preparing to do; and the rest of that day and the night also they
passed in making ready for the battle. And on the morrow at sunrise the
Cid gave his banner to Pero Bermudez, and bade him bear it boldly like
a good man as he was, but he charged him not to thrust forward with it
without his bidding. And Pero Bermudez kissed his hand, being well
pleased. Then leaving only two foot-soldiers to keep the gates, they
issued out; and the Moorish scouts saw them and hastened to the camp.
Then was there such a noise of tambours as if the earth would have been
broken, and the Moors armed themselves in great haste. Two royal
banners were there, and five city ones, and they drew up their men in
two great bodies, and moved on, thinking to take my Cid and all his
company alive; and my Cid bade his men remain still and not move till
he should bid them.

VIII. Pero Bermudez could not bear this, but holding the banner in his
hand, he cried, God help you, Cid Campeador; I shall put your banner in
the middle of that main body; and you who are bound to stand by it--I
shall see how you will succour it. And he began to prick forward. And
the Campeador called unto him to stop as he loved him, but Pero
Bermudez replied he would stop for nothing, and away he spurred and
carried his banner into the middle of the great body of the Moors. And
the Moors fell upon him that they might win the banner, and beset him
on all sides, giving him many and great blows to beat him down;
nevertheless his arms were proof, and they could not pierce them,
neither could they beat him down, nor force the banner from him, for he
was a right brave man and a strong, and a good horseman, and of great
heart. And when the Cid saw him thus beset he called to his people to
move on and help him. Then placed they their shields before their
hearts, and lowered their lances with the streamers thereon, and
bending forward, rode on. Three hundred lances were they, each with its