To the Sovereign of Valencia they sent the news apace:
How that the King Alfonso hath banished in disgrace
One whom men call my lord the Cid, Roy Diaz of Bivar,
He came to lodge by Alcocer, and strong his lodgings are.
He drew them out to ambush; he has won the castle there.
"If thou aidest not needs must thou lose both Teca and Terrer,
Thou wilt have lost Calatayud that cannot stand alone.
All things will go to ruin on the banks of the Jalon,
And round about Jiloca on the far bank furthermore."

When the King Tamin had heard it, his heart was troubled sore:
"Here do I see three Moorish kings. Let two without delay
With three thousand Moors and weapons for the fight ride there
away;
Likewise they shall be aided by the men of the frontier.
See that ye take him living and bring him to me here.
He must pay for the realm's trespass till I be satisfied."

Three thousand Moors have mounted and fettled them to ride.
All they unto Segorbe have come to lodge that night.
The next day they got ready to ride at morning light.
In the evening unto Celfa they came the night to spend.
And there they have determined for the borderers to send.
Little enow they tarried; from every side they came.
Then they went forth from Celfa (of Canal it has its name),
Never a whit they rested, but marched the livelong day.
And that night unto their lodging in Calatayud came they.
And they sent forth their heralds through the length of all the
land.
A great and sovran army they gathered to their hand.