Counsel straightway together held the Heirs of Carrión twain. "The fame of the Cid Campeador grows great on every side, An we might wed his daughters, would our needs be satisfied. Scarce we dare frame this project e'en to ourselves alone; The Cid is of Bivár, and we are Counts of Carrión." They hatched that plot between them, to none they told the thing. Minaya Alvar Fañez took leave of the good King:. "Ha! goest thou, Minaya? The Creator give thee grace. Take an herald. As I deem it he may help thee in this case. If thou take the ladies, serve them even as they desire. Even unto Medína grant them all that they require. The Campeador shall take them in his charge thenceforward on." After leave ta'en Minaya from the court he got him gone. LXXXIII. And so the Heirs of Carrión did each with each consent. With Minaya Alvar Fañez in company they went: "In all things thou excellest; likewise in this excel: Greet now my lord Cid of Bivár for us exceeding well, To the utmost of our effort his partisans are we. The Cid, an he will love us, shall get no injury." Said Minaya: "In that proffer naught displeasing I discern." Gone is Minaya. Home again did the two counts return. He hastens to San Pedro where the three ladies are. Very great was the rejoicing when they saw him from afar. To offer prayer Minaya to San Pedro did descend. He turned back unto the ladies when the prayer was at an end. "I greet thee, Dame Xiména. God thee prosper and maintain, And so likewise thy daughters, the noble children twain. In the city where he dwelleth the lord Cid greets thee fair. Good health has he and riches that are beyond compare. The King for a gift to him your freedom gave to me, To take you to Valencia our land of lawful fee. If the Cid might behold you well and unharmed again, He would be all rejoicing, but scant would be his pain." "May the Creator so decide," the Dame Xiména said. Minaya Alvar Fañez sent three horsemen on ahead, To the Cid within Valencia the men did he commend: "Announce unto the Campeador, whom the Lord God defend, That the King his wife and daughters has released unto my hands, And has ordered escort for us as we travel through his lands. Fifteen days from this time forwar, if God keep us in his care, With his wife and with his daughters I will come unto him there, With the noble ladies also their servitors that be." The riders are gone forward, to the matter they will see. Minaya Alvar Fañez in San Pedro did abide. There might you see the household swarming in from every side; Unto my lord Cid of Bivár in Valencia would they go. They besought Alvar Fañez that he would them favor so. To them replied Minaya. "That will I gladly do." And five and sixty horsemen have swelled his retinue, And he had brought an hundred thither in his command. To accompany the ladies, they arrayed a noble band.