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A funny story about Don Quixote - "Subtle Move!" The novel “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” Quotes from the book “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” Miguel Cervantes

A funny story about Don Quixote - "Subtle Move!" The novel “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” Quotes from the book “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” Miguel Cervantes

Year of publication of the first part: 1605

The novel "Don Quixote" is rightfully considered one of the most famous novels of Cervantes. And in 2002 it was recognized as the best novel in world literature. The novel Don Quixote has been filmed more than 40 times in different countries of the world. A huge number of cartoons were published based on it, and the novel itself became a prototype for writing many works of fiction and theatrical productions. Therefore, it is not surprising that Cervantes’ novel “Don Quixote” is still popular to read, and not only in our country.

The novel "Don Quixote" summary

If you read a summary of Cervantes’s novel “Don Quixote,” you will learn about the adventures of a certain fifty-year-old hidalgo who lived in the village of La Mancha. He devoted a huge amount of time to reading chivalric novels and one fine day his mind became clouded. He called himself Don Quixote of La Mancha, his old nag Rocinante, and decided to become a knight errant. But since every knight errant must have a lady of his heart, he appointed Aldonza Lorenzo from the neighboring town of Tobos as such, whom he named Dulcinea of Tobos.

Further in the novel “Don Quixote” you will learn how, after spending his first day on the road, our knight met an inn and went to spend the night there. He mistook the inn for a castle and began to ask the owner to knight him. Don Quixote made all the guests laugh greatly by refusing to take off his helmet to eat and dining in it. And when he told the owner of the inn that he had no money, because this was not written about in novels, the owner decided to quickly get rid of this madman. On top of that, one of the drivers received a spear blow during the night for touching Don Quixote's armor. Therefore, in the morning the owner made a pompous speech, slapped him on the head and hit Don Quixote on the back with a sword and sent him off to his exploits. Previously, he assured our hero of the novel “Don Quixote” that this is exactly what the rite of knighting looks like.

Further in Cervantes’ novel “Don Quixote” you can read about how the main character decided to return home for money and clean shirts. Along the way, he protected the boy from being beaten, although when he left the boy was beaten half to death. He demanded that the merchants recognize Dulcinea Toboska as the most beautiful woman, and when they refused, he rushed at them with a spear. For this he was beaten. In his native village, fellow villagers had already burned almost all of Don Quixote’s books, but the main character was not at a loss. He found a swineherd, to whom he promised to make him governor of the island, and now he and Sancho Panse set off on a journey.

If you read the summary of the book “Don Quixote” further, you will learn how the main character mistook the mills for giants and attacked them with a spear. As a result, the spear broke, and the knight himself made an excellent flight. A fight broke out in the inn where they stopped for the night. The reason for this was the maid who mixed up the room, and Don Quixote decided that it was the daughter of the inn owner who was in love with him. Sancho Panza suffered the most in the fight. The next day, Don Quixote mistook a flock of sheep for a horde of enemies and began to destroy them until he was stopped by the shepherd's stones. All these failures gave rise to sadness in the face of the main character, for which Sancho named the main character the Knight of the Sad Countenance.

On the way, Sancho Panzo is met by a barber and a priest from the village of Don Quixote. They ask to give the main character's letters to them, but it turns out Don Quixote forgot to give them to his squire. Then Sancho begins to quote them, shamelessly misinterpreting them. The barber and priest decide to lure Don Quixote home in order to cure him. So they tell Sancho that if Don Quiot returns, he will become king. Sancho agrees to go back and say that Dulcinea urgently demands her knight home.

Further in Cervantes’s novel “Don Quixote” you can read about how, while waiting for the appearance of the main character, the priest and the barber meet Cardeno. He tells them his love story. And at that moment Dorothea comes out. She loves Fernando very much, who became the husband of Cardeno’s beloved, Lucinda. Dorotea and Cardeno enter into an alliance designed to bring back their loved ones and end their marriage.

You can read the novel “Don Quixote” in its entirety online on the Top Books website.

All rights reserved. No part of the electronic version of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including posting on the Internet or corporate networks, for private or public use without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Chapter 1, which tells who Don Quixote of La Mancha was

In a modest village in the province of La Mancha lived a hidalgo named Don Quejana. Like any nobleman, he was proud of his noble origin, sacredly guarded the ancient shield and ancestral spear, and kept a skinny nag and a greyhound dog in his yard. Three-quarters of his income was spent on the vegetable and beef stew and vinaigrette he served for dinner; On Fridays he fasted, content with a plate of lentils boiled in water, but on Sundays he feasted on roasted pigeon. On holidays, Don Kehana wore a caftan made of fine cloth, velvet trousers and morocco shoes, and on weekdays he wore a suit made of rough homemade cloth. In his house lived a housekeeper, who was over forty years old, a niece, who was not yet twenty, and an old, decrepit servant. The hidalgo himself was about fifty years old; he was as thin as a skeleton - skin and bones, but, despite his terrible thinness, he was distinguished by great endurance.

All his free time, and Don Kehana was free around the clock, he devoted to reading chivalric novels. He indulged in this activity with delight and passion; For his sake, he abandoned hunting and farming. His passion reached the point that he, without hesitation, sold a decent piece of arable land in order to buy himself books of knights.

In the novels, our hidalgo especially liked pompous love letters and solemn challenges to fights, where the following phrases often came across: “The rightness with which you are so wrong about my rights makes my rightness so powerless that I have no right to complain about your rightness...” or: “...the high heavens, which with their stars divinely strengthen our divinity and honor all the virtues worthy of your greatness...”. It happened that the poor caballero spent whole nights trying to unravel the meaning of these phrases, which made his head cloudy and his mind wandered. He was also confused by other inconsistencies that kept appearing in his favorite novels. For example, it was difficult for him to believe that the famous knight Belyanis could inflict and receive so many terrible wounds; it seemed to him that, despite all the skill of the doctors who treated this knight, his face and body should be covered with ugly scars. Meanwhile, in the novel, Belyanis always appeared as a handsome young man without any scars or flaws.

Gradually, the good hidalgo became so addicted to reading that he read from dawn to dusk and from dusk to dawn. He abandoned all his affairs, almost lost sleep and often forgot about lunch. His head was full of all sorts of absurd stories read in books of knighthood, and in reality he raved about bloody battles, knightly duels, love affairs, kidnappings, evil magicians and good wizards. Little by little, he completely ceased to distinguish truth from fiction, and it seemed to him that in the whole world there was nothing more reliable than these stories. He talked with such fervor about the heroes of various novels, as if they were his best friends and acquaintances.

He agreed that Cid Ruy Diaz was a valiant knight, but added that he was far from the knight of the Flaming Sword, who cut two mighty giants in half with one blow. He ranked Bernard de Carpio somewhat higher, who defeated the invincible Roland in the Roncesvalles Gorge. He spoke very flatteringly about the giant Morgantha, who - unlike other giants - was distinguished by his courtesy and politeness. But most of all he praised Reynaldo of Montalban, the glorious thief of the golden idol of Mohammed and the hero of countless road adventures.

In the end, from eternal sitting within four walls, sleepless nights and continuous reading, the poor hidalgo went completely crazy. And then such a strange thought came into his head that no madman in the world had ever had before. Our caballero decided that he himself was obliged to join the ranks of knights errant. For the sake of his own glory, for the benefit of his native country, he, Don Kehana, must arm himself, mount a horse and go around the world to seek adventures, protect the offended, punish the wicked, and restore trampled justice. Inflamed by dreams of the great feats that he was about to accomplish, the hidalgo hastened to carry out his decision. First of all, he cleaned the armor that belonged to his great-grandfathers and was lying somewhere in the attic, covered with centuries-old rust and dust; sorting through them, he, to his deep chagrin, saw that only one bump remained from the helmet. To improve matters, the hidalgo had to call on all his ingenuity to help. He cut out a visor and headphones from cardboard and attached them to the bump. In the end he managed to make something like a real helmet. Then he wanted to test whether this helmet could withstand a battle. He pulled out his sword, swung it and struck it twice on the helmet. From the first blow, the visor shattered into pieces, and all his painstaking work was in vain. Hidalgo was very upset by this outcome of the matter. He set to work again, but now for strength he placed iron plates under the cardboard. This precaution seemed to him quite sufficient, and he considered it unnecessary to subject his helmet to a second test. Without difficulty, he convinced himself that he had a real helmet with a visor of the finest workmanship.

Don Kehana then went to the stable and carefully examined his horse. It was an old, sick nag; in truth, she was only good for carrying water. However, our caballero was quite pleased with her appearance and decided that neither the mighty Bucephalus of Alexander the Great nor the fleet-footed Babieka Sida could compare with her. It took him four whole days to find a sonorous and beautiful name for his war horse, because he believed that since the owner exchanged his modest life in the wilderness of the village for the stormy field of a knight errant, then his horse should change its village name to a new one, nice and big name. He suffered for a long time, inventing various nicknames, comparing them, discussing and weighing them. Finally he settled on the name Rocinante. This name seemed sonorous and sublime to him. Moreover, it contained an indication of what the horse was before, for Don Kehana composed it from two words: rocin (nag) and antes (formerly), so that it meant: “former nag.”

