Don Quixote

As Sancho and Don Quixote ride further into the mountains, the knight reveals his plans. Sancho must go to Toboso and deliver a letter to the Lady Dulcinea. In the meantime, Don Quixote will do penance in the wilderness, after the manner of knights-errant who have been too-long absent from their mistresses. He describes to Sancho how he will express his madness and despair: "Thou wilt see me throw away my armor, tear my clothes, knock my head against the rocks, and do a thousand other things of that kind which will fill thee with astonishment." His squire begs that he be less harsh with himself, but the Don is adamant. Writing the letter, Don Quixote confesses that he hardly knows Dulcinea. Sancho is surprised that his master's ideal mistress is none other than the daughter of Lorenzo Corchuleo, a neighbor of his. He chatters about the wench's virtues and her peasant habits, and Don Quixote stops him by relating a short parable. "It does not matter what her background is," the knight concludes. "Dulcinea del Toboso, as to the use I make of her, is equal to the greatest princess in the world." He continues by saying that none of the ladies whose praises resound in ballads, novels, poems, or prayers have ever been made of flesh and blood "The greatest part of them were nothing but the mere imaginations of the poets for a groundwork to exercise their wits upon." Sancho, with tears at the parting, prepares to commence his journey.