The knight and squire remain four days as guests of Don Diego de Miranda (the gentleman in green). Don Quixote has pleasant discussions with the student son, Don Lorenzo, and is delighted to discover the boy is truly a poet. Because of the young man's virtuous and sensitive temperament, the knight all but invites Don Lorenzo to become his disciple. When it is time to depart, Sancho is sad to leave such comfortable circumstances.
Riding along once more, Don Quixote exchanges greetings with two farmers and two students. After introductions are over, the students invite the knight and squire to attend a wedding to which they are going. Comacho, the wealthy yeoman groom, is sparing no expense on the celebration. Another man also loves the beautiful bride, Quiteria. Well-favored, talented, skilled at fencing, the disappointed lover Basil is too poor to gain Quiteria's hand. The students say that Basil is so melancholy and distracted that this wedding day might prove to be the day of his death. Don Quixote declares that his sympathies go with the poor lover.
Sancho is impressed by the lavish feast prepared for the celebration. A cook casually thrusts three chickens and a couple of geese in his hands, and he immediately gorges himself on these viands while songs, dances, and a pageant are performed for the wedding guests. Discoursing together, Sancho declares to his master that he is all in favor for the bridegroom: "Comacho has filled my belly and therefore has won my heart." He strings such a long series of proverbs to prove his point that Don Quixote refrains from answering him.