Having given such a successful nickname to his horse, he decided that now he needed to come up with a suitable name for himself. A week passed in these thoughts, but finally he had a brilliant idea: he simply changed his modest name Kehana into a more sonorous one - Don Quixote.

But then our caballero remembered that the brave Amadis, wanting the name of his homeland to be glorified along with his own name, always called himself not just Amadis, but Amadis of Gaul. Don Quixote decided to follow the example of this valiant knight and henceforth call himself Don Quixote of La Mancha. Now everything was fine: it was immediately clear who he was and where he came from, so that his native country could share with him the glory of his exploits.

And so, when the weapon was cleaned, the helmet and visor were repaired, the nag received a new nickname and he himself changed his name, all that remained for him was to find himself a lady of his heart, for it is known that a knight errant without a lady of his heart is like a tree without leaves and fruits. Don Quixote said about himself: “If, by the will of fate, I meet a giant (and this often happens with knights-errant) and in the first fight I throw him to the ground and force him to beg for mercy, then according to the laws of chivalry I will have to send him to my lady . He will come to my tender mistress, fall to his knees and humbly and obediently say: “I am the giant Caraculiambro, king of the island of Malindrania. I was defeated in a duel by the worthy knight Don Quixote of La Mancha. He ordered me to appear before your grace, so that your highness may dispose of me as he pleases...” Oh! - exclaimed the hidalgo, - I must certainly have a lady of my heart: only she alone can worthily reward the valor of a knight. But where can I find it? And Don Quixote plunged into gloomy thought. But suddenly a happy thought illuminated his mind. He remembered a pretty peasant girl from a neighboring village, her name was Aldonza Lorenzo; It was her that our knight decided to reward with the title of the lady of his heart. Looking for a name for her that would not be too different from her own, but at the same time would resemble the name of some princess or noble lady, he decided to christen her Dulcinea of Toboso, since she was from Toboso. This name seemed to him expressive and melodic and quite worthy of the person for whose glory he was to perform his deeds.

Chapter 2, which tells about Don Quixote's first departure from his possessions

When all these preparations were completed, Don Quixote decided, without delay, to leave his home and set out in search of knightly adventures. It seemed to him that in such a matter any delay is a great sin against humanity: how many offended are waiting for revenge, how many disadvantaged are waiting for protection, how many oppressed are waiting for liberation! And then one fine summer day he rose before dawn, put on his armor, put a wretched helmet on his head, pulled his green strings tighter, jumped on Rocinante, grabbed a shield, took a spear in his hands and, secretly from everyone, rode out through the back gate of the barnyard. in the field, rejoicing that he was finally able to begin such a glorious task. But before he had time to get out onto the road, a thought came to him, so terrible that he almost returned home. Don Quixote suddenly remembered that he had not yet been knighted and that, according to the laws of chivalry, he could not and did not dare to engage in battle with any knight. And even if he had been initiated, he was supposed to wear white armor for the first time and not put any motto on his shield, so that everyone could immediately see that he was still a novice in knighthood. Don Quixote stood for a long time, not knowing what to decide, but the passionate desire to immediately set off on the road prevailed over all his doubts. He decided that he would ask the first knight he met along the way to ordain him to the rank of knight. At least that’s what many of the heroes of those novels did, the reading of which brought our hidalgo to such a deplorable state. And as for the white armor, he promised himself to polish his armor so that it would become whiter than ermine. Having made this decision, he calmed down and continued on his way, completely surrendering to the will of the horse: this is how, in his opinion, a knight errant should travel.

Rocinante trudged along, and our caballero could calmly give himself up to his thoughts.

“When the future historian of my exploits,” Don Quixote said to himself, “begins to describe my first journey, he will probably begin his story like this: as soon as fair-haired Phoebus spread the golden threads of his beautiful hair over the face of the earth, as soon as the motley birds with the gentle harmony of their melodic voices greeted the appearance of Aurora, as the famous knight Don Quixote of La Mancha jumped on his glorious horse Rocinante and set off across the ancient Montiel plain.

Then he added:

“Happy will be the age when, finally, my glorious deeds will be written down on paper, depicted on canvas, imprinted on marble.” But whoever you are, wise wizard, my chronicler, I ask you, do not forget about my good Rocinante.

Then he remembered about his lady love:

- O Princess Dulcinea, mistress of my captive heart! You caused me a bitter insult by expelling me and, with stern inflexibility, commanding me not to show myself to your incomparable beauty. May it please you, senora, to remember your obedient knight, who, out of love for you, is ready to endure the greatest torment.

Quite a lot of time passed in these outpourings and dreams. Don Quixote drove slowly along the dusty road. The sun had already risen high and was soaring with such force that it could melt even those pitiful remnants of the brain that still remained in the poor fellow’s head. He drove like this all day without seeing anything remarkable. This drove him into complete despair, because he wanted to meet some adventure as soon as possible and test the strength of his mighty hand. By evening, both he and his nag were exhausted and dying of hunger. Don Quixote began to look in all directions in the hope of seeing some castle or shepherd's hut where he could rest and refresh himself. Hope did not deceive him: not far from the road he noticed an inn; our knight spurred Rocinante and drove up to the inn just at the moment when it began to get dark. Let’s not forget that to the imagination of our adventurer everything around us was not presented as it was in reality, but as it was depicted in our favorite knightly novels. Therefore, when he saw the inn, he immediately decided that it was a castle with four towers and roofs of shining silver, with a drawbridge and a deep moat. He approached this imaginary castle and stopped Rocinante a few steps from the gate, expecting that some dwarf would appear between the battlements of the tower and blow a trumpet, announcing the arrival of the knight. Just at that moment, a swineherd, gathering his herd, blew his horn, and Don Quixote decided that this dwarf was announcing his arrival.

Don Quixote knocked on the gate of the inn with a spear, and the owner, a very fat man and therefore very peace-loving, came out to answer the knock. Looking at the strange horseman in outlandish weapons, the owner almost burst out laughing. However, the formidable appearance of Don Quixote’s military armor inspired him with respect, and he said extremely politely:

“If your honor, lord knight, would like to stay here, you will find with us everything you want, except a comfortable bed: there is not a single free bed in our hotel.”

Hearing how respectfully the commandant of the castle spoke to him, Don Quixote replied:

“Whatever you offer me, Senor Castellan, I will be satisfied with everything, because, as they say:

My outfit is my armor,
And my vacation is a hot battle.

“So, for your worship, a hard stone serves as a bed, and constant wakefulness is a dream?” If so, then deign to get off your horse and be sure that you will find everything you need with me and you will be able to spend without sleep not only one night, but even a whole year.

With these words he held the stirrup, and Don Quixote dismounted with great difficulty and effort, for he had not eaten anything all day.

He then asked the owner to take special care of Rocinante, adding that she was the best of all barley-eating animals. Looking at Rocinante, the owner did not find him at all as wonderful as Don Quixote said, but he was careful not to express his opinion out loud, took the horse by the bridle and led him to the stable. Meanwhile, Don Quixote began to take off his armor. In this difficult and complex task, two maids approached him and helped him. It goes without saying that Don Quixote took them for noble ladies, the owners of the castle. With their combined efforts they managed to remove the armor, but the knots of the green ribbons with which the helmet was tied around the neck were so tight that it was impossible to untie them. All that remained was to cut the ribbons. However, Don Quixote did not agree to this, deciding it would be better to suffer all night in a helmet. While the women were pulling off his armor, Don Quixote solemnly ranted about his future exploits, about the glorious horse Rocinante, about his immense gratitude to the graceful ladies, and with feeling he recited absurd poems of his own composition:

– Never so tenderly ladies
Didn't care about the paladin,
How they cared about Don Quixote,
Arriving from their lands:
The maids of honor serve him,
His mount is a countess,

that is, Rocinante, for that is the name of my horse, noble lords, and my name is Don Quixote of La Mancha. True, I did not want to reveal my name until great deeds glorified it throughout the world. But to conceal it would be impolite to you, my lords. However, the time will soon come when the valor of my hand will show how ardently I want to serve you.

The embarrassed maids did not know how to respond to such speeches, and therefore remained modestly silent.

Meanwhile, the owner, returning from the stable, asked Don Quixote if he wanted anything.

“I would gladly have a bite,” replied the hidalgo, “for I need to strengthen my strength.”

As luck would have it, it was Friday, and in the entire hotel there was nothing else to be found except salted fish.

The owner brought Don Quixote boiled cod and a piece of bread, as black and moldy as the knight’s armor. It was difficult not to laugh, seeing with what pain Don Quixote ate: the stupid helmet prevented him from reaching his mouth with a spoon. He himself could not bring a piece to his lips; it was necessary for someone to put food directly into his mouth. But it was completely impossible to give him something to drink if the owner had not brought a reed; He inserted one end of the reed into Don Quixote's mouth, and poured wine through the other. Don Quixote endured all this with great patience, just so as not to cut the strings of his helmet. At this time, a peasant who happened to enter the inn began to play his reed pipe. This was enough for Don Quixote to finally believe that he was in some magnificent castle, that music was playing at the feast, that the salted cod was the freshest trout, that the gray bread was a white loaf, and that the owner of the inn was the owner of the castle. Therefore, he was delighted with his first trip. The only thing that bothered him was that he had not yet been knighted and could be declared an impostor at any time.

