The following is an episode from the Castilian epic poem Mocedades de Rodrigo (c. 1300), a verse narrative of the fictional deeds of Rodrigo Díaz, the young Cid. The complete poem can be found in the bilingual Castilian/ English edition Las Mocedades de Rodrigo / The Youthful Deeds of Rodrigo, the Cid (Medieval Academy Books, 110), edited and translated by Matthew Bailey, U of Toronto P, 2007 (paperback 2013), and with an oral rendering at https://mocedades.academic.wlu.edu. The Castilian original is followed here by its English translation.
Sópolo el conde don Martín Gonçález de Navarra, cavalgó muy privado,
e fuesse para el rey, “Señor, péssete del tu daño.
575 Calahora e Tudela forçada te la ha el buen rey don Fernando.
Señor, dame tus cartas e iré desafiarlo,
yo seré tu justador, conbaterlo he privado.”
Essas horas dixo el rey, “Séate otorgado.”
Las cartas dan al conde, al camino es entrado,
580 allegava a Çamora, al buen rey don Fernando.
Entró por la corte, al buen rey bessó la mano,
e dixo, “Oítme, rey de grand poder, un poco sea escuchado,
mensagero con cartas non deve tomar mal nin reçebir daño.
Enbíavos desafiar el rey de Aragón, a vós e a todo vuestro reinado,
585 vedes aquí sus cartas, yo vos trayo el mandado.
Si non, datme un justador de todo vuestro reinado,
yo lidiaré por el rey de Aragón, que só su vassallo.”
Quando esto oyó el rey, en pie fue levantado,
e dixo, “Pessar devía a Dios e a todo su reinado,
590 de tal cossa començar rey que devía ser su vassallo.
¿Quién gelo consejó? e ¿cómmo fue de ello ossado?
¿Quál sería de mis reinos, amigo o pariente o vassallo,
que por mí quessiese lidiar este rieto?”
Rodrigo, a los tres días a Çamora ha llegado.
595 Vio estar al rey muy triste, ante él fue parado,
sonrisándose iva e de la boca fablando,
“Rey que manda a Castilla e a León non deve ser desconortado.
Rey, ¿quién vos fizo pessar? o ¿cómmo fue d’ello ossado?
De presso o de muerto non vos saldrá de la mano.”
600 Essas horas dixo el rey, “Seas bienaventurado,
a Dios mucho agradesco por ver que eres aquí llegado.
A ti digo la mi coita, donde soy coitado.
Enbióme desafiar el rey de Aragón e nunca gelo ove buscado,
enbióme dezir quel’ diesse a Calahorra, amidos o de grado,
605 o quel’ diesse un justador de todo el mi regnado.
Querelléme en mi corte a todos los fijos dalgo,
non me respondió omne nado,
Respóndele tú, Rodrigo, mi pariente e mi vassallo,
fijo eres de Diego Laínez e nieto de Laín Calvo.”
610 Essas horas dixo Rodrigo, “Señor, pláçeme de grado.
Atal plazo nos dedes que pueda ser tornado,
que quiero ir en romería al padrón de Santiago,
e a Santa María de Rocamador, si Dios quesiere guissarlo.”
Essas horas dixo el rey, “En treinta días avrás afarto.”
615 El conde con grand bigor, en pie fue levantado,
e dixo, “Rey, en treinta días mucho es grand plazo,
que más me quería ver con Rodrigo que quien me diesse un condado.”
Estonçe dixo Rodrigo, “Conde, ¿por qué vós quexades tanto?
Que a quien diablos han de tomar, chica es posiesta de mayo.”
620 Essas horas dixo el rey, “Ve tu vía, bienaventurado.”
A los caminos entró Rodrigo, passól’ a Malgrado,
de qual dizen Benabente, segunt dize en el romançe,
e passó por Astorga e llegó a Monte Iraglo.
Complió su romería, por Sant Salvador de Oviedo fue tornado,
625 a la condessa doña Theresa Núñez, e apriessa ovo preguntado,
“Señora, ¿quántos días ha passados que yo fui en romería a Santiago?”
E dixo la condessa, “Oy passan veinte e seis días,
cras serán los veinte e siete días llegados.”
Quando esto oyó Rodrigo fue mal amanzellado,
630 e dixo, “Cavalgat, mis cavalleros, e non querades tardarlo,
vayámosnos servir al buen rey don Fernando,
que tres días ha, non más, para complirse el plazo.”
A los caminos entró Rodrigo con treçientos fijos dalgo.
Al vado de Cascajar, a do Duero fue apartado,
635 fuerte día fazía de frío, a la posiesta en llegando.
A la horilla del vado estava un pecador de malato,
a todos pediendo piedat, que le passasen el vado.
Los cavalleros todos escopían e ívanse d’él arredrando.
Rodrigo ovo d’él duelo e tomólo por la mano,
640 so una capa verde aguadera passólo por el vado,
en un mulo andador que su padre le avía dado.
