Journeys Through Bookland, Volume 4 | Page 6

of the Cid to eat at a high table, seated on his
bench, at the head. And Don Alvar Fañez, and Pero Bermudez, and

other precious knights, ate in another part, at high tables, full
honourably, and none other knights whatsoever dared take their seats
with them, unless they were such as deserved to be there; and the others
who were not so approved in arms ate upon estrados, at tables with
cushions. This was the order in the house of the Cid, and every one
knew the place where he was to sit at meat, and every one strove all he
could to gain the honour of sitting to eat at the table of Don Alvar
Fañez and his companions, by strenuously behaving himself in all feats
of arms; and thus the honour of the Cid was advanced. This Martin
Pelaez, thinking that none had seen his badness, washed his hands in
turn with the other knights, and would have taken his place among
them.
And the Cid went unto him, and took him by the hand and said, "You
are not such a one as deserves to sit with these, for they are worth more
than you or than me; but I will have you with me:" and he seated him
with himself at table.
And he, for lack of understanding, thought that the Cid did this to
honour him above all the others.
On the morrow the Cid and his company rode towards Valencia, and
the Moors came out to the tourney; and Martin Pelaez went out well
armed, and was among the foremost who charged the Moors, and when
he was in among them he turned the reins, and went back to his lodging;
and the Cid took heed to all that he did, and saw that though he had
done badly he had done better than the first day.
And when the Cid had driven the Moors into the town he returned to
his lodging, and as he sat down to meat he took this Martin Pelaez by
the hand, and seated him with himself, and bade him eat with him in
the same dish, for he had deserved more that day than he had the first.
And the knight gave heed to that saying, and was abashed; howbeit he
did as the Cid commanded him; and after he had dined he went to his
lodging and began to think upon what the Cid had said unto him, and
perceived that he had seen all the baseness which he had done; and then
he understood that for this cause he would not let him sit at board with
the other knights who were precious in arms, but had seated him with
himself, more to affront him than to do him honour, for there were
other knights there better than he, and he did not show them that
honour. Then resolved he in his heart to do better than he had done

heretofore.
Another day the Cid and his company and Martin Pelaez rode toward
Valencia, and the Moors came out to the tourney full resolutely, and
Martin Pelaez was among the first, and charged them right boldly; and
he smote down and slew presently a good knight, and he lost there all
the bad fear which he had had, and was that day one of the best knights
there; and as long as the tourney lasted there he remained, smiting and
slaying and overthrowing the Moors, till they were driven within the
gates, in such manner that the Moors marveled at him, and asked where
that devil came from, for they had never seen him before.
And the Cid was in a place where he could see all that was going on,
and he gave good heed to him, and had great pleasure in beholding him,
to see how well he had forgotten the great fear which he was wont to
have. And when the Moors were shut up within the town, the Cid and
all his people returned to their lodging, and Martin Pelaez full leisurely
and quietly went to his lodging also, like a good knight.
[Illustration: MARTIN PELAEZ SLEW A GOOD KNIGHT]
And when it was the hour of eating, the Cid waited for Martin Pelaez;
and when he came, and they had washed, the Cid took him by the hand
and said, "My friend, you are not such a one as deserves to sit with me
from henceforth, but sit you here with Don Alvar Fañez, and with these
other good knights, for the good feats which you have done this day
have made you a companion for them"; and from that day forward he
was placed in the company of the good.
And the history saith that from that day forward this