What Happened to Don Quixote with a Sober Gentleman of La Mancha.
Overthrowing the Knight of the Mirrors restores Don Quixote's faith in himself. He would be the happiest knight in the world, he thinks, if he could only find a way to disenchant Dulcinea. A green-clad gentleman on a fine mare overtakes them, at this point, and Don Quixote introduces himself. In his turn, the gentleman describes his own manner of life—sober, pious, intelligent—and tells the knight about his young son, a student at Salamanca. The boy has chosen to study poetry, although his father wishes he would select a useful scientific discipline. Don Quixote delivers himself of an eloquent speech on the virtues and delights of poetry; the sciences are adornments and enrichments and polish for the center, poesy. The gentleman is amazed at the madman's sensible opinions.
