XXIII. Now the Moors of Valencia being in this great misery because of the siege which the Cid laid unto the town, Abeniaf bethought him that he would send a messenger to the King of Zaragoza, and beseech him to come to his succour, even as he had succoured the grandson of Alimaymon, when the Lord of Denia and Tortosa came against him. And the good men of the town took counsel whether they should say in these letters, To you the King, or whether they should humble themselves before him and call him Lord; and they debated upon this for three days, and agreed that they would call him Lord, that he might have the more compassion upon them. And though Abeniaf was troubled at heart at this determination, nevertheless he said in the letter as they had appointed. And he called a Moor who spake the mixed language, and instructed him how to get out of the city by night, so that the Christians might not see him, and told him that when he had given that letter to the King of Zaragoza, the King would give him garments, and a horse, and a mule to ride on, and that he himself would show favour unto him as long as he lived. So the messenger departed with the letter. And the famine in the town waxed greater, and food was not now bought by the _cafiz_, neither by the _fanega_, but by ounces, or at most by the pound. And the pound of wheat cost a _maravedí_ and a half, and that of barley a _maravedi_, and that of painick a _maravedi_ and a quarter, and of pulse a _maravedi_, and of flax-seed three parts of a _maravedi_, and of cheese three _dineros_, and of honey three, and of figs one; and the _panilla_ of oil was eight _dineros_, and the pound of colewort five, and the ounce of carobs three parts of a _dinero_, and the ounce of onions the same, and the head of garlick the same; and a pound of beast's flesh was six _maravedis_, and grape-stones were half a _dinero_ the pound, and the skins of kine and of beasts five _dineros_; the _dinero_ was silver, for there was no money current save silver and gold.