Don Quixote Summary

Description

Here you will find a Don Quixote summary (Miguel De Cervantes's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

Chapters

Don Quixote Summary Overview

A middle-aged gentleman hailing from central Spain becomes engrossed in the noble principles depicted in the books he immerses himself in. Taking it upon himself to protect the weak and eradicate evil, he embarks on an adventure with a confused laborer he convinces to be his loyal squire, Sancho Panza. With promises of making Sancho a wealthy governor, the two travel through Spain on his aged horse Rocinante, with the gentleman renouncing all comforts in honour of a common woman he believes to be a princess. During his second quest, the gentleman becomes more of a menace than a hero, causing harm to innocent citizens while standing against what he perceives to be threats to his knighthood. He abandons a child to a cruel farmer, steals a barber's basin believing it to be a legendary helmet, and induces sickness from a potion he believes has healing powers. Sancho remains by his side, often suffering the consequences of his master's actions. The narrative of their deeds also encompasses the tales of those they encounter during their travels. The duo inadvertently brings together two separated couples and releases a cunning criminal, among other actions. As the narrative continues, Sancho attempts to bring his master back to reality, and the gentleman's friends try to take him home. They convince him that he is under a spell, and he decides to return with them. They embark on another adventure after hearing about a fake sequel to their story. The gentleman is tricked into believing that his beloved has been enchanted into a peasant girl by an evil sorcerer. He ends up at the mercy of a Duke and Duchess who play tricks on him for their amusement. Sancho becomes the governor of a fictitious island but chooses to return to his former life after a ten-day stint. The gentleman eventually loses a duel and renounces his chivalrous beliefs, dying from a fever, thereby symbolizing the end of knights-errant.

part 1 prologue

Cervantes downplays the significance of his novel and insists that Don Quixote is not a figment of his imagination but a character from history he is retelling. He shares a possibly imaginary dialogue with a friend who convinces him that his novel is strong enough to stand on its own without the usual literary ornaments like sonnets, ballads, references to renowned authors, and Latin phrases. Following this, he comically proposes that such embellishments could be introduced into the book post its completion. Cervantes takes this counsel to heart and encourages us to appreciate the simplicity of his novel.

part 1 chapter 1

Cervantes introduces a bizarre man from an unidentified La Mancha village. This man has neglected his property, wasted his wealth, and lost his sanity from reading too many chivalry books. Now skinny at fifty, the man decides to turn himself into a wandering knight, embarking on an extraordinary adventure for eternal fame. He shines his old family armour and creates a fresh pasteboard visor for his helmet. He acquires an old horse, renaming it Rocinante, and adopts the new alias, Don Quixote de la Mancha. Believing he needs a lady to dedicate his heroic deeds to, he renames a rural girl he once fancied, Dulcinea del Toboso.

part 1 chapter 2

Setting out on his inaugural journey, Don Quixote, whose exploits Cervantes claims to have found in the archives of La Mancha, halts at an inn after a day's travel. In his delusion, he perceives the cunning innkeeper as a castle lord, and two prostitutes as royal ladies. He delivers verses to the two women, who find him amusing yet humor him. They help him out of his armor and serve him food. Even though his helmet is stuck, he relishes his meal, thinking he's in a grand castle, being entertained by princesses.

part 1 chapter 3

While dining, Don Quixote is struck by the fact that he has not undergone the official ceremony of knighthood. He implores the innkeeper to knight him. The innkeeper, seeing his insanity, indulges him in the name of amusement and addresses him with exaggerated courtesy. He attempts to swindle Don Quixote, but the latter has no money. The innkeeper advises him to always carry money in the future. Issues emerge when the inn's guests need to use the well, which is occupied by Don Quixote's armor, to quench their animals' thirst. Provoked and calling upon Dulcinea's name, Don Quixote attacks a guest and severely injures another. The innkeeper, out of fear, hastily carries out an unusual knighting ceremony and sends Don Quixote away. Grateful, Don Quixote asks the two prostitutes for a favor, thanks the innkeeper for his service, and departs.

part 1 chapter 4

During his journey home, Don Quixote stumbles upon a farmhand being brutally beaten by his employer. The farmer justifies his actions by citing the boy's ineptitude, whereas the boy attributes it to unpaid wages. Don Quixote intervenes, asking the farmer, whom he perceives as a fellow knight, to remunerate the lad. The boy tries to correct Don Quixote's delusion about the farmer's status, but to no avail. Assured that the farmer will pay the boy by virtue of his 'knighthood', Don Quixote departs, leaving the farmer to continue his cruel punishment. Later, Don Quixote crosses paths with some traders. He demands they acknowledge Dulcinea's unparalleled beauty. Their response, seen as an affront by Don Quixote, provokes him to assault them. However, his horse, Rocinante, stumbles mid-charge leading to Don Quixote's clumsy fall. A muleteer then assaults Don Quixote, shattering his lance, before the traders leave him sprawled near the road.

part 1 chapter 5

A worker discovers Don Quixote near a path and guides him back on his mule. Don Quixote praises the worker with knightly poetry, drawing parallels between his own struggles and those of the legendary knights he's studied. The worker delays his entry into the village with Don Quixote until after dark, intending to maintain the injured man’s self-respect. Yet when they arrive, Don Quixote's pals, the barber and the priest, are already present at his residence. They had been planning to examine his books just as Don Quixote and the worker appear. His family welcomes Don Quixote, provides him a meal, and puts him to bed.

part 1 chapter 6

The barber and the priest initiate a purge of Don Quixote's book collection, aimed at destroying all chivalry literature. Although the housekeeper wants to cleanse the books with holy water, Quixote's niece insists on burning them all. Despite their objections, the priest takes time to examine the title of each book before consigning it to the flames. He is already familiar with a number of the tales, choosing to save some due to their uniqueness or writing style. He contemplates saving all the poetry but reconsiders after the niece warns that this could lead Quixote to become a poet, a fate she views as even worse than being a knight-errant. The priest stumbles upon a book by Cervantes, whom he proclaims as a friend. He commends the creative concepts in Cervantes’s work, although he feels it doesn't live up to its potential. Opting to save the book, he anticipates that the promised sequel from Cervantes will be released in the future.

part 1 chapter 7

Don Quixote interrupts the priest and the barber, despite his delusions. They've bricked up the library door and convince him that a sorcerer took his books and the room itself. The housekeeper sets the books on fire that evening. When Don Quixote seeks his books two days later, his niece spins a tale about a wizard stealing them on a smoke-filled cloud because he held a grudge against Don Quixote. He buys the story, recognizing the supposed wizard as his nemesis who fears Don Quixote will defeat his champion knight. His niece pleads him to give up his mission, but he declines. He offers Sancho Panza, an uneducated worker, a position as an island governor if he leaves his family and becomes Don Quixote's helper. Sancho accepts. Once he gets a donkey, they both leave the village, musing over the island.

part 1 chapter 8

Don Quixote and Sancho stumble upon a group of windmills, which Don Quixote mistakenly sees as giants. He charges towards one and is flung to the ground when his lance gets stuck in the windmill's sail. He convinces Sancho that an enemy wizard, the same one who stole his library, changed the giants into windmills just in time. They continue their journey with Don Quixote advising Sancho that a true knight-errant never gripes about pain or hunger. He replaces his broken lance with a tree branch. They rest for the night but Don Quixote, consumed by thoughts of his beloved Dulcinea, stays awake. The following day, they cross paths with two monks and a carriage containing a lady and her entourage. Don Quixote, convinced the monks are sorcerers holding a princess captive, attacks them, despite protests from Sancho and the monks. He unseats one of the monks and Sancho, thinking he's rightfully collecting the spoils of war, starts stripping the monk, only to get beaten by the servants. The monks escape unscathed. Don Quixote instructs the lady to go to Toboso and introduce herself to Dulcinea. He quarrels with one of her aides leading to a fight. The fight is narrated in detail but abruptly stops just as Don Quixote is about to land a lethal blow, with Cervantes claiming that his source document ends exactly at this point.

part 1 chapter 9

Cervantes conveys his frustration over the interruption in the narrative. He narrates an incident where he found a kid selling Arabic scripts in Toledo, Spain. He paid a Moor to decipher these scripts. As the Moor translated a line about Dulcinea, referring to her as the best at salting pork in La Mancha, Cervantes quickly ushered him home to translate the entire document. As per Cervantes, the script held the history of Don Quixote by Cide Hamete Benengeli. Henceforth, his work is a rendering of Benengeli’s tale. This next part of the script starts with the resolution of the previous chapter’s fight. Don Quixote receives a hefty hit that cuts his ear. He retaliates by knocking down the attendant and threatening to kill him. He holds back when women accompanying the man assure him that the man would present himself to Dulcinea.

part 1 chapter 10

Sancho Panza implores Don Quixote to crown him the ruler of an island they supposedly won during combat. Don Quixote assures him his wish will soon come true. However, Sancho fears they might be arrested for assaulting the woman's servant. Don Quixote calms his fears, asserting knights are exempt from imprisonment thanks to their justice-seeking endeavors. Sancho proposes to tend Don Quixote's bleeding ear and learns about Fierbras' Balsam, a potential cure-all. Sancho sees a business opportunity in producing the balsam, but his idea is dismissed by Don Quixote. After noticing the damage done to his helmet by the servant, he is filled with a thirst for vengeance, but Sancho reminds him of the servant's pledge to present himself to Dulcinea in exchange for his beating. Don Quixote drops his plan of revenge and instead promises to live a severe lifestyle until he acquires a new helmet. With no other places to stay, they spend the night under the open sky, a situation that thrills Don Quixote's romantic side but leaves Sancho dissatisfied.

part 1 chapter 11

Don Quixote and Sancho find themselves in the company of goatherds, where they share food and drinks. Sancho indulges a bit too much in the wine, while Don Quixote enthralls the group with stories about the 'golden age', a time when knights safeguarded innocent virgins who lived without fear. Their tranquility is interrupted by a singing goatherd who, despite Sancho's objections, performs a romantic song. A kind goatherd also tends to Don Quixote's injured ear, applying a remedy that effectively heals it.

part 1 chapter 12

Peter, a goatherd, states that the shepherd Chrysostom has tragically passed away because of his romantic feelings for Marcela. As Peter shares Chrysostom's heartbreaking story, Don Quixote frequently corrects Peter's language. Marcela is portrayed as a rich, stunning orphan who left her luxurious life to become a shepherdess. Despite her charm and kindness, Marcela's refusal to wed has labeled her as heartless in love matters. Peter and his fellow goatherds invite Don Quixote to Chrysostom’s funeral, which he agrees to attend. Everyone sleeps, apart from Don Quixote who spends the night awake, yearning for Dulcinea.

