Ximena As portrayed by Sophia Loren in El Cid

While King Don Sancho was busied in these wars, King Don Garcia of Galicia took by force from Dona Urraca his sister a great part of the lands which the King their father had given her.

And when she heard this she began to lament aloud, saying, Ah! King Don Ferrando, in an evil hour didst thou divide thy kingdom, for thereby will all the land be brought to destruction.

And now also will be accomplished that which my fosterer Arias Gonzalo said, for now that King Don Garcia who is my younger brother, hath dispossessed me and broken the oath which he made unto my father, what will not the elder do, who made the vow by compulsion, and always made protestation against the division! God send that as thou hast disherited me, thou mayest speedily thyself in like manner be disherited, Amen! But when King Don Sancho heard what his brother had done he was well pleased thereat, thinking that he might now bring to pass that which he so greatly desired; and he assembled together his Ricos-omes and his knights, and said unto them, The King my father divided the kingdoms which should have been mine, and therein he did unjustly; now King Don Garcia my brother hath broken the oath and disherited Dona Urraca my sister; I beseech ye therefore counsel me what I shall do, and in what manner to proceed against him, for I will take his kingdom away from him.

Upon this Count Don Garcia Ordonez arose and said, There is not a man in the world, Sir, who would counsel you to break the command of your father, and the vow which you made unto him.

And the King was greatly incensed at him and said, Go from before me, for I shall never receive good counsel from thee.

The King then took the Cid by the hand and led him apart, and said unto him, Thou well knowest, my Cid, that when the King my father commended thee unto me, he charged me upon pain of his curse that I should take you for my adviser, and whatever I did that I should do it with your counsel, and I have done so even until this day; and thou hast always counselled me for the best, and for this I have given thee a county in my kingdom, holding it well bestowed.

Now then I beseech you advise me how best to recover these kingdoms, for if I have not counsel from you I do not expect to have it from any man in the world.