The uninitiated reader will doubtless miss in the Epic more than one of his most fondly cherished episodes. If he prefer the Cid of romance and fable, let him turn to the ballads and the Chronicle of the Cid. If he would cling to the punctilious, gallant hidalgo of the early seventeenth century, let him turn to the Cid of Guillem de Castro, or to Corneille's paragon. Don Quixote wisely said: "That there was a Cid there is no doubt, or Bernardo del Carpio either; but that they did the deeds men say they did, there is a doubt a-plenty." In the heroic heart of the Epic Cid one finds the simple nobility that later centuries have obscured with adornment. ______________________ THE LAY OF THE CID CANTAR I THE BANISHMENT OF THE CID I. He turned and looked upon them, and he wept very sore As he saw the yawning gateway and the hasps wrenched off the door, And the pegs whereon no mantle nor coat of vair there hung. There perched no moulting goshawk, and there no falcon swung. My lord the Cid sighed deeply such grief was in his heart And he spake well and wisely: "Oh Thou, in Heaven that art Our Father and our Master, now I give thanks to Thee. Of their wickedness my foemen have done this thing to me." II. Then they shook out the bridle rein further to ride afar. They had the crow on their right hand as they issued from Bivár; And as they entered Burgos upon their left it sped. And the Cid shrugged his shoulders, and the Cid shook his head: "Good tidings, Alvar Fañez. We are banished from our weal, But on a day with honor shall we come unto Castile." III. Roy Diaz entered Burgos with sixty pennons strong, And forth to look upon him did the men and women throng. And with their wives the townsmen at the windows stood hard by, And they wept in lamentation, their grief was risen so high. As with one mouth, together they spake with one accord: "God, what a noble vassal, an he had a worthy lord. IV. Fain had they made him welcome, but none dared do the thing For fear of Don Alfonso, and the fury of the King. His mandate unto Burgos came ere the evening fell. With utmost care they brought it, and it was sealed well 'That no man to Roy Diaz give shelter now, take heed And if one give him shelter, let him know in very deed He shall lose his whole possession, nay! the eyes within his head Nor shall his soul and body be found in better stead.' Great sorrow had the Christians, and from his face they hid. Was none dared aught to utter unto my lord the Cid.