of the poem being applied only to the Cid, who in her words, "was a good vassal, if only he had a good lord." In contrast to Alfonso, Nelson believes the Cid exemplifies what a good lord should be. Both the Cid and his vassals bring riches and military glory to the other and live in perfect harmony, trust, and comradeship (Nelson 2). As the word of the Cid's successes in Moorish Spain spread, men flocked to his banner at every opportunity. The Cid's host grows throughout the Poem as his original army of loyal vassals is swollen with volunteers who have come to share in the plunder. This mass movement was partially motivated by the medieval virtue of auxilium, or giving armed help to one's lord in times of attack. While many of the knights who flocked to the Cid's expedition were not his direct vassals, his reputation for generosity had drawn them to the promise of spoils galore. Those loyal vassals who attended the Cid from the beginning of the story, Manaya, Martin Antolinez, Pedro Bermudez, etc., fulfill their auxilium duties with enthusiasm and vigor. The text of the Poem could be used as a primer for how auxilium should be rendered by a loyal vassal. Instead of hanging back and participating in a peaceful fashion, vassals like Manaya ask to be in the vanguard of the assault, striking the first blow. Those unable to be in the initial charge volunteer instead to take part in the flanking or rear actions, strategies that paid off each time with the defeat of larger Muslim forces. Even after gaining great victory, the Cid's loyal vassals exemplify graciousness in victory, as they never grow boastful or arrogant despite their many successes. At the end of the story, when their lord's honor is at stake, and his spirit and integrity are under assault rather than his physical body, Antolinez, Bermudez, and Muno Gustioz all render auxilium by challenging their lord's assailants to trial by combat. All three end up victorious, vindicating th...