Chapter 3, which tells how Don Quixote was knighted

Dejected by these thoughts, Don Quixote hastened to finish his meager dinner. Rising from the table, he called the owner aside, led him to the stable and, throwing himself there on his knees in front of him, began like this:

“O valiant knight, I will not rise from my place until your kindness deigns to fulfill my request.” What I am about to ask of you will serve to your glory and to the benefit of the human race.

Seeing that the guest was kneeling and hearing strange speeches, the owner at first was completely confused and, with his mouth open, looked at Don Quixote, not knowing what to do or what to say. Having recovered from his amazement, he began to beg Don Quixote to get up, but he never wanted to get up until, finally, the owner promised to fulfill his request.

“I was sure, senor, that due to your boundless nobility you would not refuse to fulfill my request,” said Don Quixote. “I ask you as a favor that tomorrow at dawn you knight me.” All this night I will watch over the weapon in the chapel of your castle, and at dawn you will perform the rite of passage over me. Then I will finally receive all the rights of a knight errant and set off in search of adventure. My weapon will serve the cause of establishing truth and justice on earth, for this is the purpose of that great knightly order to which I belong and whose exploits are glorified throughout the world.

Here the owner, who had previously suspected that Don Quixote was crazy, was finally convinced of this and, in order to have a good time, decided to indulge his extravagance. Therefore, he answered Don Quixote that his desire and request were quite reasonable, that, judging by his proud appearance and manners, he must be a noble knight and that such an intention was quite worthy of his title. “I myself,” added the owner, “was engaged in this honorable craft in my youth. In search of adventure, I wandered all over Spain, visited Seville, Grenada, Cordoba, Toledo and many other cities: I got involved in various pranks, scandals and fights, so that I became famous in all the courts and prisons of Spain. But in my declining days I calmed down: I live peacefully in this castle and receive all the knights-errant, no matter what their rank and condition. I do this solely out of my great love for them, but, of course, on the condition that, as a reward for my kind attitude, they share their property with me.” The owner then said that there was no chapel in the castle where one could spend the night watching over weapons. But he knows that, if necessary, the laws of chivalry allow him to spend the night before initiation anywhere. Therefore, Don Quixote can stand guard over the weapons in the courtyard of the castle, and tomorrow, God willing, he will be knighted with all the necessary ceremonies, and even knighted such as has never been seen in the world.

At the end, the innkeeper asked if Don Quixote had money on him. He replied that he did not have a penny, since he had never read in any novel that knights-errant carried money with them. To this the owner objected that Don Quixote was mistaken. They don’t write about this in novels only because it is obvious. He knows from reliable sources that knights-errant are required to carry with them, just in case, not only a tightly stuffed wallet, but also clean shirts and a jar of healing ointment for wounds. After all, you can’t always count on the help of a kind wizard who will send a bottle of miraculous balm to a wounded man with some dwarf or maiden. It is much better to rely on yourself. And the owner advised Don Quixote never to set off on a journey without money and the necessary supplies. The knight himself will see how all this will be useful to him on his travels.

Don Quixote promised to follow his advice exactly and immediately began to prepare to spend the night before the dedication in the courtyard of the inn. He collected all his armor and put it on a block from which he watered the cattle; then he armed himself with a spear and shield and began to walk importantly around the deck. It was already completely dark when he began this walk.

And the owner returned to the hotel and told the guests about the crazy hidalgo, who was now watching over his weapon, waiting to be knighted. The guests, interested in such a strange madness, ran out into the yard to look at the eccentric. Don Quixote walked rhythmically back and forth with a majestic air. Sometimes he stopped and, leaning on his spear, looked at his armor for a long time. The moon shone so brightly that the spectators from afar could see everything that our knight awaiting initiation was doing.

Probably, everything would have turned out calmly and peacefully, but, unfortunately, one of the drivers who spent the night at the hotel decided to give his mules water. Suspecting nothing, he calmly headed towards the well. Hearing his steps, Don Quixote exclaimed:

“Whoever you are, daring knight, stretching out his hands to the armor of the most valiant of all knights-errant, think first of what you are doing!” Do not touch them, otherwise you will pay dearly for your insolence.

The driver didn’t bat an eye. Approaching the deck, he grabbed the armor by the straps and threw it far to the side. Seeing this, Don Quixote raised his eyes to the sky and, turning mentally to his lady Dulcinea, said:

- Help me, my lord, to take revenge for the first insult inflicted on the valiant heart you enslaved: do not deprive me of your mercy and support in this first test.

With these words, he put his shield aside, raised his spear with both hands and grabbed the driver with such force that he lay unconscious on the ground. And Don Quixote picked up the armor, put it on the block and again began to walk around the well with such a calm expression, as if nothing had happened. After some time, the second driver came out. Knowing nothing about the sad fate of his comrade, he also intended to throw the ill-fated armor off the deck. But Don Quixote prevented his attempt. Without saying a word, he raised his spear again and struck the poor fellow on the head with such a blow that the second driver fell to the ground. All the inhabitants of the hotel, led by the owner, came running to the noise. At the sight of this crowd, Don Quixote grabbed his shield, drew his sword and proudly exclaimed:

– O royal beauty, the stronghold of my soul and my heart! The hour has come when your greatness must turn its gaze to the knight you have captured, entering the great battle.

These words, which sounded like a prayer, awakened such courage in the heart of our hidalgo that even if all the drivers of the world had attacked him, he would not have retreated. He stood firmly under the hail of stones that his angry comrades showered on the wounded from afar; he only covered himself with a shield, but did not leave a single step from the deck where his armor lay. There was a desperate noise in the yard. The drivers shouted and cursed. The frightened owner begged them to stop the fight. And Don Quixote shouted at the top of his voice:

- Vile and low slaves! I despise you! Throw stones, approach, approach, attack! You will now receive a reward for your arrogance and madness!

There was so much courage and rage in these exclamations of Don Quixote that the attackers were seized with great fear. Little by little they calmed down and stopped throwing stones. Then Don Quixote allowed the wounded to be removed and again began to guard the armor with the same importance and calm.

However, the owner did not like this story, and he decided to immediately initiate the guest into this damned knightly order, before a new misfortune happened. Respectfully approaching Don Quixote, he said:

– Don’t be angry, Your Grace, with these impudent servants. I promise you to roughly punish her for her insolence. Now isn’t it time for us to begin performing the sacred rite? Usually, being awake over a weapon lasts no more than two hours, but you stood guard for more than four. I have already reported to you that I do not have a chapel in my castle. However, we can safely do without it. The main thing in initiation is a blow to the back of the head with a hand and a blow to the left shoulder with a sword. And this can be done in the middle of an open field. So, let's not waste precious time.

Our knight blindly believed the words of his master and replied that he was ready to obey.

“I ask you only one thing,” he added, “to hurry up with the ritual.” For when I am dedicated and someone decides to attack me again, I will not leave a single living soul in the castle. Out of respect for you, venerable owner of the castle, I will only spare those for whom you stand up.

These words of the knight only strengthened the owner’s desire to quickly get rid of the restless guest.

A resourceful and dexterous man, he immediately brought a thick book in which he wrote down how much barley and straw was given to the drovers; then, accompanied by two maids and a boy carrying a candle stub, he approached Don Quixote, ordered him to kneel down and, pretending to be reading some kind of pious prayer from a book, raised his hand and slapped him on the neck with all his might, then , continuing to mutter some psalm under his breath, grabbed him on the shoulder with his own sword. Following this, he ordered one of the maids to gird the initiate with a sword, which she did with great dexterity. True, she almost died laughing, but the exploits performed before her eyes by the knight forced her to contain her gaiety. Fastening the sword to Don Quixote's belt, the good lady said:

- God send your grace happiness in knightly affairs and good luck in battles.

Don Quixote asked her name, for he wanted to know to what lady he owed such great favor, so that in time he could share with her the honors that he would win by the strength of his hand. She answered with great humility that her name was Tolosa, that she was the daughter of a shoemaker from Toledo and that she was always ready to serve him faithfully. Don Quixote asked her, out of love for him, to be called Dona Tolosa from now on. She promised. Then another lady put spurs on him, and with her he had the same conversation as with the one who girded him with a sword. He asked her name, and she replied that her name was Molinera and that she was the daughter of an honest miller from Antequera; Don Quixote asked her to add the title of dona to his name; at the same time, he showered her with countless thanks. When all these ceremonies were completed, Don Quixote hurried to mount his horse: he was very impatient to go in search of adventure. He saddled Rocinante, jumped on him and began to thank his owner for the dedication in such extraordinary terms that there is no way to convey them. And the owner, delighted that he had finally gotten rid of the knight, responded to his speeches with shorter, but no less pompous phrases and, without taking anything from him for the night, he released him in good health.

La Mancha - District of New Castile - The name La Mancha comes from the Arabic word Manxa, meaning "dry land".

Hidalgo is a small landed nobleman. The petty nobility, which played an important role in the life of Spain during the era of the struggle against the Moors (XI-XIV centuries), by the end of the 15th century had lost a large share of its importance. In the time of Cervantes, the impoverished hidalgo, who had lost his last piece of land, represented a characteristic figure of Spanish life.

