The History of Chivalry; Or, Knighthood and Its Times, Volume 2 (of 2)Mills, Charles
Philosophy
The History of Chivalry; Or, Knighthood and Its Times, Volume 2 (of 2)
Mills, Charles
Chivalry
His treatment of the Moors of Valencia, after he had once settled the
government, was noble. He suffered no difference of religion to affect his
paternal regards to his people; and thence it happened that Moors and
Christians dwelt together under his mild sway with such accord that the
union seemed the long result of ages. One of those Moors gave him the
following praise, with which I shall conclude my remarks on his character:
"The Cid, Ruy Diaz," said he, "was the man in the world who had the
bravest heart, and he was the best knight at arms, and the man who best
maintained his law; and in the word which he hath promised he never fails;
and he is the man in the world who is the best friend to his friend, and
to his enemy he is the mortalest foe among all Christians; and to the
vanquished he is full of mercy and compassion; and full thoughtful and
wise in whatever thing he doeth; and his countenance is such that no man
seeth him for the first time without conceiving great fear."
[Sidenote: Fate of his good horse.]
As a horse was part and parcel of a knight, I cannot take leave of the Cid
without saying a few words regarding his steed Bavieca. After the death of
his master no one was permitted to bestride that good horse. Gil Diaz, a
valiant knight, and companion of the Cid, took him in charge, feeding him
and leading him to water with his own hand. Bavieca lived two years and a
half after the death of his master the Cid; and when he died Gil Diaz
buried him before the gate of the monastery at Valencia, in the public
place, and planted two elms upon the grave, the one at his head, and the
other at his feet.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Spanish chivalry after his death.]
[Sidenote: The merits of missals decided by battle.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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