Tudor Books, History of Spain

For, among other things, it rained every single day for three months, and then, when the rain ceased, a plague, thrown into King Alfonso’s camp through the trickery of the Moors, spread so strongly that it consumed a great part of the food supplies and other provisions, and hunger, for that reason, severely afflicted the King’s army.

Nam inter cætera singulis diebiis trium mensium pluit, & iterum cessante pluuis signis Maurorum calliditatein castris Regis Alfonsi proiectus adeo inualuit, vt magna victualium & cæterarum rerum partem consumereyt, samesque ob eam rem valida exercitum Regis affligebat.

Nevertheless, as best he could, the royal foresight made provision, and a certain quantity of food was brought in by sea to replenish the army. Yet many urged the King to at least offer the soldiers words of encouragement, so that they might more easily endure the hunger.

Verumtamen, vt potuit, suppIeuit regia prouidentia, & per mare aliquanta victualium copia exercitus reparatus est. Admonebant tamen permulti Regem vt faltem verba bonæ spei militibus daret, quo facilius famem sufferre possent.

But he, being quick-witted in speech and full of humor, recalled a saying of Cato the Elder in a similar situation. For he used to say that it is difficult to give a speech to an empty stomach, which has no ears, since it takes more delight in the work of cooks than in the eloquence of orators.

IIle vero, vt erat promptus in dicendo atque perfacetus, Catonis senioris verbum retulit in simiili casu. dicebat enim difficile esse ad ventrem vacuum orationem habere qui aures no habet, quippe qui plus delectatur coquorum sumo quam oratorum elegantia.

Nevertheless, out of compassion for his army, he distributed to the soldiers the provisions that had been reserved for the royal table, urging them to be content for the time being with that small ration of food. And he himself, with good reason, chose to fast for their sake, since they had remained in such hunger for his.

Exercitui tamen suo compatiens ea victualia quæ mensæ regiæ erant reseruata, militibus distribuit, hortas vt ea dic paruo illo cibo potirentur, ipseque merito pro eis ieiunaret qui pro eo in tata same constitutierant.

And since he was taking cities without pause or mediation, the Saracens, among whom was the Infante, brother of Al-Mohazen, seeing Alfonso’s steadfastness, as one whom neither flooding waters, nor raging fires, nor the most unbearable hunger could turn from his purpose, offered him their cities on the condition that they might freely cross the sea and depart.

Cumq; sine intercessione ciuitates debeliaret, Sarraceni inter quos erat lnfans frater Almohazen videntes constantiam Alfonsi, veluti quem nec inundatio aquarum, nec flammarum incendia, nec impatientissima fames a proposito reuocabant, obtulerunt ei ciuitates eo pacto, vt ip si libere vltra mare transfretare possent.

King Alfonso therefore repaired the walls and ditches of Algeciras, converted the mosques into churches, built others anew and endowed them, and populated the cities with Christians.

Rex igitur Alfonsus easdem Algeziras muris & fofsis reparauit, ex Mezquitis ecclesias fecit aliasq; de nouo construxit atque dotauit, &vrbes ipsas Chriftianis popuIauit.

Yet among the many outstanding and noble deeds of this Alfonso, we do not think it should be passed over, indeed, it is astonishing and nearly miraculous, that remarkable sign of moderation and clemency which Alfonso displayed during the very siege of Algeciras.

Verum inter cætera huius Alfonsi egregia & præclarafacinora prætermitterdum no putamus illud stupendum & pene admirabile moderationis & clementiæ signum quod in eadem obsidio ne delas Algeziras Alfosus exercuit.