Evening star., 1911-08-14


historical character Rodrigo was a SOL
dier of fortune who sold his lance al
ternately to Christian king and Moslem
amir, but legend has clothed him in the
virtues that made him the beau ideal cav
alier OF the period. AS historical charac-
ter the Cid has substance enough to be
rated by impartial chroniclers of later
periods among the heroes Of nations, with
Saladin. Henry OF Navarro. Prince Henry
of Portugal, Robert Bruce and even
Cromwell and Lharlemagne.
But 1t is ''el milo Cid" as the legendary
historical Rodrigo de Bivar is known,
that gives the American traveller In mod
ern Spain an insight into the ideals Of
the country that produced soon after his
time the dazzling adventurers who pill
laged the palaces Of Peru and Mexico and
turned a stream of gold into the Golfers
of Spain.
Even nowadays. when the scientists say
that the disease is not contracted as a
result OF merely coming into the presence
OF a leper, every one fears a man af-
flicted with leprosy. There Is story of
the beginning of the Cid's career which
pictures him as rescuing leper from a
bog, putting him onN his horse, taking
him to his inn and eating with him.
The Mortified guests at the inn saw the
scales of leprosy fall into the dish Of food.
They stampeded for
Guests OF the Inn the open air, but
m,: n Rodrigo's sense OF
AAsu IL ASAA0A' hospitality was such
his side. His conscience was SO clear
~ ~ -y~H& h.
Cid was awakened by fresh breeze
blowing upon his back. The leper was
gone. but st. Lazarus appeared. inform
ing him that he had taken leper's form
to test the bravery and virtue Of Rod
rigo. In future the pure knight should
be victorious over his enemies, and be
respected and loved by his countrymen.
The legend. picturing the Cid as being
somewhat more obliging than the Good
Samaritan and as well armored by merit
as Daniel in the lions den, merely sets
forth an ideal Of knightliness.
The historical Rodrigo de Bivar was
probably not stickler for the proprie-
ties in warfare, but 'el mio Cid,'' the be-
loved legendary knight. was. King AL
fonso the Learned called upon the mobiles
of Leon. Navarro. CASTLE. Galicia and
Asturias to help him to take a city. 1t
was suspected that Alfonso had COM
knight but the Cid was bold enough to
express the suspicion. He not only ex-
pressed II, but demanded that Alfonso
swear that he had had no part in the
murder or conspiracy before his lance
should see service in Alfonsos cause. The
king meekly swore that he was innocent.
But the Cid, backed by those who had
made him their spokesman, demanded
that the oath OF innocence be taken pub
licly Holding the Bible before the mon
xh4 III I'D
examination that would have done credit
to a modern criminal lawyer.
That the legendary Cid was man of
blameless domesticity is indicated by the
fact that there
Legend Has Him is gap of sew
a Model Husband. sxn,o,ts ~ : aoo,rs ~ ms
ring at the time Of his marriage TO a
cousin Of the King Of CASTLE. He is sup
posed to have spent the time upon his es-
tates carrying out the scriptural injunc-
tion that the bridegroom shall not go to
work nor to war for a given period. but
shall stay at home and cheer his wife.
AS tactician in war and a diplomatist
in peace the Cid was without peer. He
exile from CASTLE. by pretending to re-
treat before a sally made from the gates
upon his small force, while picked men
he had left in hiding near the gates
rushed in and secured them SO that the
Saracens could not return from their
rash sally. To defend the city success
fully he pretended to overlook an at
tempt of the enemy to cut off the water
supply. After 1T was cut off he informed
his forces that they must fight or famish.
He endeared himself to the nOn-comba-
tants Of Alcocer by raiding the surround
ing country and taking so much booty
that they grew rich trading in what the
Cid generously gave away.
By strange stroke of fate the Cid,
who had proSpered as an intriguer and
double-dealer during his exile. lost the
confidence of Alfonso after their recon-
ciliatiOn by making a tactical blunder
that cut his forces off from those Of his
majesty Of CASTLE at critical time For
this he was outlawed deprived of all
lands and castles decreed to him by the
crown of CASTLE. and even Of his patri-
monfal estates. which had come down to
him as the heritage of a nObleman. His
wife and daughters were taken from him
and imprisoned.
It was customary for dueIs to be fought
tween noble
Offered to Fight Duels men. and
to Prove Loyalty. of a ches.s e"."'s
arms. wrists and thighs were made to
match the contestants fairly. The Cid
sent a messenger to court to say that he
had been falsely accused. and that he
would fight any one Of his age and con-
dition in the presence of the court to vim
dicafe himself should anY one hayo tho