As portrayed by Sophia Loren in El Cid
| Ximena As portrayed by Sophia Loren in El Cid |
(1055-1113) Wife of the Cid; daughter of Diego Rodriquez, Count of Oviedo (Count Don Gomez of Gormaz in the poem), and a Cristina; sister of Don Fruela, Count of Asturias; youngest of three sisters; and a first cousin of King Alfonso.
She fell in love with Rodrigo of Bivar, the Cid, who had slain her father. Nevertheless she married him and bore him two daughters, Elvira and Sol, and a son, Diego Rodriguez, who died young in battle.
And at the same time there came before him Ximena Gomez, the daughter of the Count, who fell on her knees before him and said, Sir, I am the daughter of Count Don Gomez of Gormaz, and Rodrigo of Bivar has slain the Count my father, and of three daughters whom he has left I am the youngest.
And when the King thought it a fit season, he spake to him and said, that Dona Ximena Gomez, the daughter of the Count whom he had slain, had come to ask him for her husband, and would forgive him her father's death; wherefore he besought him to think it good to take her to be his wife, in which case he would show him great favour.
They ran their career, one against the other, and met so fiercely that their lances brake, and both were sorely wounded; but Don Martin began to address Rodrigo, thinking to dismay him: Greatly dost thou now repent, Don Rodrigo, said he, that thou hast entered into these lists with me; for I shall so handle thee that never shalt thou marry Dona Ximena thy spouse, whom thou lovest so well, nor ever return alive to Castille.
At this council the Cid was not present, for he had lately completed his marriage with Dona Ximena Gomez, and was then with her; but at this time he arrived, and the King showed him the letters, and told him the matter how it then stood, and what had been the advice of his good men, and besought him to speak his advice, as a good and true vassal to his Lord.
The Abbot Don Sisebuto was saying matins, and Dona Ximena and five of her ladies of good lineage were with him, praying to God and St. Peter to help my Cid.
And the Cid told him all that had befallen him, and how he was a banished man; and he gave him fifty marks for himself, and a hundred for Dona Ximena and her children.
Then Dona Ximena came up and her daughters with her, each of them borne in arms, and she knelt down on both her knees before her husband, weeping bitterly, and she would have kissed his hand; and she said to him, Lo now you are banished from the land by mischief-making men, and here am I with your daughters, who are little ones and of tender years, and we and you must be parted, even in your life time.
And my Cid embraced Dona Ximena and his daughters, and blest them; and the parting between them was like separating the nail from the quick flesh: and he wept and continued to look round after them.
Go then to St. Pedro's at Cardena, and salute my wife Dona Ximena, and my daughters, and tell them how well I go on, and that if I live I will make them rich women.
Now the Cid bethought him of Dona Ximena his wife, and of his daughters Dona Elvira and Dona Sol, whom he had left in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardena; and he called for Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez of Burgos, and spake with them, and besought them that they would go to Castille, to King Don Alfonso his Lord, and take him a present from the riches which God-had given them; and the present should be a hundred horses, saddled and bridled; and that they would kiss the King's hand for him, and beseech him to send him his wife Dona Ximena, and his daughters, and that they would tell the King all the mercy which God had shown him, and how he was at his service with Valencia and with all that he had.
And he bade them each take with him his whole company, that they might be better advised and accompanied, and that Dona Ximena might come with the greater honour: and the company was this: two hundred knights who were of Don Alvar Fanez, and fifty of Martin Antolinez: and he ordered money to be given them for their disbursement, and for all things needful, in abundance.
Then Alvar Fanez kissed the King's hand again, and said, Sir, the Cid beseecheth you of your bounty that he may have his wife Dona Ximena and his two daughters, that they may go to Valencia unto him, from the Monastery where he left them, for it is many days since he saw them, and if it please you this would rejoice him.
If they were well received, and if there was great joy in St. Pedro de Cardena over them, it is not a thing to ask, for Dona Ximena and her daughters were like people beside themselves with the great joy which they had, and they came running out on foot to meet them, weeping plenteously for great joy.
And Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez, when they saw them coming, leapt off their horses, and went to them, and Minaya embraced Dona Ximena and both his cousins, Dona Elvira and Dona Sol, and so great was the rejoicing which they made together that no man can tell it you.
And when this great joy was somewhat abated, Dona Ximena asked how the Cid fared, for since he had parted from her she had heard no news of him.
When Dona Ximena and her daughters heard this, they set their knees to the ground, and lifted up their hands and thanked God for the favour he had shown to the Cid, and to them with him, in giving him the Lordship of Valencia.
