BOOK
VIII.

Muñoz

ing in the

forest.

XV. When the Infantes, before they committed this great cruelty, ordered their company to ride forward, Felez How Felez Muñoz the nephew of the Cid, rode on with the rest: but found these this order nothing pleased him, and he was troubled at heart, dames lyinsomuch that he went aside from his companions, and struck into the forest, and there waited privily till he should see his cousins come, or learn what the Infantes had done to them. Presently he saw the Infantes, and heard what they said to each other. Certes if they had espied him he could not have escaped death. But they pricked on, not seeing him, and he rode back to the fountain, and there he found the women lying senseless, and in such plight as ye have heard. And he made great lamentation over them, saying, Never can it please God that ye my cousins should receive such dishonor! God and St. Mary give them who have done this an evil guerdon! for ye never deserved this, neither are ye of a race to deserve that this or any other evil should betide ye! By this time the women began to come to themselves, but they could not speak, for their hearts were breaking. And Felez Muñoz called out to them, Cousins! Cousins! Doña Elvira! Doña Sol! for the love of God rouse yourselves that we may get away before night comes, or the wild beasts will devour us! And they came to themselves and began to open their eyes, and saw that he who spake to them was Felez Muñoz; and he said to them, For the love of God take heart and let us be gone; for the Infantes will soon seek for me, and if God do not befriend us we shall all be slain. And Doña Sol said to him in her great pain, Cousin, for all that our father hath deserved at your hands, give us water. Felez Muñoz took his hat and filled it with water and gave it to them. And he comforted them and bade them take courage, and besought them to bear up. And he placed them upon his horse, and covered them both with his cloak, and led them through the oak forest, into the thickest part thereof, and there he made a bed of leaves and of grass, and laid them on it, and covered

VIII.

Cid. 2774.

Chr. del

to tell Cid. cap.

240. Chr.

Gen. ff.

287.

Sanchez

fantes.

them with his cloak, and he sate down by them and began BOOK
to weep, for he knew not what he should do; for he had no
food, and if he went to seek it, great danger was there
because they were wounded and bloody, that the wild beasts Poema del
and the birds of the mountain would attack them; and on 2819.
the other hand, unless he went to his uncle the Cid,
him of this wickedness, none other knew what had been
done, and thus there would be no vengeance taken.
XVI. While Felez Muñoz was in this great trouble the How Pero
Infantes joined their company, and their spurs were bloody the other
knights de-
and their hands also from the wounds which they had given fied the In-
their wives. And when their people saw them in this plight,
and that their wives were not with them, they weened that
some wickedness had been done; and all they who were of
good heart and understanding among them went apart, to
the number of an hundred, with one who was named Pero
Sanchez; and he spake unto them, saying, Friends, these
Infantes have done a foul deed upon their wives, the daugh-
ters of our Lord the Cid; and they are our liege Ladies, for
we did homage to them before their father, and accepted
them as such; and the Cid made us knights that we should
discharge the duty which we owe to them. Now then, it
behoveth us that we arm ourselves, and demand of the
Infantes what they have done with our ladies, and require
them at their hands. And if they will not deliver them to
us, then will we fight against them even to death; for thus
shall we do right, and otherwise we shall be ill spoken of,
This was the counsel

and not worthy to live in the world.
which Pero Sanchez gave, and they all held it good and did
accordingly. And the Infantes, when they saw them coming
and heard their demand, were greatly afraid, and they said,
Go to the fountain in the Oak-forest of Corpes, and there ye
may find them; we left them safe and sound, and no harm
have we done unto them; but we would not take them with
us. Ill have ye done, replied those knights, to forsake such
wives, and the daughters of such a father, and ill will ye fare

VIII.

BOOK for it! And from henceforward, we renounce all friendship with ye, and defy ye for the Cid, and for ourselves, and for all his people. And the Infantes could not reply. And when they saw that the Infantes did not answer, they said, Get ye gone for traitors and false caitiffs; there is no way in the world by which ye can escape from the enemies whom ye have now made! But for all this the Infantes made no reply, and went their way.

Chr. del

Cid. cap. 241. Chr. Gen. ff. 287.

