Rello © Mark Wade

And when the night came of which the morrow was appointed for the combat, they on one side and on the other kept vigil in the Churches, each in that Church to which he had the most devotion.

Night is past away, and the dawn is now breaking; and at day-break a great multitude was assembled in the field, and many Ricos-omes came there for the pleasure which they would have in seeing this battle, and the King sent and commanded the champions to make ready.

Moreover he made the two Counts his sons-in-law, Don Anrrich and Don Remond, and the other Counts and their people, arm themselves and keep the field, that the kinsmen of the Infantes might not make a tumult there.

Who can tell the great dole and sorrow of Count Gonzalo Gonzalez for his sons the Infantes of Carrion, because they had to do battle this day! and in the fullness of his heart he curst the day and the hour in which he was born, for his heart divined the sorrow which he was to have for his children.

Great was the multitude which was assembled from all Spain to behold this battle.

And there in the field near the lists the champions of the Cid armed themselves on one side, and the Infantes on the other.

And Count Don Remond armed the knights of the Cid, and instructed them how to do their devoir, and Count Garcia Ordonez helped arm the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle Suero Gonzalez, and they sent to ask the King his favour that he would give command that the swords Colada and Tizona should not be used in that combat.

But the King would not, and he answered that each must take the best sword and the best sword and the best arms that he could, save only that the one should not have more than the other.

Greatly were they troubled at this reply, and greatly did they fear those good swords, and repent that they had taken them to the Cortes of Toledo.

And from that hour the Infantes and Suero Gonzalez bewrayed in their countenances that they thought ill of what they had done, and happy men would they have thought themselves if they had not committed that great villainy, and he if he had not counselled it; and gladly would they have given all that they had in Carrion so that it could now have been undone.