"Who face to face shall perish this day the fight within, May Christ receive his spirit, on my soul I take his sin. Cid, don Rodrigo, in good hour thou girdedst brand; to thee I sang the mass this morning. Grant then my boon to me: Give me to strike the foremost the first stroke of the war." "The thing to thee is granted," answered the Campeador.
XCV. Out through the Quarter Towers full armed away they went. The lord Cid and his henchmen did counsel and consent. Levies they left behind them, the gates to watch and keep. On the steed Baviéca sprang the lord Cid with a leap. Fair trappings and caparisons girded that steed about. With the standard from Valencia forthwith they sallied out. Were with the Cid four thousand less but a score and ten, They came gladly to a battle against fifty thousand men. Alvar Alvarez and Minaya on the other side did smite. It seemed good to the Creator, and they threw them into flight. With the lance the Cid did battle, hand he set to sword as well. So many Moors he slaughtered that their numbers none might tell. Down from his elbow streaming the blood of battle came. Even against King Yússuf three buffets did he aim. He 'scaped from underneath the sword for his steed could run apace, And bore him to Culléra, an exceeding mighty place. Even so far he of Bivár pursued them as they fled, With a host of gallant vassals in his company that sped. He who in happy hour was born from that pursuit turned back; He was gladdened of the booty they had taken inthe attack. Good to him seemed Baviéca from head to tail that day. In his hands remained the booty of that battle for a prey. Of the twoscore and ten thousand, when they were counted o'er, There 'scaped out of that battle but an hundred men and four. My lord the Cid his henchmen have sacked the field around; Of the gold and of the silver three thousand marks they found, And of the other booty was no measure to be had. My lord Cid and his vassals were all exceeding glad, For in winning of the battle God's grace to them was shown, When the king of Morocco in this guise was overthrown. The Cid left Alvar Fañez to count the spoil and slain. With fivescore horse he entered Valencia once again. Helmless he rode. Upon his brow the coif was disarrayed. Through the town on Baviéca he galloped, hand on blade. And the ladies gave him welcome, on his coming that did wait. My lord Cid stopped before them, reining in the charger great: "Ladies, I bow before you. Groweth apace my fame. While you have held Valencia in the field I overcame. This was our God's desire and all his Saints likewise, Since at your coming hither He gave us such a prize. Look on the bloody sword-blade and the steed with sweat a-foam. With such are the Moriscos in the battle overcome. Pray now to God that I may yet live some few years from this; You shall enter to great honor and men your hands shall kiss."