intreat him that he will not seek to disherit me; but if he will go on
with what he hath begun, say to him that I will rather die with the men
of Zamora, and they with me, than give him up the town, either for
price or exchange. And with this answer did the Cid return unto the
King.

XXVI. When King Don Sancho heard what the Cid said, his anger kindled
against him, and he said, You have given this counsel to my sister
because you were bred up with her. And my Cid answered and said,
Faithfully have I discharged your bidding, and as a true vassal.
Howbeit, O King, I will not bear arms against the Infanta your sister,
nor against Zamora, because of the days which are passed;--and I
beseech you do not persist in doing this wrong. But then King Don
Sancho was more greatly incensed, and he said unto him, If it were not
that my father left you commended to me, I would order you this instant
to be hanged. But for this which you have said I command you to quit my
kingdom within nine days. And the Cid went to his tent in anger, and
called for his kinsmen and his friends, and bade them make ready on the
instant to depart with him. And he set forth with all the knights and
esquires of his table, and with all their retainers horse and foot,
twelve hundred persons, all men of approved worth, a goodly company;--
and they took the road to Toledo, meaning to join King Don Alfonso
among the Moors. And that night they slept at Castro Nuno. But when the
Counts and Ricos-omes, and the other good men of the host saw this,
they understood the great evil and disservice which might arise to the
King, and to the land, from the departure of the Cid, who went away in
wrath. And they went to the King and said unto him, Sir, wherefore
would you lose so good a vassal, who has done you such great service?
If he should go unto your brother Don Alfonso among the Moors, he would
not let you besiege this city thus in peace. And the King perceived