Denia © Mark Wade

When eight days were overpast the Bishop Don Hieronymo married the Infantes of Aragon and Navarre to the daughters of the Cid in this manner: the Infante Don Ramiro of Navarre to Dona Elvira, and the Infante Don Sancho of Aragon to Dona Sol.

And on the day after they had been espoused they received the blessing in the great Church of St. Peter, as is commanded by the law of Jesus Christ, and the Bishop said mass.

Who can tell the great rejoicings which were made at those marriages, and the great nobleness thereof? Certes there would be much to tell; for during eight days that they lasted, there was feasting every day, full honourably and plentifully, where all persons did eat out of silver; and many bulls were killed every day, and many of those wild beasts which the Soldan sent; and many sports were devised, and many garments and saddles and noble trappings were given to the joculars.

And the Moors also exhibited their sports and rejoicings, after such divers manners, that men knew not which to go to first.

So great was the multitude which was there assembled, that they were counted at eight thousand hidalgos.

And when the marriage was concluded, the Cid took his sons-in-law and led them by the hand to Dona Ximena, and showed them all the noble things which the Soldan had sent him; and they when they beheld such great treasures and such noble things were greatly astonished, and said that they did not think there had been a man in Spain so rich as the Cid, nor who possessed such things.

And as they were marvelling from whence such riches could have come, both of gold and silver, and of precious stones and pearls, the Cid embraced them and said, My sons, this and all that I have is for you and for your wives, and I will give unto you the noblest and most precious things that ever were given with women for their dowry: for I will give you the half of all that you see here, and the other half I and Dona Ximena will keep so long as we live, and after our death all shall be yours; and my days are now well nigh full.

Then the Infantes made answer, that they prayed God to grant him life for many and happy years yet, and that they thanked him greatly, and held him as their father; and that they would ever have respect to his honour and be at his service, holding themselves honoured by the tie that there was between them.

Three months these Infantes abode with the Cid in Valencia, in great pleasure.

And then they dispeeded themselves of the Cid and of their mother-in-law Dona Ximena, and took each his wife and returned into their own lands with great riches and honour.

And the Cid gave them great treasure, even as he had promised, and gave them certain of those strange beasts which the Soldan had sent.

And he rode out with them twelve leagues.

And when they took leave of each other there was not a knight of all those who came with the Infantes to whom the Cid did not give something, horse, or mule, or garments, or money, so that all were well pleased; and he gave his daughters his blessing, and commended them to God, and then he returned to Valencia, and they went to their own country.