While they were preparing for the journey, Alvar Fanez sent three knights to the Cid to tell him how they had sped with the King, and of the great favour which they had found at his hands, and how he only tarried now to equip Dona Ximena, that she might come full honourably.
And he gave the Abbot the thousand marks of silver which the Cid had sent for the Monastery, with which to discharge all the debt that Dona Ximena and his daughters had contracted.
Dona Ximena brought good relicks and other sacred things, which she gave to ennoble the new Church of Valencia.
Great honour did the Cid do to Abencano the Lord of Molina, for all the service which he had done to Dona Ximena.
Three months Dona Ximena had been in Valencia, when tidings came to the Cid from beyond sea, that King Yucef, the son of the Miramamolin, who dwelt in Morocco, was coming to lay siege unto Valencia with fifty thousand men.
On the morrow the Cid took Dona Ximena by the hand, and her daughters with her, and made them go up upon the highest tower of the Alcazar, and they looked towards the sea and saw the great power of the Moors, how they came on and drew nigh, and began to pitch their tents round about Valencia, beating their tambours and with great uproar.
And Ximena's heart failed her, and she asked the Cid if peradventure God would deliver him from these enemies.
But Ximena was seized with such fear as if her heart would have broken; she and her daughters had never been in such fear since the day that they were born.
My Cid looked back and saw Alvar Salvadores beside him, and he said, Go now, take two hundred horse, and sally upon yonder Moors who are entering the gardens; let Dona Ximena and her daughters see the good will you have to serve them.
And Dona Ximena and her daughters stood trembling, like women who had never seen such things before: and when the Cid saw it he made them seat themselves, so as no longer to behold it.
Great joy had Dona Ximena and her daughters, who were awaiting him, when they saw him come riding in; and he stopt when he came to them, and said, Great honour have I won for you, while you kept Valencia this day! God and the Saints have sent us goodly gain, upon your coming.
Wife Dona Ximena, said he, these damsels who have served you so well, I will give in marriage to these my vassals, and to every one of them two hundred marks of silver, that it may be known in Castille what they have got by their services.
Glad were the Christian folk in Valencia for the great booty which they had gotten, and glad was Dona Ximena and her daughters, and glad were all those ladies who were married.
So they entered Valencia, and the Cid spake with Dona Ximena touching this matter, and when she heard it it did not please her; nevertheless she said, if the King thought it good they could do no otherwise.
Dona Ximena had her daughters ready to receive them in full noble garments, for since midnight they had done nothing but prink and prank themselves.
The Cid entered between the Infantes, and all that noble company went in after them; and they went into the chief hall of the Alcazar, where Dona Ximena was with her daughters; and when they saw the Cid and the Infantes, they rose up and welcomed them right well.
And the Infantes took each his bride by the hand, and went to the Cid and kissed his hand, and the same did they to their mother Dona Ximena Gomez: and the Bishop Don Hieronymo espoused them, and they exchanged rings.
When this was done, the Cid went and seated himself on the estrado with the ladies, he and Dona Ximena in the middle, and beside him he placed Dona Elvira his eldest daughter, and by her, her spouse the Infante Diego Gonzalez; and Dona Sol was seated on the other side, by her mother, and the Infante Ferrando by her.
Now inasmuch as it is long time since we departed from Castille, from our father and from our mother, and because neither we know how it fares with them, nor they how it fares with us, we would now, if you and Dona Ximena should so think good, return unto them, and take our wives with us: so shall our father and our mother and our kinsmen see how honourably we are mated, and how greatly to our profit, and our wives shall be put in possession of the towns which we have given them for their dower, and shall see what is to be the inheritance of the children whom they may have.
When the Cid had made this reply, he rose from his seat and went to Dona Ximena his wife, and spake with her and with Alvar Fanez, and told them what had passed with his sons-in-law, and what answer he had given.
Greatly was Dona Ximena troubled at this, and Alvar Fanez also, that he had consented to what they asked; and she said, I do not think it is wisely done to let them take our daughters from us, and carry them into another country; for these our sons-in-law are traitorous and false at heart, and if I areed them right they will do some dishonour to our daughters, when there will be none there to call them to account.
And the two sisters Dona Elvira and Dona Sol, came and knelt before the Cid and before Dona Ximena their mother, and said, You send us to the lands of Carrion, and we must fulfil your command; now then give us your blessing, and let us have some of your people with us in Carrion, we beseech you.
And his heart smote him, and he began to think on what Dona Ximena had said, and to fear lest evil should befall him from these sons-in-law, for the manner of their speech was not as it was wont to be.
And when the ladies came to take their leave of their father the Cid, and of their mother Dona Ximena, great were the lamentations on both sides, as if their hearts had divined the evil which was to come; and the Cid strove to comfort them, saying, that he should always think of them, and would maintain them in good estate: and he gave them his blessing and turned back towards Valencia, and they went their way with their husbands, and that parting was like plucking the nail from the flesh.