part 1 chapter 13

As they journey to a burial, a passerby named Vivaldo queries Don Quixote about his armor in a peaceful land. Don Quixote shares his belief in the chivalric code. Vivaldo likens the strict lifestyle of a knight to a monk's, to which Don Quixote claims that knights serve the purpose that monks pray for. The conversation shifts to the role of knights-errant, as Don Quixote highlights their dedication to ladies, not God. He insists all knights-errant are in love, even if they hide it. He portrays his beloved Dulcinea in poetic, romantic language. The group finally reaches the funeral, where Chrysostom's body is brought by six men. His friend Ambrosio praises the dead man, while Vivaldo requests to preserve some of Chrysostom’s poetry against his dying wish to burn it. Vivaldo keeps a poem and at Ambrosio's request, he reads it out loud.

part 1 chapter 14

Vivaldo publicly shares a poem that glorifies Marcela's attractiveness, mourns her harshness, and concludes with Chrysostom's final desire to be welcomed by renowned Greek legends in the afterlife. Following this, Marcela makes her appearance, stating she never enticed Chrysostom or any other admirer with the prospect of reciprocating their love. She credits her attractiveness to divine intervention and argues that her decision to remain pure is not a crime. Marcela exits before a response from Ambrosio can be given. A few men attempt to trail her, but Don Quixote threatens to kill anyone daring to chase her. He then goes after Marcela, intending to offer his help.

part 1 chapter 15

Don Quixote and Sancho take a break for food. Rocinante, their horse, strays into a herd of mares owned by some Yanguesans and attempts to mate. The Yanguesans retaliate by attacking the horse. Don Quixote and Sancho intervene, but are overpowered by the Yanguesans. As they lay on the ground, they converse about a magical balsam that knights allegedly use to heal their injuries. Don Quixote attributes their loss to him breaking the knightly code by fighting non-knights. A disagreement ensues about the importance of combat in a knight-errant's life. Following Don Quixote's instructions, Sancho then guides him to an inn on his donkey. They reach yet another inn, which Don Quixote misidentifies as a castle.

part 1 chapter 16

Sancho covers up for Don Quixote's beating by a gang of Yanguesans by saying he fell and hurt himself. The innkeeper's wife and pretty daughter care for his injuries. Don Quixote thinks the daughter is smitten with him and imagines that she will spend the night with him. In reality, it’s the innkeeper's daughter's hunchbacked servant, Maritornes, who sneaks in at night, intending to sleep with a carrier sharing the room with Don Quixote and Sancho. Cervantes makes a special note that the carrier is mentioned because he is related to Cide Hamete Benengeli. Maritornes, who has poor vision, mistakenly approaches Don Quixote's bed thinking it's the carrier's. Don Quixote, thinking she's the beautiful daughter, tries to woo her. This results in the carrier attacking him. Maritornes seeks refuge in Sancho's bed. The noise wakes the innkeeper who, along with the carrier and Sancho, engage in a fierce fight. An officer staying at the inn tries to stop the fight. He finds Don Quixote unconscious on the bed and thinks he's dead. The officer leaves to fetch a light to better assess the situation.

part 1 chapter 17

Don Quixote convinces Sancho that their lodging is bewitched. He narrates an embellished tale of being wooed by a princess and assaulted by a giant. After an altercation with a returning officer, Quixote reassures Sancho he will concoct a healing balsam to soothe his injuries. He chalks up all these events to inevitable enchantments. After a disastrous reaction to the supposed healing balsam, Don Quixote regains consciousness feeling rejuvenated, convinced his potion works. Sancho tries the potion and falls terribly ill, but he doesn't throw up. Quixote justifies this by surmising that the potion doesn't work on squires. Upon their departure, the innkeeper insists on payment, to which Don Quixote refuses, claiming knights never pay for their stay. He makes a hasty exit, hurling insults at the innkeeper. Sancho is captured by some miscreants at the inn and thrown in a blanket for not paying. Don Quixote feels helpless due to his injuries and blames the enchantment for his inability to assist Sancho. Sancho escapes without paying, feeling triumphant, but later realizes that his saddlebags have been stolen by the innkeeper.

part 1 chapter 18

Departing from the inn, Sancho expresses his frustration to Don Quixote about the constant harm they encounter on their journeys. Suddenly, Don Quixote spots dust clouds in the distance, mistaking them for two imminent battling armies. Despite Sancho telling him that the dust is from two groups of sheep, Don Quixote insists he sees knights in the dust cloud. Cervantes breaks off the narration, noting that Don Quixote's tales reflect his fanciful readings about knights and chivalry. Don Quixote plunges into the imagined battle, killing seven sheep before the shepherds retaliate by pelting him with stones and damaging his teeth. Sancho reminds Don Quixote that the 'armies' were just sheep, but Don Quixote insists a sorcerer transformed the knights into sheep to undermine his endeavors. After taking more balsam, an already injured Don Quixote vomits on Sancho, who, in turn, vomits on him. When Sancho goes to fetch something to clean them, he finds his saddlebags missing and decides he's had enough and wants to return home. Don Quixote, however, proposes they find an inn to rest for the night.

part 1 chapter 19

Sancho Panza blames Don Quixote's problems on his broken vow to live austerely until he obtains a new helmet. Don Quixote admits he'd forgotten about the vow and blames Sancho for not reminding him. As darkness descends, they come across mourning priests transporting a deceased man. After the clergy refuse to identify themselves, Don Quixote forcefully unseats one priest, causing the others to flee. He tells the injured priest he's avenging wrongs, but the priest retorts that Don Quixote has only caused him harm. Sancho loots the priest's mule before shouting at the retreating figure that Don Quixote, now known as the Knight of the Sad Countenance, is to blame. Delighted by his new nickname, Don Quixote queries Sancho on its origin, who says it's because his face seems gloomy without teeth. Don Quixote, however, believes a wise man guiding his life's story inspired Sancho to coin this title. As they make their way to a valley and enjoy their meal, they engage in a conversation that Cervantes pledges to narrate in the subsequent chapter.

part 1 chapter 20

Don Quixote and Sancho encounter a disturbing noise. Sancho insists they should wait until daylight to investigate, but his master is adamant about confronting whatever is causing the noise. Don Quixote instructs Sancho to wait three days and, if he fails to return, to inform Dulcinea of his demise. Sancho discretely hobbles Rocinante, making him immobile, causing Don Quixote to agree to wait until morning. Sancho starts to narrate a story, repeating each fact. Don Quixote interrupts him, instructing him to only narrate the story once. However, Sancho persuades him that in his homeland, this is the traditional way of storytelling, so Don Quixote permits him to continue. Sancho proceeds to describe a shepherdess in vibrant detail, and when asked by Don Quixote if he knew her, Sancho denies it but admits the story felt so real he could've sworn he had seen her. Sancho proceeds, instructing Don Quixote to keep count of the number of goats a shepherd had to ferry across a river. Midway, Don Quixote instructs Sancho to carry on as if all the goats had crossed the river. Sancho quizzes him about the number of goats that had crossed, and when Don Quixote confesses ignorance, Sancho ends his tale, refusing to continue despite Don Quixote's persuasion. In the morning, they proceed. Sancho's loyalty convinces Don Quixote of his goodness. On reaching a cluster of cottages near a river, they find out that the eerie noise was from fulling-hammers used in cloth beating. Sancho finds this amusing, prompting Don Quixote to strike him with his lance and instruct him to speak to him less. Sancho agrees after Don Quixote reveals he has included him in his will.

part 1 chapter 21

Don Quixote and his sidekick, Sancho, come across a man clad in an object that shines atop his head. This man is a barber using a basin as a shield against the rain, but Don Quixote misinterprets him as an esteemed knight possessing the legendary helmet of Mambrino and commits to acquire it. The terrified barber flees, leaving his mule and the basin behind. Sancho pokes fun at Don Quixote, pointing out that the supposed helmet is merely a basin. Don Quixote, however, rationalizes that the magical helmet probably ended up with an oblivious person who transformed it into a basin. He decides to use it until he can revert it back into a helmet in the next town. When Sancho grumbles about his mistreatment at an inn while Don Quixote watched passively, Don Quixote dismisses it as a prank. He assures Sancho that if it were severe, he would've retaliated. Thereafter, Don Quixote reveals his plan to impress a princess by battling for her father, the king, marry her, and bestow wealth upon Sancho.

part 1 chapter 22

Cervantes details how Don Quixote and Sancho stumble upon a group of galley slaves, under heavy guard. Sancho tries to caution Don Quixote from meddling, yet he disregards this and proceeds to converse with the prisoners. Each captive, in turn, concocts a tale that paints their criminal deeds as defensible or even unavoidable. Disturbed by their captivity, Don Quixote instigates an attack on the guards. This sparks the prisoners to join in, ultimately leading to their liberation. Once free, Don Quixote instructs the men to pay homage to Dulcinea, a demand they reject due to fear of recapture. This refusal incites Don Quixote’s anger and they retaliate by assaulting him, before absconding with his and Sancho's belongings. This act of emancipating the galley slaves greatly troubles Sancho, worried about retaliation from the Holy Brotherhood, hence he implores Don Quixote to escape into the mountains.

part 1 chapter 23

Don Quixote and Sancho traverse the Sierra Morena forest, where they encounter Gines de Pasamonte, one of the former galley slaves, who snatches Dapple, Sancho's donkey. While journeying through the mountains, they stumble upon a saddle and a bag containing a notebook, cash, and shirts. Don Quixote hands the money over to Sancho, who feels this compensates for his past hardships. Inside the notebook, Don Quixote discovers a poem and a love letter, showing that their writer was rejected and driven insane by his lover's unfaithfulness. Spotting a nearly unclothed man leaping through the wilderness, Don Quixote decides to tail him and unravel his story. Though Sancho objects, worried about their newfound wealth, Don Quixote insists, suspecting the money could be the man's. As they search for the man, they meet an elderly goatherd who shares the naked man's story. A well-mannered, wealthy gentleman, he arrived one day seeking the wildest part of the Sierra Morena. After being directed, he vanished, later returning to attack a goatherd for his food. Following him, they found him disheveled days later and offered help. His behavior fluctuated between polite and rude. As the goatherd finishes his tale, the man, now referred to as the Ragged Knight of the Sorry Countenance, shows up. Don Quixote responds by embracing him.

part 1 chapter 24

The Tattered Knight, known as Cardenio, asks Don Quixote for sustenance and proposes to narrate his tale if they all vow not to disturb him. He is a rich man of noble lineage hailing from Andalusia, southern Spain, and has harbored an intense affection for the gorgeous Lucinda since his youth. They were set to wed, but a duke called upon Cardenio's companionship for his son, Ferdinand. Upon meeting the Duke's son Ferdinand, an instant bond formed between the two. Ferdinand was smitten with a farmer's daughter, courted in secret for fear of his father's fury. Hoping to escape his father's anger and the farmer's daughter, Ferdinand sought refuge at Cardenio’s family home, under the guise of horse trading. It was here that Ferdinand encountered Lucinda, who he lauded as a world-class beauty. Cardenio brings up Lucinda's love for chivalric novels. This sparks a disagreement between Cardenio and Don Quixote over the infidelity of a queen in one of the books. The ensuing argument triggers Cardenio's insanity, leading to him attacking Sancho, the goat herder, and Don Quixote before disappearing into the wilderness.

