Chapter VIII

Minaya Alvar Fañez, hark what he said thereto: "Ho! Campeador, thy pleasure in all things may we do. Give me of knights an hundred, I ask not one other man. And do thou with the others smite on them in the van While my hundred storm their rearward, upon them thou shalt thrust-- Ne'er doubt it. We shall triumph as in God is all my trust." Whatsoever he had spoken filled the Cid with right good cheer

And now was come the morning, and they donned their battle gear. What was his task of battle every man of them did know. At the bleak of day against them forth did the lord Cid go. "In God's name and Saint James', my knights, strike hard into the war, And manful. The lord Cid am I, Roy Diaz of Bivár!"

You might see a many tent-ropes everywhither broken lie, And pegs wrenched up; the tent-posts on all sides leaned awry. The Moors were very many. To recover they were fain, But now did Alvar Fañez on their rearward fall amain. Though bitterly it grieved them, they had to fly and yield. Who could put trust in horsehoofs, and forthwith fled the field. Two kings of the Moriscos there in the rout they slew; And even to Valencia the chase did they pursue. And mighty is the booty my lord the Cid had ta 'en. They ravaged all the country and then turned back again. They brought to Murviédro the booty of the foes. And great was the rejoicing in the city that arose. Cebólla have they taken and all the lands anear. In Valencia they knew not what to do for very fear. Of my lord Cid the great tidings, be it known, on all sides spread.