E fuesse para Grejalva, do es Çerrato llamado,
so unas piedras cavadas, que era el poblado.
So la capa verde aguadera, alvergó el castellano e el malato,
645 e en siendo dormiendo, a la oreja le fabló el gapho,
“¿Dormides, Rodrigo de Bivar? Tiempo has de ser acordado,
mensagero só de Cristus, que non soy malato.
Sant Lázaro só, a ti me ovo Dios enbiado,
que te dé un resollo en las espaldas, que en calentura seas entrado,
650 que quando esta calentura ovieres, que te sea menbrado,
quantas cossas comenzares, arrematarl’ás con tu mano.”
Diol’ un resollo en las espaldas, que a los pechos le ha passado,
Rodrigo despertó e fue muy mal espantado,
cató en derredor de sí e non pudo fallar el gapho,
655 menbróle d’aquel sueño e cavalgó muy privado.
Fuesse para Calahorra, de día e de noche andando.
Í era el rey don Ramiro de Aragón,
Í era el rey don Fernando,
Í era el rey don Ordoño de Navarra.
660 Venido era el día del plaço e non assomava el castellano.
En priessa se vio el rey, e a Diego Laínez ovo buscado,
“Diego Laínez, vós lidiat este rieto por salvar a vuestro fijo, que a vós era dado.”
Dixo Diego Laínez, “Señor, plázeme de grado.”
Ármanle mucho apriessa el cuerpo e el cavallo,
665 quando quisso cavalgar, assomó el castellano.
A reçebirle sale el rey con muchos fijos dalgo,
“Adelante,” dixo a Rodrigo, “¿por qué tardades tanto?”
Estonçe dixo Rodrigo, “Señor, non sea culpado,
ca aún fasta el sol puesto es todo el día mi plazo.
670 Lidiaré en esse cavallo de mi padre, que el mio viene muy cansado.”
Dixo Diego Laínez, “Fijo, plázeme de grado.”
El rey con grant plazer parósse armarlo.
Dixo Rodrigo, “Señor, non sea culpado.”
Cavalgar quería Rodrigo, non quería tardarlo.
675 Non le venía la calentura que le avía dicho el malato,
dixo al rey, “Señor, dadme una sopa en vino.”
Quando quisso tomar la sopa, la calentura ovo llegado,
en logar de tomar la sopa, tomó la rienda del cavallo.
Enderezó el pendón e el escudo ovo enbrazado,
680 e fuesse para allí do estava el Navarro.
El navarro llamó “¡Aragón!” e “¡Castilla!” el castellano,
ívanse dar seños golpes, los cavallos encostaron.
Dixo el conde navarro, “¡Qué cavallo traes, castellano!”
Dixo Rodrigo de Bivar, “¿Quieres trocarlo?
685 Cámbialo comigo si el tuyo es más flaco.”
Allí dixo el conde, “Non me sería dado.”
Partiéronles el sol e los fieles commo de cabo.
Ívanse dar seños golpes e erról’ el conde navarro.
Non lo erró Rodrigo de Bivar,
690 un golpe le fue dar que le abatió del cavallo,
en ante que el conde se levantase, deçendió a degollarlo.
D’esta guissa ganó a Calahorra Rodrigo el castellano,
por el buen rey don Fernando.
Count don Martín González of Navarre found out, he rode very swiftly,
and he went to the king, “Sire, feel this grievous loss of yours.
575 The good king don Fernando has taken from you Calahorra and Tudela.
Sire, give me your commission and I will go challenge him,
I will be your combatant, I will defeat him swiftly.”
Then the king said, “Be it granted you.”
They give the papers to the count, he has taken to the road,
580 he arrived in Zamora, to the good king don Fernando.
He passed through the court, he kissed the good king’s hand,
and said, “Hear me, king of great power, may I be briefly heard,
a messenger with papers should not take injury or receive harm.
The king of Aragon sends you this challenge, against you and all your kingdom,
585 see here his commission, I bring you the message.
Or else, give me one combatant from all your kingdom,
I will fight for the king of Aragon, for I am his vassal.”
When the king heard this, he rose to his feet,
and said, “This should grieve God and all his kingdom,
590 for a king to start such a thing when he should be a vassal.
Who counseled him in this? And how did he dare?
Who from my kingdoms shall it be, friend or relative or vassal,
who is willing to take up this challenge for me?”
Rodrigo, three days later has arrived in Zamora.
595 He saw the king was very sad, he stood before him,
he was smiling and speaking from his mouth,
“The king who rules Castile and León should not be discouraged.
King, who grieved you and how did he dare?
He shall not escape capture or death by your hand.”
600 Then the king said, “May you have good fortune,
I truly thank God to see that you have arrived here.
I’ll tell you my problem, the cause of my trouble.
