THE

FUNERAL OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA.

THE ballads concerning Bernardo Del Carpio are, upon the whole, in accordance with his history as given in the Coronica General. According to the Chronicle, Bernardo being at last wearied out of all patience by the cruelty of which his father was the victim, determined to quit the court of his King, and seek an alliance among the Moors. Having fortified himself in the Castle of Carpio, he made continual incursions into the territory of Leon, pillaging and plundering wherever he came. The King at length besieged him in his strong-hold, but the defence was so gallant, that there appeared no prospect of success; whereupon many of the gentlemen in Alphonso's camp entreated the King to offer Bernardo immediate possession of his father's person, if he would surrender his castle.

Bernardo at once consented; but the King gave orders to have Count Sancho Diaz taken off instantly in his prison. “When he was dead they clothed him in splendid attire, mounted him on horseback, and so led him towards Salamanca, where his son was expecting his arrival. As they drew nigh the city, the King and Bernardo rode out to meet them; and when Bernardo saw his father approaching, he exclaimed,- O, God! is the Count of Saldana indeed coming?'-Look where he is,' replied the cruel King; and now go and greet him whom you have so long desired to see.' Bernardo went forward and took his father's hand to kiss it; but when he felt the dead weight of the hand, and saw the livid face of the corpse, he cried aloud, and said,- Ah, Don Sandiaz, in an evil hour didst thou beget me!-Thou art dead, and I have given my stronghold for thee, and now I have lost all.""

THE

FUNERAL OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA.

I.

ALL in the centre of the choir Bernardo's knees are bent,
Before him for his murder'd sire yawns the old monument.

II.

His kinsmen of the Carpio blood are kneeling at his back,

With knightly friends and vassals good, all garb'd in weeds of black.

He comes to make the obsequies of a basely slaughter'd man,

And tears are running down from eyes whence ne'er before they ran.

IV.

His head is bow'd upon the stone; his heart, albeit full sore,

Is strong as when in days by-gone he rode o'er Frank and Moor;

V.

And now between his teeth he mutters, that none his words can hear ;

And now the voice of wrath he utters, in curses loud and clear.

VI.

He stoops him o'er his father's shroud, his lips salute the bier;

He communes with the corse aloud, as if none else were near.

VII.

His right hand doth his sword unsheath, his left doth pluck his beard ;

And while his liegemen held their breath, these were the words they heard :

VIII.

"Go up, go up, thou blessed ghost, into the arms of God;

Go, fear not lest revenge be lost, when Carpio's blood hath flow'd;

IX.

"The steel that drank the blood of France, the arm thy foe that shielded, Still, Father, thirsts that burning lance, and still thy son can wield it."

BERNARDO AND ALPHONSO.

[The incident recorded in this ballad, may be supposed to have occurred immediately after the funeral of the Count of Saldenha. As to what was the end of the knight's history, we are almost left entirely in the dark, both by the Chronicle and by the Romancero. It appears to be intimated, that after his father's death, he once more "took service" among the Moors, who are represented in several of the ballads as accustomed to exchange offices of courtesy with Bernardo.]

I.

WITH Some good ten of his chosen men, Bernardo hath appear'd
Before them all in the palace hall, the lying King to beard;
With cap in hand and eye on ground, he came in reverend guise,
But ever and anon he frown'd, and flame broke from his eyes.

II.

"A curse upon thee," cries the King," who comest unbid to me;
But what from traitor's blood should spring, save traitors like to thee?
His sire, Lords, had a traitor's heart; perchance our Champion brave
May think it were a pious part to share Don Sancho's grave."

III.

"Whoever told this tale the King hath rashness to repeat,"
Cries Bernard," here my gage I fling before THE LIAR's feet!
No treason was in Sancho's blood, no stain in mine doth lie
Below the throne what knight will own the coward calumny?

IV.

"The blood that I like water shed, when Roland did advance, By secret traitors hired and led, to make us slaves of France ;The life of King Alphonso I saved at Roncesval,—

Your words, Lord King, are recompence abundant for it all.

V.

"Your horse was down-your hope was flown-I saw the faulchion shine, That soon had drunk your royal blood, had I not ventured mine;

But memory soon of service done deserteth the ingrate,

And ye've thank'd the son for life and crown by the father's bloody fate.

VI.

"Ye swore upon your kingly faith, to set Don Sancho free,

But curse upon your paultring breath, the light he ne'er did see;

He died in dungeon cold and dim, by Alphonso's base decree,

And visage blind, and stiffen'd limb, were all they gave to me.

VII.

"The King that swerveth from his word hath stain'd his purple black,
No Spanish Lord will draw the sword behind a Liar's back;
But noble vengeance shall be mine, an open hate I'll shew-
The King hath injured Carpio's line, and Bernard is his foe."-