XIII. Ever after was that knoll called the Knoll of the Cid. And when
the perfect one had waited a long time for Minaya and saw that he did
not come, he removed by night, and passed by Teruel and pitched his
camp in the pine-forest of Tebar. And from thence he infested the Moors
of Zaragoza, insomuch that they held it best to give him gold and
silver and pay him tribute. And when this covenant had been made,
Almudafar, the King of Zaragoza, became greatly his friend, and
received him full honourably into the town. In three weeks time after
this came Alvar Fañez from Castille. Two hundred men of lineage came
with him, every one of whom wore sword girt to his side, and the
foot-soldiers in their company were out of number. When my Cid saw
Minaya he rode up to him, and embraced him without speaking, and kissed
his mouth and the eyes in his head. And Minaya told him all that he had
done. And the face of the Campeador brightened, and he gave thanks to
God and said, It will go well with me, Minaya, as long as you live!
God, how joyful was that whole host because Alvar Fañez was returned!
for he brought them greetings from their kinswomen and their brethren,
and the fair comrades whom they had left behind. God, how joyful was my
Cid with the fleecy beard, that Minaya had purchased the thousand
masses, and had brought him the biddings of his wife and daughters!
God, what a joyful man was he!
XIV. Now it came to pass that while my Cid was in Zaragoza the days of
King Almudafar were fulfilled: and he left his two sons Zulema and
Abenalfange, and they divided his dominions between them; and Zulema
had the kingdom of Zaragoza, and Abenalfange the kingdom of Denia. And
Zulema put his kingdom under my Cid's protection, and bade all his
people obey him even as they would himself. Now there began to be great
enmity between the two brethren, and they made war upon each other. And
King Don Pedro of Aragon, and the Count Don Ramón Berenguer of
Barcelona, helped Abenalfange, and they were enemies to the Cid because
he defended Zulema. And my Cid chose out two hundred horsemen and went
out by night, and fell upon the lands of Alcañiz; and he remained out
three days in this inroad, and brought away great booty. Great was the
talk thereof among the Moors: and they of Monzon and of Huesca were
troubled, but they of Zaragoza rejoiced; because they paid tribute to
the Cid, and were safe. And when my Cid returned to Zaragoza he divided
the spoil among his companions, and said to them, Ye know, my friends,
that for all who live by their arms, as we do, it is not good to remain
long in one place. Let us be off again to-morrow. So on the morrow they
moved to the Puerto de Alucant, and from thence they infested Huesca
and Montalban. Ten days were they out upon this inroad; and the news
was sent every where how the exile from Castille was handling them, and
tidings went to the King of Denia and to the Count of Barcelona, how my
Cid was over-running the country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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