Don Quixote

On the road, Quixote and Panza encounter a group of traveling actors. The actors are dressed in elaborate costumes, including Cupid, Death, an angel, a demon, a clown, a soldier, and an emperor. Rocinante is surprised by the actors and throws Quixote to the ground. The actor dressed as a clown steals Panza’s donkey to imitate Quixote being thrown from his horse. Quixote demands revenge for the theft but backs off when he realizes that the actors have rocks in their hands. The donkey is eventually returned, and the actors go back to the road. 

After setting up camp in a forest grove, Quixote and Panza meet a man who also claims to be a knight. The knight introduces himself as Casildea de Vandalia, and he recites a poem about his broken heart. According to the narrator, the man is known as the Knight of the Wood, and his companion is known as the Squire of the Wood. While Panza and the Squire of the Wood leave the grove to talk, Quixote and the Knight of the Wood sit down and talk about love.

Panza and the Squire of the Wood bond over their masters’ loose grip on reality and the empty promises made to them. When the Squire of the Wood suggests they abandon their masters and return home, Panza declines. He wants to remain with Quixote until they reach Zaragoza at least, as he wants to see his master fight in the tournament. The squires share food and wine then pass out from drunkenness. 

Quixote and the Knight of the Wood swap stories about their adventures as knights. The Knight of the Wood explains how he dedicates his good deeds to a beautiful woman and recalls a story about how he once defeated a knight named Quixote de la Mancha. Quixote takes offense at this apparent lie and wonders whether the magicians are up to their tricks again. He challenges the rival knight to a duel. The Knight of the Wood accepts the challenge but insists they wait until dawn. The squires are raised from their sleep, and the knights prepare to fight. At dawn, Panza becomes frightened by the Squire of the Wood’s large nose. He climbs up a tree. The Knight of the Wood appears dressed in a shiny suit of armor and renames himself the Knight of Mirrors. Through sheer fortune and strange timing, Quixote wins the duel. He knocks the rival knight from his horse. On closer inspection, however, Quixote removes the knight’s helmet to discover the man inside is Sanson Carrasco. Then, Quixote realizes the knight’s squire is a man from the village. Immediately, Quixote blames these strange occurrences on magicians. He convinces Panza they have been tricked by magicians again, so the two men set back out on the road to Zaragoza, leaving Carrasco and the squire behind after deciding against killing them.

Carrasco confesses he has planned the duel with Pero Perez and Master Nicholas. They came up with the idea to force Quixote to return home after his absurd adventures became a problem. They had hoped that by defeating Quixote in a duel, they could make him promise to remain at home for two years. The Squire of the Wood speculates as to who is “saner,” Quixote or his friends who plot against him. The squire returns home, but Carrasco swears he will get revenge against Quixote. 

Panza is still confused about the incident in the forest. Quixote assures him that the seemingly familiar faces were the result of magicians’ trickery. Panza remains confused. As they ride, they meet a gentleman dressed in green named Don Diego de Miranda. Quixote introduces himself as the protagonist from the famous novel. Diego is somewhat shocked that knights-errant still wander around Spain having adventures. He is happy, however, that the stories about Quixote might rectify people’s misconceptions about chivalry and knights. As Diego begins to tell his life’s story, Panza becomes convinced the gentleman in green is some kind of saint. He drops down and kisses Diego’s feet. Diego continues to tell a story about how his son gave up a career in the sciences to become a poet. Quixote appreciates the decision and delivers a florid lecture on the importance of poetry. While the two men talk, a cart bedecked in royal flags appears on the road. Meanwhile, Panza wanders over to some nearby shepherds to purchase some milk. 

Quixote spots the royal cart and summons Panza. The squire places his recently bought milk curds in his master’s helmet. When Quixote places his helmet on his head, the curds dribble down his face. Quixote fears that his brain has melted. When he realizes the melted brains are just milk curds, he shouts at Panza. The squire blames the magicians. Quixote returns his attentions to the royal cart. The driver of the cart says he is transporting two lions for the king. Quixote senses an adventure and demands the lions be released so he can fight them. While most people run away, the lion tamer opens the cage and Quixote faces down the lions with a strange bravado. The lions ignore him and instead lay down and sleep. Deciding not to anger the lions, Quixote calls for the crowd to return. He makes the lion tamer tell the people how he bravely faced down the beasts. After, Quixote tells Panza to give the lion tamer some money for his trouble. He bestows the title of the Knight of the Lions upon himself and heralds the incident as a demonstration of his “sanity” and bravery. Having watched the entire incident, Diego is fascinated. He invites Quixote to dine at his nearby home. 

Quixote arrives at Diego’s home to a rapturous welcome. He meets Diego’s poet son, Lorenzo, and they discuss poetry. Lorenzo answers Quixote’s questions but begins to wonder whether this strange knight is completely in touch with reality. Even if he is not, Lorenza decides, Quixote is at least brave and seemingly intelligent. He recites some of his own poetry for Quixote, who compliment’s Lorenzo’s work. Despite his doubts over Quixote’s sense of reality, Lorenzo is flattered. After four days at Diego’s house, Quixote returns to his adventure. He believes the area is renowned for its many opportunities for adventures, including the mysterious Cave of Montesinos. 

Quixote and Panza meet a crowd of students and peasants on the road. The students and peasants explain they are headed to a wedding between Quiteria and Camacho. Quiteria is described as beautiful, and the crowd explains a man named Basilio is still in love with her. However, Quiteria is forced to marry Camacho because Camacho is a wealthy man. The students’ conversation turns toward a discussion about swordplay. Two young male students challenge one another to a duel, and Quixote agrees to be the referee. The more skillful student triumphs over the stronger student. Eventually, the crowd arrives at the village where the wedding will take place. The sun is already set, but Quixote insists that he and Panza will sleep outside the village.