El Cid Page #4

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There was no other way for me.

The man you chose to love

could do only what I did.

Why did you come, Rodrigo?

Did you think the woman you chose to love

could do less than you?

I tried not to come.

I tried.

I told my love

it had no right to live.

But my love won't die.

- Kill it!

- You kill it!

Tell me you don't love me.

I cannot.

Not yet.

But I will make myself

worthy of you, Rodrigo.

I will learn to hate you.

Dona Chimene, daughter of

the late Count Gormaz of Oviedo...

the King's lamented champion.

Dona Chimene,

never was there a moment

when we needed

your father more.

His death is a great loss to us.

And never did I regret

more deeply...

that I am his daughter

and not his son.

I will not stand

on ceremony, Ferdinand.

Three times I have written you

on the matter of the city of Calahorra...

and have received no answer.

The city of Calahorra belongs to Aragon,

and I've come to claim it.

Calahorra has always been

a part of Castile.

His Majesty, King Ferdinand,

of Castile, Leon and Asturias...

denies these claims.

Ramiro, King of Aragon

by the grace of God...

does this day challenge Ferdinand,

King of Castile, Leon and Asturias...

to meet him in battle

on the plains of Calahorra...

with all the forces he can command.

To the victor in this battle

and to his heirs...

the city of Calahorra

shall belong forever!

No!

All Spain is threatened

by the Moors.

What could give greater comfort

to the enemy...

than to see two Christian kings and their

Christian armies tear each other to bits.

Why not then let the fate

of Calahorra be determined...

by the outcome of a single combat...

between your champion and mine?

We know why you have chosen

this moment to press your claim.

Our champion is dead.

The gauntlet lies there.

Let one man come forward now,

or give up Calahorra.

Lord King!

Let me take up this gauntlet, Sire.

Why should we entrust the fate of a city...

to your inexperienced hands?

It was I who killed

your champion, Sire.

What man has a better claim

to his place?

Don Martin has killed

You know that?

Yes.

Yes, Sire, I know that.

Why, then, would you risk

your life in this way?

I stand accused of treason, Sire.

And of other things.

I've not been permitted to answer

these charges. You've not judged me.

Let me now offer myself

before the highest judge.

If I'm guilty...

God will direct Don Martin's

lance to my heart.

If I'm innocent,

let him be my shield.

- He's never fought before.

- He is strong, Father.

A city, a whole city is at stake.

- He defeated our champion.

- How do we know it wasn't

from behind and in the dark?

- There were no witnesses.

- That is not Rodrigo's way.

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