No More Learning

King
My daughter, be not ashamed of this love,
Nor seek the means its power to disprove;
An honourable shame urges you in vain;
Your duty is done, your honour true again;
Your father's satisfied, as his avenger
You have so often placed his life in danger.
Yet you see Heaven wishes something else.
Having worked for others, act now for yourself,
And do not struggle against my command,
That will grant you a beloved husband.


Act V Scene VII (King, Diegue, Arias, Rodrigue, Alonso, Sanche, Infanta, Chimene, Leonor, Elvire)

Infanta
Dry your tears, Chimene, and free of sadness
Receive him from the hands of your princess.

Rodrigue
Be not offended if in your presence, Sire,
Loving respect makes me kneel before her.
I have not come here to demand my prize:
I have come, once more, to offer you my life,
Madame; my love employs in its own cause
Neither King's will, nor customary laws.
If what is done was too little for a father,
What will it take to satisfy you more?
Must I battle with a thousand rivals,
To the earth's ends extend my labours,
Attack a camp alone, or rout an army,
Exceed the fame of heroes legendary?
If my crime can thus be washed away,
I'll undertake whatever deed today:
But if proud honour, all inexorable,
To be appeased, must slay the criminal,
Do not seek to use man's power against me:
Avenge yourself, my head bows at your feet;
Your hands must conquer the invincible;
Take that vengeance others find impossible;
But let my death suffice to punish me.
Do not banish me from your memory,
And say sometimes, in pitying my life:
'If he'd not loved me, he'd not have died. '

Chimene
Rise Rodrigue. Sire, know this for a fact,
I have gone too far to wish to retract.
Rodrigue has virtues that I cannot hate:
And when a King commands, we must obey.
But, regardless of your previous ruling,
Can you endure to see such a wedding?
And if as a duty you wish to view it,
Is royal justice in accord with it?
If Rodrigue is essential to the State,
Must I pay for the workings of fate.
Expose myself to this reproach, eternal,
Of having bathed my hands in blood paternal?

King
Often enough time makes legitimate
What, at first sight, seems illegitimate.
Rodrigue has won you, and you are his.
But though today valour deserves this,
I would prove an enemy to your honour
To grant him now the prize of his valour.
A marriage deferred does not affect the laws
That, regardless of time, make him yours.
Take a year, if you would, to dry your tears.
Rodrigue, arm yourself, among your peers.
After driving the Moors from our coast,
Marring their plans, answering their boast,
Go, wage war on them in their own country,
Command my army, ravage the enemy.
As the Cid you have them trembling;
They called you lord, shall know you as their king.
Though great your deeds stay ever faithful;
Return more worthy of her if possible,
And in all your exploits prove so true,
It will be bliss to her to marry you.

Rodrigue
To possess Chimene, and do you service,
What will my weapons not accomplish?
Whatever absence from her must endure,
Sire, it is yet happiness to hope for more.

King
Take hope then from courage, and my promise;
You now possess the heart of your mistress,
To meet this point of honour, yet arising,
Rely on time, your valour, and your king.