III. And the Cid sent letters to all the Castles round about, bidding
them supply his host with victuals, and do it speedily, or he would do
all he could to destroy them. And there was none to gainsay him; and
all obeyed his commands in this matter, saving Aboeza Abenlupo, for he
was a discreet man, and perceived what was to come, and in what this
was to end; moreover he feared that if he should not do as the Cid
commanded, the Cid would put him out of the world, and no one would be
able to protect him; and if he should do it, then he feared least he
should be banished. So he sent to the Cid to say he would do his
pleasure, and he sent also to Abenrazin, the Lord of Albarrazin, saying
that he would give him Monviedro and the other Castles in his
possession, and bidding him make his terms with the Cid, for as
touching himself, he desired to have no dispute, but to come off with
his company and his own person in peace. When Abenrazin heard this he
was well pleased; and he went to Monviedro with all speed, and took
possession of the Castle. From the time that King Yahia was slain till
this time, was twenty and six days. And when Abenrazin had got
possession of the Castle of Monviedro he came to the Cid, and
established love with him, and made a covenant that there should be
buying and selling between his Castles and the host, and that he would
provide food, and that the Cid should not make war upon him. And upon
this they made their writings, which were full fast; and Abenrazin
returned to his own land, and left one to keep Monviedro for him; and
Abenlupo went with him, taking with him his wives and his children and
his people and all that he had, and he thought himself well off that he
had escaped with his body, for he desired to have nothing to do with
the Cid. And the Cid lay before Juballa, and sent out his foragers
towards Valencia twice a day; one party went in the morning, and
another towards night; and they slew many Moors, and made many
prisoners, and made prey of all the flocks which they found without the
walls; nevertheless the Cid commanded that no hurt should be done to
those of the land of Moya, nor to the husbandmen, but that they who
laboured to produce bread and wine should be protected and encouraged;
and this he did thinking that what they raised would be for him when he
should lay siege unto the town; and he said this to his knights and
Adalides and Almocadenes, and took homage of them that they should obey
him therein. All this time the Cid held that Castle besieged, so that
none could enter in nor come out thereof; and it is said that terms had
secretly been made with him to yield it up, but that it was so to be
done that the other Moors might believe they had yielded from great
necessity, for it was not stored so as to be able to hold out long. And
while the Cid lay before Juballa, all the spoil which his Almogavares
took they brought to the host, and from the host it was taken and sold
at Monviedro.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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