his people, and slay none but Abeniaf, who had proved traitor to all.

Soon after, seeing that the Moors and Christians would never be able
to live in peace within the same enclosure, the Cid appointed another
place of abode for the Moors. Then he and his followers marched into
Valencia, which they proceeded to hold, in spite of sundry attempts on
the part of the Moors to recover possession of so important a
stronghold.

When the Moorish king of Seville ventured to attack the Cid, he and
his thirty thousand men experienced defeat and many of his force were
drowned in the river while trying to escape. Such was the amount of
spoil obtained in this and other battles, that the Cid was able to
make his soldiers rich beyond their dreams, although by this time he
had a very large force, for new recruits constantly joined him during
his wars with the Moors.

As the Cid had vowed on leaving home never to cut his beard until
recalled, he was now a most venerable-looking man, with a beard of
such length that it had to be bound out of his way by silken cords
whenever he wanted to fight. Among those who now fought in the Cid's
ranks was Hieronymo (Jerome), who became bishop of Valencia, and who,
in his anxiety to restore the whole land to Christian rule, fought by
the Cid's side, and invariably advised him to transform all captured
mosques into Christian churches.

But lo! all armed from head to heel the Bishop Jerome shows;
He ever brings good fortune to my Cid where'er he goes.
"Mass have I said, and now I come to join you in the fray;
To strike a blow against the Moor in battle if I may,