X. Then the Cid called unto Alvar Fañez and said, Cousin, you are my
right hand, and I hold it good that you should take of my fifth as much
as you will, for all would be well bestowed upon you; but Minaya
thanked him, and said, that he would take nothing more than his share.
And the Cid said unto him, I will send King Don Alfonso a present from
my part of the spoils. You shall go into Castille, and take with you
thirty horses, the best which were taken from the Moors, all bridled
and saddled, and each having a sword hanging from the saddle-bow; and
you shall give them to the King, and kiss his hand for me, and tell him
that we know how to make our way among the Moors. And you shall take
also this bag of gold and silver, and purchase for me a thousand masses
in St. Mary's at Burgos, and hang up there these banners of the Moorish
Kings whom we have overcome. Go then to St. Pedro's at Cardeña, and
salute my wife Doña Ximena, and my daughters, and tell them how well I
go on, and that if I live I will make them rich women. And salute for
me the Abbot Don Sancho, and give him fifty marks of silver; and the
rest of the money, whatever shall be left, give to my wife, and bid
them all pray for me. Moreover the Cid said unto him, This country is
all spoiled, and we have to help ourselves with sword and spear. You
are going to gentle Castille; if when you return you should not find us
here, you will hear where we are.
XI. Alvar Fañez went his way to Castille, and he found the King in
Valladolid, and he presented to him the thirty horses, with all their
trappings, and swords mounted with silver hanging from the saddle-bows.
And when the King saw them, before Alvar Fañez could deliver his
bidding, he said unto him, Minaya, who sends me this goodly present;
and Minaya answered, My Cid Ruydiez, the Campeador, sends it, and
kisses by me your hands. For since you were wroth against him, and
banished him from the land, he being a man disherited, hath helped
himself with his own hands, and hath won from the Moors the Castle of
Alcocer. And the King of Valencia sent two Kings to besiege him there,
with all his power, and they begirt him round about, and cut off the
water and bread from us so that we could not subsist. And then holding
it better to die like good men in the field, than shut up like bad
ones, we went out against them, and fought with them in the open field,
and smote them and put them to flight; and both the Moorish Kings were
sorely wounded, and many of the Moors were slain, and many were taken
prisoners, and great was the spoil which we won in the field, both of
captives and of horses and arms, gold and silver and pearls, so that
all who are with him are rich men. And of his fifth of the horses which
were taken that day, my Cid hath sent you these, as to his natural
Lord, whose favour he desireth. I beseech you, as God shall help you,
show favour unto him. Then King Don Alfonso answered, This is betimes
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