Part 3 (2/2)

Of the stone, bread Thou madest, and of the water, wine.

Thou didst raise up Saint Lazarus according to Thy will.

Thou didst let the Hebrews take Thee. On Calvary the hill, In the place Golgotha by name, Thee, Lord, they crucified.

And the two thieves were with Thee, whom they hanged on either side, One is in heaven, the other he came not thereunto.

A miracle most mighty on the cross there didst Thou do.

Blind was Longinus never had seen from his birth-year.

The side of our Lord Jesus he pierced it with the spear.

Forth the blood issued swiftly, and ran down the shaft apace.

It stained his hands. He raised them and put them to his face.

Forthwith his eyes were opened and in every way might see.

He is ransomed from destruction for he straight believed on Thee.

From the sepulchre Thou rosest, and into h.e.l.l didst go, According to Thy purpose, and its gates didst overthrow, To bring forth the Holy Fathers. And King of Kings Thou art, And of all the world the Father, and Thee with all my heart Do I wors.h.i.+p and acknowledge, and further I implore That Saint Peter speed my prayer for the Cid Campeador, That G.o.d keep his head from evil; and when this day we twain Depart, then grant it to us that we meet in life again.”

And now the prayer is over and the ma.s.s in its due course.

From church they came, and already were about to get to horse.

And the Cid clasped Ximena, but she, his hand she kissed.

Sore wept the Dame, in no way the deed to do she wist.

He turned unto his daughters and he looked upon the two: ”To the Spiritual Father, have I commended you.

We must depart. G.o.d knoweth when we shall meet again.”

Weeping most sore--for never hast thou beheld such pain As the nail from the flesh parteth, from each other did they part.

And Cid with all his va.s.sals disposed himself to start, And as he waited for them anew he turned his head, Minaya AIvar Fanez then in good season said:

”Cid! Where is now thy courage? Upon a happy day Wast thou born. Let us bethink us of the road and haste away.

A truce to this. Rejoicing out of these griefs shall grow.

The G.o.d who gave us spirits shall give us aid also.”

Don Sancho the good Abbot, they charged him o'er again To watch and ward Ximena and likewise her daughters twain, And the ladies that were with them. That he shall have no lack Of guerdon let the Abbot know. By this was he come back, Then out spake Alvar Fanez: ”Abbot, if it betide That men should come desirous in our company to ride, Bid them follow but be ready on a long road to go Through the sown and through the desert; they may overtake us so.”

They got them upon horseback, they let the rein go slack.

The time drew near when on Castile they needs must turn the back.

Spinaz de Can, it was the place where the Cid did alight.

And a great throng of people welcomed him there that night.

On the next day at morning, he got to horse once more, And forth unto his exile rode the true Campeador.

To the left of San Estevan the good town did he wheel.

He marched through Alcobiella the frontier of Castile.

O'er the highway to Quinea his course then has he bent.

Hard by Navas de Palos o'er Duero stream he went.

All night at Figueruela did my lord the Cid abide.

And very many people welcomed him on every side..

XIX.

When it was night the Cid lay down. In a deep sleep he fell, And to him in a vision came the angel Gabriel:

”Ride, Cid, most n.o.ble Campeador, for never yet did knight Ride forth upon an hour whose aspect was so bright.

While thou shalt live good fortune shall be with thee and s.h.i.+ne.”

When he awoke, upon his face he made the holy sign.

XX.

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