The Poem of the Cid (The Song of the Cid)

The Cid Ruy Díaz surveys his empty residence with a heavy heart, preparing for his journey. Leaving Vivar on horseback and accompanied by sixty knights, a crow flies on his right and appears to the left when they arrive in Burgos. The Cid takes this as a sign they are banished from the land. The whole town weeps for him, exclaiming, “O God, what a wonderful servant, if only he had a decent master!” (5), but no one dares offer him hospitality or lodging for fear of King Alfonso’s anger. The door is locked at the place he expected lodging, and when the Cid kicks the door, a nine-year-old girl appears to inform him the king has forbidden them to accommodate him. She reminds him he has nothing to lose from their suffering, saying, “[W]e’d lose our houses and everything—And what’s still worse, the eyes in our heads!” (5). The Cid realizes he has lost the king’s favor. He prays at the Church of Santa María, and his company pitches their tents along the river Arlanzón. He camps outside with nothing to eat since the townspeople are prohibited from selling him food.

Martín Antolínez, “that deft citizen” (7), arrives with bread and wine.