XVIII. When Felez Muñoz saw that the voices which they heard had
ceased, he went after awhile to a village which was at hand, to seek
food for the dames and for himself; and in this manner he kept them for
seven days. And in that village he found a good man, who was a
husbandman, and who lived a godly life with his wife and with his
daughters; and this good man knew the Cid Ruydiez, for the Cid had
lodged in his house, and he had heard tell of his great feats. And when
Felez Muñoz knew this he took the man aside, seeing how good a man he
was, and how well he spake of the Cid, and told him what had befallen
those dames, and how he had hidden them in the wood. And when the good
man heard it he had great ruth for them, but he held himself a happy
man in that he could do them service; and he took two asses and went
with Felez Muñoz to the place where they were hidden, and took with him
his two sons, who were young men. And when the dames saw them they
marvelled who they might be, and were ashamed and would have hidden
themselves; but they could not. And the good man bent his knees before
them, weeping, and said, Ladies, I am at the service of the Cid your
father, who hath many times lodged in my house, and I served him the
best I could, and he alway was bountiful toward me. And now, this young
man, who saith his name is Felez Muñoz, hath told me the great wrong
and dishonour which your husbands, the Infantes of Carrion, have done
unto you. And when I heard it I was moved to great sorrow, and for the
great desire I have to do service to the Cid and to you, I am come
hither, to carry you, if you will be so pleased, upon these beasts, to
my house; for you must not remain in this wild forest, where the beasts
would devour you. And when you are there, I and my wife and my
daughters will serve you the best we can; and you may then send this
squire to your father, and we will keep you secretly and well till your
father shall send for you; this place is not fit for you, for you would
die of cold and hunger. When the good man had said this, Doña Sol
turned to Doña Elvira and said, Sister, the good man saith well, and it
is better that we should go with him than remain and die here, for so
shall we see the vengeance which I trust in God our father will give
us. So they gave thanks to God, and to that man. And he set them upon
his beasts, and led them to the village, when it was now night; and
they entered his house secretly, so that none knew of their coming save
the good man and his family, whom he charged that they should tell no
man thereof. And there his wife and his daughters ministered uoto them
with pure good will.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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