where I may go and disport myself at times, and repair when it is
needful. When he had said these things he bade them go their way.
V. Well pleased were the Moors when they departed from him, and they
marvelled at the greatness of his promises, and they set their hearts
at rest, and put away the fear which they had had, thinking all their
troubles were over; for in all the promises which the Cid had made unto
them, they believed that he spake truth; but he said these things only
to quiet them, and to make them come to what he wished, even as came to
pass. And when he had done, he sent his Almoxarife, Abdalla Adiz, to
the Custom House, and made him appoint men to collect the rents of the
town for him, which vas done accordingly. And when the Cid had given
order concerning his own affairs at his pleasure, the Moors would fain
have entered again into possession of their heritages as he told them;
but they found it all otherwise, for of all the fields which the
Christians had husbanded; they would not yield up one; albeit they let
them enter upon such as were left waste; some said that the Cid had
given them the lands that year, instead of their pay, and other some
that they rented them and had paid rent for the year. So the Moors
seeing this, waited till Thursday, when the Cid was to hear complaints,
as he had said unto them. When Thursday came all the honourable men
went to the Garden, but the Cid sent to say unto them that he could not
come out that day, because of other causes which he had to determine;
and he desired that they would go their way for that time, and come
again on the Monday: this was to show his mastery. And when it was
Monday they assembled again in the Garden, and the Cid came out to
them, and took his seat upon the _estrado_, and the Moors made their
complaint. And when he had heard them, he began to make similitudes,
and offer reasons which were not like those which he had spoken the
first day, for he said to them, I ask of ye, whether it is weil that I
should be left without men? for if I were without them, I should be
like unto one who hath lost his right arm, or to a bird that hath no
wings, or to one who should do battle and hath neither spear nor sword.
The first thing which I have to look to is to the well-being of my
people, that they may live in wealth and honour, so that they may be
able to serve me, and defend my honour; for since it has pleased God to
give me the city of Valencia, I will not that there be any other Lord
here than me. Therefore I say unto you and command you, if you would be
well with me, and would that I should show favour unto you, that ye see
how to deliver that traitor Abeniaf into my hands. Ye all know the
great treason which he committed upon King Yahia, his Lord and yours,
how he slew him, and the misery which he brought upon you in the siege;
and since it is not fitting that a traitor who hath slain his Lord
should live among you, and that his treason should be confounded with
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