| |
Translated by J. G. Lockhart
HE has ta’en some twenty gentlemen, along with him to go, | |
| For he will pay that ancient vow he to Saint James doth owe; | |
| To Compostella, where the shrine doth by the altar stand, | |
| The good Rodrigo de Bivar is riding through the land. | |
| |
| Where’er he goes, much alms he throws to feeble folk and poor; | 5 |
| Beside the way for him they pray, him blessings to procure; | |
| For, God and Mary Mother, their heavenly grace to win, | |
| His hand was ever bountiful: great was his joy therein. | |
| |
| And there, in middle of the path, a leper did appear; | |
| In a deep slough the leper lay, none would to help come near. | 10 |
| With a loud voice he thence did cry, “For God our Saviour’s sake, | |
| From out this fearful jeopardy a Christian brother take.” | |
| |
| When Roderick heard that piteous word, he from his horse came down; | |
| For all they said, no stay he made, that noble champion; | |
| He reached his hand to pluck him forth, of fear was no account, | 15 |
| Then mounted on his steed of worth, and made the leper mount. | |
| |
| Behind him rode the leprous man; when to their hostelrie | |
| They came, he made him eat with him at table cheerfully; | |
| While all the rest from that poor guest with loathing shrunk away, | |
| To his own bed the wretch he led, beside him there he lay. | 20 |
| |
| All at the mid-hour of the night, while good Rodrigo slept, | |
| A breath came from the leprous man, it through his shoulders crept; | |
| Right through the body, at the breast, passed forth that breathing cold; | |
| I wot he leaped up with a start, in terrors manifold. | |
| |
| He groped for him in the bed, but him he could not find; | 25 |
| Through the dark chamber groped he, with very anxious mind; | |
| Loudly he lifted up his voice, with speed a lamp was brought, | |
| Yet nowhere was the leper seen, though far and near they sought. | |
| |
| He turned him to his chamber, God wot, perplexed sore | |
| With that which had befallen—when lo! his face before, | 30 |
| There stood a man, all clothed in vesture shining white: | |
| Thus said the vision, “Sleepest thou or wakest thou, Sir Knight?”— | |
| |
| “I sleep not,” quoth Rodrigo; “but tell me who art thou, | |
| For, in the midst of darkness, much light is on thy brow?” | |
| “I am the holy Lazarus, I come to speak with thee; | 35 |
| I am the same poor leper thou savedst for charity. | |
| |
| “Not vain the trial, nor in vain thy victory hath been; | |
| God favors thee, for that my pain thou didst relieve yestreen. | |
| There shall be honor with thee in battle and in peace, | |
| Success in all thy doings, and plentiful increase. | 40 |
| |
| “Strong enemies shall not prevail, thy greatness to undo; | |
| Thy name shall make men’s cheeks full pale,—Christian and Moslem too; | |
| A death of honor shalt thou die, such grace to thee is given, | |
| Thy soul shall part victoriously, and be received in heaven.” | |
| |
| When he these gracious words had said, the spirit vanished quite. | 45 |
| Rodrigo rose and knelt him down—he knelt till morning light; | |
| Into the Heavenly Father, and Mary Mother dear, | |
| He made his prayer right humbly, till dawned the morning clear. | |
| |
