El Çid - Song in Old Spanish | The Skaldic Bard

Here’s an original song I wrote and performed in Old Spanish, this time about the adventures of Rodrigo Díaz, better known by his nickname “El Cid”, during the Reconquista of Spain against the Moors in the 11th Century. The text is based on the Cantar De Mio Çid written some time in the 12th or early 13th Century. It’s an epic piece of writing by an anonymous author, which describes in great detail the legendary deeds of El Cid.

The name “El Cid” itself is from the Arabic honorific title “as-Sayyid” translating roughly as “The Master”. El Cid ended up fighting for the Moors against other Moors vying for power in Spain at one point in his military career, having been exiled by King Alfonso for fighting with his enemies in a domestic political struggle. Despite being outcast, El Cid recognised King Alfonso as the rightful king and vowed to win back his reputation with the king. Through his military endeavours, he proved his worth, taking many lands back from the Moors, most notably Valencia, which he then successfully defended against an enormous Moroccan army.

This is my attempt to condense the story of El Cid up to the taking of Valencia. Please note that I’m not trying to glorify violence, rather tell history as it was lived by the people at the time.

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Yo Rodrigo Díaz só echado
de tierra en la lucha por Espanna.
Venido a moros, un exido,
mas con rrey Alfonso non querría lidiar.

Bésovos, el mio sennor
los pies e las manos amas,
quel’ ayades a mí merçed,
sí el Criador vos vala.

Mostrar le he el mio valor.
Con mesnadas vó por Espanna
lidiando con moros en el campo,
las lorigas vestidas, çintas las espadas!

Con la merçed del Criador,
nuestra ser ha la ganançia
Feridlos, mios cavalleros,
por amor de caridad!

Las mesnadas ívanlos ferir
de fuertes coraçones.
Dan al Çid grandes colpes
mas los moros nol’ pueden falsar.

El Criador vos vala, Çid,
Campeador leal de Castiella
Non renunçiar ha a su honor
por quanto ha en toda Espanna!

Contra la mar salada conpeçó de guerrea.
Mio Çid gannó a Xérica e a Onda e a Almenar, tierras de Borriana todas conquistas las ha.
Ayudól' el Criador, el Sennor que es en Cielo.

Dentro en Valençia non es poco el miedo!
Adelinnó p’ra la civdad e sobr'ellas' va echar!

Só el Çid, Campeador de Castiella
Con Tizón yo venço de batalla!
A Castiella irán buenos mandados
que’l Çid lid campal á vençida!

Grandes son los gozos que van por és logar quando Mio Cid gannó a Valencia.
Entró en la civdad d'amor e de grado e de grand voluntad.

Só el Çid, Campeador de Castiella
Venço con la mia senna alçada.
Tan buen día por la cristiandad
ca fuyen los moros de la part!

Dixo rrey Alfonso: Sobr’esto todo a vós quito, me plaze de Mio Çid.
Honores, tierras avellas condonadas, el de la luenga barba es Campeador!

Só el Çid, Campeador de Castiella!
Cómo’s alegre la barba vellida!
Veyé Mio Cid que Dios le iva valiendo!
Ovieron d’arrancar a los moros!

El espada sangrienta e sudiento el cavallo,
grado a Dios, Aquel qu’está en alto, quando tal batalla avemos arrancado!

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