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 |  |
433
VI.
ARGUMENT.
The King suppresses all further altercation, and declares that those only who have already challenged shall be permitted to fight. The time and place are fixed. The Cid being obliged to return to Valencia, leaves his Champions under the protection of the King. The Cid takes leave of the King. At the end of three weeks the combat is fought, and the three Champions of the Cid are victorious.
I crave your favour, My Lord the King, since things are settled so;
“I have business at Valencia, and thither I must go.
“Before the town was conquer'd it cost me pains enow.”
The King lift up his hand, made a cross upon his brow:
“I swear by St. Isidro, the patron of Leon,
“In all my realm beside there is not such a good baron.”
The Cid leapt on his steed and rode him round the course,
He came up to the King and proffer'd him the horse—
“'Tis the noble Babieca that is famed for speed and force,
“Among the Christians nor the Moors there is not such another one;
“My Sovereign Lord and Sire, he is fit for you alone:
“Give orders to your people, and take him for your own.”
The King replied, “It cannot be; Cid, you shall keep your horse,
“He must not leave his master, nor change him for a worse;
“The man that would take him from you, evil may he speed,
“Our kingdom has been honour'd by you and by your steed.
“A courser such as he is fit for such a knight,
“To beat down Moors in battle, and follow them in flight.”
Now they have taken leave, and broken up the Court,
The Cid goes with his champions to advise them and exhort:
“You, Martin Antolinez, and Pero Bermuez, you,
“And you, Munio Gustioz, be valiant men and true:
“When I am gone to Valencia let me have good tidings there.”
Martin Antolinez replied, “Sir, what needs this care?
“We are pledged in your behalf, we must do our best endeavour;
“You may hear that we are dead, but defeated never.”
The Cid was joyful at the word, and quitted them anon;
He has taken leave of all his friends, and shortly he is gone.
The Cid goes to Valencia, the King to Carrion.
Three weeks had been appointed, and now they are past away,
The champions of the Cid are ready at the day:
They are ready in the field to defend their master's right,
The noble King is with them, to protect them with his might.
They waited in the place for two days and a night,
Behold the Lords of Carrion where they appear in sight:
They are coming with an host of their kindred and their clan,
With horses and with arms, and many a valiant man;
If they could meet with them apart, or take them unaware,
In dishonour of the Cid to have slain his champions there.
The thought was foul and evil, but yet they did not dare,
For fear of the King Alfonso that had them in his care.
That night they watch'd their arms, and past the hours in prayer;
The night is past and over, the day begins to break;
Great was the throng of folk who, for that battle's sake,
Flock'd in on every side, assembled for the fight,
And many a man of arms and many a wealthy knight.
There is the King Alfonso with all his power and might,
To keep down force and wrong, and to defend the right.
The champions of the Cid are all of good accord,
They are arming themselves together, like vassals of one Lord.
The Infants of Carrion are arming themselves apart,
Count Garcia sits advising them, and keeps them in good heart.
They bring a plea before the King, and they pretend a right,
That those two trenchant swords should not be used in fight,
The swords Colada and Tizon, which the Cid's champions wore;
They repent of their imprudence when they gave them up before.
They were earnest in their plea, but they could not succeed;
“You might have kept them for yourselves to serve you in your need;
“If you have other good ones, make use of them instead.
“Infants of Carrion! hear me and take heed:
“You must approve your honour by some manly deed.
“Go forth into the field, and show a valiant heart,
“For nothing will be wanting upon the Champions' part.
“If you are conquerors in the fight you will purchase great renown,
“If you are beaten and disgraced, the fault will be your own,
“For this business was your seeking, as has been seen and shown.”
The Infants of Carrion are beginning to repent;
The Lordship of Carrion with its honours and its rent,
Its mansion and its lands, they would have given all,
Could they command the past, to redeem it and recall.
“I have business at Valencia, and thither I must go.
“Before the town was conquer'd it cost me pains enow.”
The King lift up his hand, made a cross upon his brow:
“I swear by St. Isidro, the patron of Leon,
“In all my realm beside there is not such a good baron.”
The Cid leapt on his steed and rode him round the course,
He came up to the King and proffer'd him the horse—
“'Tis the noble Babieca that is famed for speed and force,
“Among the Christians nor the Moors there is not such another one;
“My Sovereign Lord and Sire, he is fit for you alone:
“Give orders to your people, and take him for your own.”
