and all the sports which are proper at such weddings? As soon as they
came out of Church they took horse and rode to the Glera; three times
did the Cid change his horse that day; seven targets were set up on the
morrow, and before they went to dinner all seven were broken. Fifteen
days did the feasts at this wedding continue; then all they who had
come there to do honour to the Cid took leave of him and of the
Infantes. Who can tell the great and noble gifts which the Cid gave to
them, both to great and little, each according to his quality, vessels
of gold and silver, rich cloth, cloaks, furs, horses, and money beyond
all reckoning, so that all were well pleased. And when it was told in
Castille with what gifts they who had been to the wedding were
returned, many were they who repented that they had not gone there.




BOOK VIII.


I. Now the history relateth that Gilbert, a sage who wrote the history
of the Moorish Kings who reigned in Africa, saith, that Bucar
remembering the oath which he had made to his brother King Yucef, how
he would take vengeance for him for the dishonour which he had received
from the Cid Ruydiez before Valencia, ordered proclamation to be made
throughout all the dominions of his father, and gathered together so
great a power of Moors, that among the Captains of his host there were
twenty and nine Kings; this he could well do, for his father was
Miramamolin, which is as much as to say Emperor. And when he had
gathered together this mighty host, he entered into his ships and crost
the sea, and came unto the port of Valencia, and what there befell him