Amadis of Gaul is the hero of a chivalric romance, extremely popular in Spain in the 16th century. The content of this novel is absolutely fantastic. The English princess Elisena gave birth to a son. Ashamed of her illegitimate child, the mother threw him into the sea. An unknown knight saved the child and took him to Scotland. When Amadis grew up, he fell in love with the incomparable beauty Oriana, daughter of King Lizuart. To win her love, Amadis travels throughout Europe, finds himself in mysterious magical lands, fights giants, sorcerers and magicians, and performs thousands of other entertaining feats. The novel ends with the triumph of Amadis, who finally marries the lady of his heart, the beautiful Oriana.

The novel “Palmerin of England” is perhaps the most brilliant of all imitations of “Amadis of Gaul.” Palmerin is the son of Don Duerte (Eduard), King of England. Together with his brother Florian, the ideal of a gallant gentleman, he performs countless feats for the glory of the lady of his heart, defeats the mighty sorcerer Deliant, ends up on a magical island, etc., etc.

Cid Ruy Diaz (“sid” - from the Arabic “lord”, “lord”) is a semi-legendary hero of Spain who lived in the second half of the 11th century. Sid became especially famous in the war with the Moors; many legends arose around his name, which have come down to us in the form of countless romances and poems.

Battle of the Roncesvalles Gorge. When Charlemagne was returning from the Spanish campaign (778), the rearguard of his army was caught by the enemy in the Roncesvalles Gorge and almost completely destroyed. In this battle, one of Charles’s associates, Hruadland (Roland), died. This event is sung in the famous work of the French epic - “The Song of Roland”.

Knighting. Cervantes parodies the actual rite of knighting. The initiate spent the night before initiation in the church guarding the weapon. In the morning, this weapon was consecrated, and the new knight made a solemn promise over it to observe the laws and rules of chivalry. Then some noble and experienced knight, taking a sword, struck the initiate three times on the left shoulder, saying: “I knight you.” The initiate was girded with a sword, golden spurs were fastened on him, and all those present went to a feast in honor of the new knight.

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Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Don Quixote

©The electronic version of the book was prepared by liters

Chapter 1, which tells who Don Quixote of La Mancha was

In a modest village in the province of La Mancha 1
La Mancha - district of New Castile - name La Mancha comes from the Arabic word Manxa, meaning "dry land".

Once upon a time there lived a hidalgo 2
Hidalgo is a small landed nobleman. The petty nobility, which played an important role in the life of Spain during the era of the struggle against the Moors (XI-XIV centuries), by the end of the 15th century had lost a large share of its importance. In the time of Cervantes, the impoverished hidalgo, who had lost his last piece of land, represented a characteristic figure of Spanish life.

Named Don Kehana. Like any nobleman, he was proud of his noble origin, sacredly guarded the ancient shield and ancestral spear, and kept a skinny nag and a greyhound dog in his yard. Three-quarters of his income was spent on the vegetable and beef stew and vinaigrette he served for dinner; On Fridays he fasted, content with a plate of lentils boiled in water, but on Sundays he feasted on roasted pigeon. On holidays, Don Kehana wore a caftan made of fine cloth, velvet trousers and morocco shoes, and on weekdays he wore a suit made of rough homemade cloth. In his house lived a housekeeper, who was over forty years old, a niece, who was not yet twenty, and an old, decrepit servant. The hidalgo himself was about fifty years old; he was as thin as a skeleton - skin and bones, but, despite his terrible thinness, he was distinguished by great endurance.

However, all this did not stop Don Kehana from being carried away to the point of oblivion by descriptions of the countless adventures and exploits of the valiant heroes of the novels. He always really wanted to know their future fate, and he was delighted if the author on the last page of the book promised to continue his never-ending story in the next volume. Often our caballero would have long disputes with his friend, the priest, about whose valor was greater: Palmerin of England or Amadis of Gaul 3
Amadis of Gaul is the hero of a chivalric romance, extremely popular in Spain in the 16th century. The content of this novel is absolutely fantastic. The English princess Elisena gave birth to a son. Ashamed of her illegitimate child, the mother threw him into the sea. An unknown knight saved the child and took him to Scotland. When Amadis grew up, he fell in love with the incomparable beauty Oriana, daughter of King Lizuart. To win her love, Amadis travels throughout Europe, finds himself in mysterious magical lands, fights giants, sorcerers and magicians, and performs thousands of other entertaining feats. The novel ends with the triumph of Amadis, who finally marries the lady of his heart, the beautiful Oriana.

Don Kehana stood for Amadis, the priest for Palmerin 4
The novel “Palmerin of England” is perhaps the most brilliant of all imitations of “Amadis of Gaul.” Palmerin is the son of Don Duerte (Eduard), King of England. Together with his brother Florian, the ideal of a gallant gentleman, he performs countless feats for the glory of the lady of his heart, defeats the mighty sorcerer Deliant, ends up on a magical island, etc., etc.

And the local barber, Master Nicholas, argued that none of them could compare with the knight of Phoebus, who, in his opinion, surpassed the cutesy Amadis in endurance and courage, and Palmerin in courage and dexterity.

He agreed that Cid Ruy Diaz 5
Cid Ruy Diaz (“sid” - from the Arabic “lord”, “lord”) is a semi-legendary hero of Spain who lived in the second half of the 11th century. Sid became especially famous in the war with the Moors; many legends arose around his name, which have come down to us in the form of countless romances and poems.

He was a valiant knight, but added that he was far from the knight of the Flaming Sword, who with one blow cut two mighty giants in half. He ranked Bernard de Carpio somewhat higher, who defeated the invincible Roland in the Roncesvalles Gorge 6
Battle of the Roncesvalles Gorge. When Charlemagne was returning from the Spanish campaign (778), the rearguard of his army was caught by the enemy in the Roncesvalles Gorge and almost completely destroyed. In this battle, one of Charles’s associates, Hruadland (Roland), died. This event is sung in the famous work of the French epic - “The Song of Roland”.

He spoke very flatteringly about the giant Morgantha, who - unlike other giants - was distinguished by his courtesy and politeness. But most of all he praised Reynaldo of Montalban, the glorious thief of the golden idol of Mohammed and the hero of countless road adventures.

Nor the fleet-footed Babieka Sida 8
Babieka Sida - Sida's horse, like Bucephalus, was distinguished by extraordinary speed, strength and endurance and more than once saved its owner in fights and battles with the Moors.

It took him four whole days to find a sonorous and beautiful name for his war horse, because he believed that since the owner exchanged his modest life in the wilderness of the village for the stormy field of a knight errant, then his horse should change its village name to a new one, nice and big name. He suffered for a long time, inventing various nicknames, comparing them, discussing and weighing them. Finally he settled on the name Rocinante. This name seemed sonorous and sublime to him. Moreover, it contained an indication of what the horse was before, for Don Kehana composed it from two words: rocin (nag) and antes (formerly), so that it meant: “former nag.”

Chapter 2, which tells about Don Quixote's first departure from his possessions

Rocinante trudged along, and our caballero could calmly give himself up to his thoughts.

“When the future historian of my exploits,” Don Quixote said to himself, “begins to describe my first trip, he will probably begin his story like this: the barely blond Phoebus 10
Phoebus is the god of the sun and light among the ancient Greeks.

He spread the golden threads of his beautiful hair over the face of the earth, as soon as the colorful birds greeted the appearance of Aurora with the gentle harmony of their melodious voices, when the famous knight Don Quixote of La Mancha jumped on his glorious horse Rocinante and set off across the ancient Montiel plain.

Then he added:

Then he remembered about his lady love:

“If your honor, lord knight, would like to stay here, you will find with us everything you want, except a comfortable bed: there is not a single free bed in our hotel.”

Hearing how respectfully the commandant of the castle spoke to him, Don Quixote replied:

“Whatever you offer me, Senor Castellan, I will be satisfied with everything, because, as they say:

My outfit is my armor,
And my rest is a hot battle 11
An excerpt from an ancient Spanish romance.

With these words he held the stirrup, and Don Quixote dismounted with great difficulty and effort, for he had not eaten anything all day.

– Never so tenderly ladies
Didn't care about the paladin 12
Paladin. Paladins were originally called noble associates of Charlemagne, who lived with him in his palace and accompanied the emperor on campaigns. Later, any noble and valiant knight began to be called a paladin.
,
How they cared about Don Quixote,
Arriving from their lands:
The maids of honor serve him,
I'll give him his mount - the countess 13
Don Quixote applies an old Spanish romance to himself here.

The embarrassed maids did not know how to respond to such speeches, and therefore remained modestly silent.

Meanwhile, the owner, returning from the stable, asked Don Quixote if he wanted anything.

“I would gladly have a bite,” replied the hidalgo, “for I need to strengthen my strength.”

As luck would have it, it was Friday, and in the entire hotel there was nothing else to be found except salted fish.

Chapter 3, which tells how Don Quixote was knighted

“O valiant knight, I will not rise from my place until your kindness deigns to fulfill my request.” What I am about to ask of you will serve to your glory and to the benefit of the human race.

