Up to page 686

Italics are what I penciled in the margins

The block quotes are quotes from the book.

Everything else are just my thoughts as I’m typing along here

 

 

 

Chapter 23

In which Quixote relates a dream, believing it to be real. Skipped 9/10ths of this.

 

Chapter 24

In which there are many meetings of various people, which prepares us for future stories.

 

Chapter 25

In which Quixote meets a monkey who he thinks should go before the Inquisition.

 

[Alderman 2] “for I propose that you shall go on one side of the mountain, and I on the other, and so we shall traverse and encompass it quite round; and every now and then you shall bray, and so will I; and the ass will most certainly hear and answer us, if he be in the mountain.”

You know what is going to happen…

…2 paragraphs later…

…it fell out, that they both brayed at the same instant, and each of them, deceived by the braying of the other, ran to seek the other, thinking the ass had appeared;

 

Don Quixote was not entirely satisfied with the ape’s divinations,

What else does he want from a monkey? He wants a fight!

 

and I wonder he has not been accused to the Inquisition, and examined by torture, til he confesses, by virtue of what, or of who, he divines: for it is certain this ape is no astrologer; and neither his master nor he know how to raise one of those figures called ‘judiciary’.

The original “You’re doing it Wrong!” kind of thinking…

 

Chapter 26

In which Quixote watches a puppet show and acts outrageously.

 

The long and the short is that he attacks a puppet show because he doesn’t like how one the puppets acts, since it is supposed to be a knight.

 

Chapter 27

In which Quixote makes a speech and is almost shot while Sancho is beaten yet again.

 

In conclusion, they found, that the town derided was sallied forth to attack another, which had laughed at them too much, and beyond what was fitting for good neighbours.

Ahhh yes, the old jolly “let us kill anyone who laughs at us” trick. Good fun, what?

 

Then, laying his hands to his nostrils, he [Sancho] began to bray…

But one of those, who stood close by him, believing he was making a mock of them, lifted up a pole he had in his hand, and gave him such a polt with it, as brought Sancho Panza to the ground.

All because Sancho just couldn’t shut up.

 

Chapter 28

In which Sancho wants to go home and leave Quixote. Quixote talks him out of it.

 

“To retire is not to fly,” answered Don Quixote

Retrograde Advance to the Rear!

 

I say again, it would be much better for me, to return to my own house, and to my wife and children, to maintain and bring them up with the little God shall be pleased to give me,

Then go home! you chucklehead

 

Chapter 29

In which they steal a boat and grind it up at a mill, which Quixote claims is a castle.

 

“I believe nothing of all this” answered Sancho…

“…since with my own eyes….yonder stand Rosinante and Dapple in the very place where we left them.”

So much for Quixotes’s 700 leagues

 

Chapter 30

In which the pair meet up with some rich people who plan on using them as free entertainment.

I have reached the point of saturation.  I can not take any more of these idiots. I shall take a break and then just read through this with no more note taking or comments.

 

Previous Don Quixote Updates

 

 

 

 

 

Still plugging along here. I’m just in no rush at all.

Up to page 589

Italics are what I penciled in the margins

The block quotes are quotes from the book.

Everything else are just my thoughts as I’m typing along here

 

 

 

Chapter 14

In which the Knight of the Wood turns out to be an old “friend”.

 

I came, I saw, I conquered.

Quote from who?  Turns out to attributable to Julius Caesar.

As a side note, why the bloody phrack wasn’t that noted in the back? It is this kind of slipshod “notes” from E.C. Riley that is really turning me off this edition.

 

He saw, says the history, the very face…of the bachelor Samson Carrasco;

So the Knight of the Wood turns out to be the Bachelor. What a trouble maker! I hope he dies.

 

…Sancho, eyeing him more and more, with a loud voice of admiration, said:

‘Blessed Virgin, defend me! Is not this Tom Cecial, my neighbour and gossip?’

‘Indeed am I,’ answered the unnosed squire; ‘Tom Cecial I am, gossip and friend to Sancho Panza;’

Another trouble maker. A pox on them all!

