Great men and famous women : a series of pen and pencil sketches of the lives of more than 200 of the most prominent personages in history Volume 5 . opular rumor had brought against him. To this Alfonso, whether innocent orguilty, not unnaturally demurred ; but the powerful warrior was firm, and theking at last yielded. When the appointed day arrived, Alfonso made his appear-ance, surrounded by his courtiers, all obsequiously vying in praise of his gloryand virtue, and contemptuous denunciations of his daring accuser. Rodrigostood alone and gazed on the king sternly. Some of the nobles endeav
Great men and famous women : a series of pen and pencil sketches of the lives of more than 200 of the most prominent personages in history Volume 5 . opular rumor had brought against him. To this Alfonso, whether innocent orguilty, not unnaturally demurred ; but the powerful warrior was firm, and theking at last yielded. When the appointed day arrived, Alfonso made his appear-ance, surrounded by his courtiers, all obsequiously vying in praise of his gloryand virtue, and contemptuous denunciations of his daring accuser. Rodrigostood alone and gazed on the king sternly. Some of the nobles endeavored todissuade him from holding this attitude of opposirion, and to induce him toforego the demand which he had made; but he put them aside and repeated hischallenge. Alfonso dared not refuse to accept, and accordingly recited aloudthe form of oath prescribed on such occasions, affirming, in the presence of hismaker and the saints of heaven, that he was guiltless of the death of his had no sooner concluded than all eyes were turned upon the Cid, who, in, deep, solemn tones, and with the most impressive earnestness of manner, impre-. UtNtUVILLE PINXIT. THE CID ORDERING THE EXECUTION OF AHMED. THE CID 59 cated on the head of his king every curse that heaven or hell could inflict, if, intaking that oath, he had committed perjury. The awed assembly then broke , from that hour, was hated by the king and shunned by the court. Yet, aware of the Cids value, Alfonso seems to have concealed his resent-ment for some time, and even endeavored to win the affection of his great sub-ject by allying him in marriage with one of the royal family. Rodrigos wifewas now dead, and he consented to marry the princess proposed to him, whosename was also Ximena. The marriage took place in 1074. It had not theeffect, however, of uniting the king and the Cid. After having achieved a brill-iant success over the Arabs of Granada, who were at war with two other Mos-lem states in allianc
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbiography, bookyear18
