He appointed a successor, gave instructions that none should bewail his death lest the news should encourage the Moors, and directed that his embalmed body should be set upon Babieca, and that, with Tizona in his hand, he should be led against the enemy on a certain day, when he promised a signal victory.
[Illustration: THE CID'S LAST VICTORY .-- Rochegrosse.] "'Saddle next my Babieca, Arm him well as for the fight; On his back then tie my body, In my well-known armor dight.
"'In my right hand place Tizona; Lead me forth unto the war; Bear my standard fast behind me, As it was my wont of yore.'" _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.).
[Sidenote: The Cid's last battle.] When these instructions had all been given, the hero died at the appointed time, and his successor and the brave Ximena strove to carry out his every wish.

A sortie was planned, and the Cid, fastened upon his war horse, rode in the van.

Such was the terror which his mere presence inspired that the Moors fled before him.

Most of them were slain, and Bucar beat a hasty retreat, thinking that seventy thousand Christians were about to fall upon him, led by the patron saint of Spain.
"Seventy thousand Christian warriors, All in snowy garments dight, Led by one of giant stature, Mounted on a charger white; "On his breast a cross of crimson, In his hand a sword of fire, With it hew'd he down the Paynims, As they fled, with slaughter dire." _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.).
The Christians, having routed the enemy, yet knowing, as the Cid had told them, that they would never be able to hold Valencia when he was gone, now marched on into Castile, the dead hero still riding Babieca in their midst.
Then Ximena sent word to her daughters of their father's demise, and they came to meet him, but could scarcely believe that he was dead when they saw him so unchanged.
By Alfonso's order the Cid's body was placed in the Church of San Pedro de Cardena, where for ten years it remained seated in a chair of state, and in plain view of all.

Such was the respect which the dead hero inspired that none dared lay a finger upon him, except a sacrilegious Jew, who, remembering the Cid's proud boast that no man had ever dared lay a hand upon his beard, once attempted to do so.