"'Thou hast slain the best and bravest That e'er set a lance in rest; Of our holy faith the bulwark,-- Terror of each Paynim breast. "'Traitorous murderer, slay me also! Though a woman, slaughter me! Spare not--I'm Ximena Gomez, Thine eternal enemy! "'Here's my throat--smite, I beseech thee! Smite, and fatal be thy blow! Death is all I ask, thou caitiff,-- Grant this boon unto thy foe.'" _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). As this denunciation and appeal remained without effect (for the king had been too well served by the Cid to listen to any accusation against him), the distressed damsel departed, only to return to court three times upon the same fruitless errand. During this time the valor and services of the Cid had been so frequently discussed in her presence that on her fifth visit to Ferdinand she consented to forego all further thoughts of vengeance, if the king would but order the young hero to marry her instead. "'I am daughter of Don Gomez, Count of Gormaz was he hight, Him Rodrigo by his valor Did o'erthrow in mortal fight. "'King, I come to crave a favor-- This the boon for which I pray, That thou give me this Rodrigo For my wedded lord this day.'" _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). [Sidenote: Marriage of the Cid.] The king, who had suspected for some time past that the Cid had fallen in love with his fair foe, immediately sent for him. Rodrigo entered the city with his suite of three hundred men, proposed marriage to Ximena, and was accepted on the spot. His men then proceeded to array him richly for his wedding, and bound on him his famous sword Tizona, which he had won from the Moors. The marriage was celebrated with much pomp and rejoicing, the king giving Rodrigo the cities of Valduerna, Soldañia, Belforado, and San Pedro de Cardeña as a marriage portion. When the marriage ceremony was finished, Rodrigo, wishing to show his wife all honor, declared that he would not rest until he had won five battles, and would only then really consider himself entitled, to claim her love. "'A man I slew--a man I give thee-- Here I stand thy will to bide! Thou, in place of a dead father, Hast a husband at thy side.'" _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.).