The First Real Conversation — Don Quixote

Sancho rises bruised from the muleteers' beating and kneels for the island Don Quixote promised. Quixote explains that crossroads adventures pay in broken heads, not governorships, and rides into the woods without farewell to the coach ladies. Sancho catches up warning that the Holy Brotherhood will come for them. Quixote says knights are never arraigned.

Sancho admits he cannot read and mispronounces homicides as omecils. He offers lint for Quixote's bleeding ear. Quixote describes the balsam of Fierabras, which can reattach a body cut in half for two drops. Sancho would rather have the recipe than an island. A shattered helmet sends Quixote into a Marquis of Mantua oath until he wins another helm; Sancho sends such vows to the devil.

They share onion, cheese, and scraps of bread. Quixote praises knights who eat what comes first to hand. Sancho will stock dry fruit for the knight and poultry for himself. Night finds them only at goatherds' huts: Sancho wanted a house, Quixote is pleased to sleep under open heaven as proof of chivalry.