XI. "Strong enemies shall not prevail, thy greatness to undo; Thy name shall make men's cheeks full pale--Christians and Moslem too; A death of honour shalt thou die, such grace to thee is given, Thy soul shall part victoriously, and be received in heaven."--
XII. When he these gracious words had said, the spirit vanished quite, Rodrigo rose and knelt him down--he knelt till morning light; Unto the Heavenly Father, and Mary Mother dear, He made his prayer right humbly, till dawned the morning clear.
Montaigne, in his curious Essay, entitled "Des Destriers," says that all the world knows everything about Bucephalus. The name of the favourite charger of the Cid Ruy Diaz, is scarcely less celebrated. Notice is taken of him in almost every one of the hundred ballads concerning the history of his master,--and there are two or three of these, of which the horse is more truly the hero than his rider. In one of these ballads, the Cid is giving directions about his funeral; he desires that they shall place his body "in full armour upon Bavieca," and so conduct him to the church of San Pedro de Cardeña. This was done accordingly; and, says another ballad--
Truxeron pues a Babieca; Y en mirandole se puso Tan triste como si fuera Mas rasonable que bruto.
In the Cid's last will, mention is also made of this noble charger. "When ye bury Bavieca, dig deep," says Ruy Diaz; "for shameful thing were it, that he should be eat by curs, who hath trampled down so much currish flesh of Moors."
I. The King looked on him kindly, as on a vassal true; Then to the King Ruy Diaz spake after reverence due,-- "O King, the thing is shameful, that any man beside The liege lord of Castile himself should Bavieca ride:
II. "For neither Spain nor Araby could another charger bring So good as he, and certes, the best befits my King. But that you may behold him, and know him to the core, I'll make him go as he was wont when his nostrils smelt the Moor."--
III. With that, the Cid, clad as he was in mantle furred and wide, On Bavieca vaulting, put the rowel in his side; And up and down, and round and round, so fierce was his career, Streamed like a pennon on the wind Ruy Diaz' minivere.
IV. And all that saw them praised them--they lauded man and horse, As matched well, and rivalless for gallantry and force; Ne'er had they looked on horseman might to this knight come near, Nor on other charger worthy of such a cavalier.