“I was sure, senor, that due to your boundless nobility you would not refuse to fulfill my request,” said Don Quixote. “I ask you as a favor that tomorrow at dawn you knight me.” All this night I will watch over the weapon in the chapel of your castle, and at dawn you will perform the rite of passage over me 14
Knighting. Cervantes parodies the actual rite of knighting. The initiate spent the night before initiation in the church guarding the weapon. In the morning, this weapon was consecrated, and the new knight made a solemn promise over it to observe the laws and rules of chivalry. Then some noble and experienced knight, taking a sword, struck the initiate three times on the left shoulder, saying: “I knight you.” The initiate was girded with a sword, golden spurs were fastened on him, and all those present went to a feast in honor of the new knight.

Then I will finally receive all the rights of a knight errant and set off in search of adventure. My weapon will serve the cause of establishing truth and justice on earth, for this is the purpose of that great knightly order to which I belong and whose exploits are glorified throughout the world.

And in many other cities: I got involved in various pranks, scandals and fights, so that I became famous in all the courts and prisons of Spain. But in my declining days I calmed down: I live peacefully in this castle and receive all the knights-errant, no matter what their rank and condition. I do this solely out of my great love for them, but, of course, on the condition that, as a reward for my kind attitude, they share their property with me.” The owner then said that there was no chapel in the castle where one could spend the night watching over weapons. But he knows that, if necessary, the laws of chivalry allow him to spend the night before initiation anywhere. Therefore, Don Quixote can stand guard over the weapons in the courtyard of the castle, and tomorrow, God willing, he will be knighted with all the necessary ceremonies, and even knighted such as has never been seen in the world.

- Help me, my lord, to take revenge for the first insult inflicted on the valiant heart you enslaved: do not deprive me of your mercy and support in this first test.

– O royal beauty, the stronghold of my soul and my heart! The hour has come when your greatness must turn its gaze to the knight you have captured, entering the great battle.

- Vile and low slaves! I despise you! Throw stones, approach, approach, attack! You will now receive a reward for your arrogance and madness!

Our knight blindly believed the words of his master and replied that he was ready to obey.

These words of the knight only strengthened the owner’s desire to quickly get rid of the restless guest.

- God send your grace happiness in knightly affairs and good luck in battles.

She promised. Then another lady put spurs on him, and with her he had the same conversation as with the one who girded him with a sword. He asked her name, and she replied that her name was Molinera and that she was the daughter of an honest miller from Antequera; Don Quixote asked her to add the title of dona to his name; at the same time, he showered her with countless thanks. When all these ceremonies were completed, Don Quixote hurried to mount his horse: he was very impatient to go in search of adventure. He saddled Rocinante, jumped on him and began to thank his owner for the dedication in such extraordinary terms that there is no way to convey them. And the owner, delighted that he had finally gotten rid of the knight, responded to his speeches with shorter, but no less pompous phrases and, without taking anything from him for the night, he released him in good health.

“Don Quixote” summary by chapters, part 1

Don Alonso Quejano devotes all his time to reading novels... Knights, duels, giants and enchanted princesses occupy his imagination so much that he can raise his huge sword over the head of the old housekeeper, imagining that she is a giant. This tall, thin man of about fifty is completely immersed in the world of chivalry. “The knights,” he thinks, “did not live for themselves. They performed feats for the whole world! They stood up for widows and orphans, for the weak and defenseless, for the oppressed and insulted. And now everyone lives in his own hole, does not care about the welfare of his neighbor.”

The income from the estate of a poor nobleman is barely enough for the most modest food and clothing. He spends all his free money on novels. This passionate and naive man believes that everything in these books is true.

And so he decides to become a knight errant and go in search of adventure. But you can’t go to heroic deeds in an old caftan! In the closet, Don Alonso found old armor and weapons; they belonged to one of his ancestors. He made the helmet with his own hands, somehow assembling an old cone and visor into one whole.

Old Quejano chose a sonorous name for himself: Don Quixote of La Mancha. The riding horse was found - an old and skinny white nag named Rocinante. All that remains is to find the lady of your heart. After all, the knights dedicated all their exploits to the beautiful lady.

In the neighboring village of Toboso, an elderly knight saw a young, hard-working peasant girl named Aldonsa. He called her a magnificent name - Dulcinea Toboso. And if someone doubts that his chosen one is a princess of the blood, he will be able to defend the honor of her name!

"Don Quixote" summary by chapters part 2

Early on a July morning, Don Quixote saddled Rocinante, put on his armor, picked up a spear and set off.

And suddenly the traveler realized that no one had knighted him. But the uninitiated cannot fight! If you believe the novels, then any owner of the castle can knight. Don Quixote let go of Rocinante's reins - let the horse and fate lead him where he needs to go. The poor knight rode all day, the horse had already begun to stumble from fatigue.

And then a poor hotel appeared in the distance. The horseman mistook two village girls gossiping at the gate for beautiful ladies. He made them laugh a lot with his polite turns of phrase.

The tavern owner asks if the traveler has money. Don Quixote never read that knights took such a thing as money with them on the road.

The owner convinces him of the need to stock up on money, linen, ointment for wounds and, most importantly, a smart squire.

The cunning innkeeper, not wanting to provide housing without payment, sent the wanderer to guard his armor in the courtyard. Don Quixote took this “task” with great responsibility: he put his armor on a trough by the well and, like a ghost at night, trampled around it. The muleteers, who needed to water the animals, were defeated by the “knight’s spear.”

The madman was almost stoned. But the innkeeper stood up for the poor fellow and knighted him with two strong blows on the shoulder.

"Don Quixote" summary by chapters part 3

Don Quixote thought about the choice of a squire. He mentally settled on one simple-minded peasant. Rocinante quickly turned towards the house. Suddenly, screams and sounds of blows were heard in the nearby forest. But the fat peasant tied the shepherd boy to a tree and whips him with a belt because he again did not guard the sheep.

Don Quixote threatens the brute with a spear and forces him to give his honest, noble word that they will no longer beat the shepherdess and will pay him his salary. Naturally, as soon as the intercessor left, the shepherd boy was stuffed by the owner “with an increase and with an extra charge,” and did not receive any money.

Don Quixote, in full confidence that he has committed a heroic act, moves on. On the road he meets a whole company of horsemen - these are merchants who appear to the don's fevered imagination as knights. And that means, according to the code approved by the novels, you need to fight them: let them admit that Dulcinea of Toboso is the most beautiful in the world.

The merchants laugh at the crazy wanderer. He rushes and fights, falls off his horse, cannot get up - heavy armor interferes with him. One of the servants stands up for the owner and brutally beats the unlucky hero.

A certain kind peasant, much amazed at Don Quixote’s absurd ravings, loaded him onto his donkey. And he dumped the armor and even fragments of the spear on Rocinante. The dreamer was taken home.

The housekeeper and the priest believe that all the harm comes from stupid books. We must burn them! Yes, burn it, and tell the madman that his library was taken away by a scarlet sorcerer...

"Don Quixote" summary by chapters part 4

The door to the library was sealed and plastered tightly.

The priest and the barber (hairdresser, barber) burned the library on a fire in the yard, and the crazy reader was told tales about a wizard who flew in on a huge dragon and destroyed the books. Alonso Quejano fully believed this, but did not stop dreaming of exploits.

A poor peasant, Sancho Panza, lived nearby. He was not very smart and incredibly wanted to get rich. Don Quixote offered him a salary and the service of a squire. In addition, the gullible peasant was promised that in the future he would be made governor of some conquered island.

Don Quixote sold the best part of his estate, filled his wallet with coins, repaired his broken weapon and ordered the newly minted squire to take care of provisions. Sancho set off on a donkey ride, which seemed rather indecent to the lord for a squire. But without his long-eared comrade, Sancho refused to go out - he didn’t like walking at all.

These two got out of the village at night and meandered along the road, wanting to get rid of the pursued one.

"Don Quixote" summary by chapters part 5

In search of adventure and dreams of governorship, the travelers reached a clearing on which stood about three dozen windmills. Don Quixote assures Sancho that these are in fact giants, and rushes into battle with the “monsters” despite the persuasion of the prudent squire.

The wind rises and turns the wings of the mills more and more. It seems to the noble don that the giants have fled. He goes on the attack. The wind is getting stronger, the wings resemble the flapping arms of a mad lord. Spurring Rocinante, the adventurer rushed forward and plunged his spear into the wing. The wind lifted the poor fellow up, threw him to the ground - almost a mile away from the scene of events, and broke the spear into chips.

With the help of a faithful squire, the old don, groaning, climbs onto his nag. He placed the tip of the spear on a stick found in the forest. He is absolutely sure that the sorcerer Freston (the same one who burned his library) turned the giants into mills.

Next, Don Quixote meets two monks. They ride on horseback, sheltering from the heat under umbrellas. A carriage with a certain lady travels in the same direction as the monks. The mad knight immediately declares the lady to be a beautiful princess, and the monks to be robbers who took her captive. And no matter how they try to convince him, he throws the monks to the ground. Sancho immediately begins to rob one of them: after all, knights get spoils in battle?

The noble don, with a polite bow, informs the lady and her servant that they are free from their tormentors - and let them, in gratitude, report this feat to the ruler of his heart, Donna Dulcinea of Toboso. The women are ready to promise anything, but then the servants accompanying the carriage came to their senses. The “defender of the oppressed” slashed one of them so hard on the head with a sword that he fell, bleeding from his nose and ears.

