song and legend from the middle ages-第10部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


gs；　For　at　that　day　no　place　was　found　in　Spain　for　such　divinings）；　But　calling　on　his　honor　spent　for　strength　and　self…denial；　He　set　aside　parental　love　and　steeled　his　nerves　to　trial；　Griping　their　hands　with　all　his　might　till　each　cried：　〃Hold；　Sir；　hold！　What　meaneth　this？　pray；　let　me　go；　thou'rt　killing　me；　behold！〃　Now　when　he　came　to　Roderick；　the　youngest　of　them　all；　Despair　had　well…nigh　banished　hope　of　cherished　fruit　withal　（Though　ofttimes　lingering　nearest　when　farthest　thought　to　be）；　The　young　man's　eyes　flashed　fury；　like　tiger　fierce　stood　he　And　cried：　〃Hold；　father；　hold；　a　curse　upon　ye；　stay！　An　ye　were　not　my　father；　I　would　not　stop　to　pray；　But　by　this　good　right　arm　of　mine　would　straight　pluck　out　your　life　With　a　bare　digit　of　my　hand；　in　lieu　of　vulgar　knife！　The　old　man　wept　for　joy：　〃Son　of　my　soul；〃　quoth　he；　〃Thy　rage　my　rage　disarmeth；　thine　ire　is　good　to　see；　Prove　now　thy　mettle；　Rod'rick；　wipe　out　my　grievous　stain；　Restore　the　honor　I　have　lost；　unless　thou　it　regain〃　Then　quickly　told　him　of　the　wrong　to　which　he　was　a　prey；　Gave　him　his　blessing　and　a　sword　and　bade　him　go　his　way　To　end　the　Count's　existence　and　begin　a　brighter　day。

Tr。　by　Knapp。


PENSATIVO　ESTAVA　EL　CID。　　（THE　SOLILOQUY。）　Pensive　stood　the　young　Castilian；　musing　calmly　on　his　plight；　'Gainst　a　man　like　Count　Lozano　to　avenge　a　father's　slight！　Thought　of　all　the　trained　dependents　that　his　foe　could　quickly　call；　A　thousand　brave　Asturians　scattered　through　the　highlands　all；　Thought；　too；　how　at　the　Cortes　of　Leon　his　voice　prevailed；　And　how　in　border　forays　the　Moor　before　him　quailed；　At　last　reviewed　the　grievanceNo　sacrifice　too　great　To　vindicate　the　first　affront　to　Layn　Calvo's　state；　Then　calls　on　Heaven　for　justice；　and　on　the　earth　for　space；　Craves　strength　of　honor　injured；　and　of　his　father　grace；　Nor　heeds　his　youthful　bearing；　for　men　of　rank　like　he　Are　wont　from　birth　to　prove　their　worth　by　deeds　of　chivalry。

Next　from　the　wainscot　took　he　down　an　ancient　sword　and　long：　Once　it　had　been　Mudarra's；　but　now　had　rusty　grown；　And；　holding　it　sufficient　to　achieve　the　end　he　sought；　Before　he　girt　it　on　him；　he　addressed　the　fitting　thought：　〃Consider；　valiant　claymore；　that　Mudarrals　arm　is　mine；　And　the　cause　wherein　ye　wrestle　is　Mudarra's　cause　and　thine；　But　if；　forsooth；　thou　scornest　to　be　grasped　by　youthful　hand；　Think　not　'twill　lead　thee　backward　e'en　a　jot　from　the　demand；　For　as　firm　as　thine　own　steel　thou　wilt　find　me　in　the　fray；　And　as　good　as　e'er　the　best　manThou　hast　gained　a　lord　to…day；　And　if　perchance　they　worst　thee；　enraged　at　such　a　stain；　I　shall　plunge　thee　to　the　cross　in　my　breast　for　very　shame。　Then　on　to　the　field　away；　for　the　hour　to　fight　is　come；　To　requite　on　Count　Lozano　all　the　mischief　he　has　done。〃　So；　full　of　courage　and　emprise　the　Cid　rode　forth　to　war；　And　his　triumph　was　accomplished　in　the　space　of　one　short　hour。

