he would not yield up his kingdom: and he sent to his brother a second
time to bid him battle, saying that whosoever conquered should then
certainly remain King of Leon. The two armies met and joined battle,
and they of Leon had the victory, for my Cid was not in the field. And
King Don Alfonso had pity upon the Castillians because they were
Christians, and gave orders not to slay them; and his brother King Don
Sancho fled. Now as he was flying, my Cid came up with his green
pennon; and when he saw that the king his lord had been conquered it
grieved him sorely: howbeit he encouraged him saying, This is nothing,
sir! to fail or to prosper is as God pleases. But do you gather
together your people who are discomfited, and bid them take heart. The
Leonese and Galegos are with the king your brother, secure as they
think themselves in their lodging, and taking no thought of you; for
it is their custom to extol themselves when their fortune is fair, and
to mock at others, and in this boastfulness will they spend the night,
so that we shall find them sleeping at break of day, and will fall
upon them. And it came to pass as he had said. The Leonese lodged
themselves in Vulpegera, taking no thought of their enemies, and
setting no watch; and Ruydiez arose betimes in the morning and fell
upon them, and subdued them before they could take their arms. King
Don Alfonso fled to the town of Carrion, which was three leagues
distant, and would have fortified himself there in the Church of St.
Mary, but he was surrounded and constrained to yield.
Now the knights of Leon gathered together in their flight, and when
they could not find their king they were greatly ashamed, and they
turned back and smote the Castillians; and as it befell, they
encountered King Don Sancho alone and took him prisoner, for his
people considered the victory as their own, and all was in confusion.
And thirteen knights took him in their ward and were leading him
away,--but my Cid beheld them and galloped after them: he was alone,
and had no lance, having broken his in the battle. And he came up to
them and said, Knights, give me my lord and I will give unto you
yours. They knew him by his arms, and they made answer, Ruydiez,
return in peace and seek not to contend with us, otherwise we will
carry you away prisoner with him. And he waxed wroth and said, Give me
but a lance and I will, single as I am, rescue my lord from all of ye:
by God's help I will do it. And they held him as nothing because he
was but one, and gave him a lance. But he attacked them therewith so
bravely that he slew eleven of the thirteen, leaving two only alive,
on whom he had mercy; and thus did he rescue the king. And the
Castillians rejoiced greatly at the king's deliverance: and King Don
Sancho went to Burgos, and took with him his brother prisoner.
Great was the love which the Infanta Donya Urraca bore to her brother
King Don Alfonso, and when she heard that he was made prisoner, she
feared lest he should be put to death: and she took with her the Count
Don Peransures, and went to Burgos. And they spake with the Cid, and
besought him that he would join with them and intercede with the king
that he should release his brother from prison, and let him become a
monk. Full willing was the Cid to serve in any thing the Infanta Donya
Urraca, and he went with her before the king. And she knelt down
before the king her brother, and besought him that he would let their
brother Don Alfonso take the habit of St. Benedict, in the royal
Monastery of Sahagun. And the king took my Cid aside, and asked
counsel of him what he should do; and the Cid said, that if Don
Alfonso were willing to become a monk, he would do well to set him
free upon that condition, and he besought him so to do. Then King Don
Sancho, at my Cid's request, granted to Donya Urraca what she had
asked. And Don Alfonso became a monk in the Monastery at Sahagun, more
by force than of free will. And being in the monastery he spake with
Don Peransures, and took counsel with him, and fled away by night from
the monks, and went among the Moors to King Alimaymon of Toledo. And
the Moorish king welcomed him with a good will, and did great honour
to him, and gave him great possessions and many gifts.
But when King Don Sancho heard how his brother had fled from the
monastery, he drew out his host and went against the city of Leon. The
Leonese would fain have maintained the city against him, but they
could not, and he took the city of Leon, and all the towns and castles
which had been under the dominion of his brother King Don Alfonso. And
then he put the crown upon his head, and called himself king of the
three kingdoms. He was a fair knight and of marvellous courage, so
that both Moors and Christians were dismayed at what they saw him do,
for they saw that nothing which he willed to take by force could stand
against him. And he went forth with his army, and took from the
Infanta Donya Elvira the half of the Infantazgo [Footnote: Inherited
land] which she possessed, and also from Donya Urraca the other half.
