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then he must know for certain that they would be compelled to turn against him and forthwith join the Ydallcao； for whom they would speedily recover that which he had now lost。 The King； seeing what was contained in the letters； answered them in the following manner by one single letter to them all； 〃Honoured Madremalluco； and Zemelluco； Descar； and Veride； and all others of the kingdom of Daquym； I have seen your letters； and thank you much for what you have sent to say。 As regards the Ydallcao； what I have done to him and taken from him he has richly deserved； as regards returning it to him that does not seem to me reasonable； nor am I going to do it； and as for your further statement that ye will all turn against me in aid of him if I do not do as ye ask； I pray you do not take the trouble to come hither； for I will myself go to seek ye if ye dare to await me in your lands； and this I send you for answer。〃 And he commanded to give many gifts to the messengers； and giving his letter to them sent them away。
CHAPTER 13
How a number of people left the city； and the King did much kindness to them。
Many people left the city； and to many who had nothing wherewith to depart the king commanded to give all that was required for their journey。 Here the King stayed some days； after having made all the arrangements that were necessary for the government of the city； and after repairing the walls he left behind him sufficient troops to guard the place； and took the road to the city of Bisnaga； where he was received with great triumphs； and great feasts were made and he bestowed bountiful rewards on his troops。
As soon as the festivals were ended he went to the new city； and； being there； they told him how there was entered an ambassador of the Ydallcao。 Already he knew that an ambassador had come but he pretended that he did not know； since it is not customary for the King to send out to receive any ambassador （on his arrival）。 Since this ambassador was in the city of Bisnaga； knowing that the King was in the new city； which is two leagues from Bisnaga； he betook himself thither； and close to the city bade the people pitch his tent； which was the best and most beautiful and rich that up to that time had ever been seen in those parts。 This ambassador was called Matucotam； he brought with him one hundred and fifty horse and much people to serve him and many pack animals； among which were certain camels。 He brought also two of the scribes of the chamber of the Ydallcao； so that indeed you would believe that he had brought all the power of the Ydallcao 〃pera segumdo elle ficou desbaratado。〃＇566＇
As soon as he had thus settled himself the ambassador sent to inform the King of his arrival； and begged that His Highness would grant him an audience and despatch him without delay。 The King replied that he would see him；＇567＇ but told him that he should not be impatient since he himself had but now arrived； and that he would give him leave to depart as soon as the time had arrived。 And with this the ambassador stayed there a month without the King having sought to see him； nor having asked to know why he had come； he went every day to the palace； and seeing the way in which the King acted towards him he determined to speak no more but to wait till the King summoned him。 Still he never ceased to go every day to the palace and to speak with the nobles。 One day the King sent to tell the ambassador that the following day was an auspicious day； and that he wished to hear him and learn wherefore he had come； and the ambassador made ready as it behoved him to present himself before so great a lord。 As was fitting； considering his mission and the request he had to make； he was accompanied by many Moors whom the city contained； and had with him all his people with their trumpets and drums as was customary； and so he went to the palace； where he was received very honourably by the nobles and officers of the household。 They seated themselves inside the first gate； awaiting there a message from the King giving permission to enter where he was； and there was no long delay before the command to admit him was given。 His obeisance to the King having been made according to his mode and custom； the men of the council standing by the King's side； he was bidden to announce the terms of his embassy； the King being ready graciously to listen； and the ambassador； seeing that the King so commanded； delivered himself of his message in manner following； with the awed demeanour assumed by such envoys when they find themselves in presence of such great kings。
CHAPTER 14
How the Captain acquitted himself of his embassy before the King。
〃Sire！ the Ydallcao； my master； sends me to thee； and by my mouth he begs thee that thou wouldest be pleased to do justice。 He bids me say that he bears very good will towards thee＇568＇ as towards the most true and powerful prince in all the world； and one possessed； of most justice and truth； that thou without reason hast broken the friendship and peace which thou hast had towards him； and not only so but a peace which was made so many years ago and maintained by all the kings so truthfully； that he does not know why thou hast left thy kingdom and made such war on him； that he was without suspicion when they brought him the news how thou hadst besieged the city of Rachol； and hadst robbed and destroyed the country round about； which news caused him to move and come to its rescue； that then all the members of his court were slain by thee； and his camp all plundered and destroyed； thou thyself being good witness of what was done； and that he begs thee to make amends therefor； and to send back to him his artillery and tents； his horses and elephants； with the rest that was taken from him； and also to restore his city of Rachol； that if thou wilt give him the satisfaction for which he prays as to this property and all other things thou wilt have him always for a loyal friend； but if not； thy action will be evil； even though pleasing to thyself。〃 Thus he ended； without saying more。 The King said that he might retire and repose； and that next day he would give him leave to depart； and the King gave him a robe of silk and the cloths that are customary。
CHAPTER 15
How the King sent to call the ambassador； and of the answer which he gave to him。
Next day the King sent to call the ambassador； and after other things had been spoken of between＇569＇ them； the King said that he would be content to restore everything to the Ydallcao according to his wish； and would be pleased at once to release Satabetacao； provided the Ydallcao would come and kiss his foot。 When the ambassador heard the King's answer he took leave of him and went to his tent； and he wrote to the Ydallcao and told him what had passed； sending to him one of the scribes that had come with him。 And much time had not passed when the Ydallcao sent him a reply； saying： How could it be possible for him to meet the King； seeing that he could not go to Bisnaga？ and yet that he was of full mind joyfully to do that which the King wished。 With this answer the ambassador went to the King； and since the King would have set higher value on the Ydallcao's coming to kiss his feet than on all that he had taken from him； he said to the ambassador； 〃Do thou cause the Ydallcao to come to the confines of my kingdom； for I shall be； soon there。〃 Agreeing to this； the ambassador departed； so as to persuade the Ydallcao to come to the boundary。 The King on his part went forthwith to a city called Mudugal＇570＇ which is close to the boundary； and there he waited until they told him that the Ydallcao was coming and was already near at hand。 Forthwith the King set out to meet him； and entered the kingdom of Daquem； so desirous was he to meet the Ydallcao； but the Ydallcao； after all； dared not meet the King。 And the King journeyed so far； whilst they kept saying to him； 〃Lo！ he is here close at hand；〃 that he even went as far as Bizapor；＇571＇ which is the best city in all the kingdom of Daquem。 It has numbers of beautiful houses built according to our own fashion； with many gardens and bowers made of grape…vines； and pomegranates； and oranges and lemons； and all other kinds of garden produce。
Hither went the King； for it seemed well for him to await the coming of the Ydallcao in so goodly a city； and he formed the determination that if he got him here he would seize him or command him to be put to death； to avenge the affront that had been put upon him； and seeing that his enemy did not dare to come he remained in the city several days。 Then he turned away because water failed him； for since this city lies in a plain and has no water save that which it receives from rainfall into two lakes； of which there are two large ones； the Moors had opened these in order to drain them； so that the King should not be able to stay in their country。 For this reason it behoved the King to depart。 But the city was left almost in ruins not that the King had commanded it to be destroyed； but that his troops； in order to make fires for cooking； had torn down so many houses that it was a great grief to see and this was occasioned by there being in the country a dearth of firewood； which comes to them