The King replied, “It cannot be; Cid, you shall keep your horse,
“He must not leave his master, nor change him for a worse;
“The man that would take him from you, evil may he speed,
“Our kingdom has been honour'd by you and by your steed.
“A courser such as he is fit for such a knight,
“To beat down Moors in battle, and follow them in flight.”
Now they have taken leave, and broken up the Court,
The Cid goes with his champions to advise them and exhort:
“You, Martin Antolinez, and Pero Bermuez, you,
“And you, Munio Gustioz, be valiant men and true:
“When I am gone to Valencia let me have good tidings there.”
Martin Antolinez replied, “Sir, what needs this care?
434
“You may hear that we are dead, but defeated never.”
The Cid was joyful at the word, and quitted them anon;
He has taken leave of all his friends, and shortly he is gone.
The Cid goes to Valencia, the King to Carrion.
Three weeks had been appointed, and now they are past away,
The champions of the Cid are ready at the day:
They are ready in the field to defend their master's right,
The noble King is with them, to protect them with his might.
They waited in the place for two days and a night,
Behold the Lords of Carrion where they appear in sight:
They are coming with an host of their kindred and their clan,
With horses and with arms, and many a valiant man;
If they could meet with them apart, or take them unaware,
In dishonour of the Cid to have slain his champions there.
The thought was foul and evil, but yet they did not dare,
For fear of the King Alfonso that had them in his care.
That night they watch'd their arms, and past the hours in prayer;
The night is past and over, the day begins to break;
Great was the throng of folk who, for that battle's sake,
Flock'd in on every side, assembled for the fight,
And many a man of arms and many a wealthy knight.
There is the King Alfonso with all his power and might,
To keep down force and wrong, and to defend the right.
The champions of the Cid are all of good accord,
They are arming themselves together, like vassals of one Lord.
The Infants of Carrion are arming themselves apart,
Count Garcia sits advising them, and keeps them in good heart.
They bring a plea before the King, and they pretend a right,
That those two trenchant swords should not be used in fight,
The swords Colada and Tizon, which the Cid's champions wore;
They repent of their imprudence when they gave them up before.
They were earnest in their plea, but they could not succeed;
“You might have kept them for yourselves to serve you in your need;
“If you have other good ones, make use of them instead.
“Infants of Carrion! hear me and take heed:
“You must approve your honour by some manly deed.
“Go forth into the field, and show a valiant heart,
“For nothing will be wanting upon the Champions' part.
“If you are conquerors in the fight you will purchase great renown,
435
“For this business was your seeking, as has been seen and shown.”
The Infants of Carrion are beginning to repent;
The Lordship of Carrion with its honours and its rent,
Its mansion and its lands, they would have given all,
Could they command the past, to redeem it and recall.
The Champions of the Cid, clad in their warlike weed,
The King is gone to see them and wish them well to speed.
“Sir, we kiss your hands as our good Lord and sire,
“To have you judge and umpire is all that we require.
“Defend us in all right, assist us not in wrong;
“The friends of the Lords of Carrion are numerous and strong,
“We cannot guess their counsels, nor how they will behave.
“To the good Cid, our master, the promise that you gave,
“To defend us and protect us, this, Sir, is all we crave,
“So long as right and justice are found upon our part.”
“That will I,” said the King, “with all my soul and heart.”
Their horses are brought up to them, coursers strong and fleet,
They sign their saddles with the cross, and leap into the seat;
Their shields are hanging at their necks with bosses broad and sheen,
They take their lances in their hands, the points are bright and keen,
A pennon at each lance, the staves were large and stout,
And many a valiant man encompass'd them about.
They rode forth to the field where the barriers were set out.
The Champions of the Cid are agreed upon their plan,
To fight as they had challenged, and each to charge his man.
There come the Lords of Carrion with their kindred and their clan;
The King has appointed heralds for avoiding all debate,
He spoke aloud amongst them in the field there where they sate.
“Infants of Carrion! Attend to what I say:
“You should have fought this battle upon a former day,
“When we were at Toledo, but you would not agree;
“And now the noble Cid has sent these Champions three,
“To fight in the lands of Carrion, escorted here by me.
“Be valiant in your right, attempt no force or wrong;
“If any man attempt it he shall not triumph long:
“He never shall have rest or peace within my kingdom more.”
The Infants of Carrion are now repenting sore;
The heralds and the King are foremost in the place,
They clear away the people from the middle space:
They measure out the lists, the barriers they fix:
They point them out in order, and explain to all the six:
“If you are forced beyond the line where they are fixt and traced,
“You shall be held as conquer'd, and beaten and disgraced.”
