Part 10 (1/2)

”Let the night pa.s.s and morning come. Look that ye ready be With arms and horses. We will forth that host of theirs to see.'.

Like men gone out in exile into a strange empire, There shall it be determined who is worthy of his hire.”

VIII.

Minaya Alvar Fanez, hark what he said thereto: ”Ho! Campeador, thy pleasure in all things may we do.

Give me of knights an hundred, I ask not one other man.

And do thou with the others smite on them in the van While my hundred storm their rearward, upon them thou shalt thrust-- Ne'er doubt it. We shall triumph as in G.o.d is all my trust.”

Whatsoever he had spoken filled the Cid with right good cheer

And now was come the morning, and they donned their battle gear.

What was his task of battle every man of them did know.

At the bleak of day against them forth did the lord Cid go.

”In G.o.d's name and Saint James', my knights, strike hard into the war, And manful. The lord Cid am I, Roy Diaz of Bivar!”

You might see a many tent-ropes everywhither broken lie, And pegs wrenched up; the tent-posts on all sides leaned awry.

The Moors were very many. To recover they were fain, But now did Alvar Fanez on their rearward fall amain.

Though bitterly it grieved them, they had to fly and yield.

Who could put trust in horsehoofs, and forthwith fled the field.

Two kings of the Moriscos there in the rout they slew; And even to Valencia the chase did they pursue.

And mighty is the booty my lord the Cid had ta 'en.

They ravaged all the country and then turned back again.

They brought to Murviedro the booty of the foes.

And great was the rejoicing in the city that arose.

Cebolla have they taken and all the lands anear.

In Valencia they knew not what to do for very fear.

Of my lord Cid the great tidings, be it known, on all sides spread.

LXIX.

His renown afar is spreading. Beyond the sea it sped.

Glad were the companies the Cid a glad man was he That G.o.d had given him succor and gained that victory.

And they sent forth their harriers. By night they marched away, They reached unto Cullera, and to Jativa came they.

And ever downward even to Denia town they bore.

And all the Moorish country by the sea he wasted sore.

Penacadell, outgoing and entrance, have they ta'en.

LXX.

When the Cid took Penacadell, it was great grief and pain To them who in Cullera and in Jativa did dwell, And sorrow without measure in Valencia befell.

LXXI.

Three years those towns to conquer in the Moorish land he bode, Winning much; by day he rested, and at night was on the road.

LXXll.

On the dwellers in Valencia they wrought chastis.e.m.e.nt sore, From the town they dared not sally against him to make war.

He harried all their gardens and a mighty ruin made; And all those years their harvest in utter waste he laid.

Loud lamented the Valencians, for sore bested they were, Nor could find in any quarter any sort of provender; Nor could the father aid the son, nor the son aid the sire, Nor comrade comfort comrade. Gentles, 'tis hards.h.i.+p dire To lack for bread, and see our wives and children waste away.

They saw their own affliction and no hope of help had they.

To the King of Morocco had they sent the tidings on.

'Gainst the lord of Montes Claros on a great war was he gone.

He counselled not. He came not to aid them in the war.

My lord the Cid had heard it. His heart was glad therefor; And forth from Murviedro he marched away by night.