he would not eat one mouthful, but would rather die, since he had been beaten in battle by such a set of ragged fellows.  And Ruydiez said to him, “Eat and drink, Count, for this is the chance of war; if you do as I say you shall be free; and if not you will never return again into your own lands.”  And Don Ramond answered, “Eat you, Don Rodrigo, for your fortune is fair and you deserve it; take you your pleasure, but leave me to die.”  And in this mood he continued for three days, refusing all food.  But then my Cid said to him, “Take food, Count, and be sure that I will set you free, you and any two of your knights, and give you wherewith to return into your own country.”  And when Don Ramond heard this, he took comfort and said, “If you will indeed do this thing I shall marvel at you as long as I live.”  “Eat then,” said Ruydiez, “and I will do it:  but mark you, of the spoil which we have taken from you I will give you nothing; for to that you have no claim neither by right nor custom, and besides we want it for ourselves, being banished men, who must live by taking from you and from others as long as it shall please God.”  Then was the Count full joyful, being well pleased that what should be given him was not of the spoils which he had lost; and he called for water and washed his hands, and chose two of his kinsmen to be set free with him.  And my Cid sate at the table with them, and said, “If you do not eat well, Count, you and I shall not part yet.”  Never since he was Count did he eat with better will than that day!  And when they had done he said, “Now, Cid, if it be your pleasure let us depart.”  And my Cid clothed him and his kinsmen well with goodly skins and mantles, and gave them each a goodly palfrey, with rich caparisons, and he rode out with them on their way.  And when he took leave of the Count he said to him, “Now go freely, and I thank you for what you have left behind; if you wish to play for it again let me know, and you shall either have something back in its stead, or leave what you bring to be added to it.”  The Count answered, “Cid, you jest safely now, for I have paid you and all your company for this twelve—­months, and shall not be coming to see you again so soon.”

Then Count Ramond pricked on more than apace, and many times looked behind him, fearing that my Cid would repent what he had done, and send to take him back to prison, which the perfect one would not have done for the whole world, for never did he do disloyal thing.

At last after long and pitiful fighting it was bruited abroad throughout all lands, how the Cid Ruydiez had won the noble city of Valencia.