_Infanta._ Reflect well, my [dear] Chimene, on what thou wishest to do. Adieu; [when] alone thou cans't think over this at thy leisure. [_Exit the Infanta._] _Chimene._ Since my father is slain [_lit._ after my dead father], I have no [alternative] to choose. Scene III.--DON FERNANDO (the King), DON DIEGO, DON ARIAS, DON RODRIGO, and DON SANCHO. _Don Fernando._ Worthy scion of a distinguished race, which has always been the glory and the support of Castile! Thou descendant of so many ancestors signalized by valor, whom the first attempt of thine own [prowess] has so soon equalled; my ability to recompense thee is too limited [_lit._ small], and I have less power than thou hast merit. The country delivered from such a fierce enemy, my sceptre firmly placed in my hand by thine own [hand], and the Moors defeated before, amid these terrors, I could give orders for repulsing their arms; these are brilliant services which leave not to thy King the means or the hope of discharging his debt of gratitude [_lit._ acquitting himself] towards thee. But the two kings, thy captives, shall be thy reward. Both of them in my presence have named thee their Cid--since Cid, in their language, is equivalent to lord, I shall not envy thee this glorious title of distinction; be thou, henceforth, the Cid; to that great name let everything yield; let it overwhelm with terror both Granada and Toledo, and let it indicate to all those who live under my laws both how valuable thou art to me [_lit._ that which thou art worth to me], and that [deep obligation] which I owe thee. _Don Rodrigo._ Let your majesty, sire, spare my modesty. On such an humble service your majesty [_lit._ it, referring to majesty] sets too high a value, and compels me to blush [for shame] before so great a King, at so little deserving the honor which I have received from him. I know too well [the gifts] that I owe to the welfare of your empire, both the blood which flows in my veins [_lit._ animates me] and the air which I breathe, and even though I should lose them in such a glorious cause [_lit._ for an object so worthy], I should only be doing the duty of a subject. _Don Fernando._ All those whom that duty enlists in my service do not discharge it with the same courage, and when [i.e. unless] valor attains a high degree, it never produces such rare successes; allow us then to praise thee, and tell me more at length the true history of this victory. _Don Rodrigo._ Sire, you are aware that in this urgent danger, which created in the city such a powerful alarm, a band of friends assembled at the house of my father prevailed on my spirit, still much agitated. But, sire, pardon my rashness if I dared to employ it without your authority; the danger was approaching; their [valiant] band was ready; by showing myself at the court I should have risked my life [_lit._ head], and, if I must lose it, it would have been far more delightful for me to depart from life while fighting for you.