part 1 chapter 25

Departing, Sancho grows frustrated with Don Quixote due to an enforced silence rule and meaningless arguments involving Cardenio. Don Quixote withdraws his demand for silence but defends his illusionary queen. He informs Sancho of his intentions to remain in Sierra Morena alone, doing penance for honour. He is troubled by the long absence from Dulcinea and fears her unfaithfulness. Choosing not to validate his worries, he decides that going insane over his imagined affronts would be nobler. Laughing at his master's decision, Sancho gets a surprise when Don Quixote reveals his belief about knights-errant and their irrational deeds. Don Quixote composes a love note for Sancho to deliver to Dulcinea and discloses her real identity. Knowing Dulcinea as a crude commoner, Sancho is startled, but Don Quixote convinces him that knights-errant often create imaginary princesses as muses, hence Dulcinea is a princess by his declaration. Sancho pledges a quick return, leaving Don Quixote alone, who in his madness, takes off his trousers and performs a headstand. Sancho then embarks on his journey astride Rocinante.

part 1 chapter 26

In the midst of his self-punishment, Don Quixote emulates the legendary knight Amadis, turning to God and praying for Dulcinea. He roams the valley, inscribing verses on trees. Meanwhile, Sancho encounters the priest and the barber at the inn where he had a run-in with a blanket, on his journey back home. They halt him, inquiring about Don Quixote's whereabouts. Sancho informs them about Don Quixote's self-punishment, his mission to deliver a letter to Dulcinea, and the promise of a governorship and a beautiful spouse once Don Quixote ascends to the throne. The pair surmise that Sancho has lost his mind and humor him by asserting that Don Quixote will definitely become an emperor or maybe an archbishop. The latter option worries Sancho as he doubts an archbishop can provide suitable rewards. Subsequently, the priest and the barber resolve to lure Don Quixote back home, planning to disguise themselves as a maiden in need and her attendant.

part 1 chapter 27

Dressed in disguises, the priest and barber, alongside Sancho, venture to bring Don Quixote back home. Sancho enlivens the journey with tales of his escapades. Upon arrival, Sancho heads out first, intending to convince Don Quixote that Dulcinea received his letter and wishes for him to return. If Don Quixote remains obstinate, the priest and barber plan to feign a distressed maiden requiring his help. During their wait for Sancho, the priest and barber meet Cardenio, who shares his tale including a part he had previously withheld from Don Quixote. He says Ferdinand, captivated by a letter from Lucinda during a visit to Cardenio's home, plotted to woo her. Ferdinand sent Cardenio to the Duke’s residence and proposed to Lucinda. Meanwhile, Lucinda sent a desperate plea to Cardenio, revealing Ferdinand's proposal and her parents' acceptance due to their greed. She voiced suicidal thoughts, but instead, she married Ferdinand upon Cardenio's return. Devastated and filled with rage, Cardenio fled the wedding scene towards the wilderness. Cervantes interjects and wraps up the third portion of Cide Hamete Benengeli's tale with the end of Cardenio's story.

part 1 chapter 28

Cervantes acknowledges the unique presence of Don Quixote in his time, praising him for reviving the chivalrous era. Transitioning back to the unfolding narrative, the priest, the barber, and Cardenio encounter a young lady named Dorothea, initially mistaking her for a male due her attire. Dorothea shares her unfortunate tale of love and betrayal. Being the strikingly beautiful daughter of a rich farmer, she caught the eyes of her father's employer's son. Despite his relentless romantic pursuits, she withstood until he deceitfully entered her room and promised to wed her. Out of fear for her safety, she yielded to his wishes, only to be deserted. Determined to hold him to his marital promise, Dorothea pursued him but to her dismay, found out he had already wed another woman named Lucinda in a nearby town. It turned out the son who ensnared her in false promises was Ferdinand, the Duke's son. In her humiliation and despair, Dorothea fled into the wilderness.

part 1 chapter 29

Cardenio is overjoyed upon hearing from Dorothea that Lucinda's love for him was revealed through a letter found by Ferdinand. In return, he promises to support Dorothea in seeking justice against Ferdinand. Dorothea agrees to feign distress in a scheme to bring Don Quixote back home. Meanwhile, Sancho communicates Don Quixote's refusal to return to Dulcinea until he earns honor through atonement. The priest deceives Sancho into believing that Dorothea is Princess Micomicona, needing Don Quixote's help against a giant's injustice. Disguised as such, Dorothea, along with Sancho and a fake-bearded barber, encounters Don Quixote. Using eloquent language, she convinces Don Quixote to pledge his assistance against the giant threatening her realm, promising not to undertake other quests on the way. The prospect of attaining a governorship excites Sancho. On their journey, they meet the priest and Cardenio. Don Quixote, failing to recognize them, is told by the priest that he and the barber were assaulted by freed convicts.

part 1 chapter 30

Dorothea concocts a tale about a destructive giant plaguing her realm. Her narrative falters multiple times, even forgetting her fabricated name, requiring the priest's intervention to keep their scheme hidden. She proposes to wed Don Quixote after he defeats the giant, yet he declines due to his affection for Dulcinea. This rejection agitates Sancho, who then disparages Dulcinea, earning a beating from Don Quixote. Suddenly, Gines de Pasamonte returns with Sancho's donkey and hastily escapes. Cardenio and Dorothea converse about Don Quixote's lunacy, with Cardenio noting his insanity is too extreme to be a figment of fiction.

part 1 chapter 31

Don Quixote urges Sancho to recount his visit to Dulcinea. Sancho fabricates a tale, stating that Dulcinea was busy and could not read Don Quixote’s letter. As they journey, the boy whom Don Quixote attempted to rescue from his master in a previous chapter shows up, berating Don Quixote for naively trusting his master and leaving him to a harsher punishment. Don Quixote vows to retaliate against the boy's master, yet the boy advises Don Quixote to refrain from meddling further, worried his actions would exacerbate the situation.

part 1 chapter 32

Don Quixote, his squire Sancho, the clergyman, the hairdresser, Dorothea, and Cardenio end up at the same inn where Sancho had previously had an unfortunate incident with a blanket. The hairdresser discards his disguise and they all join the innkeeper, his family, and their maid Maritornes to discuss Don Quixote's insanity and the books that have spurred his delusions. The clergyman and the hairdresser express a desire to destroy the inn's stash of chivalric tales, but the innkeeper stands up for these stories, arguing that they wouldn't be allowed to circulate if they were false. Despite his defense, he also admits that he would never choose to become a knight-errant, as he acknowledges that the age of chivalry has passed. He informs everyone that an unidentified person had left behind an old chest packed with books and handwritten texts. Even though skeptical about chivalric literature, the clergyman requests the innkeeper to let him reproduce one of the texts from the trunk, which he subsequently reads to everyone.

part 1 chapter 33

Within the narrative read by the priest, Anselmo and Lothario, fast friends residing in Florence, feature prominently. Anselmo ties the knot with Camilla, an attractive lady known for her sincerity. He decides to assess Camilla's fidelity by asking Lothario to court her. Lothario berates Anselmo's foolish idea through a long, poetic discourse, but to no avail. Repeatedly, Lothario fabricates stories of his unsuccessful attempts to seduce Camilla to Anselmo. Anselmo witnesses their interaction and determines that Lothario has been dishonest - he hasn't tried to charm Camilla at all. Anselmo urges Lothario to genuinely make advances towards Camilla while he leaves town for a week. During this period, Lothario genuinely courts Camilla and unintentionally falls for her. A desperate Camilla reaches out to Anselmo in a letter, pleading for him to rescue her from the treacherous Lothario.

part 1 chapter 34

Anselmo gets a letter from Camilla and is convinced his scheme is progressing, opting not to return home early. Gradually, Camilla falls for Lothario's flirtations, initiating a romance. When Anselmo arrives back, Lothario assures him that he failed to seduce Camilla. Anselmo enhances the scheme by asking Lothario to compose romantic verses for Camilla, a request that Lothario, now deeply in love, happily agrees to. Camilla's servant, Leonela, aids Lothario and Camilla in continuing their affair and even starts one of her own. Despite her worry about Leonela bringing disgrace, Camilla stays out of fear that Leonela may reveal her secret to Anselmo. One day, Lothario spots Leonela's lover exiting the house, mistakenly believing Camilla has another suitor. Enraged with jealousy, he confesses to Anselmo that he has wooed Camilla but she hasn't responded to his affections yet. Lothario uncovers Camilla's scheme to rendezvous with him in a closet on a certain day and urges Anselmo to secretly watch his wife's unfaithfulness. Meanwhile, Camilla shares her worries about Leonela with Lothario, making him realize his misunderstanding. Upon learning about his blunder, Camilla contrives a ploy to deceive Anselmo so she and Lothario can openly continue their affair. Camilla and Lothario meet in the closet and knowing Anselmo is watching, she feigns stabbing herself rather than surrender her chastity to Lothario. The trick succeeds, allowing Camilla to pursue her relationship with Lothario undetected by Anselmo.

part 1 chapter 35

Sancho frantically enters the room, declaring that Don Quixote has defeated the giant responsible for Dorothea's kingdom's capture. However, they discover Don Quixote is merely dreaming, attacking the innkeeper's wineskins, which Sancho confused for the giant's head. Unable to locate the head, Sancho fears he might not receive his promised governorship. After the priest concludes the manuscript's story, it's revealed Anselmo has uncovered Leonela's infidelity. Leonela makes a deal with Anselmo to prevent him from harming her - she'll reveal critical information the next day. Upon hearing this from Anselmo, Camilla flees to Lothario in fear Leonela will expose her affair. Both Lothario and Camilla escape. The next day, Anselmo finds Leonela missing and Camilla too. He visits Lothario for support only to find him gone. On his way to another friend's place, a passerby informs him about Lothario and Camilla's betrayal. Upon reaching his friend's place, Anselmo succumbs to his sorrow over his lost honor. The priest notes his enjoyment of the manuscript, yet finds it hard to believe a husband could be so gullible.

part 1 chapter 36

Ferdinand and Lucinda turn up at the inn, both dressed in disguise. An emotional encounter ensues, leading to Ferdinand and Dorothea reconnecting, while Cardenio is reacquainted with Lucinda. Ferdinand reveals to everyone that he and his companions had abducted Lucinda from her convent, where she sought refuge after escaping from her wedding. He professes his undying affection for Dorothea. The entire group is overcome with happiness and sheds tears of joy, except for Sancho. Sadly, he mourns the loss of his kingdom, since the truth about Dorothea, not being a princess, is now known to both him and Don Quixote.

