Revealing that the puppeteer is Gines de Passamonte in disguise and with a new profession, the author tells somewhat of how the rogue earns his livelihood; in fact, the description is that of a classic Spanish picaro. Back to Don Quixote, the author tells of the battle that the brayers are awaiting. The assembled fighters greet Don Quixote, assuming he is a champion for their cause, and listen to his oration. The knight declares that men should go to war, not for small causes, but for large ones, such as the defense of the Catholic faith or the defense of Spain or the defense of one's good name. While he pauses, Sancho takes up the speech. It is a silly fancy, he says, to be ashamed of being able to bray. As a child, he himself was an excellent brayer. The foolish Sancho, then, opening his mouth, holding his nose, makes such a loud braying that the townsmen think he is mocking them. As they begin to collect stones, Don Quixote sensibly spurs Rosinante and gallops out of danger, but Sancho receives a good beating. After this, the villagers leave the field of battle, relieved that the opposing townsmen did not show up.
Chapter XXVIII faithfully transcribes a conversation between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza regarding salary. As the squire pursues his request, the Don politely asks how many months of a monthly wage is owing. Sancho replies that twenty years have passed since he has been promised a government of an island. Gladly will he pay, says Don Quixote, the better to get rid of such a mercenary varlet. Furthermore, he says, "Thou perverter of the laws of chivalry that pertain to squires, where didst thou ever see or read that any squire to a knight-errant stood capitulating with his master, as thou hast done with me, for so and so much a month?" He continues to scold until tears well up in Sancho's eyes, and then he begs humble pardon; the two friends are once more amicably settled in their differences.