And he went against Toro, the city of Donya Elvira, and took it, and
then he went to Zamora to Donya Urraca, bidding her yield him up the
city, and saying that he would give her lands as much as she required
in the plain country. But she returned for answer, that she would in
no manner yield unto him that which the king her father had given her;
and she besought him that he would suffer her to continue to dwell
peaceably therein, saying that no disservice should ever be done
against him on her part.
Then King Don Sancho went to Burgos, because it was the season for
besieging a town, being winter. And he sent his letters through all
the land, calling upon his vassals to assemble together upon the first
day of March in Sahagun, upon pain of forfeiting his favour. And they
assembled together in Sahagun on the day appointed; and when the king
heard in what readiness they were, it gladdened him, and he lifted up
his hands to God and said, Blessed be thy name, O Lord, because thou
hast given me all the kingdoms of my father. And when he had said this
he ordered proclamation to be made through the streets of Burgos, that
all should go forth to protect the host and the body of the king their
lord. They made such speed that in five days they arrived before
Zamora, and pitched their tents upon the banks of the Douro. And he
mounted on horseback with his bidalgos and rode round the town, and
beheld how strongly it was situated upon a rock, with strong walls,
and many and strong towers, and the river Douro running at the foot
thereof; and he said unto his knights, Ye see how strong it is,
neither Moor nor Christian can prevail against it; if I could have it
from my sister either for money or exchange, I should be Lord of
Spain.
Then the king returned to his tents, and sent for the Cid, and said
unto him, Cid, you well know how manifoldly you are bound unto me. I
have ever shown favour unto you, and you have ever served me as the
loyalest vassal that ever did service to his lord. Now therefore I
beseech you as my friend and true vassal, that you go to Zamora to my
sister Donya Urraca, and say unto her again, that I beseech her to
give me the town either for a price, or in exchange, and I will give
to her Medina de Rioseco, with the whole Infantazgo, from Villalpando
to Valladolid, and Tiedra also, which is a good Castle; and I will
swear unto her, with twelve knights of my vassals, never to break this
covenant between us; but if she refuseth to do this I will take away
the town from her by force. And my Cid kissed the hand of the king and
said unto him, This bidding, sir, should be for other messenger, for
it is a heavy thing for me to deliver it; for I was brought up in
Zamora by your father's command, with Donya Urraca and with his sons,
and it is not fitting that I should be the bearer of such bidding. And
the king persisted in requiring of him that he should go, insomuch
that he was constrained to obey his will. And he took with him fifteen
of his knights and rode towards Zamora, and when he drew nigh he
called unto those who kept guard in the towers not to shoot their
arrows at him, for he was Ruydiez of Bivar, who came to Donya Urraca
with the bidding of her brother King Don Sancho. With that there came
down a knight who had the keeping of the gate, and he bade the Cid
enter. It pleased the Infanta well that he should be the messenger,
and she bade him come before her that she might know what was his
bidding. When the Cid entered the palace Donya Urraca advanced to meet
him, and greeted him full well, and they seated themselves both upon
the Estrado. And Donya Urraca said unto him, Cid, you well know that
you were brought up with me here in Zamora, and when my father was at
the point of death he charged you that you should always counsel his
sons the best you could. Now tell me I beseech you what is it which my
brother goes about to do, now that he has called up all Spain in arms,
and to what lands he thinks to go, whether against Moors or
Christians. Then the Cid answered and said, Lady, give me safe
assurance and I will tell unto you that which the king your brother
hath sent me to say. And she said she would do as Don Arias Gonzalo
should advise her. And Don Arias answered that it was well to hear
what the king her brother had sent to say. Donya Urraca then said to
the Cid, that he might speak his bidding safely. Then said my Cid, The
king your brother sends to greet you, and beseeches you to give him
this town of Zamora, either for a price or in exchange; and he will
give to you Medina de Rio-seco, with the whole Infantazgo, from
Villalpando to Valladolid, and the good castle of Tiedra, and he will
swear unto you, with twelve knights his vassals, never to do you hurt
or harm; but if you will not give him the town, he will take it
against your will.