part 1 chapter 37

Sancho, in anxiousness, alerts Don Quixote that Dorothea is not an actual princess and the 'giant' he battled was merely a wineskin. Don Quixote disregards Sancho's information, considering it another sign of the inn's magic. He comforts Dorothea, promising his protection and stating her father's effort to disguise her as a common girl was needless. He starts narrating his fight with the 'giant', stopping halfway and mentioning that unexpected revelations will occur over time. Dorothea assures Don Quixote of her identity as Princess Micomicona, seeking his help. Don Quixote reprimands Sancho for his deceit. During this, a stranger styled as a Moor, later known as 'the captive', with his attractive partner, Zoraida, comes to the inn for shelter. The captive shares that Zoraida, a high-born Moorish woman, wishes to convert. During dinner, Don Quixote discusses the comparative worth of scholars and warriors. His eloquent dialogue makes everyone believe he's sane momentarily.

part 1 chapter 38

Don Quixote persists with his discourse about the preeminence of knights compared to scholars. While his intellect garners admiration from all, his belief that chivalry surpasses scholarship remains unconvincing. The captive launches into a narrative of his capture and subsequent liberation in Moorish territories.

part 1 chapter 39

The prisoner discloses to his company that he departed from his family home a long time ago. This decision was made after his father split the family property among his three sons, instructing each to pursue a different calling: a soldier, a clergyman, and a mariner respectively. He details the numerous battles he participated in at length. The captive also reveals that he served in the same military unit as Don Pedro de Aguilar, Ferdinand's sibling.

part 1 chapter 40

The prisoner narrates his capture and confinement in Algiers. There was a day he was atop the prison, Zoraida, who had developed feelings for him whilst observing from a distance, tossed him some cash from a window. Enclosed with the funds was a note stating her conversion to Christianity and her proposition to finance his escape, liberate her, and transport her to Spain to be his spouse. He utilized Zoraida's funds to negotiate his and some of his companions' freedom, purchase a ship, and plan Zoraida's liberation from her father's residence.

part 1 chapter 41

The prisoner reveals that he stealthily entered Zoraida's father's garden to meet her, informed her about his plan to flee from Algiers, and eventually abducted her. They were forced to take Zoraida's father along during the kidnapping as he woke up, leaving him miles away from the city afterwards. The prisoner and his comrades rowed for numerous days only to be looted of all of Zoraida's possessions by French pirates. Once they reached Spain, they decided to visit the prisoner's father, convert Zoraida to Christianity, and tie the knot.

part 1 chapter 42

Following the end of the captive's tale, an official named Licentiate Juan Perez de Viedma makes an appearance at the inn, accompanied by his stunning daughter, Clara. The captive identifies the judge as his sibling. The clergyman, after confirming if the judge still holds affection for his long-lost brother, brings the two together. As everyone retires for the night, the stillness is broken by a young man crooning romantic songs outside the inn. Caught up in the moment, Cardenio sneaks into the ladies' chambers to urge them to listen.

part 1 chapter 43

Dorothea rouses Clara from sleep because of an enchanting song. Clara identifies the singer as a neighboring young nobleman who has been shadowing her out of love. Although they have never interacted directly, she reciprocates his feelings and hopes to wed him. Dorothea pledges to help Clara communicate with him. Simultaneously, Don Quixote is on guard duty outside the inn. The innkeeper's daughter and her servant, Maritornes, dupe him into reaching his hand through a window, to which they tether and leave him hanging from Rocinante's back all night. Four riders arrive, teasing Don Quixote while attempting to get into the inn.

part 1 chapter 44

Don Quixote's noise brings the innkeeper checking. The four horsemen turn out to be servants of Don Louis's father, who's firmly against Don Louis's love affair with Clara. They demand Don Louis to return home, but he resists. The judge questions Don Louis about this, while the innkeeper grapples with two guests trying to sneak out without settling the bill. Don Quixote abstains from helping the innkeeper, citing his oath to not embark on new quests until he defeats the giant that seized Dorothea's land. The narrative shifts back to the chat between Don Louis and the judge. Don Louis discloses his love for Clara, pleading for her hand in marriage. The judge promises to mull over the request. On the other side, Don Quixote persuades the two guests to stop assaulting the innkeeper, using only his words. Suddenly, the barber, from whom Don Quixote had swiped what he thought was Mambrino's helmet, shows up at the inn. He accuses Don Quixote and Sancho of stealing, but Sancho rebuts, stating that the items were war booty after Don Quixote had defeated the barber.

part 1 chapter 45

The inn's patrons humor Don Quixote, accepting his belief that the basin is actually Mambrino's helmet. A large clash erupts, but it is eventually halted by Don Quixote who requests the priest and the judge to pacify the crowd. The judge then chooses to take Don Louis with him and Clara to Andalusia, and informs his servants of this decision. Drawn by the disturbance, a member of the Holy Brotherhood arrives and recognizes he has an arrest warrant for Don Quixote for liberating the galley slaves. Rather than being alarmed, Don Quixote mocks the man and criticizes the foolishness of attempting to detain a knight-errant.

part 1 chapter 46

The cleric persuades the Holy Brotherhood to spare Don Quixote due to his madness, preventing them from punishing him for his behavior. Don Quixote, still fooled into believing Dorothea is Princess Micomicona, proclaims their impending departure for her realm where he'll defeat the giant. Sancho disputes this, revealing he saw Dorothea and Ferdinand share a kiss, thus questioning her royalty. Don Quixote's anger at Sancho’s defiance is quelled by Dorothea who convinces him that an enchantment led Sancho to think he saw her and Ferdinand kiss. Don Quixote resolves to forgive Sancho, who then expresses his suspicion that the inn is bewitched given the strange occurrences, though he insists the blanket-tossing incident was the work of real people, not magic. Don Quixote, however, assures him otherwise, which Sancho doubts. The barber and cleric conjure a scheme to transport Don Quixote back home without Dorothea and Ferdinand's assistance. They construct a cage, trick Don Quixote into it, restrain him, and set the cage on an ox cart. The barber then impersonates a sage, foretelling Don Quixote's heroic return to his village and his anticipated marriage to Dulcinea.

part 1 chapter 47

Don Quixote, under the impression he is bewitched, is puzzled by his slow travelling speed. He thinks that enchantments must have evolved since the old days, when they made knights speed through clouds. Sancho disagrees about the enchantment, but his words fall on deaf ears. As they depart, the innkeeper hands over some documents left by a stranger to the priest, who is eager to go through them. While journeying, they encounter another priest, a canon from Toledo. He accompanies them temporarily, engaging in conversation with Don Quixote's hometown priest. Sancho accuses the barber and the priest of abducting Don Quixote, leading to the barber threatening to cage Sancho too. This makes Sancho upset. The canon expresses his disdain for chivalry books, considering them absurd and harmful fabrications. He criticizes their style and suggests they should be banned. The priest partly agrees with him but admits to finding some redeeming qualities in them.

part 1 chapter 48

The canon confesses he started penning a chivalry novel but halted upon realizing he must create either excellent literature that the masses reject, or subpar works that critics loathe. He criticizes the current condition of Spanish theater and proposes a government authority to regulate production decisions. Sancho reveals to Don Quixote the barber and priest's scheme of feigning his enchantment due to envy of his heroic feats. Additionally, Sancho inquires if Don Quixote needs to relieve himself, to which Don Quixote affirms.

part 1 chapter 49

Sancho points out to Don Quixote that enchanted beings don't have physical requirements, using Don Quixote’s need for a toilet as evidence that he's not enchanted. Don Quixote dismisses it, saying enchantment can take different forms, but agrees to attempt to break free from it. At a meal break, the clergyman releases Don Quixote from the cage where they engage in a debate with the canon about knight-errantry. The canon is astonished at how Don Quixote blurs the lines between reality and fantasy without any regard for their distinction.

part 1 chapter 50

Don Quixote relays a mythical tale about the Knight of the Lake, asserting it demonstrates the captivating essence of knight-errantry narratives. He further discloses to the canon his transformation into a gallant, mannerly, and cultured knight-errant, who has undergone numerous exploits and magical encounters. Suddenly, a goatherd emerges, pursuing a stray goat that has intruded on their picnic. The onlookers find it amusing when the goatherd communicates with the creature. Unfazed, the goatherd informs everyone he's a peasant with the ability to interact with humans and animals alike, which the priest finds unsurprising.

part 1 chapter 51

Eugenio, the goatherd, shares his tale of how the allure of Leandra, a rich and beautiful maiden, led him and his pal Anselmo to abandon their town for a pastoral existence. Leandra eloped with a conceited soldier who ended up stealing her fortune and leaving her stranded in a forest cave. The local woodland often reverberates with the cries of shepherds pining for Leandra, reveals Eugenio. To restore her dignity, Leandra's father has sent her to a nunnery.

part 1 chapter 52

The goat herder and Don Quixote engage in a fistfight, cheered on by onlookers. An ensuing encounter with a group of pilgrims, whom Don Quixote mistakes for kidnappers, leaves him bruised and beaten. Believing his friend to be dead, Sancho delivers a heartfelt lament that prompts Don Quixote to return home until better fortune comes their way. Homecoming sees Sancho's wife, Juana, intrigued about his adventures. He placates her with promises of future governorship and entertaining stories. The return of Don Quixote stirs anxiety in his niece and housemaid who fret over his possible departure due to his insanity. Cervantes hints at another departure for Don Quixote. Cervantes concludes his storytelling by expressing his struggles to find more tales of Don Quixote. This search ends when he comes across an old doctor in possession of a box filled with epitaphs and sonnets dedicated to Don Quixote, Sancho, and Dulcinea. Cervantes intends to publish these findings which were obtained at great personal expense. The narration hints at a third expedition by Don Quixote.

part 2 prologue

Cervantes commences the Second Part, detailing Don Quixote's third voyage, by criticizing a writer who has released an incorrect continuation of Don Quixote's First Part. He proposes that if anyone encounters this writer, they should share a tale of a man who inflated a dog using a hollow stick, leaving onlookers stunned. When asked about his act, the man questioned whether they thought it was easy to inflate a dog. Cervantes further advises readers to recount a story of a man who used to drop heavy stones on dogs walking in the lanes. One day, a dog's owner retaliated, causing the man to grow too scared to continue his actions. Cervantes draws a parallel, implying that the writer should also fear producing further inferior publications. Fending off the personal insults from the other writer, Cervantes upholds his dignity, asserting that his wounds earned in combat are his pride, even though he is impoverished and disabled.

part 2 chapter 1

Cervantes relays that the narrative of Don Quixote's exploits, as told by Cide Hamete Benengeli, persists with the tale of the priest and the barber's encounter with Don Quixote following a month-long absence. At first, Don Quixote presents a picture of sanity, but as soon as the priest stirs up a conversation about chivalry, it's evident that Don Quixote still clings to his dream of living as a wandering knight.

