to see."

When the Cid added that Alfonso was responsible for these unfortunate
marriages, the monarch admitted the fact, and asked what the Infantes
of Carrion could say in their own defence. Insolently they declared
the Cid's daughters not worthy to mate with them, stating they had, on
the whole, treated them better than they deserved by honoring them for
a time with their attentions.

Had not the Cid forbidden his followers to speak until he granted
permission, these words would have been avenged almost as soon as
uttered. But, forgetting his previous orders, the aged Cid now
demanded of Pero Mudo (Dumby) why he did not speak, whereupon this
hero boldly struck one of the Infantes' party and challenged them all
to fight.

Thus compelled to settle the difficulty by a judicial duel, the king
bade the Infantes and their uncle be ready to meet the Cid's champions
in the lists on the morrow. The poem describes the encounter thus:

The marshals leave them face to face and from the lists are gone;
Here stand the champions of my Cid, there those of Carrion;
Each with his gaze intent and fixed upon his chosen foe,
Their bucklers braced before their breasts, their lances pointing low,
Their heads bent down, as each man leans above his saddle-bow.
Then with one impulse every spur is in the charger's side,
And earth itself is felt to shake beneath their furious stride;
Till, midway meeting, three with three, in struggle fierce they lock,
While all account them dead who hear the echo of the shock.

The cowardly Infantes, having been defeated, publicly confessed
themselves in the wrong, and were ever after abhorred, while the Cid
returned to Valencia with the spoils wrung from his adversaries, and
proudly presented to his wife and daughters the three champions who
had upheld their cause.

He who a noble lady wrongs and casts aside--may he
Meet like requital for his deeds, or worse, if worse there be.
But let us leave them where they lie--their meed is all men's scorn.
Turn we to speak of him that in a happy hour was born.
Valencia the Great was glad, rejoiced at heart to see
The honoured champions of her lord return in victory.

Shortly after this the Cid's pride was further salved by proposals of
marriage from the princes of Aragon and Navarre, and thus his
descendants in due time sat upon the thrones of these realms.

And he that in a good hour was born, behold how he hath sped!
His da