When Donya Urraca heard this she lamented aloud, saying, Wretch that I
am, many are the evil messages which I have heard since my father's
death! He hath disherited my brother King Don Garcia of his kingdom,
and taken him, and now holds him in irons as if he were a thief or a
Moor: and he hath taken his lands from my brother King Don Alfonso,
and forced him to go among the Moors, and live there exiled as if he
had been a traitor; and he hath taken her lands from my sister Donya
Elvira against her will, and now would he take Zamora from me also!
Now then let the earth open and swallow me, that I may not see so many
troubles! I am a woman, and well know that I cannot strive with him in
battle; but I will have him slain either secretly or openly. Then Don
Arias Gonzalo stood up and said, Lady, give order that all the men of
Zamora assemble in St. Salvador's and know of them whether they will
hold with you, seeing that your father gave them to you to be your
vassals. If they will hold with you, then give not up the town,
neither for a price, nor in exchange; but if they will not, let us
then go to Toledo among the Moors, where your brother King Don Alfonso
abideth.
And she did as her foster-father had advised, and it was proclaimed
through the streets that the men of Zamora should meet in council at
St. Salvador's. When they were all assembled, Donya Urraca arose and
said, Don Sancho bids me give him Zamora, either for a price or in
exchange. Now concerning this I would know whereunto ye advise
me. Then by command of the Council there rose up a knight who was
called Don Nuno, a man of worth, aged, and of fair speech; and he
said, We beseech you give not up Zamora, neither for price nor for
exchange, for he who besieges you upon the rock would soon drive you
from the plain. The Council of Zamora will do your bidding, and will
not desert you. Sooner, lady, will we expend all our possessions, and
eat our mules and horses, than give up Zamora, unless by your command.
And they all with one accord confirmed what Don Nuno had said. When
the Infanta Donya Urraca heard this she was well pleased, and praised
them greatly; and she turned to the Cid and said unto him, I beseech
you help me now against my brother, and intreat him that he will not
seek to disherit me; but if he will go on with what he hath begun, say
to him that I will rather die with the men of Zamora and they with me,
than give him up the town, either for price or exchange. And with this
answer did the Cid return unto the king.
THE SIEGE OF ZAMORA
By Robert Southey
When King Don Sancho heard what the Cid said, his anger kindled
against him, and he said, You have given this counsel to my sister
because you were bred with her. And my Cid answered and said,
Faithfully have I discharged your bidding, and as a true vassal.
Howbeit, O king, I will not bear arms against the Infanta your sister,
nor against Zamora, because of the days which are passed;--and I
beseech you do not persist in doing this wrong. But then King Don
Sancho was more greatly incensed, and he said unto him, If it were not
that my father left you commended to me, I would order you this
instant to be hanged. But for this which you have said I command you
to quit my kingdom within nine days. The Cid went to his tent in
anger, and called for his kinsmen and his friends, and bade them make
ready on the instant to depart with him. He set forth with all the
knights and esquires of his table, and with all their retainers horse
and foot, twelve hundred persons, all men of approved worth, a goodly
company;--and they took the road to Toledo, meaning to join King Don
Alfonso among the Moors. That night they slept at Castro Nuno. But
when the counts and Ricos-omes, and the other good men of the host saw
this, they understood the great evil, which might arise to the king
from the departure of the Cid. They went to the king and said unto
him, Sir, wherefore would you lose so good a vassal, who has done you
such great service? If he should go unto your brother Don Alfonso
among the Moors, he would not let you besiege this city thus in peace.
And the king perceived that they spake rightly, and he called for Don
Diego Ordonez and bade him follow the Cid, and beseech him in his name
to return; and whatever covenant he should make it should be confirmed
unto him; and of this he ordered his letters of credence to be made
out. And Don Diego Ordonez rode after the Cid, and delivered the
king's bidding, and said that the king besought him not to bear in
mind the words which he had spoken unto him in anger. Then the Cid
called together his kinsmen and friends, and they counselled him that
he should return to the king, for it was better to remain in his land
and serve God, than to go among the Moors. He held their counsel good,
and called for Don Diego, and said that he would do the will of the
king. And when the Cid drew nigh unto the host, the king went out with
five hundred knights to meet him, and received him gladly, and did him
great honour. And the Cid kissed his hand and asked him if he
confirmed what Don Diego had said; and the king confirmed it before
all the knights who were there present, promising to give him great
possessions. And when they came to the army great was the joy because
of the Cid's return, and great were the rejoicings which were made:
but as great was the sorrow in Zamora, for they who were in the town
held that the siege was broken up by his departure. Nevertheless my
Cid would not bear arms against the Infanta, nor against the town of
Zamora, because of the days which were past.
