Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-02-26


subject of Ferdinand, entered upon his
career of arms under that monarch's
banners, and soo displayed that mar
velous strength, prodigious valor and
undaunted coolness and constancy which
raised him above all the warriors OF
Europe. His humanity and generosity
were equal to his courage, and his sim
Pile word OF promise was regarded as
invlolable, even under the greatest dan
gers. The arms of King Ferdinand and
the Cid were chiefly turned against
the Moors but various princes of Spain
were subdued by them. Among these
was Bermedez Ill, of Leon, the broth
er-in-law of the Castilian king, who be-
| gan the war, and was defeated, despoil-
ed OF his kin gdom aud put to death.
In early youth, the Cid loved the fair
Ximena, daughter of Count Gormaz, who
had cruelty injured Diego, father of the
champion. Roderigo challenged the
count, and killed him in single COM
bat. He soon afterward married Xime-
ma, apparently with her full consent,
such marriages being In accordance with
| the customs of the times.
The eldest son of Ferdinand. Sancho
the Strong, lived in close friendship
with the Cid, and they fought side by
side. In 1049 the two conquered the
Ermi of Saragossa, and when Sancho
came to the throne in 1865, the Cid was
placed in command OF all the armies of
the kingdom, and was called Campea-
dor, or the commander. Through the
vaIor of the chief Galicla was added to
the dominions OF Sancho. The king tell
in an attack on Zamora, in 1912, and his
| brother and successor, Alfonso VI, re-
ceived his coronation oath at the hands
OF the Cid, who was regarded as the de-
fender OF the state. Alfonso gave his
neice, Ximena, in marriage to the illus
trious warrior who had, several years
before, lost his first wife, Ximena, the
daughter OF Count Gormaz. Thus we'd
both named Ximena. the name SO dear
to Spanish poetry, is doubly connected
with that of Roderigo. At the time of
his second marriage, the Cid was nearly
fifty years OF age, and was renowned
throughout Chrlstendom as the bravest
soldier and most skillful captain OF tho
country.
| Sent on an embassy to the Moorish
kings of Seville and Cordova. the Cid
assisted them in gaining a great victory
over the king OF Granada. Alter the
battle he restored his own prisoners
to liberty, with their arms in their hands.
By many similar acts of generosity and
humanity, he won the hearts OF his ene-
mics. and those who submitted to his
arms became attached to their conque-
ror. Influenced by the slanders OF en-
vious rivals, Alfonso banished his cham
pion, who took refuge with the Emir Of
Saragessa, Ahmed ell Muktadir This
Moorish monarch treated the exile with
great confidence and respect. The Cid
was appointed to high command, and
gained some brilliant victories for All
med and his son Josef over the other
Moslem princes. Always merciful, he
liberated his captives. At length Alton
80 yielded to his better judgment, aud
recalled his great general. who, at the
head of seven thousand soldiers. equip
ped at his own cost gained several de-
cisive victories for his ungrateful king.
But from his too great generosity to the
, vanquished, or his too great neglect ol
the arts of fattery, the Cid again fell
into displeasure with Alfonso, and was
banished second time in the year 1890
His goods were confscated, his wife and
son were imprisoned, and his castle al
: Bivar was stripped and dismantled. The
poem OF the Cid begins with the account
oi the second Punishment, and the sor
rows of the exiIed family. The previou!
incidents are told in retrospect. Sixty
: Knights remained faithful to their lead
9 er. and others volunteered. anxious ts
q serve, at their own cost, under 50 famou!
u captain. At the head of five hundred
lances he attacked and captured severa
> tortresses. sending the keys and thu
finest of the horses to the king Alfonso
Y and congratulating him, as if these con
g quests were undertaken under his com
mand. Ashamed of treating harshly 81
magnanimous subject, Alfonso repeal
ed his sentence, and restored the Cid tt
his rank.
Count Raymond, OF Toulouse, an all,
OF the Moors, defied the commander tt
d battle; was defeated, and his sword
/, called Colada, worth thousand mark
OF silver, became the prize OF the victor
u Humiliated by his defeat, Raymond re
70 fused food for several days. Eat lik
It christian and 60 tree," said the Cid
The count obeyed. and was liberated
with his household.
l. After taking Alicant, Xerica and Al
r mena, the Cid laid siege to Valencia, In
Il viting all the chivalry of CASTLE to as
, sist him. The city capitulated after 81!
- months; the conqueror established
IL bishop, and sent tor his wife and daugh
ters. To do them honor he went out t.
n meet them on his good horse Bableca
ia whose name is almost as renowned l
=. Spanish verse as that of his master
u The emperor of Morocco, at the head Q
N fifty Thousand men, marched to retak
1t Valencia. The Cid gave battle, var
:. quished the Moorish monarch, and OF
!. tanned prodigious booty, which he sen
- to King Alfonso.
'r The king proposed, as signal mar
1t OF favor, to unite the two daughters {
n the Cid, Donna Elvira and Donna So
to the two sons OF the Count of Corlor
- The marriages took place with gres
l. splendur, but tho Infants OF Corior
le Don Diego and Don Fernando were in
In huenced by avarice only, knowing th
magnifcent dowrles of the Cid's daugt
:" ters. On the wedding-day lion kel
[e in the court yard broke loose, and th
T. craven bridegrooms fled IN terror, an
le hid behind the women, until the CT
'e seized the chain and dragged the lilo
!, back to his den. Believing that the lio
9, was set free as trick. the sons.in-la,
A. cherished the most vindictive hatred tt
D. ward their heroic father in-law, an
IT, found means to revenge their fancie
d. wrongs on their young wives.
10 Soon atterward the Cid entered on
e campaign against the N oors, and the Ii
1e tants asked and obtained leave to esco
their brides to their new homes. O
d! the way the cayalcade halted for r,
freshment; the guards were ordered
cb resume their march before the infant
and their brides had ended their repas
ns Instead OF assisting their wives to L,
nd mount their horses, the brutal husband
bound them hand and foot, and be,
e. them cruelty with the brides and leatl
e. er trapplnss, leaving them halt dea
an The knight, Helez Muaoz, who had bee
IT. ordered by the Cid to attend his daugl
u ters, finding that they did not overtal
I'D the escort, grew uneasy, and returne
ar in haste, to find the ladies insensib
to and covered with blood. Filled wi,
We horror and Indignation, the knight ar
an his squires used all the means in the
Sc power Tor the restoration of the ill-use
e. ladies, and with great difficulty carrie
them back to Bivar. The news OF tn
ie- outrage iniuristed the Cid, and he Sc
vo solemn demand to King Alfonso for
6. high court of justice, to decide betwet
er him and his base sons-in-law. The cou
Is assembled at Toledo, attended by all Il