Cuevas de Ayllon © Mark Wade

When Martin Antolinez came into the Cid's tent he said unto him, I have sped well, Campeador! you have gained six hundred marks, and I thirty.

Now then strike your tent and be gone.

The time draws on, and you may be with your Lady Wife at St. Pedro de Cardena, before the cock crows.

So the tent was struck, and my Cid and his company went to horse at this early hour.

And the Cid turned his horse's head towards St. Mary's, and with his right hand he blest himself on the forehead, and he said, God be praised! help me, St. Mary.

I go from Castille because the anger of the King is against me, and I know not whether I shall ever enter it again in all my days.

Help me, glorious Virgin, in my goings, both by night and by day.

If you do this and my lot be fair, I will send rich and goodly gifts to your altar, and will have a thousand masses sung there.

Then with a good heart he gave his horse the reins.

And Martin Antolinez said to him, Go ye on; I must back to my wife and tell her what she is to do during my absence.

I shall be with you in good time.

And back he went to Burgos, and my Cid and his company pricked on.

The cocks were crowing amain, and the day began to break, when the good Campeador reached St. Pedro's.

The Abbot Don Sisebuto was saying matins, and Dona Ximena and five of her ladies of good lineage were with him, praying to God and St. Peter to help my Cid.

And when he called at the gate and they knew his voice, God, what a joyful man was the Abbot Don Sisebuto! Out into the court yard they went with torches and with tapers, and the Abbot gave thanks to God that he now beheld the face of my Cid.

And the Cid told him all that had befallen him, and how he was a banished man; and he gave him fifty marks for himself, and a hundred for Dona Ximena and her children.

Abbot, said he, I leave two little girls behind me, whom I commend to your care.

Take you care of them and of my wife and of her ladies: when this money be gone, if it be not enough, supply them abundantly; for every mark which you expend upon them I will give the Monastery four.

And the Abbot promised to do this with a right good will.

Then Dona Ximena came up and her daughters with her, each of them borne in arms, and she knelt down on both her knees before her husband, weeping bitterly, and she would have kissed his hand; and she said to him, Lo now you are banished from the land by mischief-making men, and here am I with your daughters, who are little ones and of tender years, and we and you must be parted, even in your life time.

For the love of St. Mary tell me now what we shall do.

And the Cid took the children in his arms, and held them to his heart and wept, for he dearly loved them.

Please God and St. Mary, said he, I shall yet live to give these my daughters in marriage with my own hands, and to do you service yet, my honoured wife, whom I have ever loved, even as my own soul.