Fuentedenar © Mark Wade

Then the Cid rose and said, Thanks be to God and to you, Sir King, I have recovered my swords Colada and Tizona.

I have now another demand against the Infantes of Carrion.

King Don Alfonso, you well know that it was your pleasure to bid me meet you at Requena, and I went there in obedience to your command.

And you asked of me my daughters in marriage for the Infantes, and I did not refuse, in that I would not disobey your command; and you bade me deliver them to my kinsman here Don Alvar Fanez, and he gave them to the Infantes to be their wives, and the blessing was given them in the church of St. Mary, according to the law of Rome.

You, Sir, gave them in marriage, not I; and you did it for good, not for evil; but what they did was after another wise.

And though they are of great blood and honourable, yet would I not have given my daughters to them, unless in obedience to your command; and this, Sir, you well know, for so I said unto you.

I gave them, when they took my daughters from Valencia, horses and mules, and cups and vessels of fine gold, and much wrought silver, and many noble garments, and other gifts, three thousand marks of silver in all, thinking that I gave it to my daughters whom I loved.

Now, Sir, since they have cast my daughters off, and hold themselves to have been dishonoured in marrying them, give command that they restore unto me this which is my own, or that they show cause why they should not.

Then might you have seen the Infantes of Carrion in great chafing.

And Count Don Remond called upon them to speak; and they said, We gave his swords to the Cid Campeador, that he might ask nothing more of us, if it please the King.

But the King said that they must answer to the demand.

And they asked to consult together concerning it; and the King bade them take counsel and make answer incontinently.

So they went apart, and with them eleven Counts and Ricos-omes who were on their side, but no right or reason could they find for opposing this demand which the Cid had made.

Howbeit Count Don Garcia spake for them and said, Sir, this which the Cid demands back from them, it is true that he gave it, but they have expended it in your service; we hold therefore that they are not bound to make restitution of it, seeing how it hath been expended.

Nevertheless if you hold it to be lawful that they should restore this money, give order that time be given them to make the payment, and they will go to Carrion, their inheritance, and there discharge the demand as you shall decree.

When the Count had thus said he sate down.

And the Cid arose and said, Sir, if the Infantes of Carrion have expended aught in your service, it toucheth not me.

You and the Alcaldes whom you have appointed have heard them admit that I gave them this treasure, and this excuse which they set up; I pray you let judgment be given whether they are bound to pay it or not.

Then King Don Alfonso answered and said, If the Infantes of Carrion have expended aught in my service, I am bound to repay it, for the Cid must not lose what is his own: and he bade the Alcaldes consult together and judge according to what they should find right.

And the Alcaldes having taken counsel gave judgment, that seeing the Infantes acknowledged the Cid had given them this treasure with his daughters, and they had abandoned them, they must needs make restitution in the Cortes of the King thereright: and the King confirmed this sentence, and the Cid rose and kissed the King's hand.

Greatly were the Infantes of Carrion troubled at this sentence, and they besought the King that he would obtain time for them from the Cid, in which to make their payment; and the King besought him to grant them fifteen days, after this manner, that they should not depart from the Court till they had made the payment, and that they should plight homage for the observance of this.

And the Cid granted what the King desired, and they plighted homage accordingly in the hands of the King.

Then made they their account with the King, and it was found that what they had expended for his service was two hundred marks of silver, and the King said that he would repay this, so that there remained for them two thousand and eight hundred to pay.

Who can tell the trouble in which the Infantes were, to pay this treasure to the Cid, they and all their kindred and friends, for it was full hard for them to accomplish.

And they took up upon trust horses and mules and wrought silver, and other precious things, and as they could get them, delivered them over to the Cid.

Then might you have seen many a good-going horse brought there, and many a good mule, and many a good palfrey, and many a good sword with its mountings.

And they sent to Carrion to their father and mother to help them, for they were in great trouble: and they raised for them all they could, so that they made up the sum within the time appointed.

And then they thought that the matter was at an end, and that nothing more would be demanded from them.