part 2 chapter 2

Sancho visits Don Quixote, eager to continue their journey, but the housekeeper and niece strive to keep him away. Don Quixote overrules them and admits Sancho, before inquiring about his fame in the village. Sancho reveals that most villagers think he's insane. He also informs Don Quixote about a newly published book recounting their past exploits, with such detail that Sancho is amazed at the writer's knowledge. Don Quixote assumes the writer is a wise wizard, but Sancho identifies him as a Moor named Cide Hamete Aubergine. Sancho then leaves to meet Sampson Carrasco, the student who informed him about the book.

part 2 chapter 3

After fetching Sampson, Don Quixote considers whether the book's Moorish scribe seeks to glorify or belittle him. He feels uneasy about the author being a Moor, claiming they're untruthful. Sampson, upon arrival, informs him about the book and its writer, Cide Hamete Benengeli, telling him the book has been translated to Christian dialects. He critiques the novel for its side stories that don't involve Don Quixote, but acknowledges that people still relish the book. He brings up some discrepancies about Dapple's presence or absence in the text. Sancho claims to have answers but hurriedly leaves due to a sudden bellyache.

part 2 chapter 4

Sancho Panza's return is marked by telling his story of Dapple's theft during his entanglement. Sampson challenges the inconsistencies in Sancho's story, which Sancho attributes to possible errors by the author or printer. Sancho then recounts the use of the hundred crowns he discovered in Sierra Morena's saddlebags, prompting Sampson's vow to inform the author for potential revisions. Sampson mentions the author's plan to release the Second Part upon locating the manuscript. Subsequently, Sampson informs Don Quixote about a jousting event in Saragossa, encouraging him to seek recognition there. Upon Sampson's suggestion, Don Quixote implores him to compose a poem where each line begins with a character from Dulcinea’s name.

part 2 chapter 5

Cervantes states that "the translator" is skeptical about the authenticity of this chapter, doubting that Sancho could have spoken so eloquently. The identity of the translator is not revealed by Cervantes. Sancho visits Teresa, referred to as Juana in the First Part, and tells her he's embarking on another adventure with Don Quixote soon. Teresa advises Sancho to be realistic and satisfied with his social rank. However, Sancho desires to elevate his daughter's status through marriage, dreaming of making her a countess. Teresa opposes this intention, arguing that marrying within one's class brings more happiness.

part 2 chapter 6

Don Quixote's niece and housekeeper plead with him to remain in the safety of his own home. They suggest that if he feels compelled to leave, he should consider joining the royal court, rather than embarking on further reckless exploits. However, Don Quixote is adamant about his destiny as a wandering knight. He engages in a discourse about valor and lineage, stating that he is aware of only two paths to gaining recognition and admiration, either through warfare or through scholarship. He has decisively chosen warfare.

part 2 chapter 7

Troubled by Don Quixote's insanity, the housekeeper implores Sampson to converse with him. Sancho drops by to see Don Quixote, where they deliberate Teresa's suggestions and her desire for Sancho to be paid by Don Quixote. However, Don Quixote rejects fixing Sancho's pay, advising him to stay put if he lacks the courage to serve as a squire. Sancho, overcome with emotion, assures him he will accompany him. Sampson also pays a visit to Don Quixote, yet instead of trying to dissuade him from his adventure, he spurs him to set off immediately. Cervantes hints at a scheme cooked up by Sampson with the priest and the barber, promising to elaborate on it later in the story.

part 2 chapter 8

Benengeli offers a prayer to Allah and urges us to focus on the future exploits of Don Quixote and Sancho as they embark on another journey. The duo interpret the noises and actions of their mounts, Rocinante and Dapple, as good omens, especially when Dapple's whinny exceeds that of Rocinante. However, Benengeli's narrative does not clarify if Sancho's assumption is rooted in astrology. Choosing to visit Dulcinea in El Toboso, Don Quixote and Sancho converse about the significance of reputation during their journey. Don Quixote underscores the appeal of fame, even when it is negative. Sancho, on the other hand, suggests they aspire to sainthood rather than knight-errantry, as saints ascend to heaven. Don Quixote retorts that there are ample saints already and insists on his destiny as a knight-errant.

part 2 chapter 9

Opting for a nocturnal visit to El Toboso, Don Quixote and Sancho proceed with their plan. However, Sancho is consumed by fear as he is clueless about Dulcinea's residence, despite his previous claim of delivering Don Quixote’s letter to her in the First Part. Their path crosses with a farmer who informs them that he isn't aware of any royalty in the vicinity. Consequently, they find a spot outside the town to rest for the night.

part 2 chapter 10

Cervantes mentions the distrust of the author, possibly Cide Hamete Benengeli, about the credibility of this chapter, yet he chooses to write it. Don Quixote sends Sancho to bring Dulcinea to him, causing Sancho to worry as he's never met Dulcinea and fears potential assault when he's seen seeking women in the town. Sancho takes a break and engages in deep self-conversation. He decides to fool Don Quixote by kidnapping the first rural girl he encounters on the road and introducing her as Dulcinea. He spots three peasant girls riding, with the author leaving it unclear if they're on horses or donkeys. Sancho eagerly informs Don Quixote that Dulcinea is coming his way with two maids on horses, but Don Quixote only sees three peasants on donkeys. As the girls pass by, Sancho seizes one of them, kneels, and hails her as Dulcinea. Despite her off-putting appearance and smell, Don Quixote is convinced she is Dulcinea, attributing her peasant state to a cruel wizard trying to rob him of enjoying Dulcinea's beauty. Sancho paints a picture of Dulcinea as he allegedly saw her, even describing a mole with several long hairs.

part 2 chapter 11

Don Quixote and Sancho cross paths with a carriage carrying actors in costume during their journey. A scare from one of the costumes causes Rocinante to buck, sending Don Quixote crashing to the ground. In jest, an actor swipes Dapple, Don Quixote's horse, to mimic the scene. Don Quixote, seeking vengeance, climbs onto Rocinante, charging at the carriage. However, he halts in his tracks upon seeing the troupe stand their ground on the road, armed with stones. Sancho persuades his master to avoid confrontation with the actors, emphasizing they are not knights, and Dapple was returned unscathed.

part 2 chapter 12

During their slumber in a wooded area, Don Quixote and Sancho encounter a chivalrous knight lamenting the absence of his lover, Casildea de Vandalia, to whom he dedicates his verses. This knight, given the moniker 'Knight of the Wood' by the narrator, is accompanied by his own squire, dubbed 'Squire of the Wood'. Sancho and the Wood's Squire steal away into the darkness for a chat, leaving Don Quixote and the Wood's Knight behind for a conversation of their own.

part 2 chapter 13

Sancho and the Squire of the Wood take time to enjoy food and drink, all the while discussing their hopes of being granted governorship over islands by their respective masters. They share stories about their offspring, too. Sancho expresses sadness over Don Quixote's insanity, though he appreciates his honesty and integrity, which he feels the Knight of the Wood lacks, based on the Squire of the Wood's description of him as a scoundrel. Sancho then reveals his talent for wine tasting. The pair then proceed to become so intoxicated that they are left unconscious, with the wine flask still in their grip.

part 2 chapter 14

In the midst of their conversation, Don Quixote and the Knight of the Wood share details about their chivalrous exploits. The Knight claims his lady sent him to ensure all knights acknowledge her attractiveness. His proudest achievement is defeating Don Quixote de la Mancha, a victory Don Quixote disputes, leading to a duel challenge. The Knight agrees but suggests they postpone it until daybreak, leading to a discussion between Sancho and the Squire of the Wood about whether they should also engage in combat. As dawn breaks, Sancho is terrified by the size of the Squire of the Wood's nose and quickly climbs a tree before the fight begins. The Knight of the Wood's attire is so reflective that he earns the new name Knight of the Mirrors, however, he does not let Don Quixote see his face. In the process of assisting Sancho up the tree, Don Quixote impedes the start of the duel. This results in the Knight of the Mirrors being unable to prompt his horse into action promptly, causing Don Quixote to easily unseat him. Upon unmasking the Knight of the Mirrors, he discovers it's Sampson Carrasco. Unable to believe his eyes, Don Quixote assumes he's under a spell. The Squire of the Wood, who is in actuality Sancho's neighbor Thomas Cecial, removes his fake nose. Sampson acknowledges Dulcinea's beauty and in return, Don Quixote spares him.

part 2 chapter 15

Sampson discloses his collusion with the priest and the barber. Their plan is to defeat Don Quixote and command him to return home for a two-year period. After his squire abandons him, Sampson swears to take revenge on Don Quixote.

part 2 chapter 16

Sancho grapples with understanding the true nature of the Squire of the Wood and the Knight of the Mirrors. Don Quixote tries to assure him that these figures are not who they seem, but are enchantments; the same way he believes the Knight of the Wood is an enchanted version of Sampson, created to test his compassion. Sancho, however, who is aware that Dulcinea's supposed enchantment was all a ruse, is unsure what to believe. While traveling, they encounter a man named Don Diego de Miranda, elegantly dressed in green. Don Quixote tells him of the narrative penned about his past exploits. Don Diego is both surprised and pleased to learn that knights-errant still exist, and expresses interest in the book, hoping it might rectify the falsehoods often found in tales of chivalry. He then shares details about his own life. Impressed, Sancho starts thinking of him as a saint and shows reverence by kissing his foot. When Don Diego mentions his son, who left academics for poetry, Don Quixote shares a profound speech about the virtue of poetry, likening it to a fragile maiden. While the men are engaged in conversation, Sancho slips away to ask some nearby shepherds for milk.

part 2 chapter 17

Don Quixote spots a flag-bedecked cart approaching and anticipates another escapade. Sancho, his sidekick, absentmindedly stuffs recently purchased curds into Don Quixote’s headgear. Donning the helmet, the trickling curds make Don Quixote believe his brain is melting. Upon realising the curd trick, he accuses Sancho, who blames a magical entity for the prank. Approaching the cart, Don Quixote learns from the muleteer that it contains two lions intended for the king. Ignoring all objections, he dares the lions and insists on their cage being opened. The narrative interjects, praising Don Quixote's courage. As panic ensues, the lion keeper opens the cage. Don Quixote's juvenile bravado meets with a disinterested lion that merely stretches and retires to sleep. Deciding not to rouse the lions, he recalls everyone and his bravery is lauded by the lion keeper. He instructs Sancho to compensate the muleteer and the lion keeper, and rebrands himself as the Knight of the Lions. He asserts that his actions, though seemingly mad, are driven by courage rather than fear. A gentleman named Don Diego then invites Don Quixote and Sancho to his residence, which Don Quixote accepts.