Six lances' length on either side an open space is laid,
They part the field between them, the sunshine and the shade.
Their office is perform'd, and from the middle space,
The heralds are withdrawn, and leave them face to face.
Here stood the warriors of the Cid, that noble champion,
Opposite on the other side, the Lords of Carrion.
Earnestly their minds are fixt each upon his foe;
Face to face they take their place; anon the trumpets blow.
They stir their horses with the spur, they lay their lances low,
They bend their shields before their breasts, their face to the saddle bow.
Earnestly their minds are fixt each upon his foe.
The heavens are overcast above, the earth trembles below,
The people stand in silence, gazing on the show:
Bermuez the first challenger first in combat closed,
He met Ferran Gonzales, face to face opposed;
They rush together with such rage that all men count them dead,
They strike each other on the shield, without all fear or dread.
Ferran Gonzales with his lance pierced the shield outright,
It past Bermuez on the left side, in his flesh it did not bite.
The spear was snapt in twain, Bermuez sat upright,
He neither flinch'd nor swerved, like a true stedfast knight,
A good stroke he received, but a better he has given;
He struck the shield upon the boss, in sunder it is riven.
Onward into Ferran's breast the lance's point is driven,
Full upon his breastplate, nothing would avail;
Two breastplates Fernando wore and a coat of mail:
The two are riven in sunder, the third stood him in stead,
The mail sunk in his breast, the mail and the spear head,
The blood burst from his mouth that all men thought him dead.
The blow has broken his girdle and his saddle girth,
It has taken him over his horse's back, and borne him to the earth.
The people think him dead, as he lies on the sand;
Bermuez left his lance and took his sword in hand.
Ferran Gonzales knew the blade which he had worn of old,
Before the blow came down, he yielded and cried, “Hold!”
Antolinez and Diego encounter'd man for man,
Their spears were shiver'd with the shock, so eagerly they ran.
Antolinez drew forth the blade which Diego once had worn,
Eagerly he aim'd the blow for the vengeance he had sworn.
Right through Diego's helm the blade its edge has borne,
The crest and helm are lopt away, the coif and hair are shorn.
He stood astounded with the stroke, trembling and forlorn,
He waved his sword above his head, he made a piteous cry,
“O save me, save me from that blade, Almighty Lord on high!”
Antolinez came fiercely round to reach the fatal stroke,
Diego's courser rear'd upright, and through the barrier broke.
Antolinez has won the day, though his blow he miss'd,
He has driven Diego from the field, and stands within the list.
I must tell you of Munio Gustioz, two combats now are done;
How he fought with Assur Gonzales, you shall hear anon.
Assur Gonzales, a fierce and hardy knight,
He rode at Munio Gustioz with all his force and might;
He struck the shield and pierced it through, but the point came wide,
It pass'd by Munio Gustioz, betwixt his arm and side:
Sternly, like a practised knight, Munio met him there.
His lance he levell'd stedfastly, and through the shield him bare;
He bore the point into his breast, a little beside the heart;
It took him through the body, but in no mortal part;
The shaft stood out behind his back a cloth-yard and more;
The pennon and the point were dripping down with gore.
Munio still clench'd his spear, as he pass'd he forced it round,
He wrench'd him from the saddle, and cast him to the ground.
His horse sprung forward with the spur, he pluck'd the spear away,
He wheel'd and came again to pierce him where he lay.
Then cried Gonzalo Asurez, “For God's sake spare my son!
“The other two have yielded, the field is fought and won.”
The King is gone to see them and wish them well to speed.
“Sir, we kiss your hands as our good Lord and sire,
“To have you judge and umpire is all that we require.
“Defend us in all right, assist us not in wrong;
“The friends of the Lords of Carrion are numerous and strong,
“We cannot guess their counsels, nor how they will behave.
“To the good Cid, our master, the promise that you gave,
“To defend us and protect us, this, Sir, is all we crave,
“So long as right and justice are found upon our part.”
“That will I,” said the King, “with all my soul and heart.”
Their horses are brought up to them, coursers strong and fleet,
They sign their saddles with the cross, and leap into the seat;
Their shields are hanging at their necks with bosses broad and sheen,
They take their lances in their hands, the points are bright and keen,
A pennon at each lance, the staves were large and stout,
And many a valiant man encompass'd them about.
