Читать книгу Legends & Romances of Spain - Lewis Spence - Страница 46

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The argument waxed high, when at that moment Asur González, a haughty vassal of the Infantes, entered the hall.

With early viands and with wine flushed were his face and brow,

Disordered were his garments and his mantle hung full low.

He scanned the Court with bearing rude, right clownish was his vaunt:

“How now, my lords? What have we here? Thinkst Carrión to daunt?

What bruit is this about the Cid, the lordling of Bivar?

At drawing tithes from dusty millers better is he far

Than ruffling at a Cortés; he to match with Carrión!”

Then up leapt Muño Gustioz: “Ha’ done, thou knave, ha’ done!

Drunkard, who lookest on the wine before ye tell a bead,

Who never yet did keep thy troth, evil in word and deed,

The only boon I crave is but to have thee where my sword

May cut the false tongue from thy throat and cease thy lying word.”

“Enough, enough,” Alfonso cried, “I give thee my consent

To meet each other in the lists; so ends this Parliament.”

The tumult which the King had endeavoured to abate had hardly died away when two cavaliers entered the Court. The new-comers were ambassadors from the Infantes of Navarre and Aragon, who had come to request the King to bestow the hands of the Cid’s daughters upon their masters. Alfonso turned to the Cid and requested his permission to ratify the marriage at once, and when the Campeador had humbly given his consent he answered to the assembled nobles that the espousals would duly take place, adding that the combat between the disputants would be fought out on the morrow.

This was right woeful news to the Infantes of Carrión, who, in great fear, requested him to permit them some delay to procure fitting horses and arms, so that at last the King scornfully fixed the day of combat at three weeks from that date, and the place where it was to be fought out as Carrión itself, so that the Infantes should have no grounds of excuse for absence or be able to plead that the champions of the Cid had been granted any undue advantage.

The Cid then took his leave of the King, and on parting pressed him to accept his courser Babieca. But Alfonso refused the proffered gift, saying courteously that if he accepted it Babieca would not have so good a lord. Turning to those who were to uphold his cause in the lists, the Campeador bade them an affectionate farewell, and so he departed for Valencia, and the King for Carrión to see justice done.