mass, and they were shriven and assoyled, and howselled. Great was the
absolution which the Bishop gave them: He who shall die, said he,
fighting face forward, I will take his sins, and God shall have his
soul. Then said he, A boon, Cid Don Rodrigo; I have sung mass to you
this morning: let me have the giving the first wounds in this battle!
and the Cid granted him this boon in the name of God. Then being all
ready they went out through the gate which is called the Gate of the
Snake, for the greatest power of the Moors was on that side, leaving
good men to guard the gates. Alvar Fanez and his company were already
gone forth, and had laid their ambush. Four thousand, lacking thirty,
were they who went out with my Cid, with a good will, to attack fifty
thousand. They went through all the narrow places, and bad passes, and
leaving the ambush on the left, struck to the right hand, so as to get
the Moors between them and the town. And the Cid put his battles in
good array, and bade Pero Bermudez bear his banner. When the Moors saw
this they were greatly amazed; and they harnessed themselves in great
haste, and came out of their tents. Then the Cid bade his banner move
on, and the Bishop Don Hieronymo pricked forward with his company, and
laid on with such guise, that the hosts were soon mingled together.
Then might you have seen many a horse running about the field with the
saddle under his belly, and many a horseman in evil plight upon the
ground. Great was the smiting and slaying in short time; but by reason
that the Moors were so great a number, they bore hard upon the
Christians, and were in the hour of overcoming them. And the Cid began,
to encourage them with a loud voice, shouting God and Santiago! And
Alvar Fanez at this time issued out from ambush, and fell upon them, on
the side which was nearest the sea; and the Moors thought that a great
power had arrived to the Cid's succour, and they were dismayed, and
began to fly. And the Cid and his people pursued, punishing them in a
bad way. If we should wish to tell you how every one behaved himself in