part 2 chapter 18

Don Quixote is heartily received at the residence of Don Diego, where he meets Don Diego's son, Don Lorenzo. He queries Lorenzo about his verses, leaving Lorenzo questioning the sanity of Quixote. Despite pondering Quixote's mental state, Lorenzo concludes him to be a courageous madman with sharp wit. Lorenzo then shares some of his own poetry, which Quixote praises as the finest he's ever encountered. This flatters Lorenzo, even while he deems Quixote to be crazy. After a four-day stay, Quixote departs from Don Diego's home in pursuit of further escapades.

part 2 chapter 19

On their journey, Don Quixote and Sancho come across a group consisting of students and villagers heading to Quiteria the fair and Camacho the rich's nuptials. These students share with Don Quixote the story of Quiteria, who is being pursued by a lover named Basilio, and her economically motivated decision to wed Camacho. During these exchanges, a disagreement about the values of fencing study arises amongst the students, leading to a duel which Don Quixote oversees. The duel ends with the superior swordsman's victory, demonstrating the narrator's theory that skill is superior to physical strength. Despite reaching the village at a late hour, Don Quixote prefers to rest in the open fields rather than in the village.

part 2 chapter 20

Arriving at the nuptials, Don Quixote and Sancho get a detailed view of the event. Sancho admires Quiteria's decision to wed for riches instead of affection, a view not shared by Don Quixote.

part 2 chapter 21

Quiteria and Camacho make their appearance at their wedding. Unexpectedly, Basilio arrives, pretending to stab himself. He demands Quiteria to wed him before his alleged death, to which she complies. Once married, Basilio reveals his deceit—he isn't wounded at all. This provokes an uproar. Don Quixote intervenes, forbidding any fight over love's misdeeds. The marriage between Basilio and Quiteria stands, with Camacho finding comfort in the thought that Quiteria would always favor Basilio. Following the event, Don Quixote and Sancho exit with the new couple.

part 2 chapter 22

Don Quixote, Sancho, and Basilio's cousin - a writer known for his comical twists on famous literature - set off for Montesinos’s Cave. They reach their destination, and with the help of a rope, Sancho and the writer lower Don Quixote into the cave. After waiting for thirty minutes, they hoist him up to discover he has fallen asleep.

part 2 chapter 23

Don Quixote shares his cave experience with Sancho and Basilio’s kin, recounting how he dozed off in a small corner and woke up in a stunning meadow. He details an encounter with an elderly man claiming to be Montesinos, who is trapped in a terrible spell. This man acknowledged extracting the heart of his deceased cousin Durandarte to give to his wife Belerma, as per Durandarte's last wish. However, a sorcerer called Merlin has cast a spell, trapping them all in the cave. Durandarte remains on the ground, making occasional sounds and utterances as if he were alive. Montesinos mentioned Merlin's prophecy of Don Quixote's arrival to break the spell. Don Quixote recalls spending three full days and nights in the cave, during which he allegedly saw Dulcinea in her enchanted state. Sancho, who is aware of the real nature of Dulcinea’s enchantment, assumes Don Quixote has lost his mind. Nevertheless, Don Quixote insists that Sancho's skepticism stems from his love for him and reassures him that he will soon come to believe this seemingly impossible tale.

part 2 chapter 24

Cervantes speaks of a translator discovering a message from Cide Hamete Benengeli in the text's margins. The note suggests that Hamete Benengeli doubts the veracity of Don Quixote's tale, also indicating that Quixote himself dismissed his story as fiction on his deathbed. Basilio's relative is fascinated by the cave adventures and vows to incorporate them into his own writings. Once back on their journey, he, Don Quixote, and Sancho encounter a man carrying an array of weapons. This man offers to share his tale, provided they join him at his lodging. Subsequently, they cross paths with a young man heading to battle, earning Don Quixote's praise for his courage.

part 2 chapter 25

Don Quixote encounters an armoured man at the inn, who narrates a tale of two officials who misplaced a donkey near his village. Efforts to retrieve it involved the officials mimicking donkey sounds, which, though unsuccessful, left them astoundingly pleased with their impersonation skills. Word spread to nearby towns, resulting in a mocking ritual of braying whenever individuals from different villages crossed paths. This has led to an impending conflict between the two villages. Well-known puppeteer, Master Peter, arrives with a fortune-telling ape. Sancho attempts to commission Master Peter to reveal his wife's current activities. However, Master Peter and his ape are more interested in showering Don Quixote with praise. Flattered yet suspicious of satanic involvement, Don Quixote questions the ape about the veracity of a previous cave incident. The ape ambiguously responds that the incident was a mixture of truth and fiction.

part 2 chapter 26

Master Peter stages a marionette performance for Don Quixote, featuring the adventures of a knight rescuing his spouse from far-off countries. Don Quixote, fully engrossed, starts to believe the enactment is reality and ends up demolishing the entire stage. He justifies his behavior by blaming his sorcerers for deceiving him into thinking the marionettes were living beings. Despite the chaos, Don Quixote compensates Master Peter for the damages. Additionally, he offers a feast to the spectators and settles the bill with the tavern owner.

part 2 chapter 27

Cervantes reveals that the character Master Peter is in reality Gines de Pasamonte, a former galley slave liberated by Don Quixote near Sierra Morena, as asserted by Cide Hamete Benengeli, who then resumes the storytelling. Don Quixote and his sidekick, Sancho, encounter the troops from the village whose officials emitted donkey sounds. Don Quixote attempts to dissuade them from confronting the neighbouring village, arguing that a single person's insult doesn't warrant an attack on the whole community. He almost convinces them until Sancho takes charge. Sancho argues that mimicking a donkey's bray isn't a matter of disgrace and starts braying himself, leading the villagers to believe he's ridiculing them. They retaliate by assaulting him, leaving him unconscious and causing Don Quixote to flee. The anticipated enemy village fails to arrive for the confrontation, leaving the braying village to claim an unchallenged victory and return home gleefully.

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Don Quixote scolds Sancho for foolishly braying at a group of villagers who are already upset about the topic of braying. He clarifies that he had to retreat as a knight should never be reckless. Sancho again raises the issue of his pay which infuriates Don Quixote, leading him to attempt to dismiss Sancho. However, Sancho apologizes to cool the situation.

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Upon reaching the Ebro river, Don Quixote and Sancho discover an abandoned fishing boat. Quixote interprets this as a divine mandate to help a distressed knight using the boat. Despite Sancho's protests, they secure Rocinante and Dapple to a tree and embark on the boat. Their voyage is brief yet Quixote imagines they have covered two thousand miles. They almost meet their end when their boat hits a mill. Quixote, under the delusion that the mill is a castle imprisoning a knight-errant, curses the millers who nevertheless rescue them. Finally, the owner of the boat appears, and Quixote compensates him for the damages.

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Within the forest, Don Quixote and Sancho come across a Duchess and a Duke on a hunting expedition. Don Quixote instructs Sancho to engage with the Duchess, who welcomes him warmly as she is already familiar with the first segment of the novel. Both the Duchess and the Duke decide to interact with Don Quixote following the traditions seen in chivalry literature. Despite a few initial mishaps with their horses, both Don Quixote and Sancho accompany the Duchess and Duke back to their castle.

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Don Quixote is encouraged as the Duke and Duchess treat him with respect for chivalric customs, reinforcing his belief that he is a legitimate knight-errant. Sancho is also ecstatic about the warm welcome, but quarrels with a maidservant, Doña Rodriguez, when she refuses to tend to his donkey, Dapple. At mealtime, Don Quixote is insisted by the Duke to preside over the dining table. The Duke and Duchess find amusement in Don Quixote and Sancho's antics. The Duchess grows fond of Sancho, who continually puts his master in awkward situations with his straightforwardness.

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Don Quixote passionately advocates for the honor of being a knight-errant to a priest who dismisses it as nonsense. In an attempt to appease the situation, the Duke assures Sancho that he'll be appointed as a governor of an island, making the priest leave furiously. In a jesting act, the servants trick Don Quixote by lathering his head with soap and pretending to run out of water halfway, leaving him with a frothy head at the dinner table. To keep up the pretense, the Duke insists on having his head washed similarly. The Duchess is eager to hear Don Quixote speak about Dulcinea. Don Quixote admits he can't recall Dulcinea's appearance due to an enchantment that turned her into a plain peasant girl. The Duchess then questions the authenticity of his love for Dulcinea and the basis of comparison with other noble ladies when Dulcinea's nobility isn't confirmed. Don Quixote asserts that Dulcinea's virtues elevate her beyond nobility. Amidst this, Sancho retreats with the servants, but quickly rushes back, followed by a crowd of servants intending to douse him with dirty dishwater. Sancho desperately seeks the Duchess's help, to which she responds.

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Following their meal, the Duchess invites Sancho to join her in a relaxed setting. Sancho complies, and once ensuring privacy, he regales her with tales of his escapades alongside Don Quixote. He admits awareness of Don Quixote's insanity, yet his loyalty keeps him by his side. Sancho shares his manipulation of Don Quixote into accepting Dulcinea's enchantment, but the Duchess counters, asserting that Sancho himself was the one beguiled and that Dulcinea was indeed transformed into a commoner. Sancho also recounts his spat with the Duchess's servant, Doña Rodriguez. The Duchess promises to ensure Dapple's well-being.

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The Duke, Duchess, Sancho, and Don Quixote partake in a boar hunt. In the midst of the hunt, Sancho gets scared and tries to ascend a tree. Although the Duke insists that hunting sharpens a governor's warfare abilities, Sancho disagrees. Suddenly, drumbeats and Moorish war chants fill the woods. A devil figure appears, foretelling the arrival of Montesinos who'll instruct Don Quixote on disenchanting Dulcinea. Amidst the continuing noises, three wagons pass by. The wagons, pulled by oxen with horns alight, are occupied by demons. Each wagon possesses a sorcerer who identifies himself before moving on.

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A large cart arrives, carrying individuals in white robes and a beautiful woman beneath a golden veil. The figure of Merlin, appearing as a death's head, is also part of the cart's passengers. He speaks to Don Quixote in rhymed verses, stating that the curse on Dulcinea can only be lifted if Sancho voluntarily whips himself 3,300 times on his exposed behind. This information upsets Sancho, who insists that Dulcinea's curse isn't his concern. The woman, impersonating Dulcinea, scolds Sancho for his unwillingness to help her. The Duke adds pressure, threatening to revoke Sancho's governorship unless he agrees. Sancho eventually gives in but declares that he'll undertake the punishment only when he feels like it. As it turns out, the Duke and Duchess, who are amused by the spectacle, orchestrated the entire prank.

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Sancho presents the Duchess with a letter he has penned to his spouse, informing her of his new position as governor. The Duchess later shares this letter with the Duke during their midday meal. As lunch concludes, drums roll in the distance, and a man identifying himself as Trifaldin of the White Beard arrives. He desires the Duke's attention concerning troubles faced by his female servant. The Duke acknowledges that he is already aware of her issues and invites her inside.

