of the city with their wives and children, all except those whom the
Cid had commanded to abide there; and as the Moors went out the
Christians who dwelt in Alcudia entered in. And the history saith, that
so great was the multitude which departed, that they were two whole
days in going out. Great was the joy of the Cid and his people that
day, and from thenceforward he was called My Cid the Campeador, Lord of
Valencia.
X. Now was it bruited abroad throughout all lands, how the Cid Ruydiez
had won the noble city of Valencia. And when Ali Abenaxa the Adelantado
of the Almoravides knew it, he sent his son-in-law the King of Seville
to besiege him in Valencia, and gave him thirty thousand men at arms.
And this King came in great haste to Valencia, and besieged the Cid
therein. And the Cid made ready with all his people, and went out to
fight him. And the battle was nigh unto Valencia, beside the garden
which is called the Garden of Villa Nueva; and it was a good battle,
and at length he of the good fortune conquered; and the pursuit
continued as far as Xativa; even so far did the Christians pursue them,
smiting and slaying. And at the passage of the Xucar there might you
have seen confusion, and there the Moors without liking it drank plenty
of water. They say that fifteen thousand Moors died in the river; and
the King of Seville fled with three great blows. This day did Martin
Pelaez the Asturian approve himself a right good one: there was no
knight so good that day in arms as he, nor who bore away such honour.
And when the pursuit was ended the Cid returned to the field of battle,
and ordered the spoils of the field and of the tents to be collected.
Be it known that this was a profitable day's work. Every foot soldier
shared a hundred marks of silver that day. And the Cid returned full
honourably to Valencia. Great was the joy of the Christians in the Cid
Ruydiez, he who was born in a good hour. His beard was grown, and
continued to grow a great length. My Cid said of his chin, For the love
of King Don Alfonso, who hath banished me from his land, no scissars
shall come upon it, nor shall a hair be cut away, and Moors and
Christians shall talk of it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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