The frightened lady threw herself on her knees in front of the seriously distraught madman, begging him to spare her servant. Mercy was mercifully granted. Sancho bandages his master's severed ear. Don Quixote enthusiastically tells the gullible squire another legend - about a miraculous healing balm, the recipe for which he allegedly knows. The peasant tells the master that by selling such a balm, you can get rich. But the nobleman very seriously replies that he is “not a tradesman.”

The don’s helmet is all chopped up, and he takes an oath “not to eat bread from the tablecloth” until he takes the helmet from some knight in battle. Sancho reasonably counters that helmeted knights do not stand at every crossroads.

The seekers of heroic deeds have to spend the night with shepherds in the open air. The squire sighs for a soft bed, and the knight rejoices that everything happens to him, as in novels - nomadic life, deprivation...

"Don Quixote" summary of chapters 6-8 part

Rocinante, during the travelers' rest in the forest, galloped towards a herd of young healthy horses, which did not rightfully enjoy his company. The horses began to bite and kick the poor fellow, and the herders began to whip him with whips. Don Quixote, delighted with the new reason for battle, rushed to the defense of his faithful horse. Here the herdsmen beat both the knight and the squire so badly that the miraculous balm would have been very useful to them.

The good-natured innkeeper covered the sufferers with healing plasters and gave them shelter in the attic. At night, the beaten knight moaned so much that he woke up the mule driver who was sleeping nearby - and he attacked the traveler with such fury that he broke the bed on which he was sleeping.

In the morning, Don Quixote sends his squire to fetch wine, oil, salt and rosemary for a miraculous balm. He mixed the potion, muttered prayers over it, extended his hand for a blessing... The result of the sacred rite was a terrible disgusting thing, from which both the don himself and Sancho had bouts of vomiting. Moreover, the don slept for three hours - and he felt better, but the squire was so weak that he could barely climb onto the donkey and cursed all the balms in the world. Don Quixote just waved it off: “You are not a knight. Such a balm cannot help you...” Sancho was rightly angry: “Why then was it necessary to give the remedy if you know that it cannot help?”

The noble don refuses to pay for staying at the tavern: he has never read that knights pay for this - after all, they honor the owners with such a visit. For this refusal, poor Sancho suffered: the innkeeper and the people gathered at the inn tossed Sancho on a blanket like a ball. Having had enough of it, they put him on a donkey and put him outside the gate.

Moreover, they took away the bag of provisions...

But the knight errant still cannot calm down: he mistakes two oncoming herds of rams for fighting troops - and rushes into the thick of an imaginary battle, crumbling sheep right and left. The shepherds tried to calm the madman down with shouts, but then they couldn’t stand it and threw stones at him. Don Quixote, despite the assurances of his companion that they were just rams, considers this incident to be the jokes of the evil wizard Freston.

The thirst for achievement does not leave the knight: he attacks the funeral procession of monks, which he mistakes for a procession of ghosts. This time the poor don is not beaten, but Sancho Panza quietly gets to the mule loaded with provisions and collects a supply of food.

After meeting the monks, Sancho gives his don the name by which he has been known for many centuries: the Knight of the Sorrowful Countenance.

Near the river, Don Quixote almost repeats his feat with windmills - only this time with fulling hammers driven by the power of water. Sancho, finally realizing the impossibility of opening his master's eyes to reality, slowly entangles Rocinante's hind legs - and he cannot move, he only neighs pitifully. Don Quixote believes that hostile forces have bewitched the horse - and the travelers quietly await the dawn. When the sun rises, Sancho begins to laugh:

It would be nice if we jumped straight into the water!

Don Quixote, angry, hit his faithful squire on the shoulder with all his might with his spear:

You forget the respect due to me! I myself am to blame for this: I allowed too much intimacy between us. Now you will only speak to me when I speak to you.

On the road, travelers come across a man riding a donkey. Something glitters on his head. This is a barber from a nearby village who put a copper basin over his new hat to protect it from dust and heat. The basin seemed like a golden helmet to the wandering knight, which he knocked off quite easily, simply threatening the barber with a spear. Sancho removes the beautiful new harness from the barber's donkey. He would have taken the donkey, but the knight forbade him.

Don Quixote placed a basin on his head, marveling at its size - obviously, this is the helmet of the legendary giant Mambrina.

A party of convicts under escort is moving towards the travelers. They are driven to the galleys. The brave knight first politely addresses the commander of the convoy with a request to free the “oppressed.” The boss, naturally, refuses - he is doing his job. The “Liberator of the Unfortunate” knocks the boss out of the saddle. The convicts (and they are punished for robbery and robbery) break their chains, disperse the convoy and rob the chief, who is lying on the ground.

The Knight of the Sad Image demands that in gratitude they appear to Dulcinea and report on his feat. The convicts shower the knight and squire with a hail of ridicule and stones, take off Sancho's cloak and take away his donkey. The squire hobbles behind his master, dragging a bag of provisions.

Suddenly, the travelers find the corpse of a half-decayed mule, and next to it - a suitcase containing some linen and a wallet with a hundred gold coins. The knight presents this find to his squire. Sancho, feeling incredibly rich, wants to return home - to please his wife.

The sad knight climbs high into the mountains. There he is going, imitating his hero - the knight of ancient times Amadis of Gaul, to fall into noble madness, walk naked, fast and flagellate himself. He sends the squire back with a letter to Dulcinea and an order to tell about his follies.

Sancho leaves his master in the mountains and sets off on his way back to Rocinante. He absent-mindedly forgot the letter to Dulcinea.

"Don Quixote" summary by chapters part 9

At home, meanwhile, they are worried about Don Quixote. His nephew and housekeeper are looking for him everywhere. The barber and the priest are getting ready to go on a search. But right outside the gate they meet Sancho riding Rocinante. After hearing the story of the adventures of the mad knight, concerned friends gather to search for him. We need to bring the poor don home. But how? Only by deception. The knight believes in fairy tales much more than in real facts and fair arguments.

The priest met a traveling lady who was persuaded to pose as an oppressed girl, and thus lure the don out of his hermitage in the mountains. Sancho on Rocinante was their guide.

The beauty pretended to be the princess of the Mikomikon kingdom, the barber tied himself a beard from a red cow's tail - and pretended to be the faithful page of the unfortunate princess. Don Quixote believed everything he was told, climbed onto his skinny nag and set off to perform the feat. On the way they were met by a priest. The travelers stopped at a hotel.

At night, the noble don rushed into battle with the “terrible giant” who was oppressing the princess Micomikon. The hotel owner ran into the room and saw that the guest was hitting the wineskins (skins) with wine that were stored in the same room with his spear. Wine flooded the entire room. The priest restrained the owner from reprisals: “The man is out of his mind! We will compensate for all losses! "

In the morning, Don Quixote assured everyone that he had cut off the giant’s head and demanded that this trophy be sent to Dulcinea of Toboso.

The barber and the pastor deceived the hero into a wooden cage placed on a cart, and thus took him home.

“Don Quixote” summary by chapters part 10

Don Quixote's family, seeing him in a cage, sheds tears. He was completely emaciated, extremely pale and suffering from incredible loss of strength. He is put to bed like a sick child.

Sancho Panza pleases his wife and daughter with a wallet full of gold and stories of fantastic adventures. Sancho soon found his long-eared friend and took him away from the thief.

The noble don begins to gradually recover, but still looks more like some kind of dried up mummy than a person. Student Samson Carrasco comes to the village. He volunteers to cure the knight of his madness, but only if he goes traveling again. This, they say, is his method. Carrasco tells the don that he read a book that describes the exploits of the Knight of the Sorrowful Image. The naive dreamer does not notice that the student is laughing at him evilly. Inspired by the fact that he can serve as an example for noble youth, Don Quixote sets off on a new journey. With him is a faithful squire on a newly found donkey. Carrasco secretly follows them, observing the interesting phenomenon of the crazy knight wanderer.

Don Quixote behaves quite quietly, he does not even think about entering into battle with the traveling comedians, even though they are dressed in strange costumes: devils, angels, emperors and jesters...

Carrasco makes himself a luxurious outfit as a Knight of the Forest or Mirrors, actually embroidered with mirrors. On the helmet there is a luxurious plume of colorful feathers. The face is covered with a visor. His squire (Foma, Sancho's neighbor) has a terrible hooked red nose with blue warts. The nose is made of cardboard - and Thomas scared Sancho so much with this nose that he climbed a tree. The Knight of the Forest challenges the Knight of the Sad Countenance to a duel, claiming that in honor of his lady he has defeated many knights - including Don Quixote. Don begins to argue and proposes to settle the dispute by duel.

The skinny old man unexpectedly easily manages to knock his young opponent out of the saddle. The fact is that Carrasco’s horse balked - and this thwarted his plan: to defeat (unrecognized!) in battle the mad wanderer and, by right of the winner, take an oath from him for at least two years not to seek adventure and to live peacefully at home.

Don Quixote decides that the transformation of the Knight of Mirrors into a familiar student is the work of the wizard Freston. He majestically sends the “Knight of Mirrors” to Dulcinea: let him tell about the next feat of her admirer. But Carrasco, who after a fight with an old man had to have his bruised sides healed by a random chiropractor, continues to pursue the noble don. Now the student does not want to treat the madman - Samson dreams of revenge for his defeat.

