“Our Rodrigo would have done that, too,” declared Rafael proudly, while Pilarica, with one valiant dab of her forefinger, tumbled the five bread-sticks into the dust. Later, remembering Tia Marta, she picked them up and polished them off with a handful of rose-petals before restoring them to the plate. Finding his hero so popular, Don Carlos recited what he could remember of an old Spanish ballad that tells of the Cid’s offer to give Bavieca to the King of Castile. “The King looked on him kindly, as on a vassal true; Then to the King Ruy Diaz spake after reverence due: ‘O King, the thing is shameful, that any man beside The liege lord of Castile himself should Bavieca ride: “‘For neither Spain nor Araby could another charger bring So good as he, and certes, the best befits my king. But that you may behold him, and know him to the core, I’ll make him go as he was wont when his nostrils smelt the Moor.’ “With that, the Cid, clad as he was in mantle furred and wide, On Bavieca vaulting, put the rowel in his side; And wildly, madly sped the steed, while the mantle streamed behind As when the banner of Castile beats in a stormy wind. “And all that saw them praised them; they lauded man and horse As mated well and rivalless for gallantry and force; Ne’er had they looked on horseman might to this knight come near, Nor on other charger worthy of such a cavalier. “Thus, to and fro a-rushing, the fierce and furious steed, He snapped in twain his hither rein. ‘God pity now the Cid!’ ‘God pity Diaz!’ cried the lords, but when they looked again, They saw Ruy Diaz ruling him with the fragment of his rein; They saw him proudly ruling with gesture firm and calm, Like a true lord commanding, and obeyed as by a lamb. “And so he led him foaming and panting to the King; But ‘No!’ said Don Alfonso, ‘it were a shameful thing That peerless Bavieca should ever be bestrid By any mortal but Bivar. Mount, mount again, my Cid!’”