"Whate'er shall be your pleasure, that is it we shall say." Said the Cid: "The Heirs of Carrión, of a great line are they, And they are proud exceeding, and their favor fair at court. Yet ill doth such a marriage with my desire coport. But since it is his pleasure that is of more worth than we, Let us talk thereof a little, but secret let us be. May the Lord God in Heaven accord us as is best." "Besides all this Alfonso this word to thee addressed: He would come to parley with thee in what place thou art fain. He desireth well to see thee and honor thee again. Then what to do is fittest ye might be well agreed." Said the Cid: "Now by this saying I am well pleased indeed." "Where thou wilt hold this parley" said Minaya, "ponder well. "In that the king desired it, no wondrous thing befell," That wherever we might find him we might seek him in his way, As to our King and Master, our high devoir to pay. Haply we may desire what good to him shall seem. Nigh to the river Tagus that is a noble stream, If so my lord desire it, we will hold the parley there." He wrote the letters straightway and sealed them well and fair. And then unto two horsemen he gave the letters o 'er. Whatso the King desireth, that will the Campeador. CIII. Unto the King much honored, the letters they present. When he had looked upon them, then was his heart content. "To the Cid who in good time girt brand my greeting do I send, And let us hold the parley when three weeks are at an end. If I yet live, then doubtless I shall wait him in that place." They tarried not, but hastened home to the Cid apace. On both sides for the parley they got ready point device. In Castile was ne'er such foison of mules without a price, Nor so many fair-paced palfreys, nor strong steeds swift to guide, Nor so many noble pennons on the stout lances tied, And shields whereof the bosses did with gold and silver shine, Robes, furs and Alexandrian cloth of satin woven fine. And the King gave his order, to send much victual there, To the waters of the Tagus where the parley they prepare. The King leads many a good troop, and Carrión's Heirs are gay. And here they run in debt apace, and there again they pay, For they thought to have great profit and increase manifold, And whatso they should desire, goods of silver and of gold. And now hath King Alfonso got swiftly to his horse, With counts and little nobles and vassals in great force. As for the Heirs of Carrión great companies they bring. From León and from Galicia came much people with the King; Know well, the levies of Castile, they are a countless train. And straight unto the parley they rode with slackened rein.