nothing of the Cid Campeador.

This quote represents a turning point for El Cid. He's able to return home and begin his normal life again as a wealthy and influential man. 

When King Alfonso requests that El Cid's daughters marry the Heirs of Carrion, El Cid doesn't like the idea. However, he decides to consent:

"Whate'er shall be your pleasure, that is it we shall say."
Said the Cid: "The Heirs of Carrion, of a great line are they,
And they are proud exceeding, and their favor fair at court.
Yet ill doth such a marriage with my desire coport.
But since it is his pleasure that is of more worth than we,
Let us talk thereof a little, but secret let us be.
May the Lord God in Heaven accord us as is best."

This demonstrates both the intelligence and loyalty of El Cid. Though he himself believes the men are no good despite their prime position and noble titles, he gives in to the king's request. He is a loyal subject and believes that the desires of the king eclipse his own.

When El Cid's daughters are given in marriage to the Heirs of Carrion, it seems like a good thing. Unfortunately, the men are dishonorable and abuse the women. When this is discovered, El Cid requests that the king undo the marriages and give the women to the Kings of Navarre and Aragon instead. Because of El Cid's honor and bravery, King Alfonso is happy to grant what he requests. It says:

"A boon, Oh King Alfonso, my sovran lord thou art.
For this to the Creator very thankful is my heart,
Since both Navarre and Aragon have made request so high.
Thou didst give to wed my daughters before. It was not I.
Here then behold my daughters, the twain are in thine hand.
With them I will do nothing, except at thy command."
The King rose up. For silence in the court the word he gave:
"I beg it of thee, Campeador, the true Cid and the brave,
That hereto thou yield agreement. I will grant the thing this day:
And it shall be consented in open court straightway,
For so will grow thy glory and shine honor and thy lands."

The women's ex-husbands are stripped of their titles and wealth for their actions. Again, the poem demonstrates that acting in a dishonorable way has negative consequences.

Cantar I, no. 14 from El Cantar del Mio Cid (translated version) is poignant because it shows the most salient feature of a knight in the Middle Ages and Middle Ages literature, which is the supernatural tied to the Catholic belief reigning in Spain. On this stanza, El Cid Campeador sees a vision in his sleep of El Arcangel Gabriel who blesses his journey, and the whole stanza goes:

When it was night the Cid lay down. In a deep sleep he fell,
And to him in a vision came the angel Gabriel:
"Ride, Cid, most noble Campeador, for never yet did knight
Ride forth upon an hour whose aspect was so bright.
While thou shalt live good fortune shall be with thee and shine. "When he awoke, upon his face he made the holy sign.

The persignacion, or the very truly traditional Spanish habit of making the sign of the cross from our head to our chest is the most Middle Ages sign of Campeador's behavior and one demanded upon all Spanish knights. So powerful is this tradition that, 600 years later my own entire family still does it.

Another admirable quote from Canto 1, stanza no. 25, verse xxxv is when, during the banishment and posterior attacks on his avengers, he declares his might by saying:

"For the love of the Creator, smite them, my gallants ah.
I am Roy Diaz of Bivar, the Cid, the Campeador."

And, of course, comes the last verses when we farewell El Cid saying:

From him came all that honor who in good hour had birth.
The Cid who ruled Valencia has departed from the earth
At Pentecost. His mercy may Christ to him extend.
To us all, just men or sinners, may He yet stand our friend.
Lo! the deeds of the Cid Campeador! Here takes the book an end.
(Cantar III)