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Sancho is worried that his past interactions with maidservants will affect his role as governor. At the same time, Doña Rodriguez stands up for her job and belittles squires similar to Sancho. The Duke, meanwhile, instructs them to pay attention to the maidservant of Trifaldin, who will be called the Countess from now on.

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The author, Cervantes, relays information from Cide Hamete Benengeli, stating that the title 'Countess Trifaldi', which translates to 'the countess with the three skirts', is inspired by her attire. Benengeli further describes her entrance with a dozen handmaids, all dressed in dark, non-transparent veils. The Countess approaches Don Quixote, pleading for his help, which he assures her of. The Countess narrates her tale, stating that she facilitated a knight to court the princess, whom she was serving. This eventually led to the princess becoming pregnant and marrying the knight.

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The Countess reveals that the queen was so appalled by her daughter's misconduct that she passed away within three days. Consequently, the giant Malambruno punished the princess by transforming her into a brass monkey and the knight into a metallic crocodile at the queen's burial site. A metal post was positioned between them displaying a message indicating that only Don Quixote has the power to reverse the spell. Lastly, as retribution for the Countess's betrayal, Malambruno bestowed upon her and the rest of the maiden crew, inescapable beards.

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Don Quixote pledges to seek justice for the Countess and her daughter. The Countess reveals that their journey would involve a flying wooden steed named Clavileño the Swift, supposed to be sent by the giant, which Don Quixote must ride to travel to her realm that very night to confront the giant. Sancho finds the notion of airborne travel on a wooden steed unsettling but is persuaded by the Duchess that accompanying his master is a necessity.

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The gang awaits in the garden when natives bring in a massive wooden horse, Clavileño the Swift, for Don Quixote to ride, insisting he and Sancho blindfold themselves. Don Quixote suggests to Sancho that he beat himself multiple times to aid in Dulcinea's disenchantment, a notion Sancho dismisses. The pair, blindfolded, mount Clavileño. Just before leaving, Don Quixote, recalling the Trojan horse tale, wants to examine Clavileño, but the Countess dissuades him. They take off as Don Quixote turns a peg in Clavileño's head. The rest of the party simulate flight for the blindfolded pair by fanning their faces and bringing fire close. Fireworks set off inside Clavileño mimic an explosion, causing the pair to tumble off. On regaining consciousness, Don Quixote realizes they remain in the garden, with the others lying unconscious too. They find a parchment declaring that Don Quixote's attempt alone was enough to fulfill the task. The Countess has departed, and the Duke and Duchess inform them she has happily returned home without her beard. Sancho’s claims of having snuck a glance during their flight, observing the earth as a tiny seed and playing with heavenly goats, are dismissed as falsehoods or hallucinations by Don Quixote, as they couldn't have traversed the fire region unscathed. However, Don Quixote later promises to believe in Sancho's heavenly goat tale if Sancho believes his tale about the Cave of Montesinos.

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The Duke and Duchess, amused by Don Quixote and Sancho's reactions to Countess Trifaldi, immediately send Sancho to his governorship. Sancho expresses a preference for a piece of the sky over an island, but the Duke can only offer him an island. They deck Sancho out and send him to a town that Sancho thinks is an island. Don Quixote imparts words of wisdom to Sancho on governance, advising him to never feel embarrassed about his modest origins. He also reminds him not to put his safety at risk while facing opponents, to only marry a woman who won't accept bribes, and to show mercy to criminals.

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Don Quixote advises Sancho to abstain from consuming garlic and onions, as they are staple foods for the lower class; to pace his walk and articulate his words; to limit his food intake; avoid excessive drinking; to suppress burping; and to limit his use of proverbs. Don Quixote is saddened by Sancho's inability to read and write, although Sancho plans to conceal his lack by feigning a paralyzed writing arm. Sancho ponders whether he'll be a suitable governor, preferring to be plain Sancho than risk his morality as a poor leader. Don Quixote, however, reassures him that his humility makes him perfect for the role.

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Cervantes digresses to say he received criticism from Cide Hamete Benengeli for the lack of diversions in this part of the story, compared to the First Part. As Sancho leaves for his role as governor, he tells Don Quixote that one of the aides resembles Countess Trifaldi, but this is dismissed by Don Quixote. After an emotional farewell, Sancho departs. Observing Don Quixote's sadness, the Duchess suggests he could be comforted by her maids, but he declines, choosing solitude to avoid temptation. From his solitude, Don Quixote overhears two women debating whether one, Altisidora, should express her love through a song. After hearing her sing, Don Quixote deduces she holds affection for him, causing him to reflect on his numerous female admirers. Meanwhile, we are informed that Sancho is eager to start his governance.

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Sancho is warmly welcomed by the locals who seat him in the governor's chair, where a declaration stating his assumption of power on a specific date has been prepared. Sancho insists on not being addressed as "Don" as he doesn't consider himself one. Multiple cases involving various deceits are presented to him by the townsfolk. He manages to solve each case using his sharp intellect and sound judgment, leaving the villagers amazed by his capability as a leader.

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Don Quixote comes across Altisidora who pretends to faint. He requests a servant to set a lute in his quarters that evening for him to express his affection for Dulcinea through song. Intrigued to prank Don Quixote, Altisidora informs the Duke and Duchess about his scheme. They all eavesdrop on his serenade for Dulcinea that night. As he performs, a servant drops a cord with bells attached and a sack of cats also with bells on their tails from the balcony above, causing a loud, chaotic noise that scares Don Quixote and everyone else inside the dwelling. The chaos allows a few of the cats to enter Don Quixote's room, one of which leaps onto his face, biting and scratching him. The Duke, having dashed to the room to assess the situation, removes the feline. As she tends to his wounds, Altisidora seizes the chance to flirt with Don Quixote.

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Sancho heads to eat on the first day of his supposed governorship, but a doctor there refuses to let him consume anything, fearing it may harm him. Outraged, Sancho dismisses the doctor from the room. Soon, a messenger delivers a letter from the Duke warning Sancho about a conspiracy against him, which includes a plot to overthrow the isle and murder Sancho. This makes Sancho suspect the doctor as part of the plot. A man later approaches Sancho seeking his endorsement for his "enchanted" son, likely autistic, to wed his neighbor's crippled, hunchbacked daughter. The man also requests Sancho for six hundred ducats, which infuriates Sancho, leading him to threaten the man's life.

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In the dark of night, Doña Rodriguez sneaks into Don Quixote's quarters needing his assistance. She shares the story of her daughter’s unfortunate engagement to a farmer's son, who now refuses to wed her. Despite pleas, the Duke won't compel the farmer's son to follow through with the marriage, fearing the loss of the rich farmer's contributions. Don Quixote lends his support to Doña Rodriguez. She also reveals that the Duchess's flawless skin is the result of a physician ridding her legs of harmful humors. This revelation surprises Don Quixote, as he views the Duchess as a virtuous woman, but he concedes to the validity of Doña Rodriguez’s claim. Suddenly, someone bursts in and physically assaults both Doña Rodriguez and Don Quixote.

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During his patrol, Sancho stumbles upon two crimes before encountering a young girl disguised as a boy. The girl breaks down in tears, confessing to Sancho that her widowed father confines her constantly, preventing her from exploring the world. She reveals that she has swapped outfits with her brother in a bid to satisfy her curiosity about the town. Meanwhile, her brother is apprehended by a guard. Sancho escorts them back to their house, counseling prudence in future.

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The Duchess and Altisidora were eavesdropping on Doña Rodriguez's gossip about the Duchess's legs. Afterward, they busted in and poked the two gossipers. The Duchess sent a servant to Sancho's wife Teresa with a letter and a coral necklace. When Teresa gets the news of her husband's promotion, she excitedly tells Sampson and the priest. At first, they doubt her story but are convinced after talking to the servant. Teresa needs to reply to Sancho's letter, but she doesn't trust Sampson to write it for her. Instead, she enlists the help of a friar.

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The day following his inspection, Sancho listens to a complicated case from a group of judges. These judges are responsible for a bridge where the owner requires each passerby to share their destination. If they tell the truth, they're allowed to proceed, but if they lie, they're sentenced to hang. The judges are puzzled by a man who states he's destined to be hanged at the gallows. If they let him go, he'll have to hang as per the bridge's rule, but if they hang him, they'll have to release him. Sancho decides to set the man free, believing it's better to err on the side of leniency. Sancho then gets a letter from Don Quixote containing advice on governance and news that Don Quixote is planning to upset the Duke and Duchess. In response, Sancho pens an extensive letter asking Don Quixote to avoid angering them as he's wary of losing his governorship. He also establishes his only laws during his tenure: allowing wine imports from anywhere provided the origin is clearly marked, reducing the cost of shoes, determining servant wages, and prohibiting the blind from recounting miracles unless they're factual. These laws, Cervantes mentions, were so well-received by the citizens that they remain in effect and are referred to as "The Constitutions of the great Governor Sancho Panza."

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Don Quixote, healed from injuries sustained during a cat fight, decides to depart for the Saragossa tournament. As he's about to request the Duke's consent, Doña Rodriguez and her daughter rush in, pleading for help against the injustices inflicted by a farmer's son. Don Quixote agrees to their request, and the Duke assists in arranging a duel. A page delivers two letters to the group from Teresa Panza, one for the Duchess and one for Sancho. The letters are read aloud: one reveals Teresa's wish to attend court in a coach to bring honor to her husband's name and includes a collection of acorns for the Duchess. The other expresses joy at Sancho's achievements and shares village updates. The group reacts with amusement and admiration to the letters.

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Sancho, startled by fake attack alarms in the dead of night, is coerced into defending his dominion by his prankster subjects. Despite his protests, they bundle him up between two shields, rendering him immobile. Struggling to walk, Sancho tumbles over and gets trampled. The pranksters falsely declare victory over the hypothetical enemy and laud Sancho. However, the disoriented Sancho decides to renounce his governorship, admitting he was unfit for leadership. Declaring his intent to inform the Duke, he departs atop his trusty Dapple.

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Don Quixote's foe, the man who wronged Doña Rodriguez's daughter, has run away. In his place, the Duke appoints his servant, Tosilos, to duel with Don Quixote. Concurrently, Sancho and his donkey Dapple meet a group of German travellers, and coincidentally, Sancho’s former neighbor, Ricote the Moor. Ricote, sent away from Spain by the king, is returning home to recover hidden treasure and expresses his sorrow over being separated from his family during his exile. On learning about Sancho's recent role as governor, Ricote inquires about his gains from the experience. In response, Sancho confesses that his tenure taught him that his abilities are better suited to managing cattle, not government.

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Sancho and Dapple, after parting ways with Ricote, stumble into a pit that traps them. Don Quixote locates them and enlists assistance to rescue them. The duo then return to the castle, where Sancho discloses his governorship's conclusion to the Duke and Duchess. The Duke expresses regret for Sancho's premature departure from his role but promises him a superior position in the castle. The Duchess ensures that Sancho's injuries will be taken care of.