"Don Quixote" summary of chapters 11-12 part

On the way, Don Quixote meets a man in a beautiful green outfit, on a beautiful horse. This is the owner of the neighboring estate - the rich man Don Diego. He became interested in the strange ideas of the lean seeker of exploits and invited him and the squire to his estate, to which they agreed.

The knight notices dust on the road. These are cages with lions that someone sends as a gift to the king. The escort says that the lions are hungry on the way - and it’s time to quickly get to the neighboring village to feed the animals exhausted from the journey.

Don Quixote demands that the hungry lions be released from their cage - he will fight them immediately!

No matter how hard they try to convince the knight, he is unshakable. The lion is released. The animal pokes its huge head out of the cage... So what? Seeing the don sticking out in front of the cage with a shield in one hand and a spear ready in the other, the lion shook his mane and retreated back into the cage. The seeker of exploits was about to tease the beast, but the counselor managed to persuade him to leave the animal alone - the knight had already sufficiently proven his courage.

Don Quixote ordered Sancho to pay the mule drivers for their troubles, and to inform the king about the unprecedented feat of the Knight of the Lions - this is the proud name he decided to call himself from that day on.
In Don Diego's estate, both the knight and the squire lived in high esteem - they were fed with various delicious dishes, generously poured wine, invited to a peasant wedding...

But Don Quixote could not live in one place for long - and soon he set off on the road again.

New roads - new meetings. Street comedian Pedro wanders into one of the hotels with the fortune-telling monkey Pittacus.

The Knight of Lions watches with interest the performance of the puppet theater. When the puppet Moors are chasing Princess Melisande, the Don takes the theatrical performance for the pure truth. He bravely knocked the heads off the cardboard infidel “troops.” Christians also suffered in the confusion: the Mélisande doll was left with a broken head and without a nose.

I had to pay for the losses. However, the noble don does not repent of what he did: he is sure that it was the same insidious sorcerer Freston who turned the army into dolls - and vice versa.

On the further journey, the Knight of Lions forced Sancho to leave his horse and donkey on the river bank and jump into a boat without oars or sail. The boat immediately drifted downstream.

Where are you going? - they shouted to them from the shore. - The boat will fall under the wheel of a water mill! You will crash!

Good people tried to block the boat's path with poles, but Don Quixote screamed:

Away! Everything here is enchanted! You won't be able to stop me! I will enter the enchanted castle and free the prisoners whose groans I hear.

The boat hit the poles and capsized. The knight and squire flew into the water, from where they were safely pulled out. But the boat itself fell under the wheel of the mill and shattered into pieces. The same fate would await our adventurers.

Then the fishermen, the owners of the destroyed boat, swooped in and demanded compensation for the loss. Don Quixote ordered the squire to pay them off and left in sadness: he was unable to save the imaginary captives.

Fortunately, the donkey and Rocinante remained safe and sound.

Sancho was angry and even wanted to leave his owner, but then he was convinced, ashamed and even shed tears of repentance.

"Don Quixote" summary of chapters 13-15 part

In a clearing near the forest, the travelers met a cavalcade of hunters. A richly dressed horsewoman galloped ahead, clearly from the highest circles of society. A hunting falcon sat on her hand. She was talking with a stately man - also noble and superbly dressed.

The Duke and Duchess invite the famous knight to relax at their estate. The travelers agree.

In front of the Duke's eyes, by an absurd accident, the knight and the squire simultaneously fall - one from a horse, the other from a donkey. This greatly amuses the noble company, which expects to have more fun at the expense of the legendary couple. In a special room, prepared with all possible luxury for the Knight of Lions, he is provided with magnificent robes: silk, velvet, lace, satin. Water in a silver basin and other utensils for washing are brought to him by as many as four chambermaids (maids).

However, the shaving water runs out at the very moment when the knight's face is lathered... He stands with his neck outstretched, and everyone secretly makes fun of him. That's how it's meant to be. The gentlemen have fun making fun of the knight, and the servants are making fun of Sancho.

However, the noble couple is developing a whole plan - how to prank Sancho as well. He is promised an island where he will be governor.

While hunting, noble gentlemen hunted a wild boar. As darkness fell, the forest was filled with trumpet sounds and thousands of lights lit up. A fantastic messenger galloped up - with the head of the devil and riding a zebra. He announced that at that very moment the wizard Merlin would appear to the Knight of the Sad Countenance with the enchanted Dulcinea. The wizard will tell the noble don how to free the unfortunate woman from the spell.

A procession of sorcerers appears in the most incredible outfits. They are carrying a lovely girl, wrapped in a transparent veil. The hunched wizard (everyone notices in horror that he has a bare skull instead of a head!) announces that there is only one way to disenchant the beautiful Dulcinea: Sancho must inflict three thousand blows on his naked body with a whip!

Sancho tries his best to avoid it. But Dulcinea showers him with wild curses, including “evil freak”, and “chicken heart”, and “cast iron soul”... Sancho is offended: Dulcinea would do well to learn politeness!

The Duchess hints to the squire that if he does not agree to help the great mistress of his master’s heart, then he will not see the governorship, like his ears without a mirror.

The Duke's chief chamberlain was in charge of this entire comedy. He played the role of Merlin himself, and the beautiful Dulcinea was portrayed by a pretty young page.

The pranks didn't end there. Another procession appears, led by a giant covered with a black veil, through which a long gray beard is visible.

They announce to Don Quixote that they are coming to him on foot from Asia itself! - Countess Dolorida Trifalda appeared. She wants to beg him for protection... and here is the Countess herself. She lifts the veil... Oh horror! Her face is overgrown with a beard, and so are the faces of her maids...

To free the women from the wizard's curse, Don Quixote must mount a wooden (supposedly flying) horse, controlled by a spring in its forehead. And not alone - but together with the squire.

I don't care about all the bearded countesses! - Sancho fights back, but in the end agrees.

In the evening, four people dressed as Asian savages bring a huge wooden horse into the garden. The knight and his squire are seated lady-style (sideways) on this monstrous structure. They were blindfolded under the pretext that otherwise they might be afraid of heights and fall down. To simulate flight, the servants of the ducal couple either blow in the faces of the “brave travelers” with the help of huge bellows, like blacksmith’s, or shove burning torches under their very noses.

And finally, the wooden horse flies into the air because it was filled with firecrackers.

The Duke and Duchess and all his retinue pretended to be unconscious. “Having recovered from their fainting spell,” they told Don Quixote that his flight so surprised the formidable wizard that he delivered all the victims from his curse and carried them back to their homeland, and returned the brave knight with his valiant squire to the duchess’s garden.

The “enchanted” countess lost her beard and, leaving, left a large parchment with gratitude to her savior.

“Don Quixote” summary of chapters 16, part 17

Sancho was very glad that he got off so easily, and wove three boxes, telling about his journey under the heavens...

And so the Duke finally ordered Sancho to go to governorship. The squire was dressed in a rich dress, seated on a mule, and followed by a richly decorated donkey. Sancho was convinced that it was indecent for the governor to ride on a donkey, but he was unable to completely part with his long-eared friend.

The island of Baratoria was in fact not an island at all, but one of the cities that belonged to the duke. But Sancho had little understanding of geography, so he was not at all surprised that the road to the “island” never crossed the body of water.

Everyone was waiting for new eccentricities, but Sancho behaved with dignity, although those who did not know what was the matter seemed strange to his heavy figure and kind, peasant face.

The chamberlain, disguised as a marshal, says that the new governor must prove himself as a wise judge. Therefore, people with controversial issues are brought to him. Sancho resolves all disputes brilliantly, using his powers of observation and common sense.

So, for example, two old men appeared at the governor’s chair, one of whom was leaning on a staff.

The old man without a staff complained that he had long ago lent the second man ten gold coins. The debtor assures that he paid the money back a long time ago, and the lender simply forgot about it.

Let him take the oath in front of the governor! - the plaintiff demands.

The defendant asks the plaintiff to hold his staff, he obeys. The old man who borrowed money raises his hands to the sky and swears:

May God see that I gave the money to this man!

Sancho Panza watches what is happening carefully, then takes out the staff and breaks it. There are coins hidden in the staff!

That is, having given a hollowed stick with coins hidden in it before the oath, the debtor was formally right: he gave the money. But it was a deception!

Sancho guessed the deceiver's intentions. The people marveled at his intelligence.

Great disappointment awaited the governor at lunch. As a mockery, they assigned Doctor Pedro Callous to him, who forbade him to eat pears, pineapples, pates, and partridges... Moreover, all the food was first brought and then removed by order of the false doctor.

First they teased Sancho's appetite, and then left him with nothing. Moreover, the Duke, who was the initiator of this fun, sent a dispatch (message, letter) to the governor, warning him that they wanted to poison Sancho. So he shouldn’t touch tasty dishes: what if they contain poison?

Sancho ate bread and grapes and went to survey his possessions. In one of the taverns he managed to have a hearty dinner of lamb with onions and veal legs. He fell asleep not hungry, but extremely dissatisfied with his new position. He dreams of getting rid of the annoying doctor and his orders.

