SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS
I.
The story opens with a reference to the knights-errant, their equipment, and the object they had in view. Their deeds of valour were first commemorated by oral narration, and afterwards consigned to books. The proud possessor of a book saw gathered round him a large company to hear the famous exploits of the knights. The more extravagant the narration, the better pleased the audience was. Some people looked upon those tales as romance, yet books containing the tales multiplied, especially in the South of Spain, where the hero of the story lived. He was a poor country gentleman, who had a craze for collecting trophies, knight equipments such as javelins, coats-of-mail, and the like. His personal appearance, his dress, his household, and his old horse and hound are minutely described. One of those tales fell into his hands. He read it, devoured it, and afterwards became so enamoured of them that he neglected his work. He knew the knights by name, he knew of their deeds. At last he lost his mind, and would become a knight!—he had dreams of surpassing by his deeds the boldest knights. He dons his armour, ridiculously bizarre, names his horse “Rosinante,” and calls himself “Don Cíochóté de la Mancha,” assigning reasons for both names. But a knight must have his Lady; he had a peasant girl in his mind. He called her by the name Dulsinea. Our hero showed sense and discretion in not acquainting the girl or her parents of his intentions. He had already fantastic visions of subduing tyrants, avenging wrongs, and slaying giants.
II.
Don Cíochóté is ready to go forth, and rebukes himself for his dilatoriness. In full equipment, mounted on his sorry nag, he departs. He draws rein a short distance from home. He should be knighted before setting out. He wants to go back, but resolves to proceed and ask the first knight he will meet to bestow knighthood on him. A new-made knight, too, should wear white armour, but he satisfies himself that his old armour could be made as white as snow by polishing. He starts Rosinante again, whilst he dreams of glory and talks and laughs incoherently. He hears the boy-herd blowing his horn. He fancies that it is to greet him. He goes to the inn, bowing and uttering grandiloquent phrases. He bows to the servant girls, meets the innkeeper, and he resents the laughter of the girls, and regards them as ladies. The servant girls aid him to
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