The king ordered proclamation to be made throughout the host that the
people should make ready to attack the town. They fought against it
three days and three nights so bravely that all the ditches were
filled up, and the barbicans thrown down, and they who were within
fought sword in hand with those without, and the waters of the Douro,
as they past below the town, were all discoloured with blood. And when
Count Don Garcia de Cabra saw the great loss which they were
suffering, it grieved him; and he went unto the king and told him that
many men were slain, and advised him to call off the host that they
should no longer fight against the town, but hold it besieged, for by
famine it might soon be taken. Then the king ordered them to draw
back, and he sent to each camp to know how many men had died in the
attack, and the number was found to be a thousand and thirty. And when
the king knew this he was greatly troubled for the great loss which he
had received, and he ordered the town to be beleaguered round about,
that none could enter into it, neither go out therefrom; and there was
a great famine within the town. And when Don Arias Gonzalo saw the
misery, and the hunger, and the mortality which were there, he said to
the Infanta Donya Urraca, You see, lady, the great wretchedness which
the people of Zamora have suffered, and do every day suffer to
maintain their loyalty; now then call together the Council, and thank
them truly for what they have done for you, and bid them give up the
town within nine days to the king your brother. And we, lady, will go
to Toledo to your brother King Don Alfonso, for we cannot defend
Zamora; King Don Sancho is of so great heart and so resolute, that he
will never break up the siege, and I do not hold it good that you
should abide here longer. And Donya Urraca gave orders that the good
men of Zamora should meet together in council; and she said unto them,
Friends, ye well see the resoluteness of King Don Sancho my brother.
Ye have done enough, and I do not hold it good that ye should perish,
I command ye therefore give up the town to him within nine days, and I
will go to Toledo to my brother King Don Alfonso. The men of Zamora
when they heard this had great sorrow, because they had endured the
siege so long, and must now give up the town at last; and they
determined all to go with the Infanta, and not remain in the town.
When Vellido Dolfos heard this, he went to Donya Urraca and said,
Lady, I came here to Zamora to do you service with thirty knights, all
well accoutred, as you know; and I have served you long time, and
never have I had from you guerdon for my service, though I have
demanded it: but now if you will grant my demand I will relieve
Zamora, and make King Don Sancho break up the siege. Then said Donya
Urraca, Vellido, I do not bid thee commit any evil thing, if such thou
hast in thy thought; but I say unto you, that there is not a man in
the world to whom if he should relieve Zamora, and make the king my
brother raise the siege, I would not grant whatsoever he might
require. And when Vellido heard this he kissed her hand, and went to a
porter who kept one of the gates of the town, saying, that he should
open the gate unto him when he saw him flying toward it, and he gave
him his cloak. Then he armed himself, and mounted his horse, and rode
to the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, and cried with a loud voice, We all
know the reason, Don Arias Gonzalo, why you will not let Donya Urraca
exchange Zamora with her brother; it is because you deal with her like
an old traitor. When Arias Gonzalo heard this, it grieved him to the
heart. Then his sons arose and armed themselves hastily, and went
after Vellido, who fled before them toward the gate of the town. The
porter when he saw him coming opened the gate, and he rode out and
galloped into the camp of the King Don Sancho, and the others followed
him till they were nigh the camp, but farther they did not venture.
And Vellido went to the king and kissed his hand, and said unto him
these false words with a lying tongue: Sir, because I said to the
Council of Zamora that they should yield the town unto you, the sons
of Arias Gonzalo would have slain me, even as you have seen. And
therefore come I to you, sir, and will be your vassal, if I may find
favour at your hands. And I will show you how in a few days you may
have Zamora, if God pleases; and if I do not as I have said, then let
me be slain. And the king believed all that he said, and received him
for his vassal, and did him great honour. And all that night they
talked together of his secrets, and he made the king believe that he
knew a postern by means of which he would put Zamora into his hands.