 

Chapter 15

In which the Bachelor, being beaten by Quixote on the field of arms,  is a fool and blames Quixote for all his pains and plans his revenge

 

‘It is fit you should,’ answered Sampson; ‘but to think that I will return to mine, till I have soundly banged this same Don Quixote, is to be greatly mistaken; and it is not now the desire of curing him of his madness that prompts me to seek him, but a desire of being revenged on him; for the pain of my ribs will not let me entertain more charitable considerations.’

Yet is was Sampson, the Bachelor, who sought out Quixote under the guise of the Knight of the Wood. He has no one to blame but himself but like a true human, he assigns the blame elsewhere and shirks his responsibility in the matter.

 

Chapter 16

In which they meet another traveller who is beguiled by Quixote’s manner and not sure that he is mad at all.

 

‘God knows the truth,’ answered Sancho; who, well knowing that the transformation of Dulcinea was all his own plot and device, was not satisfied with his master’s chimerical notions, but would make no reply, let he should let fall some word that might discover his cheat.

How can he be so smart and yet so dumb? A mystery with no solution I am afraid

 

I have accomplished a great part of my design, succouring widows, protecting damsels, aiding married women and orphans; the natural and proper office of knights-errant. And thus, by many valorous and Christian exploits, I have merited the honour of being in print, in all, or most of the nations of the world.

What? When did those acts happen?   And that last sentence, sounds just like Special Snowflakes of today

 

 

Quixote meets the “Enchanted” Dulcinea of Sancho’s creation

Up to page 568

Italics are what I penciled in the margins

The block quotes are quotes from the book.

Everything else are just my thoughts as I’m typing along here

 

 

 

Chapter 9

In which Sancho admits that he never met the Lady Dulcinea or delivered Quixote’s letters to her and Quixote refuses to believe him.

 

‘Then lead on yourself, sir,’ answered Sancho:

Sancho’s got some fire in his belly!

 

Chapter 10

In which Sancho fools Quixote into thinking some random wench is Dulcinea

 

…because herein Don Quixote’s madness exceeds all bounds, and rises to the utmost pitch, even two bow shots beyond the greatest extravagance;

How is that even possible? What can he do to be any nuttier than in previous escapades?

 

…that among lovers, the external actions and gesture, when their loves are the subject, are most certain couriers; and bring infallible tidings of what passes in the inmost recesses of the soul.

That does it! Mrs Bookstooge is going to stand on one foot from now on whenever she talks about me, to show how much she loves me. Pure genius!

 

‘…they come mounted upon three pie-bellied belfreys…’

‘Palfreys, you would say, Sancho,’ quoth Don Quixote

‘There is no great difference, I think,’ answered Sancho, ‘between belfries and palfreys:’

Oh my goodness. This is why education is important and things like “ebonics” are an execration upon the face of Language. And don’t even get me started on ‘leet speek’!

 

Chapter 11

In which the duo meet some players and have their peace disturbed

 

“To you it belongs, Sancho, to revenge the affront offered to your Dapple; and I from hence will encourage and assist you with my voice, and with salutary instructions.”

I guess the “managerial spirit” existed in the 1600’s. Every Target manager and exec should read Quixote, to see how it Shouldn’t Be Done. Might make them not appear so ass-like and out of touch with reality

 

Chapter 12

In which they meet another Knight Errant in love and his squire

 

‘…for men have received divers wholesome instructions, and many lessons of importance, from beasts;…the vomit and gratitude from dogs…’

Eating lunch here!

 

Chapter 13

In which the 2 Squires blab and compare notes on their Masters

 

‘Really and truly, Senor Squire,’ answered he of the Wood, ‘I have resolved and determined with myself to quit the frolics of these knights-errant,…’

Best decision EVAH!

 

‘And, pray, what may be the age of the young lady you are breeding up for a countess?’ demanded he of the Wood.

‘Fifteen years, or thereabouts,’ answered Sancho: ‘but she is as tall as a lance, as fresh as an April morning, and as strong as a porter.’

‘These are qualifications,’ said he of the Woods, ‘not only for a countess, but for a nymph of the green grove. Ah, the whoreson young slut! how buxom must the jade be!”