And he took Pero Bermudez by the hand and led him to Dona Ximena, who wept greatly at seeing him, and said, Ah, Pero Bermudez, what tidings bringest thou of my daughters? And he comforted her and said, Weep not, Lady, for I left them alive and well at Molina, and Alvar Fanez with them; by God's blessing you shall have good vengeance for them! Then the Cid seated himself near his wife, and Pero Bermudez took his seat before them, and told them all that he had done, and how the King had summoned them to the Cortes at Toledo.
And when they reached Valencia and went into the Alcazar to their mother Dona Ximena, who can tell the lamentation which was made by the mother over her daughters, and the daughters with their mother, and by the women of their household.
And the Cid said, I thank God that I see you, Sir; and he humbled himself to Count Don Anrrich, and Count Don Remond, and the others, and said, God save all our friends, and chiefly you, Sir! my wife Dona Ximena kisses your hand, and my daughters also, that this thing which hath befallen us, may be found displeasing unto you.
And he took with him Martin Antolinez and Pero Bermudez and Muno Gustioz, and went to Dona Ximena and her daughters, and said to them, Blessed be the name of God, now are you and your daughters avenged! and he made the knights recount the whole unto them, even as it had come to pass.
Great was the joy of Dona Ximena and her daughters, and they bent their knees to the ground, and praised the name of Jesus Christ, because he had given them this vengeance for the dishonour which they had received; and Dona Elvira and Dona Sol embraced those knights many times, and would fain have kissed their hands and their feet.
And the Cid said unto Dona Ximena, Now may you without let marry your daughters with the Infantes of Aragon and Navarre, and I trust in God that they will be well and honourably married, better than they were at first.
And the Cid gave order that the beasts should be taken care of, and he went to the Alcazar and took the Moor with him; and when they came to Dona Ximena the Moor humbled himself before her and her daughters, and would have kissed her hand, but she would not give it him.
And when the marriage was concluded, the Cid took his sons-in-law and led them by the hand to Dona Ximena, and showed them all the noble things which the Soldan had sent him; and they when they beheld such great treasures and such noble things were greatly astonished, and said that they did not think there had been a man in Spain so rich as the Cid, nor who possessed such things.
And as they were marvelling from whence such riches could have come, both of gold and silver, and of precious stones and pearls, the Cid embraced them and said, My sons, this and all that I have is for you and for your wives, and I will give unto you the noblest and most precious things that ever were given with women for their dowry: for I will give you the half of all that you see here, and the other half I and Dona Ximena will keep so long as we live, and after our death all shall be yours; and my days are now well nigh full.
And then they dispeeded themselves of the Cid and of their mother-in-law Dona Ximena, and took each his wife and returned into their own lands with great riches and honour.
When the Cid Ruydiez heard this he began to smile for very pleasure; and he rose up and took Alfaraxi with him to Dona Ximena, and said, Here is our Alcalde, who will be a Christian, and our brother in the faith of Jesus Christ: I beseech you therefore give order to provide all things that may be needful.
When Dona Ximena heard this she rejoiced greatly, and gave order that all things should be full nobly prepared.
And on the morrow the Bishop Don Hieronymo baptized him, and they gave him the name of Gil Diaz: and his godfathers were Don Alvar Fanez, and Pero Bermudez, and Martin Antolinez of Burgos; and Dona Ximena, with other honourable dames, were his godmothers.
Now ye know for certain that King Bucar is coming against us, and they say that thirty and six Moorish Kings are coming with him; and since he bringeth so great a power of Moors, and I have to depart so soon, how can ye defend Valencia! But be ye certain, that by the mercy of God I shall counsel ye so, that ye shall conquer King Bucar in the field, and win great praise and honour from him, and Dona Ximena, and ye and all that ye have, go hence in safety; how ye are to do all this I will tell ye hereafter, before I depart.
On the twenty-ninth day, being the day before he departed, he called for Dona Ximena, and for the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Don Alvar Fanez Minaya, and Pero Bermudez, and his trusty Gil Diaz; and when they were all five before him, he began to direct them what they should do after his death; and he said to them, Ye know that King Bucar will presently be here to besiege this city, with seven and thirty Kings whom he bringeth with him, and with a mighty power of Moors.
And you my Sister Dona Ximena, and your women, see that ye utter no cries, neither make any lamentation for me, that the Moors may not know of my death.
Gil Diaz and Dona Ximena were always with him; and the Cid began to make his testament.
