Chapter CXXVIII

What I have done against you, ho! Heirs of Carrión, say, For without guile I served you, and lo, my death ye plot. For wicked men and traitors I will leave you on the spot. Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra with your good leave I go; For of these men of Carrión I rate the fame but low. God will it and command it, who is Lord of all the Earth. That the Campeador hereafter of this match have joy and mirth." That thing the Moor has told them, and back he turned him there. When he crossed over thee Jalón, weapon he waved in air. He returned unto Molína like a man of prudent heart.

And now from Ansaréra did Carrión's Heirs depart; And they began thereafter to travel day and night. And they let Atiénza on the left, a craggy height. The forest of Miédes, now have they overpassed, And on through Montes Claros they pricked forward spurring fast. And then passed Griza on the left that Alamos did found. There be the caves where Elpha he imprisoned underground. And they left San Estévan, on their right that lay afar. Within the woods of Corpes, the Heirs of Carrión are. And high the hills are wooded, to the clouds the branches sweep, And savage are the creatures that roundabout them creep; And there upon a bower with a clear spring they light And there the Heirs of Carrión bade that their tent be pight. There with their men about them, that night they lay at rest. With their wives clasped to their bosom their affection they protest, But ill the twain fulfilled it, when the dawn came up the East. They bade put goods a plenty on the back of every beast. Where they at night found lodging, now have they struck the tent. The people of their household far on before them went. Of the two Heirs of Carrión so the commandment ran, That none behind should linger, a woman or a man. But Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra their wives shall tarry still, With whom it is their pleasure to dally to their fill.

The others have departed. They four are left alone. Great evil had been plotted by the Heirs of Carrión. "Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra, ye may take this for true: Here in the desert wildwood shall a mock be made of you. Today is our departure, we will leave you here behind. And in the lands of Carrión no portion shall you find. Let them hasten with these tidings to the Cid Campeador. Thus, the matter of the lion, we avenge ourselves therefor."

Their furs and their mantles, from the ladies they have whipped. In their shifts and their tunics they left the ladies stripped. With spur on heel before them those wicked traitors stand, And saddle-girths both stout and strong they have taken in the hand. When the ladies had beheld it, then out spake Sol the dame: "Don Diégo, don Ferrándo, we beeech you in God's name. You have two swords about you, that for strength and edge are known. And one they call Coláda, the other is Tizón. Strike off our heads together, and martyrs we shall die. The Moriscos and the Christians against this deed shall cry. It stands not with our deserving that we should suffer thus. So evil an example, then do not make of us. Unto our own abasement, if you scourge us, you consent, That men will bring against you in parle and parliament."

Naught profits it the ladies, however hard they pray. And now the Heirs of Carrión upon them 'gan to lay. With the buckled girths they scourged them in fashion unbeseen, And exceeding was their anguish from the sharp spurs and keen. They rent the shifts and wounded the bodies of the two, And forth upon the tunics the clear blood trickled through. In their very hearts the ladies have felt that agony. What a fair fortune were it, if God's will it might be, Had then appeared before them the Cid the Campeador.

Powerless were the ladies, and the brothers scourged them sore. Their shifts and their sullies throughout the blood did stain. Of scourging the two ladies wearied the brothers twain,

Which man should smite most fiercely they had vied each with each. Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra had no longer power of speech. Within the wood of Corpes for dead they left the pair.