The king of Aragon challenged me and I did nothing to provoke it,
he told me to give him Calahorra, reluctantly or willingly,
605 or else that I designate one combatant from all my kingdom.
I pleaded in my court to all the noblemen,
not a single man responded to the challenge.
You respond, Rodrigo, my relative and my vassal,
you are the son of Diego Laínez and grandson of Laín Calvo.”
610 Then Rodrigo said, “Sire, it truly pleases me.
Give us a grace period such that I may return in time,
for I want to go in pilgrimage to the patron of Santiago,
and to Santa María de Rocamadour, if God will so dispose.”
Then the king said, “Thirty days will be enough for you.”
615 The count with great energy rose to his feet,
and said, “King, thirty days is much too long a grace period,
for I would rather face Rodrigo than for someone to give me a county.”
Then Rodrigo said, “Count, why do you complain so much?
For someone whom devils are going to carry off, the long afternoons of May are short.”
620 Then the king said, “Be on your way, fortunate one.”
Rodrigo took to the roads, he passed Malgrado,
which is called Benavente, as they say in that story,
and he passed Astorga and arrived at Monte Irago.
He completed his pilgrimage, and returned through San Salvador de Oviedo,
625 to see the countess doña Teresa Núñez, and he urgently asked,
“Madam, how many days has it been since I left on pilgrimage to Santiago?”
And the countess said, “Today makes twenty-six days,
tomorrow will begin the twenty-seventh day.”
When Rodrigo heard this he was badly distressed,
630 and said, “Ride my knights and don’t delay,
let us go to serve the good king don Fernando,
for there are three days, no more, before the grace period ends.”
Rodrigo took to the roads with three hundred noblemen.
At the Cascajar ford, where the Duero splits,
635 it was a fiercely cold day, upon arriving in the late afternoon.
On the shore of the ford, there was a pitiful leper,
asking for mercy from all, to be taken across the ford.
All the knights spat and moved to get away from him.
Rodrigo felt sorry for him and took him by the hand,
640 under a green rain cape he took him across the ford,
on a riding mule that his father had given him.
And he went toward Grijalba, to a place called Cerrato,
under some cavernous rocks, where the settlement was.
Under the green rain cape, the Castilian and the leper took shelter,
645 and while he was sleeping, the leper spoke in his ear,
“Are you sleeping, Rodrigo de Vivar? It is time for you to awaken,
I am a messenger of Christ, I am not a leper.
I am Saint Lazarus, God sent me to you,
to blow a breath of air on your back, for a fever to come over you,
650 and once you sense this fever, you should remember,
that anything you undertake, you will be able to finish with your own hands.”
He blew a breath of air on his back that passed into his chest,
Rodrigo awoke and was very badly frightened,
he looked all around and could not find the leper,
655 he remembered that dream and rode off quickly.
He went toward Calahorra, riding by day and by night.
There was king don Ramiro of Aragón,
there was king don Fernando,
there was king don Ordoño of Navarre.
660 The end of the grace period had come and the Castilian did not appear.
The king found himself in a bind, and sought out Diego Laínez,
“Diego Laínez, you fight this duel to absolve your son, for it is your duty.”
Said Diego Laínez, “Sire, it truly pleases me.”
Very hurriedly they arm his body and his horse,
665 when he was ready to mount the Castilian appeared.
The king goes out to meet him with many noblemen,
“Come on,” he said to Rodrigo, “Why are you so late?”
Then Rodrigo said, “Sire, I should not be blamed,
for until sun is set the entire day is my grace period.
670 I will fight on that horse of my father, for mine comes very tired.”
Said Diego Laínez, “Son, it pleases me greatly.”
The king with great pleasure began to arm him.
Said Rodrigo, “Sire, I should not be blamed.”
Rodrigo was ready to mount, he did not want to delay.
675 The fever that the leper had mentioned did not come over him,
he said to the king, “Sire, give me a wine sop.”
When he was about to take the sop, the fever came over him,
instead of taking the sop, he took the reins of the horse.
He raised his banner and clasped his shield,
680 and he went over to where the Navarrese was.
The Navarrese called out “Aragon!” and “Castile!” the Castilian,
they charged to strike each other, their horses drew near.
The Navarrese count said, “What a horse you have, Castilian!”
Said Rodrigo of Vivar, “Do you want to trade?”
685 Trade with me if yours is weaker.”
Then the count said, “It wouldn’t be allowed.”
They divided the sun between them and assigned judges as was the custom.
They charged to strike each other and the Navarrese count missed.
Rodrigo of Vivar did not miss,
690 he struck a blow that knocked him from his horse,
and before the count got up, he dismounted and beheaded him.
In this way Rodrigo the Castilian won Calahorra,
for the good king don Fernando.
Passage from Matthew Bailey, Las Mocedades de Rodrigo / The Youthful Deeds of Rodrigo, the Cid (Medieval Academy Books, 110), U of Toronto P, 2007, pp. 46-49 & 80-84.