The Works of John Hookham Frere In Verse and Prose Now First Collected with a Prefatory Memoir by his Nephews W. E. and Sir Bartle Frere |
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 | The Works of John Hookham Frere In Verse and Prose |  |
V.
ARGUMENT.
After the route of King Yusef and his army, the Cid sends Alvar
Fanez and Pero Bermudez with King Yusef's tent and a present of
two hundred horses to King Alfonso, because the king had sent his
wife and daughters when he asked for them, and because of the honour
which he had done them. The king, when he saw the present, said
that never had so goodly a present been sent before to a king of Spain
by his vassals, and desired Alvar Fanez and Pero Bermudez, when
There was many a noble courser brought into the place,
Many a lusty mule with palfreys stout and sure,
And many a goodly sword with all its furniture.
The Cid received them all at an appraisement made,
Besides two hundred marks that to the King were paid:
The Infants give up all they have, their goods are at an end,
They go about in haste to their kindred and their friend;
They borrow as they can, but all will scarce suffice;
The attendants of the Cid take each thing at a price:
But as soon as this was ended, he began a new device.
“Justice and mercy, my Lord the King, I beseech you of your grace!
“I have yet a grievance left behind which nothing can efface.
“Let all men present in the court attend and judge the case,
“Listen to what these Counts have done and pity my disgrace.
“Dishonour'd as I am, I cannot be so base,
“But here, before I leave them, to defy them to their face.
“Say, Infants, how had I deserved, in earnest or in jest,
“Or on whatever plea you can defend it best,
“That you should rend and tear the heartstrings from my breast?
“I gave you at Valencia my daughters in your hand,
“I gave you wealth and honours and treasure at command;
“Had you been weary of them, to cover your neglect,
“You might have left them with me in honour and respect.
“Why did you take them from me, dogs and traitors as you were?
“In the forest of Corpes, why did you strip them there
“Why did you mangle them with whips? why did you leave them bare
“To the vultures and the wolves, and to the wintry air?
“The court will hear your answer and judge what you have done.
“I say, your name and honour henceforth are lost and gone.”
“We crave your favour, my Lord the King, you are always just and wise;
“The Cid is come to your Court in such an uncouth guise,
“We are half of us astonish'd, the other half afraid.
“The blood of the Counts of Carrion is of too high a line
“To take a daughter from his house, though it were for a concubine.
“A concubine or a leman from the lineage of the Cid,
“They could have done no other than leave them as they did.
“We neither care for what he says nor fear what he may threat.”
With that the noble Cid rose up from his seat:
He took his beard in his hand, “If this beard is fair and even,
“I must thank the Lord above, who made both earth and heaven;
“It has been cherish'd with respect and therefore it has thriven:
“It never suffered an affront since the day it first was worn.
“What business, Count, have you to speak of it with scorn?
“It never yet was shaken, nor pluck'd away nor torn,
“By Christian nor by Moor, nor by man of woman born,
“As yours was once, Sir Count, the day Cabra was taken;
“When I was master of Cabra that beard of yours was shaken;
“There was never a footboy in my camp but twitch'd away a bit:
“The side that I tore off grows all uneven yet.”
Ferran Gonzales started upon the floor,
He cried with a loud voice, “Cid, let us hear no more,
“Your claim for goods and money was satisfied before:
“Let not a feud arise betwixt our friends and you,
“We are the Counts of Carrion, from them our birth we drew.
“Daughters of Emperors or Kings were a match for our degree,
“We hold ourselves too good for a baron's such as thee.
“If we abandon'd, as you say, and left and gave them o'er,
“We vouch that we did right, and prize ourselves the more.”
The Cid look'd at Bermuez, that was sitting at his foot;
“Speak thou, Peter the Dumb, what ails thee to sit mute?
“My daughters and thy nieces are the parties in dispute.
“Stand forth and make reply, if you would do them right.
“If I should rise to speak, you cannot hope to fight.”
