The Affront of Corpes CXLIII

And thereupon Per Vermudóz began the tale and spake.No words he utters clearly, for 'tis a tongue-halt man.Natheless no rest he gave them, be it known, when he began:"To thee, Cid, now I tell it, for such thy customs be,That in Court, Pero Mudo, ever thou callest me.And verily thou knowest that I can do no more.As for what I must accomplish, there shall be no lack therefore.

"What thing thou saidest soever, Ferrándo, was a lie.Through the Campeador thy glory was risen yet more high.I can relate unto thee thine every trick and sleight.Minds't thou, near high Valencia, what time we fought the fight?Thou didst of the true Campeador for the first onslaught pray.And there a Moor thou sawest, whom thou wentest forth to slay.Or e'er thou camest to him, before him didst thou flee.If aid I had not borne thee, he had roughly handled thee.But I rushed on beyond thee, and with the Moor did close,And I made that Moor flee backward at the foremost of my blows.To thee I gave his charger, and kept the thing concealed.Until this day that cowardice I never have revealed.Before the Cid and all men thine own praises didst thou sing,How thou slewest the Morisco, and didst a gallant thing.And they believed it of thee, knowing not the truth at all.Of thy person art thou handsome, but thy courage it is small,Tongue without hands, the manhood to speak where gottest thou?CXLIV."Do thou say on, Ferrándo. That my words are truth avow:That matter of the lion in Valencia dost thou keepIn mind still, when he burst his bonds while the Cid lay asleep?Ferrándo, then what didst thou, when thy terror overbore?Thou didst thrust thyself behind the bench of the Cid Campeador.Thou didst hide, Ferrándo, wherefore cheap today thy worth isfound,But we to guard our master his pallet gathered round,Till he who won Valencia out of his sleep did wake.He rose up from the pallet, at the lion did he make.His head the lion bended, for the Cid the beast did wait.By the neck he let himself be ta'en. In the cage he thrust himstraight.When came once more the Campeador, there he saw his vassals stand.He asked about his sons-in-law, but neither found at hand.For a wicked man and traitor thy person I arraign.In fight before Alfonso that same I will maintain,For Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra, for the Cid's daughters' sake.Thou didst cast away the ladies thine honor cheap to make.Ye are men to all appearance, tender women are those two;Yet in every way whatever they are worthier than you.If, when we join the combat, God shall like well in his heart,Thyself shalt thou confess it, like a traitor as thou art.Whatever I have uttered shall then be known for true."And thereupon was ending of speech between these two.