They rode forth to the field where the barriers were set out.
The Champions of the Cid are agreed upon their plan,
To fight as they had challenged, and each to charge his man.
There come the Lords of Carrion with their kindred and their clan;
The King has appointed heralds for avoiding all debate,
He spoke aloud amongst them in the field there where they sate.
“Infants of Carrion! Attend to what I say:
“You should have fought this battle upon a former day,
“When we were at Toledo, but you would not agree;
“And now the noble Cid has sent these Champions three,
“To fight in the lands of Carrion, escorted here by me.
“Be valiant in your right, attempt no force or wrong;
“If any man attempt it he shall not triumph long:
“He never shall have rest or peace within my kingdom more.”
The Infants of Carrion are now repenting sore;
436
They clear away the people from the middle space:
They measure out the lists, the barriers they fix:
They point them out in order, and explain to all the six:
“If you are forced beyond the line where they are fixt and traced,
“You shall be held as conquer'd, and beaten and disgraced.”
Six lances' length on either side an open space is laid,
They part the field between them, the sunshine and the shade.
Their office is perform'd, and from the middle space,
The heralds are withdrawn, and leave them face to face.
Here stood the warriors of the Cid, that noble champion,
Opposite on the other side, the Lords of Carrion.
Earnestly their minds are fixt each upon his foe;
Face to face they take their place; anon the trumpets blow.
They stir their horses with the spur, they lay their lances low,
They bend their shields before their breasts, their face to the saddle bow.
Earnestly their minds are fixt each upon his foe.
The heavens are overcast above, the earth trembles below,
The people stand in silence, gazing on the show:
Bermuez the first challenger first in combat closed,
He met Ferran Gonzales, face to face opposed;
They rush together with such rage that all men count them dead,
They strike each other on the shield, without all fear or dread.
Ferran Gonzales with his lance pierced the shield outright,
It past Bermuez on the left side, in his flesh it did not bite.
The spear was snapt in twain, Bermuez sat upright,
He neither flinch'd nor swerved, like a true stedfast knight,
A good stroke he received, but a better he has given;
He struck the shield upon the boss, in sunder it is riven.
Onward into Ferran's breast the lance's point is driven,
Full upon his breastplate, nothing would avail;
Two breastplates Fernando wore and a coat of mail:
The two are riven in sunder, the third stood him in stead,
The mail sunk in his breast, the mail and the spear head,
The blood burst from his mouth that all men thought him dead.
The blow has broken his girdle and his saddle girth,
It has taken him over his horse's back, and borne him to the earth.
The people think him dead, as he lies on the sand;
Bermuez left his lance and took his sword in hand.
Ferran Gonzales knew the blade which he had worn of old,
437
Antolinez and Diego encounter'd man for man,
Their spears were shiver'd with the shock, so eagerly they ran.
Antolinez drew forth the blade which Diego once had worn,
Eagerly he aim'd the blow for the vengeance he had sworn.
Right through Diego's helm the blade its edge has borne,
The crest and helm are lopt away, the coif and hair are shorn.
He stood astounded with the stroke, trembling and forlorn,
He waved his sword above his head, he made a piteous cry,
“O save me, save me from that blade, Almighty Lord on high!”
Antolinez came fiercely round to reach the fatal stroke,
Diego's courser rear'd upright, and through the barrier broke.
Antolinez has won the day, though his blow he miss'd,
He has driven Diego from the field, and stands within the list.
I must tell you of Munio Gustioz, two combats now are done;
How he fought with Assur Gonzales, you shall hear anon.
Assur Gonzales, a fierce and hardy knight,
He rode at Munio Gustioz with all his force and might;
He struck the shield and pierced it through, but the point came wide,
It pass'd by Munio Gustioz, betwixt his arm and side:
Sternly, like a practised knight, Munio met him there.
His lance he levell'd stedfastly, and through the shield him bare;
He bore the point into his breast, a little beside the heart;
It took him through the body, but in no mortal part;
The shaft stood out behind his back a cloth-yard and more;
The pennon and the point were dripping down with gore.
Munio still clench'd his spear, as he pass'd he forced it round,
He wrench'd him from the saddle, and cast him to the ground.
His horse sprung forward with the spur, he pluck'd the spear away,
He wheel'd and came again to pierce him where he lay.
Then cried Gonzalo Asurez, “For God's sake spare my son!
“The other two have yielded, the field is fought and won.”
| The Works of John Hookham Frere In Verse and Prose | |