Chapter CII

"As from our King and master a boon of thee we pray By favor of thy counsel we desire to obtain That thou ask for us in marriage of the Cid his daughters twain. With honor and with profit shall the match for then, be fraught."

Thereon for a full hour's space pondered the King and thought "I cast out the good Campeador, and wrong I do him still For his good to me. I know not if the match be to his will, But we in hand will take it, since so your pleasures tend."

Alvar Fañez and Per Vermudóz, for them the King let send. He took them to a hall apart: "Now harken to me both Minaya and Per Vermudóz. The Cid my service doth; The Campeador, his pardon well hath he earned of me. And shall have it. I will meet him, if so his will shall be. In parley other tidings of my court I will make known; Dídago and Ferrándo, the Heirs of Carrión, Are fain to wed his daughters. Bear ye the message well, And I pray you that these tidings to the Campeador ye tell. It will be unto his honor, great will his fame have grown, When he becomes the father of the Heirs of Carrión."

Minaya spake: (Per Vermudóz was glad of that he spake) "To ask him thy desire we will even undertake. And the Cid shall do thereafter as his pleasure shall decide."

"Say to the Cid Roy Diaz that was born in a glad tide, That I will parley with him in the best place he may, And there shall be the boundary wherever he shall say. To my lord Cid in all things will I show my favor plain."

Unto the King they gave farewell, and got them gone again, And onward to Valencia they hastened with their force.

When the good Campeador had heard, swiftly he got to horse, And came to meet them smiling, and strong, embraced the two. "Minaya and Per Vermudóz, ye are come back anew! There are not many countries where two such gallants dwell. From my lord King Alfonso what tidings are to tell? Is he content? Did he vouchsafe to take the gift from me?"

Said Minaya, "In his soul and heart right well content is he, And his good will he sendeth unto thee furthermore." Said the Cid: "To the Creator now mighty thanks therefor."

The Leonese Alfonso his pleasure they made known That the Cid should give his daughters to the Heirs of Carrión. He deemed it would make him glorious and cause his fame to grow. And in all truth and honor would advise him even so.

When my lord the Cid had heard it, the noble Campeador, Then a long time much pondering he turned the tidings o'er, "For this to Christ my master do I give thanks again. I was sent forth to exile and my honor suffered stain. That which is mine I conquered by mine endeavor high. Unto God for the King's favor a thankful man am I, And that for them of Carrión they ask my daughters two. Minaya and Per Vermudóz, thereof what thinketh you?"

"Whate'er shall be your pleasure, that is it we shall say." Said the Cid: "The Heirs of Carrión, of a great line are they, And they are proud exceeding, and their favor fair at court. Yet ill doth such a marriage with my desire coport. But since it is his pleasure that is of more worth than we, Let us talk thereof a little, but secret let us be. May the Lord God in Heaven accord us as is best."

"Besides all this Alfonso this word to thee addressed: He would come to parley with thee in what place thou art fain. He desireth well to see thee and honor thee again. Then what to do is fittest ye might be well agreed."

Said the Cid: "Now by this saying I am well pleased indeed."

"Where thou wilt hold this parley" said Minaya, "ponder well. "In that the king desired it, no wondrous thing befell," That wherever we might find him we might seek him in his way, As to our King and Master, our high devoir to pay. Haply we may desire what good to him shall seem. Nigh to the river Tagus that is a noble stream, If so my lord desire it, we will hold the parley there."

He wrote the letters straightway and sealed them well and fair. And then unto two horsemen he gave the letters o 'er. Whatso the King desireth, that will the Campeador.