The chapter consists of a long, earnest conversation between the knight and his ignorant squire, who wishes to learn as much as possible about knight-errantry. Don Quixote instructs Sancho that although there are plenty of islands to conquer, they must also accept the many poor and unfortunate situations that knights-errant encounter on the road. Sancho, however, is mainly impressed by the rich prospects following the fortunate encounters. Don Quixote then tells him about a wonderful balm whose recipe he has learned in books of chivalry. This balm can heal a man even though he is sliced in two pieces. "Never mind about the island," Sancho decides right away; "Just supply me with the ointment and I shall sell it for three reals an ounce and be forever content." When night falls, they take shelter among the huts of goatherds who are courteous and share supper and wine with the travelers.
Don Quixote is so delighted to find himself in humble surroundings that, instead of eating, he makes an eloquent speech about the virtues of the Golden Age when men lived in close communion with nature. When human nature lost this purity and innocence, then the order of knighthood was established in order to oppose the torrent of violence. The goatherds do not understand a word of the talk, but they stare attentively and listen while they eat. As if to return the respect of the knight who so sincerely expressed his ideas, one of the goatherds introduces a young boy whose beautiful singing and playing entertains the company. Sancho, who had been gorging himself with meat and wine while Don Quixote made his speech, promptly falls asleep when the music begins.
