Cantiga de Santa Maria No. 194 (English): "Como o nome da Virgen"
How Holy Mary freed a minstrel from some men who were trying to kill him and take from him what he had.
Concerning this, a miracle happened in the land of Catalonia to
a minstrel who sang well, with grace and ease, earning a good
living, he came to lodge in the house of a greedy knight
Just as the name of the Virgin / is beautiful to the virtuous,
who gave him all that he needed that night. However, that base
and avaricious knight began to covet so greatly the donkey and
clothes belonging to that minstrel that he ordered one of his
men, evil and cruel,
Just as the name of the Virgin / is beautiful to the virtuous,
to go with another of his group and waylay him in a hidden place
in the mountains. The man did so gladly, for it was a favorite
pastime of his, and I assure you, he was always eager to do dastardly
deeds.
Just as the name of the Virgin / is beautiful to the virtuous,
He took a companion of the same ilk with him. The next moorning
the minstrel took leave of the knight, and, as soon as he was
on his way and they saw him travelling all alone, those two caught
him in a steep and rocky place.
Just as the name of the Virgin / is beautiful to the virtuous,
They dragged him far off the road and did not leave him anything
of what he was carrying. Then they decided between them to cut
off his head, but neither the Virgin nor Her glorious Son would
permit it.
Just as the name of the Virgin / is beautiful to the virtuous,
While the two were arguing over which one would kill him, they
cast lots to see who would go first, but Holy Mary would not allow
such a deed to be carried out, for the minstrel cried out loudly:
"Mother of the merciful King
Just as the name of the Virgin / is beautiful to the virtuous,
do not let them kill me, defend me without delay." They,
when theyheard this, began to run away and lost all feeling in
their bodies at that moment so that they could not speak. The
minstrel who had been robbed
Just as the name of the Virgin / is beautiful to the virtuous,
of all he had possessed when he saw that they were in that state,
staring at each other and not speaking between themselves, took
all his belongings and went away and they remained in great fear
of death
Just as the name of the Virgin / is beautiful to the virtuous,
No one had ever heard tell of such a marvelous miracle that uttering
the name of the Virgin might cause a man to feel nothing in his
body. However, the prophet said long ago that Her name was as
terrible as a mighty army.
Just as the name of the Virgin / is beautiful to the virtuous,
The minstrel went on his way, giving joyful praise to the glorious
Virgin, salvation of sinners. All who heard of this, both great
and small, considered it a noble and merciful miracle.