dislike and repugnance which they evinced towards him; when they, wishing to convince the Count that they felt no disgust, took up in their hands some of the water, impure as it was, and drank freely of it. In this manner they continued devoted to the Count until he died. They then determined that it would be wrong to return to Castille without the Count, living or dead; so they resolved to take his body with them. The distance making this difficult, the natives advised them to boil the body and take the bones, but they replied that they would never consent to this, for as they had not allowed any one to touch their lord during his life, neither would they now that he was dead. They then buried him, and waited patiently until all the flesh had perished from off his bones, which they collected, and placing them in a chest, carried them back to Castille on their shoulders, begging their food as they went, and although bearing evident marks of their wretched poverty, arrived nevertheless in good health at Tolosa.
"On one occasion, as they entered a city on their way, they met a crowd of people who were leading a lady of rank to be burned, she having been accused by her husband's brother of adultery, and the sentence would be fulfilled unless a knight were found who would defend her.
"Now, when Pero Nu?��ez, of noble and loyal character, heard that, for want of a defender, she might be lost, he told her relations that if he knew the lady to be innocent he would save her, and he requested the lady herself to reveal to him the whole truth. She said she certainly had not committed the crime of which they accused her, but that she had had the intention of doing so. Pero Nu?��ez, on hearing that she had had the intention to do what she ought not, felt assured that some misfortune would happen to whomsoever might defend her; but since he had already espoused her cause, and knew that she had not committed the crime of which they accused her, he declared himself her champion. Her accusers attempted to prevent his interference under the plea of his not being noble; but Pero Nu?��ez having proved his nobility, and that they cold not prevent him, the friends of the lady furnished him with a horse and arms. Before entering the arena he said to his friends, that, with the assistance of God, he would save the lady and return with honour, but that he felt assured some harm would befall him for the evil which she had intended doing.
"Soon after entering the arena, by the help of God, Pero Nu?��ez vanquished his adversary and saved the lady, but in doing so lost an eye, -- and so was that fulfilled which he had anticipated.
"The lady and her relations made so many presents to Pero Nu?��ez, that he and his two companions were able to pursue their journey with more ease, still carrying the bones of their lord.
"As they were themselves without leprosy, the King of Castille, hearing of their approach, and that they were carrying with them the bones of their master, expressed himself much gratified to have amongst his subjects such faithful vassals. He sent, therefore, a request that they should come direct to him on foot, dressed just as they were. On the day they returned to the kingdom of Castille, the King himself went on foot five leagues beyond the frontiers of his dominions to meet them. On their arrival they received so many gifts from the King and the people, that they not only became rich themselves, but their descendants also after them.
"Now the King and all those who accompanied him came to do honour to the memory of the Count, but more especially to the devotion shown by the three knights. They all followed the remains of the leper until they arrived at Osma, where they were interred, after which the three knights separated, and each returned to his home.
"The day Ruy Gonzalez arrived at his house, and was seated at table with his wife, she seeing the good meat which was placed before her, raised her hands to heaven, and said, 'Lord! blessed mayest thou be, that thou hast permitted me to see this day, for thou knowest that since Ruy Gonzalez departed from this country this is the first time that I have eaten meat or drunk wine;' and Ruy Gonzalez was grieved and said, 'Why have you done so?' 'Do you not remember,' said she, 'that when you departed with the Count and vowed that you would not return without him, you expressed a wish that I should live as a good and honest wife, wanting
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