And he bequeathed to Dona Ximena all that he had in the world, that she might live honourably for the remainder of her days in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardena; and he commanded Gil Diaz to remain with her and serve her well all the days of her life.
And he left it in charge to the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Dona Ximena his wife, and Don Alvar Fanez, and Pero Bermudez, and Felez Munoz, his nephews, that they should see all this fulfilled.
Then came the body of the Cid with a hundred knights, all chosen men, and behind them Dona Ximena with all her company, and six hundred knights in the rear.
Now Alvar Fanez Minaya had set the host in order, and while the Bishop Don Hieronymo and Gil Diaz led away the body of the Cid, and Dona Ximena, and the baggage, he fell upon the Moors.
And they loaded camels and horses with the noblest things which they found, and went after the Bishop Don Hieronymo and Gil Diaz, who, with the body of the Cid, and Dona Ximena, and the baggage, had gone on till they were clear of the host, and then waited for those who were gone against the Moors.
And when they reached Salvacanete, the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Dona Ximena, and Alvar Fanez, and the other honourable men, sent their letters to all the kinsmen and friends of the Cid Ruydiez, bidding them come and do honour to his funeral; and they sent letters also to his sons-in-law, the Infantes of Aragon and Navarre, and to King Don Alfonso.
And they moved on from Salvacanete and came to Osma, and then Alvar Fanez asked of Dona Ximena if they should not put the body of the Cid into a Coffin covered with purple and with nails of gold; but she would not, for she said that while his countenance remained so fresh and comely, and his eyes so fair, his body should never be placed in a coffin, and that her children should see the face of their father; and they thought that she said well, so the body was left as it was.
But Dona Ximena held her hand and said, Daughter, you do ill, in that you break the command of your father, who laid his curse upon all who should make lamentation for him.
And when they were within half a league of Santesteban, the company of the Cid went out to meet them, as they had the Infante of Aragon; and they made no other lamentation, save that they wept with Dona Elvira; and when she came up to the body of her father she kissed his hand, and the hand of Dona Ximena her mother.
On the third day after the coming of King Don Alfonso, they would have interred the body of the Cid, but when the King heard what Dona Ximena had said, that while it was so fair and comely it should not be laid in a coffin, he held that what she said was good.
And Dona Ximena and her companions abode in San Pedro de Cardena, and Gil Diaz with her, as the Cid had commanded in his testament.
Gil Diaz did his best endeavour to fulfil all that his Lord the Cid Ruydiez had commanded him, and to serve Dona Ximena and her companions truly and faithfully; and this he did so well, that she was well pleased with his faithfulness.
And Dona Ximena fulfilled all that the Cid had commanded her; and every day she had masses performed for his soul, and appointed many vigils, and gave great alms for the soul of the Cid and of his family.
Four years after the Cid had departed that noble lady Dona Ximena departed also, she who had been the wife of that noble baron the Cid Ruydiez, the Campeador.
And the Abbot and Gil Diaz sent for the daughters of the Cid and Dona Ximena to come and honour their mother at her funeral, and to inherit what she had left.
And when they were all assembled they buried the body of Dona Ximena at the feet of the ivory chair on which the Cid was seated; and the Bishop of Pamplona said mass, and the Abbot Don Garcia Tellez officiated.
And in that time the Bishop Don Hieronymo arrived, who abode with King Don Alfonso, and he came to do honour to the body of Dona Ximena; for so soon as he heard that she was departed, he set off taking long journies every day.
And when the seven days were over, King Don Ramiro and Queen Dona Elvira his wife, and her sister, Dona Sol, set apart rents for the soul of Dona Ximena, and they appointed that Gil Diaz should have them for his life, and that then they should go to the Monastery for ever: and they ordained certain anniversaries for the souls of the Cid and Of Dona Ximena.
After this was done they divided between them what Dona Ximena had left, which was a great treasure in gold and in silver, and in costly garments;...the one half Queen Dona Elvira took, and Dona Sol the other.
And when all these things were done they departed each to his own home, and Gil Diaz remained, serving and doing honour to the bodies of his master the Cid and Dona Ximena his mistress.
They dug a vault before the altar, beside the grave of Dona Ximena, and vaulted it over with a high arch, and there they placed the body of the Cid seated as it was in the ivory chair, and in his garments, and with the sword in his hand, and they hung up his shield and his banner upon the walls.
After of the noble Cid Campeador had been honourably interred, Gil Diaz his trusty servant abode still in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardena, doing service to the graves of the Cid and Dona Ximena, and making their anniversaries, and celebrating masses, and giving great alms to the poor both in food and clothing, for the good of their souls; and in this manner he lived while Don Garcia Tellez was Abbot, and two others after him, and then he died.