Cordoba © Mark Wade

When the company of the Cid departed from the Siete Aguas, they held their way by short journies to Salvacanete.

And the Cid went always upon his horse Bavieca, as they had brought him out from Valencia, save only that he wore no arms, but was clad in right noble garments; and all who saw him upon the way would have thought that he was alive, if they had not heard the truth.

And whenever they halted they took the body off, fastened to the saddle as it was, and set it upon that frame which Gil Diaz had made, and when they went forward again, they placed it in like manner upon the horse Bavieca.

And when they reached Salvacanete, the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Dona Ximena, and Alvar Fanez, and the other honourable men, sent their letters to all the kinsmen and friends of the Cid Ruydiez, bidding them come and do honour to his funeral; and they sent letters also to his sons-in-law, the Infantes of Aragon and Navarre, and to King Don Alfonso.

And they moved on from Salvacanete and came to Osma, and then Alvar Fanez asked of Dona Ximena if they should not put the body of the Cid into a Coffin covered with purple and with nails of gold; but she would not, for she said that while his countenance remained so fresh and comely, and his eyes so fair, his body should never be placed in a coffin, and that her children should see the face of their father; and they thought that she said well, so the body was left as it was.

And at the end of fifteen days the Infante of Aragon arrived, with Dona Sol his wife, and they brought with them a hundred armed knights, all having their shields reversed hanging from the saddle bow, and all in grey cloaks, with the hoods rent.

And Dona Sol came clad in linsey-woolsey, she and all her women, for they thought that mourning was to be made for the Cid.

But when they came within half a league of Osma, they saw the banner of the Cid coming on, and all his company full featly apparelled.

And when they drew nigh they perceived that they were weeping, but they made no wailing; and when they saw him upon his horse Bavieca, according as ye have heard, they were greatly amazed.

But so great was the sorrow of the Infante that he and all his company began to lament aloud.

And Dona Sol when she beheld her father, took off her tire, and threw it upon the ground and began to tear her hair, which was like threads of gold.

But Dona Ximena held her hand and said, Daughter, you do ill, in that you break the command of your father, who laid his curse upon all who should make lamentation for him.

Then Dona Sol kissed the hand of the Cid and of her mother, and put on her tire again, saying, Lady mother, I have committed no fault in this, forasmuch as I knew not the command of my father.

And then they turned back to Osma, and great was the multitude whom they found there assembled from all parts to see the Cid, having heard in what manner he was brought, for they held it to be a strange thing; and in truth it was, for in no history do we find that with the body of a dead man hath there been done a thing so noble and strange as this.

Then they moved on from Osma, and came to Santesteban de Gormaz.

And there after few days the King of Navarre came with the Queen Dona Elvira his wife; and they brought with them two hundred knights; howbeit their shields were not reversed, for they had heard that no mourning was to be made for the Cid.

And when they were within half a league of Santesteban, the company of the Cid went out to meet them, as they had the Infante of Aragon; and they made no other lamentation, save that they wept with Dona Elvira; and when she came up to the body of her father she kissed his hand, and the hand of Dona Ximena her mother.

And greatly did they marvel when they saw the body of the Cid Ruydiez how fair it was, for he seemed rather alive than dead.

And they moved on from Santesteban, towards San Pedro de Cardena.

Great was the concourse of people to see the Cid Ruydiez coming in that guise.

They came from Rioja, and from all Castille, and from all the country round about, and when they saw him their wonder was the greater, and hardly could they be persuaded that he was dead.