Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CID'S DEPARTURE INTO EXILE, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CID'S DEPARTURE INTO EXILE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: With sixty knights in his gallant train
Last Line: -- he is gone from the towers of his own bivar!
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Subject(s): Cid, El (1043-1099); Exiles; Cid Campeador (143-199); Diaz De Vivar, Rodrigo (143-199)


WITH sixty knights in his gallant train,
Went forth the Campeador of Spain;
For wild sierras and plains a far,
He left the lands of his own Bivar.
To march o'er field, and to watch in tent,
From his home in good Castile he went;
To the wasting siege and the battle's van,
-- For the noble Cid was a banished man!

Through his olive-woods the mornbreeze played,
And his native streams wild music made,
And clear in the sunshine his vineyards lay,
When for march and combat he took his way.

With a thoughtful spirit his way he took,
And he turned his steed for a parting look,
For a parting look at his own fair towers,
-- Oh! the exile's heart hath weary hours!

The pennons were spread, and the band arrayed,
But the Cid at the threshold a moment stayed --
It was but a moment; the halls were lone,
And the gates of his dwelling all open thrown.

There was not a steed in the empty stall,
Nor a spear nor a cloak on the naked wall,
Nor a hawk on the perch, nor a seat at the door,
Nor the sound of a step on the hollow floor.

Then a dim tear swelled to the warrior's eye,
As the voice of his native groves went by;
And he said -- "My foemen their wish have won:
Now the will of God be in all things done!"

But the trumpet blew, with its note of cheer,
And the winds of the morning swept off the tear.
And the fields of his glory lay distant far,
-- He is gone from the towers of his own Bivar!





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