were in the river. And he ordered the corn to be cut, for it was now
the season, and he beset the city on all sides, and pulled down the
houses and towers which were round about, and the stone and wood
thereof he sent to Juballa, to make a town there beside the Castle.

VII. At this time there came the Guazil of the King of Zaragoza to the
host of the Cid, bringing with him great treasures which the King had
sent for the redemption of the captives, for ruth which he had of them,
and also that he might have his reward from God in the other world. He
came also to talk with Abeniaf and counsel him that he should give up
the city to the King of Zaragoza, and they would send away the
Almoravides, and the King would protect him; but Abeniaf would give no
ear to this, and the Guazil said unto him that he would repent not
having taken this advice. On the second day after this Guazil had
arrived, the Cid attacked the suburb which is called Villa Nueva, and
entered it by force, and slew many Moors, both men of Andalusia and
Almoravides, and plundered all that they found, and pulled down the
houses, and the wood and stone the Cid sent to Juballa, and he set a
guard there that the Moors might not recover the place. On the morrow
the Cid attacked another suburb, which is called Alcudia, and there
were a great body of the Moors gathered together there. And he sent a
part of his host against the gate of Alcantara, bidding them attack the
gate, while he fought against them in Alcadia; and he thought that by
God's mercy peradventure he should enter the town. And the Cid with his
company rode among that great multitude of the Moors, smiting and
slaying without mercy, and the Cid's horse trampled over the dead, and
stumbled among them and fell, and the Cid remained afoot. Howbeit they
brought him to horse again, and he continued smiting and laying on
strenuously, so that the Moors were amazed at the great mortality which
he made among them, and maugre all they could do, were fain to fly into