Tr。　by　KNAPP。


NON　ES　DE　SESSUDOS　HOMES。　（ON　THE　FIELD）。

〃It　is　not　meet　for　men　of　brain；　nor　yet　for　champion　true；　To　offer　insult　to　a　man　of　better　blood　than　you！　The　brawny　warrior；　howe'er　fierce　and　valiant　he　may　be；　Was　never　wont　to　test　his　power　on　aged　infirmity。　The　men　of　Leon　need　not　boast　of　high　emprise；　forsooth；　Who　craven　smite　the　face　of　age；　and　not　the　breast　of　youth。　Ye　should　have　known　who　was　my　sire；　and　Layn　Calvo's　line；　A　breed　that　never　brook　offence；　nor　challenge　fit　decline；　How　dared　ye　thus　provoke　a　man　whom　only　Heaven　may；　And　not　another'　while　the　son　lives　to　avenge　the　day！　Ye　cast　about　his　noble　face　dishonor's　sombre　pall；　But　I　am　here　to　strip　it　off　and　expiate　it　all；　For　only　blood　will　cleanse　the　stain　attainted　honor　brings；　And　valid　blood　is　that　alone　which　from　the　aggressor　springs；　Yours　it　must　be；　Oh　tyrant；　since　by　its　overplay　It　moved　ye　to　so　foul　a　deed　and　robbed　your　sense　away；　On　my　father　ye　laid　hand；　in　the　presence　of　the　king；　And　I；　his　son；　am　here　to…day　atonement　fall　to　bring。　Count；　ye　did　a　craven　business　and　I　call　ye　COWARD　here！　Behold；　if　I　await　you；　think　not　I　come　with　fear；　For　Diego　Laynez　wrought　me　well　set　in　his　own　mould；　And　while　I　prove　my　birthright　I　your　baseness　shall　unfold。　Your　valor　as　a　crafty　blade　will　not　avail　ye　more；　For　to　my　needs　I　bring　a　sword　and　charger　trained　to　war。〃　Thus　spake　to　Count　Lozano　Spain's　champion；　the　Cid；　（Ere　long　he　won　the　title　by　achievements　which　he　did）　That　day　he　slew　his　enemy　and　severing　quick　the　head；　Bore　high　the　bleeding　trophy　as　he　homeward　proudly　sped。

Tr。　by　Knapp。


LLORANDO　DIEGO　LAYNEZ。　（THE　TRIUMPH。）

Weeping　sat　Diego　Laynez　still　o'er　his　untasted　meal；　Still　o'er　his　shame　was　brooding；　the　tears　his　thoughts　reveal；　Beset　with　a　thousand　fancies；　and　crazed　with　honest　care；　Sensitive　to　a　footfall　lest　some　foe　were　lurking　there；　When　Rod'rick；　bearing　by　the　locks　the　Count's　dissevered　poll；　Tracking　the　floor　with　recent　gore；　advanced　along　the　hall。　He　touched　his　father's　shoulder　and　roused　him　from　his　dream；　And　proudly　flaunting　his　revenge　he　thus　addresses　him：　〃Behold　the　evil　tares；　sir；　that　ye　may　taste　the　wheat；　Open　thine　eyes；　my　father；　and　lift　thy　head；　'tis　meet；　For　this　thine　honor　is　secure；　is　raised　to　life　once　more；　And　all　the　stain　is　washed　away　in　spite　of　pride　and　power：　For　here　are　hands　that　are　not　hands；　this　tongue　no　tongue　is　now；　I　have　avenged　thee；　sir；　behold；　and　here　the　truth　avow。〃　The　old　man　thinks　he　dreams；　but　no；　no　dream　is　there；　'Twas　only　his　long　grieving　that　had　filled　his　heart　with　care。　At　length　he　lifts　his　eyes；　spent　by　chivalrous　deeds；　And　turns　them　on　his　enemy　clad　in　the　ghastly　weeds：　〃Roderick；　son　of　my　soul；　mantle　the　spectre　anon；　Lest；　like　a　new　Medusa；　it　change　my　heart　to　stone；　And　leave　me　in　such　plight　at　last；　that；　ere　I　wish　ye　joy；　My　heart　should　rend　within　me　of　bliss　without　alloy。　Oh；　infamous　Lozano！　kind　heaven　hath　wrought　redress；　And　the　great　justice　of　my　claim　hath　fired　Rodrigo's　breast！　Sit　down；　my　son；　and　dine；　here　at　the　head　with　me；　For　he　who　bringest　such　a　gift；　is　head　of　my　family。〃

Tr。　by　Knapp。


THE　YOUNG　CID。

Now　rides　Diego　Laynez；　to　kiss　the　good　King's　hand；　Three　hundred　men　of　gentry　go　with　him　from　his　land；　Among　them；　young　Rodrigo；　the　proud　Knight　of　Bivar；　The　rest　on　mules　are　mounted；　he　on　his　horse　of　war。

They　ride　in　glittering　gowns　of　soyeHe　harnessed　like　a　lord；　There　is　no　gold　about　the　boy；　but　the　crosslet　of　his　sword；　The　rest　have　gloves　of　sweet　perfume；He　gauntlets　strong　of　mail；　They　broidered　cap　and　flaunting　plume；He　crest　untaught　to　quail。

