas e camellos largos,

  tantos son de muchos que non serién contados.

  122

  Todas estas ganancias fızo el Canpeador:

  “¡Grado a Dios que del mundo es señor!

  Antes fu minguado, agora rrico só,

  que he aver e tierra e oro e onor

  e son mios yernos ifantes de Carrión.

  Arranco las lides como plaze al Criador,

  moros e cristianos de mí han grant pavor;