Part 23 (1/2)

CXXIX.

Their cloaks and furs of ermine along with them they bare, In their s.h.i.+fts and tunics, fainting, they left them there behind, A prey to every wild-fowl and beast of savage kind.

Know you, for dead, not living, they left them in such cheer.

Good hap it were if now the Cid, Roy Diaz, should appear.

Cx.x.x.

The Heirs of Carrion for dead have left them thus arrayed, For the one dame to the other, could give no sort of aid.

They sang each other's praises as they journeyed through the wood: ”For the question of our marriage we have made our vengeance good.

Unbesought, to be our lemans we should not take that pair, Because as wedded consorts for our arms unfit they were.

For the insult of the lion vengeance shall thus be ta'en.”

Cx.x.xI.

They sang each other's praises, the Heirs of Carrion twain.

But now of Felez Munoz will I tell the tale once more.

Even he that was nephew to the Cid Campeador.

They had bidden him ride onward, but he was not well content.

And his heart smote within him as along the road he went.

Straightway from all the others' a s.p.a.ce did he withraw.

There Felez Munoz entered into a thick-grown straw, Till the coming of his cousins should be plain to be perceived Or what the Heirs of Carrion as at that time achieved.

And he beheld them coming, and heard them say their say, But they did not espy him, nor thought of him had they.

Be it known death he had not scaped, had they on him laid eye.

And the two Heirs rode onward, p.r.i.c.king fast the spur they ply.

On their trail Felez Munoz has turned him back again.

He came upon his cousins. In a swoon lay the twain.

And crying ”Oh my cousins!” straightway did he alight.

By the reins the horse he tethered, and went to them forthright.

”Dame Sol and Dame Elvira, cousins of mine that be, The two Heirs of Carrion have borne them dastardly.

Please G.o.d that for this dealing they may get a shameful gain.”

And straightway he bestirred him to life to bring the twain.

Deep was their swoon. Of utterance all power they had forlorn.

Of his heart the very fabric thereby in twain was torn.

”Oh my cousins Dame Elvira and Dame Sol,” he cried and spake, ”For the love of the Creator, my cousins twain, awake, While yet the day endureth, ere falls the evening-hour, Lest in the wood our bodies the savage beast devour.”

In Dame Sol and Dame Elvira fresh life began to rise; And they looked on Felez Munoz when at last they oped their eyes: ”For the love of G.o.d my cousins, now be of courage stout.

From the time the Heirs of Carrion shall miss me from their rout, With utmost speed thereafter will they hunt me low and high.

And if G.o.d will not help us, in this place we then must die.”

To him out spoke the Lady Sol in bitter agony: ”If the Campeador, our father, deserveth well of thee, My cousin give us water, so may G.o.d help thee too.”

A hat had Felez Munoz, from Valencia, fine and new, Therein he caught the water, and to his cousins bore.

To drink their fill he gave them, for they were stricken sore.

Till they rose up, most earnestly he begged them and implored.

He comforts them and heartens them until they are restored.

He took the two and quickly set them a-horse again.

He wrapped them in his mantle. He took the charger's rein Aud sped them on, and through Corpes Wood they took their way.

They issued from the forest between the night and day.

The waters of Duero they at the last attain.

At Dame Urraca's tower he left behind the twain, And then unto Saint Stephen's did Felez Munoz fare.

He found Diego Tellez, Alvar Fanez' va.s.sal, there.

When he had heard those tidings on his heart great sorrow fell.

And he took beasts of burden and garments that excel.