And then through the palace they returned unto the hall,
Of his sons the Cid made question, but found them not at all.
Though they shouted for them loudly, none answered to the hail.
And when at last they found them, oh, but their cheeks were pale!
Such mirth as in the palace was ye never saw before;
But to plague them was forbidden by the lord Cid Campeador.
Many thought that but for cowards themselves the twain had shown.
Sore grieved at what befell them were the Heirs of Carrión.
CXIII.
While thus the affair standeth wherein they had such shame,
A host out of Morocco to besiege Valencia came.
Their camp within the Quarter Field have they arrayed aright.
For fifty thousand chieftains pavilions have they pight.
'Twas the King Búcar if perchance of him ye e'er heard tell.
CXIV.
The Cid and all his henchmen, it pleased them passing well,
For so by the lord's favor their gain should grow the more.
But know the Heirs of Carrión at heart were very sore,
For they saw of the Moriscos many and many a tent,
Which liked them not. The brothers forthwith apart they went.
"We would keep in mind our profit, nor for the loss have care.
And now within this battle we must needs do our share."
"Such a thing well may keep us from seeing Carrión more.
Widows will be the daughters of the good Campeador."
But Muñoz Gustióz heakened how in secret they conferred.
To the Cid Campeador he came with the tale of what he heard:
"The two Heirs thy sons-in-law, their courage is so strong,
Because they go to battle, for Carrión they long.
As God cherishes and keeps them, go bid them have good heart,
That they in peace may tarry, nor in battle have a part.
But with that we shall conquer, and God shall be our stay."
My lord Cid don Rodrigo with a smile went his way.
"My sons, the Heirs of Carrión. God have you in his care.
In your arms rest my daughters that as the sun are fair.
And as I yearn for battle, so of Carrión are ye fain.
In pleasance in Valencia to your hearts desire remain!,
For as for the Moriscos, them well enough I know,
And by grace of the Creator have courage to o'erthrow."
*******************
While they spoke thus, King Búcar sent word and commanded The Cid
to quit Valencia and go his way in peace.*
*At this point a lacuna occurs in the text of the poem. The prose
passage is supplied from the Chronicle of the Twenty Kings, an
emendation due to Pidal.
Otherwise Búcar would exact payment for all that the Cid had done
in the city. The Cid said to him who bore the message:
"Go thou and say to Búcar, that son of an enemy, that before three
days are past, I will give him all that he asks."