The evening world., 1921-01-10
The Worlds
Oldest
LOUe Stories
By MGubeTt Sc. Georges
Jopyriebt, i021, by Ire Prs- P,riishiua On
tThe New York EVENING Woflal
THE CD ANp IONA XIMENA.


Ximena for his wife was not
the Cid's most brilliant exploit,
the circumstances surrounding this
event are so strange that they take a
practically pre-eminent place among
the myths and legends Of Spain.
Rodrigo Diaz Cthe Cid's real name)
lived probably in the eleventh cen
fury. Much like the French warriot
Bertrand du Guesclin. he grew up to
see his country overrun by hated enc
mics, and like him, being proud,
quick tempered and easily reused to.
anger, he devoted his life to strug-
CLING with the tyrants whom evea
after his death he defeated
His first adventure was the re
dressing Of a wrong suffered by his
father, Don Diego. The latter, while
Rodrigo was still youth, had been
publicly and grossly insulted by an
enemy of his, Don Gomez. The latter
had before witnesses slapped his face,
and Don Diego, enfeebled by sick
ness, had been unable to demand the
usual satisfaction OF a settlement OF
the insult arms In hand.
Several years later Rodrigo, having
learned OF his fathers shame, immC-
diately made his way to the home "a
Don Gomez ana, challenging him ~
answer for his deed, fought so bravely
that he slew his opponent in spite q
the handicap OF his youth and ines
perieuce. Upon this, able once more
to face the world unashamed, Don
Diego took his son to the court OF
King Ferdinand and babe him do
homage to his sovereign. such was
the youths pride and temper, that
after having first refused, when he
| finally obeyed it was with such ILL
will and bad grace that the King, en-
ragged, banished him from his pres
enCe.
This did not in the least disturb the
young hero, who Immediately Set
about collecting around his person
many noble youths of like spirit with
whom he might do battle TO the
MoOrs, who we're then invading Cas-
! tile. While thus occupied, he made the
acquaintance of a beautiful girl,
! Ximena de Gormaz by name, whom
I he found in deep mourn ng for her
| father and with whom ne Immediate
| ly fell in love.
! Animated by this new passion he ad-
I y
! lectcd TO attack the MOors. So sue
| cessful was he in an attempt to am
bush them that he not only defeated
their large army but made five Of
Their kings prisoners. Having OBJ
tained from them a pledge to refrain
from making further war against his
/ king and a promise to pay tribHte, he
( released them without ransom, which
| generosity they repaid by bestowius
] 4. -.
uueror," by which name he was
| known ever afterward.
| Having delivered the land from \
great danger and being once more ad-
mitted to the kings favor, the young
nan, confident in n new won fame,
| set about wOoing Nlmena. and she
soon learned to ~eturn his affection. He
asked her to marry him, but she an
swered that she could not until she
had avenged her father, who had been
murdered. and asked him to introduce
| ,er to the king the next day, that she
night ella m justice from him. This he
willingly consented TO do. even offer
! ing his services as her champion.
What was their horror and distress
| to discover that Nimena was the
daughter of Don Gomez, for the latter
was also Count of GormaZ, and that
II was against the Cid that she
]
Numbering her vow she did accuse
! him, and even returned to court five
times to plead against him. But
Rodrigo was too useful warrior 10
be thus sacrificed, and the King
maintained a deaf ear the whole
time. Finally. hearing how things
were between the two, he ordered
Dona Ximena to forego her revenge
and marry the Cid. For a long time
she refused, but finally love con-
quered hate and they were married.
The Cid, however, being conscious
that the blood that separated them
needed washing out, swore that by
some means or other he would atone
for the wrong lie had done his future
wife, undertaking to make pilgrims
ages to seek absolution, and TO win
five battles to prove himself worthy
Of her love.
This vow he kept, visiting the
shrines of Spain, distributing aims,
REFRESHING his fiery temper and seek
ing to be as lowly as possible, to ths
extent OF keeping company and sleep
ing with the lepers he found on his
way He founded the leper house of
st. Lazarus, and then set about full
Alling the second part OF his vow. de-
feating the knights OF Aragon in a
tourney that was held in place OF n
| war. Then he defeated the Moors and
/ Japtured the fortress of Coimbra,
At last after many trials he re-
turned to Burgos and was united Ia
Dona Ximena, love finally joining
those two whom Fate had seemed de-
termined to separate by hate.