Peter Bermuez rose, somewhat he had to say,
The words were strangled in his throat, they could not find their way;
Till forth they came at once, without a stop or stay:
“Cid, I'll tell you what, this always is your way,
“You have always served me thus, whenever we have come
“I cannot help my nature; I never talk nor rail;
“But when a thing is to be done, you know I never fail.
“Fernando, you have lied, you have lied in every word:
“You have been honour'd by the Cid, and favour'd and preferr'd.
“I know of all your tricks, and can tell them to your face:
“Do you remember in Valencia the skirmish and the chase?
“You ask'd leave of the Cid to make the first attack:
“You went to meet a Moor, but you soon came running back.
“I met the Moor and kill'd him, or he would have kill'd you;
“I gave you up his arms, and all that was my due.
“Up to this very hour I never said a word.
“You praised yourself before the Cid, and I stood by and heard,
“How you had kill'd the Moor, and done a valiant act,
“And they believed you all, but they never knew the fact.
“You are tall enough and handsome, but cowardly and weak.
“Thou tongue without a hand, how can you dare to speak?
“There's the story of the lion should never be forgot.
“Now let us hear, Fernando, what answer have you got?
“The Cid was sleeping in his chair, with all his knights around,
“The cry went forth along the hall, that the lion was unbound,—
“What did you do, Fernando? like a coward as you were,
“You slunk behind the Cid, and crouch'd beneath his chair.
“We prest around the throne to shield our Lord from harm,
“Till the good Cid awoke; he rose without alarm;
“He went to meet the lion with his mantle on his arm;
“The lion was abash'd the noble Cid to meet,
“He bow'd his mane to the earth, his muzzle at his feet.
“The Cid by the neck and mane drew him to his den,
“He thrust him in at the hatch, and came to the hall again:
“He found his knights, his vassals, and all his valiant men;
“He ask'd for his sons-in-law, they were neither of them there.
“I defy you for a coward and a traitor as you are;
“For the daughters of the Cid you have done them great unright,
“In the wrong that they have suffer'd you stand dishonour'd quite.
“Although they are but women, and each of you a knight,
“I hold them worthier far; and here my word I plight,
“Before the King Alfonso, upon this plea to fight.
“If it be God his will, before the battle part,
Uprose Diego Gonzales and answer'd as he stood:
“By our lineage we are Counts, and of the purest blood;
“This match was too unequal, it never could hold good;
“For the daughters of the Cid we acknowledge no regret,
“We leave them to lament the chastisement they met.
“It will follow them through life for a scandal and a jest.
“I stand upon this plea to combat with the best,
“That having left them as we did, our honour is increased.”
Uprose Martin Antolinez when Diego ceased:
“Peace, thou lying mouth! thou traitor coward, Peace!
“The story of the lion should have taught you shame at least:
“You rush'd out at the door, and ran away so hard,
“You fell into the cesspool that was open in the yard.
“We dragg'd you forth in all men's sight, dripping from the drain;
“For shame, never wear a mantle, nor a knightly robe again!
“I fight upon this plea without more ado;
“The daughters of the Cid are worthier far than you.
“Before the combat part you shall avow it true,
“And that you have been a traitor and a coward too.”
Thus was ended the parley and challenge betwixt these two.
Assur Gonzales was entering at the door
With his ermine mantle trailing along the floor;
With his sauntering pace and his hardy look,
Of manners or of courtesy little heed he took:
He was flush'd and hot with breakfast and with drink.
“What ho, my masters, your spirits seem to sink!
“Have we no news stirring from the Cid Ruy Diaz of Bivar?
“Has he been to Riodivirna to besiege the windmills there?
“Does he tax the millers for their toll, or is that practice past?
“Will he make a match for his daughters another like the last?”
Munio Gustioz rose and made reply:
“Traitor! wilt thou never cease to slander and to lie?
“You breakfast before mass, you drink before you pray:
“There is no honour in your heart, nor truth in what you say;
“You cheat your comrade and your Lord, you flatter to betray:
“Your hatred I despise, your friendship I defy.
“False to all mankind, and most to God on high.
“I shall force you to confess that what I say is true.”
Thus was ended the parley and challenge betwixt these two.
| The Works of John Hookham Frere In Verse and Prose | |