What? Is he TRYING to pick a fight with Sancho?

 

‘… for they who seek adventures, do not always meet with good ones.’

My motto exactly! There will be no Adventures in my household!

 

Apparently, Sancho’s daughter was big into eyeshadow! Who knew?

Previous Don Quixote Posts

Up to page 540

Italics are what I penciled in the margins

The block quotes are quotes from the book.

Everything else are just my thoughts as I’m typing along here

 

 

 

Chapter 5

In which Sancho and his wife plan their future and their children’s future.  A total disconnect from reality, or in other words, total B.S.

 

“I tell you, wife”, answered Sancho, “that, did I not expect, ere long, to see myself a governor of an island, I should drop down dead upon the spot”

How naive can one man be?

 

Chapter 6

In which the Niece and the Maid attempt to reason with Quixote and fail miserably.

 

—without standing upon trifles, or upon the laws of duelling, —such as, whether our adversary bears a shorter or longer lance or sword,

He just changes the rules to please himself

 

‘were you not my niece… I would make such an example of you for the blasphemy you have uttered,’

but in Chapter 3 Quixote himself was saying how historians tell nothing but lies

 

and it will be in vain for you to tire yourselves in persuading me not to attempt what heaven requires, fortune ordains, and reason demands, and above all, what my inclination leads me to.

What he “wants”. Everything else is just excuses to bolster his own selfish wants.

 

Chapter 7

In which the Bachelor upsets all reason and Quixote & Sancho set out upon Adventure #3

 

“What I would be at”, quoth Sancho, “is, that your worship would be pleased to appoint me a certain salary, at so much per month, for the time I shall serve you,”

Sancho is learning

 

The bachelor… believed all he had read of him [Quixote], and concluded him to be one of the most solemn coxcombs of the age; and said to himself, that two such fools, as master and man, were never before seen in the world.

 

The curses, which the housekeeper and niece heaped upon the bachelor, were not to be numbered; they tore their hair, and scratched their faces,

I would have attempted violence upon Carasco himself [the Bachelor]

 

Chapter 8

In which Sancho argues eloquently and the pair head to Toboso to see Dulcinea

 

“There I have caught you,” quoth Sancho.

Where did this brilliance come from?

 

“What would you have me infer, Sancho, from all you have been saying?” quoth Don Quixote

“I would infer,” said Sancho, “that we had better turn saints immediately, and we shall then soon attain to that renown we aim at.

Wise words!!

 

In these and the like discourses they passed that night, and the following day, without any accident worth relating; whereat Don Quixote was not a little grieved.

Boohoo!

 

Quixote & Sancho set out for even more Mis-Adventures

Not really feeling like writing still, so much easier to just write an update on Don Quixote.  And even reading this has really slowed down as side story after side story, not dealing with Quixote or Sancho, bogs me down. Chapter 52 is the end of Part I.

Up to page 480

 

 

 

Chapters 40-52

Lots of side characters appear for a chapter, tell a long winded and boring story and then ride out of the scene.

Quixote, under the eyes of his friends the Priest and the Barber, continues his slow journey home. He fights with a goat herd [who has his own longwinded, boring tale], gets put in a cage by soldiers and attacks a group of villagers carrying an idol of  Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Ends with him being severely beaten by the villagers and getting home and recovering. Sancho is reunited with his wife and everyone blames the books Quixote reads instead of the bumbling fool himself.

To end Part I, I have to say, I wish Quixote had been let alone by his friends and been forced to pay the price of his extravagant delusions. Sancho, on the other hand, has really played the sidekick perfectly. He’ll fight with Quixote at the drop of a hat but woe betide anyone who tries to fight with Quixote. He’s a greedy idiot who still thinks he’s going to be the governor of some “island” even while being in the middle of Spain. He provided the humor for me where Quixote just annoyed me.

 

A fitting picture to end Part One of Don Quixote

Up to page 371

Italics are what I penciled in the margins

The block quotes are quotes from the book.

Everything else are just my thoughts as I’m typing along here

 

 

 

Chapter 33

In which the story in the story begins. 2 friends, Lothario and Anselmo are introduced and show their true, base natures.

