Spanish shepherd © Mark Wade

Now my Cid knew the evil disposition of the King towards him, and when he received his bidding, he made answer that he would meet him between Burgos and Bivar.

And the King went out from Burgos and came nigh unto Bivar; and the Cid came up to him and would have kissed his hand, but the King withheld it, and said angrily unto him, Ruydiez, quit my land.

Then the Cid clapt spurs to the mule upon which he rode, and vaulted into a piece of ground which was his own inheritance, and answered, Sir, I am not in your land, but in my own.

And the King replied full wrathfully, Go out of my kingdoms without any delay.

And the Cid made answer, Give me then thirty days time, as is the right of the hidalgos; and the King said he would not, but that if he were not gone in nine days time he would come and look for him.

The Counts were well pleased at this; but all the people of the land were sorrowful.

And then the King and the Cid parted.

And the Cid sent for all his friends and his kinsmen and vassals, and told them how King Don Alfonso had banished him from the land, and asked of them who would follow him into banishment, and who would remain at home.

Then Alvar Fanez, who was his cousin-german, came forward and said, Cid, we will all go with you, through desert and through peopled country, and never fail you.

In your service will we spend our mules and horses, our wealth and our garments, and ever while we live be unto you loyal friends and vassals.

And they all confirmed what Alvar Fanez had said; and the Cid thanked them for their love, and said that there might come a time in which he should guerdon them.