The rude independence of the Northmen is well illustrated by their behavior when called to court to do homage for this new fief.  Rollo was directed to place both his hands between those of the king, and take his vow of allegiance; so he submitted with indifferent grace.  But when he was told that he must conclude the ceremony by kissing the monarch’s foot, he obstinately refused to do so.  A proxy was finally suggested, and Rollo, calling one of his Berserkers, bade him take his place.  The stalwart giant strode forward, but instead of kneeling, he grasped the king’s foot and raised it to his lips.  As the king did not expect such a jerk, he lost his balance and fell heavily backward.  All the Frenchmen present were, of course, scandalized; but the barbarian refused to make any apology, and strode haughtily out of the place, vowing he would never come to court again.

All the northern pirates were, as we have seen, called Normans.  They did not all settle in the North, however, for many of them found their way into Italy, and even to Constantinople.  There they formed the celebrated Varangian Guard, and faithfully watched over the safety of the emperor.  It was probably one of these soldiers who traced the runes upon the stone lion which was subsequently transferred to Venice, where it now adorns the Piazza of St. Mark’s.

“Rose the Norseman chief Hardrada, like a lion from his lair;
His the fearless soul to conquer, his the willing soul to dare. 
Gathered Skald and wild Varingar, where the raven banner shone,
And the dread steeds of the ocean, left the Northland’s frozen zone.” 

          
                                                            VAIL, Marri’s Vision.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE CID.

[Sidenote:  Ballads of the Cid.] The ballads of the Cid, which number about two hundred, and some of which are of undoubted antiquity, were not committed to writing until the twelfth century, when a poem of about three thousand lines was composed.  This poem, descriptive of a national hero’s exploits, was probably written about half a century after his death.  The earliest manuscript of it now extant bears the date either 1245 or 1345.  The Cid was a real personage, named Rodrigo Diaz, or Ruy Diaz.  He was born in Burgos, in the eleventh century, and won the name of “Cid” (Conqueror) by defeating five Moorish kings, when Spain had been in the hands of the Arabs for more than three centuries.

“Mighty victor, never vanquish’d,
Bulwark of our native land,
Shield of Spain, her boast and glory,
Knight of the far-dreaded brand,
Venging scourge of Moors and traitors,
Mighty thunderbolt of war,
Mirror bright of chivalry,
Ruy, my Cid Campeador!”
Ancient Spanish Ballads (Lockhart’s tr.).

Rodrigo was still a young and untried warrior when his aged father, Diego Laynez, was grossly and publicly insulted by Don Gomez, who gave him a blow in the face.  Diego was far too feeble to seek the usual redress, arms in hand; but the insult rankled deep in his heart, preventing him from either sleeping or eating, and imbittering every moment of his life.