hen the Moorish king of Seville ventured to attack the Cid, he and
his thirty thousand men experienced defeat and many of his force were
drowned in the river while trying to escape. Such was the amount of
spoil obtained in this and other battles, that the Cid was able to
make his soldiers rich beyond their dreams, although by this time he
had a very large force, for new recruits constantly joined him during
his wars with the Moors.

As the Cid had vowed on leaving home never to cut his beard until
recalled, he was now a most venerable-looking man, with a beard of
such length that it had to be bound out of his way by silken cords
whenever he wanted to fight. Among those who now fought in the Cid's
ranks was Hieronymo (Jerome), who became bishop of Valencia, and who,
in his anxiety to restore the whole land to Christian rule, fought by
the Cid's side, and invariably advised him to transform all captured
mosques into Christian churches.

But lo! all armed from head to heel the Bishop Jerome shows;
He ever brings good fortune to my Cid where'er he goes.
"Mass have I said, and now I come to join you in the fray;
To strike a blow against the Moor in battle if I may,
And in the field win honor for my order and my hand.
It is for this that I am here, far from my native land.
Unto Valencia did I come to cast my lot with you,
All for the longing that I had to slay a Moor or two.
And so, in warlike guise I come, with blazoned shield, and lance,
That I may flesh my blade to-day, if God but give the chance.
Then send me to the front to do the bidding of my heart:
Grant me this favor that I ask, or else, my Cid, we part!"

Now that he had a fixed abiding place, the Cid bade Alvar Fanez and
Martin Antolinez carry a rich present to Don Alfonso, and obtain his
permission to bring his wife and daughters to Valencia. The same
messengers were also laden with a reward for the Abbot of St. Pedro,
under whose protection the Cid's family had taken refuge, and with
funds to redeem the chests of sand from the Jews at Burgos, begging
their pardon for the deception practised upon them and allowing them
higher interest than they could ever have claimed. Not only did the
messengers gallantly acquit themselves of this embassy, but boasted
everywhere of the five pitched battles the Cid had won and of the
eight towns now under his sway.

On learning that the Cid had conquered Valencia, Alfonso expressed
keen delight, altho