The Marriage of the Cid's Daughters LXXII

"A boon my lord Alfonso for the Creator's sake!My lord Cid of the battles has kissed thy hands ere now,Thy hands and thy feet likewise, for his noble lord art thou,If thou favorest him, God's favor come upon thee from above.Thou didst send him into exile and bearest him no love,Though in strange lands he thriveth. Jérica he won in warAnd Onda, so they call it; so also Almenár,And likewise Murviédro (for a greater town 'tis known),And he has ta'en Cebólla and further CastejónAnd he has stormed Peñacadéll that is a place of power.He is master of Valencia and these places at this hour.With his own hand the great Campeador a bishop hath ordained.He has forced five pitched battles and in each three victorygained.The gift of the Creator was a very mighty prey,Do thou behold the tokens of the truth of that I say:Here be an hundred horses that in strength and speed excel;With bridle and with saddle each one is furnished well.He kissed thy hands and begged thee thine acceptance to accord.He declares himself thy vassal, and owns thee for his lord."

The King has lifted his right hand and crossed himself thereon:"With what a wondrous booty the Campeador has wonI am well pleased in spirit. Saint Isidore to speed!I am glad the Campeador does now so many a fair deed.I accept the gift of horses that the Cid to me has sent"

"Meseems that in the Moorish land is no man any more,Since so his will upon them works the Cid Campeador."

To the Count the King gave answer: "So speak not of him now!In faith he doth me service of a better sort than thou."

And then outspoke Minaya, like a nobleman spoke he:"The Cid, if it shall please thee, desires a boon of thee,For his wife Dame Xiména and his daughters two beside,That they may leave the convent where he left them to abide,And may hasten to Valencia to the noble Campeador."Then said the King in answer: "My heart is glad therefor.That they be given escort I will issue the command,So that they may be protected as they travel through my landFrom insult and dishonor and whatever harm may be.And when these ladies shall have reached my kingdom's boundary,Have a care how thou shalt serve them, thou and the Campeador.Now hark to me, my vassals, and my courtiers furthermore:I like not that to Roy Diaz any losses shall befall,And therefore to his vassals, the Cid their lord that call,I restore that which I seized on, their possession and their fee.Let them keep their lands, no matter where the Campeador may beFrom harm and hurt the safety of their persons I accord.This I do that they may lightly render service to their lord."

Minaya Alvar Fañez kissed the King's hand straightway.And the King smiled upon him and a fair word did he say:''Who'er to serve the Campeador desireh now to ride,As for me, he has permission, and God's grace with him abide.More than by further hatred by this measure shall we gain."

Counsel straightway together held the Heirs of Carrión twain."The fame of the Cid Campeador grows great on every side,An we might wed his daughters, would our needs be satisfied.Scarce we dare frame this project e'en to ourselves alone;The Cid is of Bivár, and we are Counts of Carrión."

They hatched that plot between them, to none they told the thing.Minaya Alvar Fañez took leave of the good King:."Ha! goest thou, Minaya? The Creator give thee grace.Take an herald. As I deem it he may help thee in this case.If thou take the ladies, serve them even as they desire.Even unto Medína grant them all that they require.The Campeador shall take them in his charge thenceforward on."After leave ta'en Minaya from the court he got him gone.