then to the Campeador, and we will help you to bring away the chests,
so that neither Moors nor Christians may see us. So they went to horse
and rode out together, and they did not cross the bridge, but rode
through the water that no man might see them, and they came to the tent
of the Cid.
XXII. Meantime the Cid had taken two chests, which were covered with
leather of red and gold, and the nails which fastened down the leather
were well gilt; they were ribbed with bands of iron, and each fastened
with three locks; they were heavy, and he filled them with sand. And
when Rachel and Vidas entered his tent with Martin Antolinez, they
kissed his hand; and the Cid smiled and said to them, Ye see that I am
going out of the land, because of the King's displeasure; but I shall
leave something with ye. And they made answer, Martin Antolinez has
covenanted with us, that we shall give you six hundred marks upon these
chests, and keep them a full year, swearing not to open them till that
time be expired, else shall we be perjured. Take the chests, said
Martin Antolinez; I will go with you, and bring back the marks, for my
Cid must move before cock-crow. So they took the chests, and though
they were both strong men they could not raise them from the ground;
and they were full glad of the bargain which they had made. And Rachel
then went to the Cid and kissed his hand and said, Now, Campeador, you
are going from Castille among strange nations, and your gain will be
great, even as your fortune is. I kiss your hand, Cid, and have a gift
for you, a red skin: it is Moorish and honourable. And the Cid said, It
pleases me; give it me if ye have brought it, if not, reckon it upon
the chests. And they departed with the chests, and Martin Antolinez and
his people helped them, and went with them. And when they had placed
the chests in safety, they spread a carpet in the middle of the hall,
and laid a sheet upon it and they threw down upon it three hundred
marks of silver. Don Martin counted them, and took them without
weighing. The other three hundred they paid in gold. Don Martin had
five squires with him, and he loaded them all with the money. And when
this was done he said to them, Now Don Rachel and Vidas, you have got
the chests, and I who got them for you well deserve a pair of hose. And
the Jews said to each other, Let us give him a good gift for this which
he has done; and they said to him, We will give you enough for hose and
for a rich doublet and a good cloak; you shall have thirty marks. Don
Martin thanked them and took the marks, and bidding them both farewell,
he departed right joyfully.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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