On the morrow in the morning, one of the knights who were in the town
went upon the wall, and cried out with a loud voice, King Don Sancho,
give ear to what I say; I am a knight, and they from whom I spring
were true men and delighted in their loyalty, and I also will live and
die in my truth. I say unto you, that from this town of Zamora there
is gone forth a traitor to kill you; his name is Vellido Dolfos. Look
to yourself therefore and take heed of him. I say this to you, that if
evil should befall you by this traitor, it may not be said in Spain
that you were not warned against him. And the men of Zamora sent also
to the king to bid him beware of Vellido; nevertheless he gave no heed
to the warning. And Vellido, when he heard this went to the king, and
said, Sir, the old Arias Gonzalo is full crafty, and hath sent to say
this unto you, because he knows that by my means you would have won
the town. And he called for his horse, feigning that he would depart
because of what had been said. But the king took him by the hand and
said, Friend and vassal, take no thought for this; I say unto you,
that if I may have Zamora, I will make you chief therein, even as
Arias Gonzalo is now. Then Vellido kissed his hand and said, God
grant you life, sir, for many and happy years, and let you fulfil what
you desire. But the traitor had other thoughts in his heart.
After this Vellido took the king apart and said to him, If it please
you, sir, let us ride out together alone; we will go round Zamora, and
see the trenches which you have ordered to be made; and I will show
unto you the postern which is called the queen's, by which we may
enter the town, for it is never closed. When it is night you shall
give me a hundred knights who are hidalgos, well armed, and we will go
on foot, and the Zamorans because they are weak with famine and
misery, will let us conquer them, and we will enter and open the gate,
and keep it open till all your host shall have entered in. The king
believed what he said, and they took horse and went riding round the
town, and the king looked at the trenches, and that traitor showed him
the postern. And after they had ridden round the town the king had
need to alight; now he carried in his hand a light hunting spear which
was gilded over, such as the kings from whom he was descended were
wont to bear; and he gave this to Vellido to hold it while he went
aside, to cover his feet. And Vellido Dolfos, when he saw him in that
guise, took the hunting spear and thrust it between his shoulders, so
that it went through him and came out at his breast. And when he had
stricken him he turned the reins and rode as fast as he could toward
the postern. Now it chanced that the Cid saw him riding thus, and
asked him wherefore he fled, and he would not answer; and then the Cid
understood that he had done some treason, and his heart misgave him
and he called in haste for his horse, but while they were bringing it,
Vellido had ridden far away; and the Cid being eager to follow him,
took only his lance and did not wait to have his spurs buckled on. And
he followed him to the postern and had well nigh overtaken him, but
Vellido got in; and then the Cid said in his anger, Cursed be the
knight who ever gets on horseback without his spurs. Now in all the
feats of the Cid never was fault found in him save only in this,
that he did not enter after Vellido into the town; but he did not
fail to do this for cowardice, neither for fear of death, or of
imprisonment; but because he thought that this was a device between
him and the king, and that he fled by the king's command; for certes,
if he had known that the king was slain, there was nothing which would
have prevented him from entering the town, and slaying the traitor in
the streets, thereright.
Now the history saith, that when Vellido Dolfos had got within the
postern, he was in such fear both of those who were in the town and of
those who were without, that he went and placed himself under the
mantle of the Infanta Donya Urraca. And when Don Arias Gonzalo knew
this, he went unto the Infanta and said, Lady, I beseech you that you
give up this traitor to the Castillians, otherwise the Castillians
will impeach all who are in Zamora, and that will be greater dishonour
for you and for us. And Donya Urraca made answer, Counsel me then so
that he may not die for this which he hath done. Don Arias Gonzalo
then answered, Give him unto me, and I will keep him in custody for
three days, and if the Castillians impeach us we will deliver him into
their hands; and if they do not impeach us within that time, we will
thrust him out of the town so that he shall not be seen among us. And
Don Arias Gonzalo took him from thence, and secured him with double
fetters, and guarded him well.