1812. Robert Southey to Henry Fox, 3rd Lord Holland, 6 October 1810
1812. Robert Southey to Henry Fox, 3rd Lord Holland, 6 October 1810 *
Keswick. Oct 6. 1810
On the other leaf your Lordship will find the beginnings of the first eleven ballads as they stand in my copy of Escobar’s collection. [1] Any of them which you may not happen to possess I will willingly transcribe for you.
I have advanced little more than five hundred lines in Pelayo, [2] & at my rate of proceeding it will be three or four years before I reach the end of it. My forthcoming poem is of a totally different character. [3] There has never been any thing like it before, & I shall not be surprized if the generality of readers never desire to see any thing like it again.
I beg my respects to Lady Holland
& am my Lord
Yrs respectfully
Robert Southey.
| 1. | Cuydando Diego Laynez [4] |
| De la mengua de su casa. – | |
| 2. | Pensativo estava el Cid |
| viendose de pocos años. | |
| 3. | Non es de sesudos homes, |
| ni de infançones de pra, | |
| 4. | Llorando Diego Laynez |
| yaze sentado a la mesa. | |
| 5. | Cavalga Diego Laynez |
| al buen rey besar la mano | |
| 6. | Grande rumor se levanta |
| de armas gritos y vozes. | |
| 7. | En Burgos està el buen Rey |
| assentado en su yantare. | |
| 8. | Reyes Moros en Castilla |
| entran con grande alarido | |
| 9. | Sentado està el señor rey |
| en su silla de respaldo. | |
| 10. | De Rodrigo de Bivar |
| muy grande fama correa. | |
| 11. | A Ximena y a Rodrigo |
| prendio el rey palabra y mano. |
Notes
[1] Juan de Escobar (fl. c. 1600), Romancero e Historia del Cid Ruy Diaz de Bivar; Southey owned an edition of 1632, no. 3449 in the sale catalogue of his library. BACK
[4] The Spanish translates as: ‘1. As Diego Laínez thinks of the dishonour of his lineage; 2. The Cid was pensive, as he saw he was young of age; 3. It does not suit wise men or worthy nobles; 4. Diego Laínez weeps, as he sits at the table; 5. Diego Laínez rides to kiss his good king’s hand; 6. There rises a great noise of weapons, shouts and cries; 7. The good king is in Burgos, sitting at his midday meal; 8. Moorish kings enter Castille with loud yelling; 9. The king is sitting in his high-back chair; 10. Rodrigo de Bivar’s very great fame was spreading; 11. The king took the promises and hands of Ximena and Rodrigo’. BACK