"Peter Bermuez arose; somewhat he had to say; The words were strangled in his throat, they could not find their way; Till forth they came at once, without a stop or stay: ’Cid, I’ll tell you what, this always is your way; You have always served me thus, whenever you have come To meet here in the Cortes, you call me Peter the Dumb. I cannot help my nature; I never talk nor rail; But when a thing is to be done, you know I never fail. Fernando, you have lied, you have lied in every word; You have been honored by the Cid and favored and preferred. I know of all your tricks, and can tell them to your face: Do you remember in Valencia the skirmish and the chase? You asked leave of the Cid to make the first attack, You went to meet a Moor, but you soon came running back. I met the Moor and killed him, or he would have killed you; I gave you up his arms, and all that was my due. Up to this very hour, I never said a word; You praised yourself before the Cid and I stood by and heard How you had killed the Moor, and done a valiant act; And they believed you all, but they never knew the fact. You are tall enough and handsome, but cowardly and weak, Thou tongue without a hand, how can you dare to speak? There’s the story of the lions should never be forgot; Now let us hear, Fernando, what answer you have got? The Cid was sleeping in his chair, with all his knights around; The cry went forth along the hall that the lion was unbound. What did you do, Fernando? Like a coward as you were, You shrunk behind the Cid, and crouched beneath his chair. We pressed around the throne to shield our loved from harm. Till the good Cid awoke. He rose without alarm. He went to meet the lion with his mantle on his arm. The lion was abashed the noble Cid to meet; He bowed his mane to the earth, his muzzle at his feet. The Cid by the neck and the mane drew him to his den, He thrust him in at the hatch, and came to the hall again. He found his knights, his vassals, and all his valiant men. He asked for his sons-in-law, they were neither of them there I defy you for a coward and a traitor as you are.’" LAS NAVAS DE TOLOSA.