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The Duke ensures a safe duel by removing the lethal points from the lances. However, when Tosilos catches sight of Doña Rodriguez's daughter, he is smitten and cannot bring himself to fight Don Quixote. Instead, he turns his attention to courting the young lady. Believing him to be the son of a farmer, she agrees to his proposal, only to later learn the truth. Don Quixote tries to convince the Duke that this sudden change of heart is the trickery of a wicked sorcerer. Despite this, the Duke, aware of the real events, decides to imprison Tosilos.

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Don Quixote and Sancho take their leave from the Duke and Duchess, with Sancho gleefully receiving letters from Teresa, courtesy of the Duchess. Their departure is interrupted when Altisidora, feigning heartbreak over Don Quixote's lack of affection towards her, condemns him through a sonnet. She criticizes his coldness, charging him with stealing three handkerchiefs and a garter. However, under the Duke's scrutiny, she confesses to still having the garter.

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While journeying, Don Quixote and Sancho come across laborers transporting holy statues to a nearby chapel, which fascinates Don Quixote. Nearby, he gets stuck in bird traps in a forest, misconstruing it as a wicked spell. The trap-setters, two shepherdesses, emerge and invite them to the utopian pastoral life they're trying to establish along with their villagers. Although he declines the invite, Don Quixote is moved and pledges to block the highway for two days, forcing passersby to acknowledge the shepherdesses' beauty, second only to Dulcinea. However, his plan is cut short when a group of bulls charge down the road. Despite warnings from herders, Don Quixote, Sancho, Rocinante, and Dapple are trampled.

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Don Quixote and Sancho take a pause at a roadside tavern, surprisingly not misidentified as a fortress by Quixote this time. During their meal, they cross paths with a pair of gentlemen who are familiar with the fraudulent follow-up to the first Don Quixote installment. Quixote reveals the inauthenticity of the book, leading the men to express their intense disapproval. Quixote resists reading the book, seeking to deny the author the satisfaction of gaining readers. Upon learning from the gentlemen that the imposter Quixote journeyed to Saragossa for a joust, Quixote resolves to avoid Saragossa entirely, opting for Barcelona instead.

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Frustrated with waiting for Dulcinea's liberation, Don Quixote decides he'll whip Sancho himself. This sparks a dispute between them, leading to Sancho knocking Don Quixote down and forcing him to promise not to whip him before helping him up. They then cross paths with a group of robbers who seize their possessions, but their leader, Roque Guinart, orders them to return the goods. Surprisingly, Roque recognizes Don Quixote from the tales he's heard and admits to not believing in his existence until now. They later meet a troubled young lady who's taken her lover's life due to misguided jealousy. Surprisingly, Roque permits a group of rich folks to retain the bulk of their wealth, even distributing some to a pair of needy pilgrims accompanying them. However, Roque executes one of his own gang members for complaining about his benevolence. He then sends a message to a friend in Barcelona, informing him of Don Quixote's forthcoming visit.

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Don Quixote and Sancho, having been warmly received by Roque Guinart's companions, make their grand entrance into Barcelona. However, their arrival turns into a spectacle when a local child tricks them by placing burrs in the tails of their mounts, Rocinante and Dapple. This prank results in Quixote and Sancho being thrown off their animals, providing entertainment for all spectators, except for the unfortunate pair.

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Don Antonio Moreno, the host of Don Quixote and Sancho, shares a secret about his magical brass head that can answer any query. Later on, the duo are followed by a crowd as they stroll around Barcelona, with Don Antonio’s men putting a sign on Don Quixote, causing the townsfolk to recognize and call out to him. Seeing this, Don Quixote believes it to be a testament to his popularity. That night, a ball is held where Don Quixote dances until he can no longer stand, an act that makes Sancho cringe. The magical brass head, through a concealed conduit enabling a servant to hear and answer questions in the next room, interacts with the guests. Don Quixote asks the head if his experience in Montesinos's Cave was real. The head responds ambiguously, stating that it was both true and false. When asked if Sancho's punishment will help in reversing Dulcinea's enchantment, the brass head says that despite the slow progress, Dulcinea will eventually be freed. Later, Don Quixote visits a publishing house and engages in a conversation about translation, revealing his liking for verifiable historical narratives.

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Don Quixote and his companions tour the galleys, where crew members playfully toss Sancho around, bewildering him to the point of believing he's in a supernatural realm. A pirate vessel is spotted and engaged by the galley captain, resulting in the deaths of two crew members. The pirate captain is revealed to be Anna Felix, an exiled Christian woman of Moorish descent, returning to reclaim her father's hidden treasure in Spain. Ricote, a fellow passenger and Sancho's friend, identifies Anna as his lost daughter, leading to a heartfelt reunion. The group then devises a rescue mission for Anna's lover, Don Gregorio, left behind in Moorish territory.

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During a morning ride, Don Quixote crosses paths with the Knight of the White Moon. This knight tests Don Quixote's valor with a challenge, laying down a condition that the defeated must retreat home for a year. The duel ensues and Don Quixote, unfortunately, finds himself bested by the Knight of the White Moon. Despite his victory, the knight promises not to tarnish Dulcinea’s allure. Don Quixote acknowledges his defeat and agrees to spend a year away from his adventures.

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Don Antonio, along with several others, avidly pursue the Knight of the White Moon to discover his true identity. They persistently question him at an inn until he confesses to being Sampson Carrasco. Don Antonio scolds Sampson for attempting to restore Don Quixote's sanity, considering the enjoyment his insanity brings to others. Simultaneously, Don Gregorio, having been saved from Algiers, makes his way back to Barcelona. There, he joyfully reunites with Anna Felix.

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Sancho comforts a despondent Don Quixote as they leave Barcelona, advising him to remain patient in life's adversities. He proposes they hang Quixote's armor on a tree, but after refusal, he loads it onto Dapple and they proceed. On their journey, they run into a group embroiled in a dispute. Although they request Quixote's counsel, it's Sancho who resolves the issue, impressing them with his wisdom. Later, they run into Tosilos who shares some news. After their departure from the Duke's castle, he was punished for not fighting Quixote, Doña Rodriguez was sent back to Castile and her daughter took vows to become a nun. Quixote is taken aback by the news, maintaining his belief that Tosilos is an enchanted farmer's son.

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Don Quixote pleads with Sancho to lash himself for Dulcinea, but Sancho expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of such a gesture. Following this, Don Quixote resolves to embrace a shepherd's life upon retiring. Both he and Sancho start to envision their calm, rural existence.

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In the dead of night, Don Quixote rouses Sancho for another attempt at persuading him to flagellate himself. However, Sancho remains steadfast in his refusal. In their subsequent conversation, Sancho speaks eloquently about sleep which leaves Don Quixote admiring his wisdom. Don Quixote surprises Sancho by echoing one of his own adages. As they continue their journey, they are overrun by pigs headed to a market, but Don Quixote refrains from fighting the swine. Instead, he views this incident as retribution for his loss to the Knight of the White Moon. As dawn breaks, they find themselves intercepted and captured by ten horsemen who take them to the Duke's fortress.

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Dragged into the Duke's yard, Don Quixote spots Altisidora seemingly lifeless on a funeral bed. The Duke, Duchess and two aged judges, Minos and Rhadamanthus, occupy the arranged court. A song is heard, recognized by Don Quixote as a rewording of another poet's verse, narrating the story of Altisidora's unrequited love for him, leading to her demise. Rhadamanthus insists on Sancho being whipped to resurrect Altisidora. Though Sancho complains about the regular beatings for Don Quixote's affairs, he endures the punishment, resulting in Altisidora's revival.

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Cervantes narrates that the Duke and Duchess located Don Quixote through Sampson, who was planning to defeat Quixote as the Knight of the White Moon. Sampson was aware of Quixote and Sancho's location thanks to the Duke’s page who had visited Teresa Panza to give her Sancho’s letter. On learning of Sampson's plan, the Duke and Duchess decided to have fun and staged a mock funeral. Cervantes highlights that Benengeli finds the Duke and Duchess as crazy as Don Quixote and Sancho because they keep mocking the foolish duo. Altisidora visits Quixote and shares her unusual journey to hell’s gates. Devils playing tennis with books, including the fake sequel of Don Quixote, was part of her narration. The devils suggested tossing this counterfeit sequel into the inferno. Quixote questions the previous night's musician about his use of another writer’s work to represent Altisidora’s situation. The musician defended his actions as commonplace in this period, terming it “poetic license.” As Quixote and Sancho bid farewell to the Duke and Duchess, Quixote advises Altisidora to engage in more tasks to prevent wasting her daylonging for knights who do not reciprocate her feelings.

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Don Quixote once more proposes that Sancho should flog himself, to which Sancho once more declines. In an attempt to deceive his master, Sancho enters the woods and lashes at the trees, making it seem as if he is flogging himself after Don Quixote offers him payment. Following this, they halt at an inn for the night. There, Don Quixote contemplates the artwork on the walls, aspiring to be depicted in similar portrayals one day.

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At the tavern, Don Quixote and Sancho run into Don Alvaro Tarfe. Don Quixote recognizes him from the counterfeit sequel. Don Alvaro concedes that his close friend was the imposter Don Quixote, but he affirms that the Don Quixote in front of him is the authentic one. He makes this declaration in front of the mayor, who documents it. They spend the night in the woodland, where Sancho finishes his flogging, though he only beats the trees.

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Upon the arrival of Don Quixote and Sancho in their hometown, they notice two children arguing and a hare being chased by dogs. Interpreting these as negative signs, Don Quixote is unsettled, while Sancho is not bothered. Sancho returns to his family, while Don Quixote seeks out the priest, barber, and Sampson to share his decision to retire and pursue a shepherd's life. While they fully endorse his decision, they also discuss potential pranks to play on him. This idea is met with disapproval from the niece and housekeeper, who are more concerned with ensuring Don Quixote is well-fed and rested.

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Fallen sick and battling a high fever for six days, Don Quixote is constantly accompanied by Sancho. Upon regaining consciousness on the seventh day, he recalls his real identity as Alonso Quixano and renounces all tales of knighthood, expressing remorse for his past deeds. Attempts by the priest, barber and Sampson to inspire him into further quests, like Dulcinea's disenchantment, are in vain as Don Quixote's only interest lies in finalizing his will. He bequeaths his belongings to his niece, his housemaid, and Sancho. In his testament, he also requests his comrades to ask the author of the false sequel for forgiveness for inadvertently prompting him to pen such drivel. Following this, Don Quixote breathes his last. Cide Hamete Benengeli grieves for Don Quixote's death, asserting that they were predestined for each other - Don Quixote to perform actions, and Benengeli to chronicle them. He further states that his primary intention in writing was to evoke aversion for the "unreal and ridiculous narratives of chivalrous knights."