All　talking　with　each　other　thus　along　their　way　they　passed；　But　now　they've　come　to　Burgos；　and　met　the　King　at　last；　When　they　came　near　his　nobles；　a　whisper　through　them　ran；　〃He　rides　amidst　the　gentry　that　slew　the　Count　Lozan。〃

With　very　haughty　gesture　Rodrigo　reined　his　horse；　Right　scornfully　he　shouted；　when　he　heard　them　so　discourse；　〃If　any　of　his　kinsmen　or　vassals　dare　appear；　The　man　to　give　them　answer；　on　horse　or　foot；is　here。〃

〃The　devil　ask　the　question；〃　thus　muttered　all　the　band；　With　that　they　all　alighted；　to　kiss　the　good　King's　hand；　All　but　the　proud　Rodrigo；　he　in　his　saddle　stayed；　Then　turned　to　him　his　father　（you　may　hear　the　words　he　said）。

〃Now；　light；　my　son；　I　pray　thee；　and　kiss　the　good　King's　hand；　He　is　our　lord；　Rodrigo；　we　hold　of　him　our　land。〃　But　when　Rodrigo　heard　him；　he　looked　in　sulky　sort；　I　wot　the　words　he　answered　they　were　both　cold　and　short。

〃Had　any　other　said　it；　his　pains　had　well　been　paid；　But　thou；　sir；　art　my　father；　thy　word　must　be　obeyed。〃　With　that　he　sprung　down　lightly；　before　the　King　to　kneel；　But　as　the　knee　was　bending；　out　leapt　his　blade　of　steel。

The　King　drew　back　in　terror；　when　he　saw　the　sword　was　bare；　〃Stand　back；　stand　back；　Rodrigo；　in　the　devil's　name　beware；　Your　looks　bespeak　a　creature　of　father　Adam's　mould；　But　in　your　wild　behaviour　you're　like　some　lion　bold。〃

When　Rodrigo　heard　him　say　so；　he　leapt　into　his　seat；　And　thence　he　made　his　answer；　with　visage　nothing　sweet；　〃I'd　think　it　little　honour　to　kiss　a　kingly　palm；　And　if　my　father's　kissed　it；　thereof　ashamed　I　am。〃

When　he　these　words　had　uttered；　he　turned　him　from　the　gate。　His　true　three　hundred　gentles　behind　him　followed　straight；　If　with　good　gowns　they　came　that　day；　with　better　arms　they　went；　And　if　their　mules　behind　did　stay；　with　horses　they're　content。

Tr。　by　Lockhart。


THE　CID'S　COURTSHIP。

Now；　of　Rodrigo　de　Bivar　great　was　the　fame　that　run；　How　he　five　Kings　had　vanquished；　proud　Moormen　every　one；　And　how；　when　they　consented　to　hold　of　him　their　ground；　He　freed　them　from　the　prison　wherein　they　had　been　bound。

To　the　good　King　Fernando；　in　Burgos　where　he　lay；　Came　then　Ximena　Gomez；　and　thus　to　him　did　say：　〃I　am　Don　Gomez；　daughter；　in　Gormaz　Count　was　he；　Him　slew　Rodrigo　of　Bivar　in　battle　valiantly。

〃Now　am　I　come　before　you；　this　day　a　boon　to　crave；　And　it　is　that　I　to　husband　may　this　Rodrigo　have；　Grant　this；　and　I　shall　hold　me　a　happy　damosell；　Much　honoured　shall　I　hold　me；　I　shall　be　married　well。

〃I　know　he's　born　for　thriving；　none　like　him　in　the　land；　I　know　that　none　in　battle　against　his　spear　may　stand；　Forgiveness　is　well　pleasing　in　God　our　Saviour's　view；　And　I　forgive　him　freely；　for　that　my　sire　he　slew。〃

Right　pleasing　to　Fernando　was　the　thing　she　did　propose；　He　writes　his　letter　swiftly；　and　forth　his　foot…page　goes；　I　wot；　when　young　Rodrigo　saw　how　the　King　did　write；　He　leapt　on　BaviecaI　wot　his　leap　was　light。

With　his　own　troop　of　true　men　forthwith　he　took　the　way；　Three　hundred　friends　and　kinsmen；　all　gently　born　were　they；　All　in　one　colour　mantled；　in　armour　gleaming　gay；　New　were　both　scarf　and　scabbard；　when　they　went　forth　that　day。

The　King　came　out　to　meet　him。　with　words　of　hearty　cheer；　Quoth　he；　〃My　good　Rodrigo；　you　are　right　welcome　here；　This　girl　Ximena　Gomez　would　have　ye　for　her　lord；　Already　for　the　slaughter　her　grace　she　doth　accord。

〃I　pray　you　be　consenting；　my　gladness　will　be　great；　You　shall　have　lands　in　plenty；　to　strengthen　your　estate。〃　〃Lord