The Annotated Chronicle of El Cid ~ Book I ~ Chapter IV


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Cid atop Bievca
As portrayed in El Cid

After this Diego being full of years fell asleep and was gathered to his fathers.

And the Moors entered Castille, in great power, for there came with them five Kings, and they past above Burgos, and crost the mountains of Oca, and plundered Carrion, and Vilforado, and Saint Domingo de la Calzada, and Logrono, and Najara, and all that land; and they carried away many captives both male and female, and brood mares, and flocks of all kinds.

But as they were returning with all speed, Rodrigo of Bivar raised the country, and came up with them in the mountains of Oca, and fell upon them and discomfited them, and won back all their booty, and took all the five Kings prisoners.

Then he went back to his mother, taking the Kings with him, and there he divided the whole spoil with the hidalgos and his other companions, both the Moorish captives and all the spoil of whatever kind, so that they departed right joyfully, being well pleased with what he had done.

And he gave thanks to God for the grace which had been vouchsafed to him, and said to his mother, that he did not think it good to keep the Kings in captivity, but to let them go freely; and he set them at liberty and bade them depart.

So they returned each to his own country, blessing him for their deliverance, and magnifying his great bounty; and forthwith they sent him tribute and acknowledged themselves to be his vassals.


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Texts via the Gutenberg Project
Commentary © Mark Wade, 2006.
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