Chapter CXXVI

"My nephew Felez Múñoz, I prithee where art thou? Thou art my daughters' cousin in thy soul and in thine heart. With them even unto Carrión I command thee to depart. Thou shalt see what lands for dower to my girls are given o'er, And shalt come again with tidings unto the Campeador.''

Quoth Felez Múñoz: "Heart and soul that duty pleases me." Minaya Alvar Fañez before the Cid came he: "Back to the town of Valencia, Oh Cid, now let us go; For if our God and Father the Creator's will be so, To Carrión's lands thy daughters to visit we shall wend. Dame Sol and Dame Elvíra, to God do we commend. Such things may you accomplish as will make us glad and fain."

The sons-in-law gave answer: "Now that may God ordain."

They lamented much at parting. Daughters and sire wept sore, So also wept the cavaliers of the Cid Campeador. "Thou, cousin, Felez Múñoz, now hark to this aright. Thou shalt go by Molína, and there shalt lie one night, And greet fair the Morisco Avengalvón my friend; That he may most fair reception to my sons-in-law extend. Tell him I send my daughters to the lands of Carrión, In all their needs his courtesy as beseemeth shall be shown. Let him ward them to Medína for the love he beareth me. For all that he cloth for them I will give him a rich fee."

They parted then, as when the nail out of the flesh is torn.

He turned back to Valencia who in happy hour was born. And now the Heirs of Carrión have fettled them to fare. Saint Mary of Alvarrazín, their halting-place was there.

From thence the Heirs of Carrión plied furiously the spur. Ho! in Molína with the Moor Avengalvón they were. The Morisco when he heard it in his heart was well content, And forth with great rejoicings to welcome them he went. Ah, God! how well he served them in what e 'er their joy might be! The next day in the morning to horse with them got he. He bade two hundred horsemen for escort forth to ride. They crossed the mountains of Luzón (so are they signified), And the Vale of Arbujuélo to the Jalón they came. The place where they found lodging, Ansaréra is its name. Unto the daughters of the Cid, the Moor fair presents gave, And to either Heir of Carrión beside a charger brave. For the love he bore the Campeador, all this for them he wrought.

They looked upon the riches that the Moor with him had brought And then together treason did the brothers twain concert. "Since the daughters of the Campeador we shortly shall desert, If but we might do unto death Aengalvon the Moor, The treasure he possesses for ourselves we should secure Safe as our wealth in Carrión those goods we will maintain. And ne'er will the Cid Campeador avenge on us the stain." While they of Carrión this shame complotted each with each, In the midst a Moor o'erheard them, that could of Latin speech. He kept no secret. With it to Avengalvón he ran: "Thou art my lord. Be wary of these persons, Castellan. I heard the heirs of Carrión that plotted death for thee."