Don Quixote

Clavileno, the flying wooden horse with a peg in its neck, is led into the garden. Quixote is told he must blindfold himself and his squire while riding the horse. After some reluctance, Panza is convinced to climb aboard the horse. Before they depart, Quixote suggests that Panza begin whipping himself across the backside to get started on his atonement. Panza refuses. Once the blindfolded men are on the horse, the duke and duchess’s people use tricks to convince the men they are actually flying. Eventually, a loud firework explodes, and the people pretend to faint. Quixote and Panza dismount. A note in the garden tells Quixote that his mission is a success. Panza falsely claims he peeked from behind his blindfold and saw just how high up they were flying. Privately, Quixote tells Panza he will only believe the squire’s claims if the squire believes Quixote’s claims about the visions in the cave.

The duke and the duchess are delighted with their trick. They decide to send Panza to the island where he will supposedly be made governor. They dress Panza in governor’s clothing and send him to a town, which he is led to believe is actually an island. Quixote advises Panza on the intricacies of governorship and insists his squire should never be ashamed that he comes from humble roots.

Quixote continues to advise Panza on how to govern. His advice covers everything from manners to clothing to Panza’s infuriating use of certain proverbs. Quixote insists that Panza should immediately stop using all proverbs. Panza responds with more proverbs. Quixote also recommends that Panza pretend his hand is paralyzed so no one notices he is illiterate. When Panza admits he is worried about how well he will govern, Quixote assures him that he will make a fine governor, precisely because he doubts himself.

 The narrator briefly pauses the narrative to comment on the translation and history of this section of the novel. When the narrator resumes the story, Panza is about to leave. He notices one of the stewards who will accompany him seems to closely resemble Countess Trifaldi. He mentions this to Quixote, who dismisses the notion and bids a sad farewell to his loyal friend. After Panza departs, the Duchess notices that Quixote is not quite himself. She offers him maids to help cure his melancholy, but he refuses. He goes to bed soon after dinner so he is not tempted. In his bedroom, he hears voices drifting in through his window. Two women discuss songs and love. Wondering whether he might be the knight at the center of one of the women’s affections, Quixote feels flattered but tells himself he must remain loyal to Dulcinea.

Panza arrives in one of the towns run by the duke. He is told the town is named Barataria Island, though the town is not an island in any way. The residents greet Panza and lead him to the court, where the locals praise and compliment him. Much to everyone’s surprise, Panza proves himself to be a fair and wise governor.

Quixote meets the woman he overheard discussing her love life. Her name is Altisidora, and she pretends to faint when he passes, part of a ruse to make him believe she loves him. That night, Quixote asks a servant for a lute, and he performs a song in his bedroom about his everlasting love for Dulcinea. Altisidora, the duke, and the duchess decide to play a trick on Quixote. While he is singing about Dulcinea, they lower a bag filled with screeching cats into his bedroom to drown out his song. The horrible sound wakes the house. Two of the cats escape the bag and scramble around Quixote’s room. One bites his nose and scratches his face. He blames magicians for the chaos. The duke rushes into the room and feigns an apology while he gathers the cat. The duke and duchess feel bad that their prank ended with Quixote being harmed. Altisidora bandages Quixote’s face and tries to seduce him.

In his new palace, Panza sits down to eat. However, the palace doctor refuses to allow him to consume any food. He is worried that Panza will become ill. Panza is furious. He threatens the doctor and sends him away. A messenger arrives, bearing a letter from the duke. In the letter, the duke reveals secret information about a plot against the island and against Panza himself. Panza takes the information to heart. He convinces himself that the doctor is an assassin and part of the plot. A businessman arrives in the palace with requests for the governor. Panza reacts angrily to the man and threatens to kill him.

Dona Rodriguez, one of the duchess’s maidservants, comes to Quixote late at night with a personal request. She tells Quixote that her husband is dead and their daughter has been seduced, corrupted, and then cast aside by a local landowner’s son. The duke will do nothing about the situation as he depends on the landowner for money. Quixote agrees to help the woman, who in turn reveals one of the duchess’s secrets. According to Rodriguez, the duchess’s complexion is so good because a doctor drains the blood from her legs each night. Quixote is shocked by the revelation. Their conversation is interrupted when the door bursts open and the candles are suddenly extinguished. An unseen figure pinches and chokes Quixote and Rodriguez. The assault lasts nearly 30 minutes before the unseen figure leaves. Rodriguez leaves in confusion and Quixote tries to piece together what happened.

While making a tour of the town, Panza explains his ambitious plans to his deputies. As they walk around the city, they encounter people with problems and try to resolve these issues. Some of these people are enlisted by the duke in the prank against Panza while others genuinely need help. Panza helps everyone regardless and demonstrates his talents as a wise governor.