At night he is roused from bed by screams about the attack of the conspirators. Sancho is put on heavy armor, in which he cannot not only fight, but also move. He tries to step, but falls. Torches are burning, screams are heard, people are constantly jumping over the “governor”, half-dead with fear, and even climbing onto him as if on a dais.

In the end, it is announced that the conspirators have been defeated. Sancho collapses on the bed, exhausted. In the morning, he renounces his powers as governor, saddles his beloved gray, and does not accept any gifts. He only takes a crust of bread for himself and some oats for the donkey.

On the way back, Sancho and the donkey suddenly fell into a very deep hole. Rather, it was a dry well with walls lined with stone. Below there was a branched labyrinth.

The donkey brays pitifully, Sancho also lets out cries of despair. Wandering through the labyrinth, the donkey and his owner reach a small crevice through which light breaks through.

"Don Quixote" summary of chapters 18

Don Quixote became bored with the duke's idle life. Besides, he misses his squire. The Duke restrains the wanderer, but he replies that his duties to the knightly order call him to new exploits. Driving thoughtfully around the castle, the noble don discovers the very crevice from which the voices of a donkey and a faithful squire are heard.

Don Quixote calls the Duke for help - and Sancho, along with the long-eared donkey, is pulled out of the pit. Don Quixote is going to a knight's tournament in Barcelona. There he will fight with some famous knight for the glory of his beloved Dulcinea. But she is enchanted! Sancho has not yet committed self-flagellation. And this is necessary - this is what the Duke inspired the owner to do. Sancho, loving his master, agrees...

During this unpleasant conversation for Sancho, the travelers in the forest are attacked by a robber. However, having heard such a famous name as the Knight of Lions, he abandons his intention to rob, shows a couple of travelers hospitality and gives them a letter to a noble gentleman in Barcelona - Don Antonio. In fact, it is the Duke who continues to have fun.

In Barcelona, the knight and his squire were surrounded by brilliant horsemen. They were shown extraordinary honor and fed well. All this, of course, was again arranged by noble gentlemen for entertainment.

In the evening, Senor Antonio hosted a ball at his place. Guests were warned about the opportunity to laugh. The girls and ladies, having fun, invited the “celebrity” to dance, and since Don Quixote, not the most dexterous and experienced dancer, did not want to offend anyone, he politely and politely talked and danced with each one, not noticing the ridicule. This brought him to the point of fainting from exhaustion - and he was carried to the bedroom. Sancho, in anger, began to reproach those gathered: his master’s business is not to dance, but to perform feats!

The guests made fun of both.

In the evening, the famous hidalgo was taken through the streets of the city. Unbeknownst to him, the inscription “This is Don Quixote of La Mancha” was attached to the back of his new luxurious cloak. Onlookers and street urchins pointed at the rider and read the inscription aloud. The Knight of the Sorrowful Countenance considered this evidence of his extraordinary popularity.

The next day, Don Antonio, his wife, Don Quixote and Sancho entered the room where the bronze head was placed on a jade board. As Don Antonio assured, she was made by a skilled magician and knew how to predict without opening her mouth. The secret was explained simply: a hollow tube ran from the head through the table leg to the lower floor. Student Carrasco was hiding there, and he answered questions according to the circumstances, recognizing the voices. So, he predicted to Sancho that he would be governor - but only in his own house.

After the prediction session, student Carrasco dressed up as a Knight of the Moon, challenged Don Quixote to a fight, threw him to the ground along with Rocinante and demanded that he give up travel and exploits for a year.

“I am ready to admit the incomparable beauty of Dulcinea,” the Knight of the Moon assured, “just return home.”

As you guessed, all the Duke’s pranks were also started on the student’s initiative. Don Quixote made this promise and fainted. Rocinante was so hurt that they barely made it to the stables. Sancho wept: the light of his knight's glory had faded. However, the sensible squire was soon consoled. He sat with his master in a roadside forest, gnawed at the bone of a pork ham and reasoned that a good piece of meat was better than any adventure. Then, dousing them with an unbearable stench, a herd of pigs rushed almost over their heads.

These, Sancho, are the jokes of Merlin, who is taking revenge on us for the fact that we have not yet freed Dulcinea from the spell.

Sancho agreed that it was time. He made himself a whip from a donkey's harness, went into the forest and, after the first five very painful blows, began to scourge... trees. At the same time, he squealed so much that his master, accustomed to torment, was imbued with unprecedented pity for his squire.

"Don Quixote" summary of chapters 19

Don Quixote returns home. His strength is broken. He fell ill with a fever, he was exhausted... And, most importantly, he finally saw how pitiful his nag was, how wretched his armor was and how little he himself looked like a knight.

Three days before his death, he told those around him:

I see that everything I did was pointless... I was chasing a ghost and being a laughing stock. Now I am only a poor Spanish hidalgo, Quejano.

Sancho, wonderfully received by his family (after all, he brought them a lot of gold - a gift from the Duke), cries at the bedside of his dying master:

Live, live... Forget about your failures... Blame them all on me...

Before his death, the former knight made a will in which he gave up his entire estate to his niece on the condition that she should not marry the knight errant. He died quietly - as if he had fallen asleep.

On his grave there is an epitaph composed by Samson Carrasco: “He surprised the world with his madness, but died like a sage.”

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The main character lived in the village of La Mancha, he had small property - a spear, a shield, an old horse and a dog. His last name was Kehana. The hero's age was approaching fifty years. He was fond of reading knightly novels and gradually imagined himself as a traveling knight. He polished his old armor, gave the horse the prouder name of Rosiant, called himself Don Quixote and set off on his travels. According to all the rules of knighthood, he chose the lady of his heart - Aldonza Lorenzo, for himself he began to call her Dulcinea.

Don Quixote rode all day. Tired, he decided to stop at an inn. The hero asked the owner to knight him; the initiation consisted of a slap on the head and a blow to the back with a sword. When the owner of the inn asked the knight if he had money, Don Quixote replied that there was nothing about money in the novels, so he did not take it with him. But, nevertheless, the newly made knight decided to return home to stock up on money and clothes.

Along the way, the hero showed nobility and stood up for the boy who was offended by the villager. Don Quixote decided to find himself a squire and offered this position to the farmer Sancho Panza. At night they set off on their journey again. They came across windmills, which seemed like giants to Don Quixote. He rushed to fight them. The wing of the mill threw the knight to the ground, his spear broke into splinters. Don Quixote mistook a herd of sheep for the enemy army. For this he suffered greatly from the shepherds, who threw stones at him.

Sancho Panse began to call the hero the Knight of the Sorrowful Image because of the sad face of Don Quixote. In the mountains, travelers managed to find a suitcase with gold coins and some clothes. Don Quixote gave the money to the squire. Then Don Quixote writes several letters, one of them is a love letter to Dulcinea, another to his niece. According to the knight's idea, they were to be delivered by Sancho Panza.

But he went to the village without them. Returning, the squire lied to Don Quixote that Dulcinea wanted to meet with him. But the knight replied that he must first become worthy and accomplish even more feats. The travelers continued their journey and stopped at an inn. All night in his sleep, Don Quixote fought with his enemies. The next morning, one of the guards staying at the inn recognized Don Quixote as a wanted intruder.

It turned out that the knight was being sought for the release of escaped convicts. At first they wanted to take Don Quixote to the city prison, but then they released him along with Sancho Panse to his native village. Don Quixote fell ill for a whole month. Then he learned from his squire that a real book had been invented about their adventures, which everyone was reading.

The comrades set off on a new journey. This time to the city of Toboso, where Dulcinea lived. It turned out that Don Quixote not only did not know the address of his beloved, but had never seen her in person. Sancho Panse guessed about this and decided to marry a simple peasant woman to Dulcinea. Don Quixote regarded the appearance of a rude, ugly peasant woman as the work of evil forces.

One day, in a green meadow, Don Quixote witnessed a ducal hunt. The Duchess was reading a novel about Don Quixote. The knight was greeted with respect and invited to the castle. Soon the Duke and his retinue sent Sancho Panse to one of the towns. There the squire was given the title of lifelong governor of Barataria. There he had to establish his own rules, as well as protect the city from the enemy. But soon Sancho Panza got tired of these ten days of governorship and he, mounting a donkey, hurried to return to Don Quixote. The knight was also tired of the duke's quiet life.

The comrades hit the road again. After traveling a little more, the wanderers returned to their native village. Don Quixote became a shepherd. Before his death, the hero remembered his real name - Alonso Quijano. He blamed it all on the chivalric romances that clouded his mind. He died as an ordinary man, and not as a knight errant.

A funny story about Don Quixote - "Subtle Move!" The novel “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” Quotes from the book “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” Miguel Cervantes

The novel "Don Quixote" summary

You can read the novel “Don Quixote” in its entirety online on the Top Books website.

Chapter 1, which tells who Don Quixote of La Mancha was

Chapter 2, which tells about Don Quixote's first departure from his possessions

Chapter 3, which tells how Don Quixote was knighted

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra Don Quixote

Chapter 1, which tells who Don Quixote of La Mancha was

Chapter 2, which tells about Don Quixote's first departure from his possessions

Chapter 3, which tells how Don Quixote was knighted

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Don Quixote