How those

knights

XVII. Pero Sanchez and those other knights rode back made their to the green lawn in the Oak-forest, where they had left the complaint to the King, dames; and when they came to the fountain they saw that there was blood round about, but the dames were not there; and they were greatly troubled, and knew not where to seek them. And they went about the forest seeking them, calling them aloud, and making great lamentation for the ill that had befallen, and also, because they could not find them. Now Felez Muñoz and the women heard their voices, and were in great fear, for they weened that it was the Infantes and their company, who were returned with intent to kill them; and in their great fear they remained still, and would fain have been far from that place. So Pero Sanchez and they who were with him went about seeking them in vain. Then spake up a knight called Martin Ferrandez, who was a native of Burgos, saying, Friends, it boots us to turn back from hence and follow after the Infantes, and do battle with them, even unto death, because of this wickedness which they have committed, rather than return to the Cid; for if we do not strive to take vengeance, we are not worthy to appear before hirn. And if, peradventure, we cannot come up with them upon the road, let us go before the King Don Alfonso, and discover unto him this foul deed, and tell him the truth thereof, to the intent that he may order justice to be done for such a thing; for certes, greatly will he be troubled when he knoweth it, and greatly will he be incensed against them, inasmuch as he it was who besought the Cid to give them his daughters to wife. And we will not depart

VIII.

from the King's house, nor take unto ourselves any other BOOK Lord till the Cid shall have obtained justice in this matter.. And all those knights held this counsel to be good, and agreed to do so. And they took their way and followed after the Infantes as fast as they could, taking no rest; but the Infantes had ridden away full speed, and they could not overtake them. And when they saw this they went their way to King Don Alfonso who was at Palencia, and they came before him and kissed his hands, and then with sorrowful hearts told him of the evil which had befallen the Cid, in this dishonor done unto his daughters by the Infantes of Carrion. And when the King heard it, he was grievously offended, as one who had great part therein; and he said unto them, It must needs be, that before many days we shall receive tidings of this from the Cid Campeador, and then upon his complaint we will enter into the business in such wise, that every one shall have justice. Then Pero Sanchez Chr. del and the other knights kissed the King's hands for what he 242. had said; and they abode in his court, waiting tidings from ff. 288. the Cid.

Cid. cap.

Chr. Gen.

good man

the dames to his

XVIII. When Felez Muñoz saw that the voices which How Felez Muñoz they heard had ceased, he went after a while to a village found a which was at hand, to seek food for the dames and for him- who took self; and in this manner he kept them for seven days. And in that village he found a good man, who was a husband- house. man, and who lived a godly life with his wife and with his daughters; and this good man knew the Cid Ruydiez, for the Cid had lodged in his house, and he had heard tell of his great feats. And when Felez Muñoz knew this he took the man aside, seeing how good a man he was, and how well he spake of the Cid, and told him what had befallen those dames, and how he had hidden them in the wood. And when the good man heard it he had great ruth for them, but he held himself a happy man in that he could do them service; and he took two asses and went with Felez Muñoz to the place where they were hidden, and took with him his

BOOK two sons, who were young men. And when the dames

VIII.

saw them they marvelled who they might be, and were ashamed and would have hidden themselves; but they could not. And the good man bent his knees before them, weeping, and said, Ladies, I am at the service of the Cid your father, who hath many times lodged in my house, and I served him the best I could, and he alway was bountiful toward me. And now, this young man, who saith his name is Felez Muños, hath told me the great wrong and dishonor which your husbands, the Infantes of Carrion, have done unto you. And when I heard it I was moved to great sorrow, and for the great desire I have to do service to the Cid and to you, I am come hither, to carry you, if you will be so pleased, upon these beasts, to my house; for you must not remain in this wild forest, where the beasts would devour you. And when you are there, I and my wife and my daughters will serve you the best we can; and you may then send this squire to your father, and we will keep you secretly and well till your father shall send for you; this place is not fit for you, for you would die of cold and hunger. When the good man had said this, Doña Sol turned to Doña Elvira and said, Sister, the good man saith well, and it is better that we should go with him than remain and die here, for so shall we see the vengeance which I trust in God our father will give us. So they gave thanks to God, and to that good And he set them upon his beasts, and led them to the village, when it was now night; and they entered his house secretly, so that none knew of their coming save the good man and his family, whom he charged that they should tell Chr. Gen. no man thereof. And there his wife and his daughters ministered unto them with pure good will.

Chr. del Cid. cap.

243.

ff. 288.

How Diego
Tellez took

dames to

man.

XIX. Then these dames wrote a letter to their father the these Cid, which was a letter of credence, that he should believe the tidings which Felez Muñoz would deliver, and they wrote it with the blood from their wounds. And Felez Muñoz went his way toward Valencia; and when he came

Santesteban.