Comes crashing down upon the foe the fury of Castile. Now rally, rally, to the flash of Roderigo's blade, The champion of Bivar is here who never was gainsaid. Three hundred levelled lances strike as one upon the foe. Down, down in death upon the sand three hundred heathen go. The lances rise, the lances fall, how fast the deadly play! Ah, God! the sundered shields that lie in dreadful disarray. The snow-white bannerets are dyed with blood of Moorish slain, And chargers rush all masterless across the littered plain. As lightning circles Roderick's sword above the huddled foe, With Alvar Fañez, Gustioz, and half a hundred moe He reaps right bloodily. But stay, the Saracens have slain Bold Alvar Fañez' destrier; to aid him comes amain The Cid Campeador, for sore the brave Minaya's need. His way is barred, his stride is marred by a tall emir's steed. His falchion swoops, his falchion stoops, down sinks the turbaned lord. "Mount in his place, Minaya, mount! I need thy trenchant sword. The phalanx of the foe is firm, unbroken still they stand." The stout Minaya leaps in selle, and falchion in hand Strews death to left and right, his trust to rout the Moor right soon. But see, the Cid hath fiercely rid with blood-embroidered shoon Upon the Moorish capitan, he cleaves his shining shield: The haughty Moslem turns to fly--that blow hath won the field. Bold Martin Antolinez aims a stroke at Galve's head; The jewelled casque it cracks in twain, the infidel hath fled Rather than bide its fellow; he and Fariz make retreat: They caracoled to victory, they gallop from defeat. Ne'er was a field so worthy sung since first men sang of war. Its laurels unto thee belong, O Cid Campeador! Fierce and sanguinary was the pursuit. The Moorish rout was complete, and the little Castilian band had lost but fifteen men. Five hundred Arab horses, heavily caparisoned, each with a splendid sword at the saddle-bow, fell into the hands of the Cid, who kept a fifth share for himself, as was the way with the commanders of such free companies as he led. But greatly desiring to make his peace with King Alfonso of Castile, he sent the trusty Alvar Fañez to Court with thirty steeds saddled and bridled in the Moorish fashion.