Don Quixote’s Adventures
Chapter I
His name was Alfonso Quijana. A gentleman of the lance, with an old shield, a lean hack, and a greyhound. He was 50 years old, lean-faced, an early riser, and a friend of the hunt. He lived with a housekeeper past 40, a niece of 20, and a boy who helped in the field and market. He loved reading books of chivalry, so much so that he sold arable land to buy more. The priest, a doctor and graduate of Siguenza, noted his obsession. Quijana decided to become a knight-errant, traveling the world in search of adventures. He cleaned his ancestors’ weapons, named his horse Rocinante, and after eight days, chose the name Don Quixote, reflecting his origin and country. He was believed to be in love with Aldonza Lorenzo, whom he called Dulcinea, a more musical and uncommon name.
Chapter II
He set out one morning before dawn in July. Riding Rocinante, he traveled through the Campo de Montiel. By day’s end, he reached what he thought was a castle, but was actually an inn. Swineherds were nearby. The innkeeper offered him food, lodging, and a place for his horse. While dining, a castrator of swine played music, convincing Don Quixote he was in a grand castle with fine meals and maidens.
Chapter III
Don Quixote asked the innkeeper to knight him. His weapons, meant to be in a chapel, were placed in the yard. He watched over them all day. Two men tried to steal the weapons, and Don Quixote fought them with a spear. One of the girls at the inn was named Tolosa, the other, Molinera. He decided to dedicate his knighthood to them.
Chapter IV
Don Quixote left the inn and returned to his village for money and a squire. On the way, he heard a child’s cries. He found a boy, Andrew, tied to a mare by John Haldudo, a wealthy neighbor from Quintanar, because Andrew had lost a sheep. Don Quixote continued his journey. Rocinante wandered off and encountered six merchants. Don Quixote praised Dulcinea’s beauty. The merchants mocked him, and when he attacked, Rocinante stumbled, leaving him vulnerable. The merchants broke his spear.
Chapter V
Don Quixote lay injured with his horse. A farmer, Pedro Alonso, found him and took him home. His niece, the priest (John Smith), and the barber (Nicholas) were there. Don Quixote claimed he fought ten giants and needed the wise Urganda to heal him. The farmer explained Don Quixote’s delusions.
Chapter VI
The priest and barber sought the keys to Don Quixote’s library, intending to burn his chivalry books. They started with Amadis of Gaul. Shepherds and some poetry books remained. The niece suggested burning them all to prevent Don Quixote’s relapse. Some books were spared due to their literary merit.
Chapter VII
Don Quixote awoke, believing he had fought many enemies. He spent 15 days talking with the priest and barber. When he sought his books, he was told they were enchanted away. He blamed the wise Muñatones, an old enemy. He convinced a farmer, Sancho Panza, to be his squire. They left secretly at night, taking the same route as his first journey. Sancho’s wife was Juana Gutierrez.
Chapter VIII
Don Quixote mistook windmills for giants created by the sage Freston. The wind knocked him down, breaking his spear. He recalled a book where a knight used a tree trunk as a spear. Later, he saw two friars and a Biscayan lady, believing she was a kidnapped princess. He attacked the friars, and Sancho was beaten by their attendants. Don Quixote fought the Biscayan’s squire, who used a pillow as a shield but injured Don Quixote’s shoulder.
Chapter IX
Cervantes describes the fight between Don Quixote and the Biscayan. The Biscayan wounded Don Quixote’s ear and shoulder. Don Quixote aimed for the Biscayan’s eyes, but the lady begged for his life. Don Quixote spared him on the condition he pay homage to Dulcinea. The Biscayan was Don Sancho de Azpeitia.
Chapter X
Don Quixote and Sancho continued their journey. Sancho expected riches from the battle, but Don Quixote explained knights-errant don’t receive money. He promised to teach Sancho how to make a healing balm. They ate onions, bread, and cheese, and Sancho confessed he couldn’t read or write. They stayed with goatherds for the night.
Chapter XI
The goatherds offered Don Quixote and Sancho food and shelter. Don Quixote ate acorns, reminiscing about the golden age. A goatherd healed Don Quixote’s ear with rosemary leaves and salt.
Chapter XII
A goatherd announced the death of Chrysostom, a shepherd in love with the beautiful Marcela, who rejected all suitors. The goatherd told Don Quixote about Marcela’s rejections. Don Quixote slept in the hut while Sancho stayed with the goatherd Peter.
Chapter XIII
Don Quixote joined the funeral procession and met shepherds who questioned his heavy armor in a peaceful land. He explained knights-errant. One shepherd noted that knights in books never prayed to God, only to their beloveds. Don Quixote clarified that victories were dedicated to their beloveds. Vivaldi was one of the shepherds. They found Chrysostom’s body with his last verses.
Chapter XIV
Chrysostom’s song expressed his unrequited love for Marcela, filled with jealousy, disappointment, and sorrow. Marcela appeared, denying blame for his death and asserting her freedom to live alone in the mountains. Don Quixote decided to seek her out.
Chapter XV
Don Quixote and Sancho searched for Marcela for two hours, then rested in a meadow. Yanguesan carriers attacked Rocinante, and Don Quixote intervened, tearing a carrier’s coat. The carriers beat Don Quixote and Sancho. Sancho asked for the fiery potion of Blas to heal their wounds. They found an inn, which Don Quixote imagined was a castle.
Chapter XVI
At the inn, Don Quixote received a poor bed, and Sancho’s was worse. A muleteer was with a maid in the same room. Don Quixote mistook the maid for a noble lady and praised her. The muleteer attacked him, causing Don Quixote to fall from his bed. The innkeeper, thinking the maid was with one of his own, joined the fray. An archer intervened, and Sancho introduced Don Quixote as the “Knight of the Sad Countenance,” explaining his thin face was due to hunger. The chapter ends with Don Quixote asking Sancho to wait three days, then return to the village and report his death in battle. Sancho tied Rocinante’s legs to delay Don Quixote’s departure. They investigated a loud noise, finding it was a water mill, not a battle.