came out to the tourney; and Martin Pelaez went out well armed, and was
among the foremost who charged the Moors, and when he was in among them
he turned the reins, and went back to his lodging; and the Cid took
heed to all that he did, and saw that though he had done badly he had
done better than the first day. And when the Cid had driven the Moors
into the town he returned to his lodging, and as he sate down to meat
he took this Martin Pelaez by the hand, and seated him with himself,
and bade him eat with him in the same dish, for he had deserved more
that day than he had the first. And the knight gave heed to that
saying, and was abashed; howbeit he did as the Cid commanded him: and
after he had dined he went to his lodging and began to think upon what
the Cid had said unto him, and perceived that he had seen all the
baseness which he had done; and then he understood that for this cause
he would not let him sit at board with the other knights who were
precious in arms, but had seated him with himself, more to affront him
than to do him honour, for there were other knights there better than
he, and he did not show them that honour. Then resolved he in his heart
to do better than he had done heretofore. Another day the Cid and his
company and Martin Pelaez rode toward Valencia, and the Moors came out
to the tourney full resolutely, and Martin Pelaez was among the first,
and charged them right boldly; and he smote down and slew presently a
good knight, and he lost there all the bad fear which he had had, and
was that day one of the best knights there; and as long as the tourney
lasted there he remained, smiting and slaying and overthrowing the
Moors, till they were driven within the gates, in such manner that the
Moors marvelled at him, and asked where that Devil came from, for they
had never seen him before. And the Cid was in a place where he could
see all that was going on, and he gave good heed to him, and had great
pleasure in beholding him, to see how well he had forgotten the great
fear which he was wont to have. And when the Moors were shut up within
the town, the Cid and all his people returned to their lodging, and
Martin Pelaez full leisurely and quietly went to his lodging also, like
a good knight. And when it was the hour of eating the Cid waited for
Martin Pelaez, and when he came, and they had washed, the Cid took him
by the hand and said, My friend, you are not such a one as deserves to
sit with me from henceforth, but sit you here with Don Alvar Fañez, and
with these other good knights, for the good feats which you have done
this day have made you a companion for them; and from that day forward
he was placed in the company of the good. And the history saith that
from that day forward this knight Martin Pelaez was a right good one,
and a right valiant, and a right precious, in all places where he
chanced among feats of arms, and he lived alway with the Cid, and
served him right well and truly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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