 

…that the thing which disquiets me is, a desire to know whether my wife Camilla be as good and as perfect as I imagine her to be;

Of course not! She’s human too, you dolt

 

…doing a thing in itself so detestable as that you require of me?

A good friend warns as well as encourages

 

…one should not lay stumbling-blocks in her way to make her trip and fall, but rather remove them, and clear the way before her, that she may without hindrance advance towards her proper perfection,

The duty of a husband is to help his wife, not test her

 

I fly the good and pursue the evil.

…

And therefore some art must be made use of to cure me; and it may be done with ease only by your beginning to court Camillia.

Anselmo is a scumbag!!!!

 

Lothario….finding he[Anselmo] threatened to impart his extravagant desire to some other person, resolved, in order to avoid a greater evil, to gratify him and undertake what he desire,…

Why?!? How is a scandal a greater evil than the evil of trying to seduce your best friend’s wife, at his behest? Ugh

 

But what he had said was sufficient to leave Lothario abashed and confounded: who, thinking his honour touched by being caught in a lie,…

What about the “honor” of his friend and wife?

 

…quite overturned Lothario’s integrity.

Sin destroys, period.

 

 

Chapter 34

In which the story of Lothario, Anselmo and Camilla continue.

 

…but you had first seen, in his eyes, in his sighs, in his expressions, in his promises, and his presents…

how worthy Lothario was of your love.

What kind of sick twisted thinking is THAT!?!?

 

He is…faithful…honourable…

I don’t think so

 

…and I am afraid of some unlucky event from this quarter.

Your sins WILL find you out

 

Anselmo now remained…deceived.

…

and the iniquity, until then so artfully concealed…cost poor Anselmo his life.

Ha!

 

 

Chapter 35

In which the end of the story within the story concludes. And we get an interlude from the inn where Don Quixote fights in his dreams and kills a giant, which turns out to be an 18gallon wine skin.

 

He [Quixote] was in his shirt, which was not quite long enough before to cover his thighs, and was six inches short behind;

Swinging in the breeze. Ohhh, I can’t cover my mental eyes. Stab, stab, stab

 

Anselmo perceived somebody walking in Leonela’s chamber…he saw a man leap down from the window into the street; and running hastily to stop him, or to see who he was, he could do neither: for Leonela clung about him crying:

“Dear sir, be calm…he is my husband”

Anselmo would not believe Leonela, but, blind with rage, drew his poniard, and offered to stab her, assuring, that, if she did not tell him the whole truth, he would kill her;

 

A bit of an over reaction to his maid’s husband, don’t you think?

 

This was the end of them all, an end sprung from an extravagant rashness at the beginning.

Anselmo wants to be cuckolded, but when he is, it kills him. What a fool and what a horrible friend Lothario was.

 

 

Chapter 36

In which Cardenio [the madman] is reunited with his love Lucinda, Dorothea gets her man Fernando and Sancho is devastated upon realizing that Dorothea is not an actual Princess.

 

…that the generous heart of Don Fernando, being nourished with noble blood, was softened…

yes, SO noble. Sleeps around, steals his friends love, abandons his wife, kidnaps an almost nun. Yep, REAL noble.

 

Chapter 37

A noble and his moorish lady join everyone at the inn. Quixote begins to discourse on Knight Warranty.

 

‘I tell thee, Sancho,’ said  Don Quixote, ‘thou art an ass;’

From the horses mouth

 

Don Quixote went on with his discourse in such a manner, and in such proper expressions, that none of those who heard him at that time could take him for a madman.

Madness was equated to craziness at all times in their minds

 

 

Chapter 38

In which Quixote blabbers on. The mysterious noble prepares to tell his tale. Not much Quixote in the lst few chapters.

 

To this arms answer, that laws cannot be supported without them: for by arms republics are defended, kingdoms are preserved, cities are guarded, highways are secured, and the seas are cleared from corsairs and pirates;

♪War♪Huh, What is it good for?!?♪ 

Apparently more than that idiot who wrote that song realized

 

‘A blessing on those happy ages, strangers to the dreadful fury of those devilish instruments of artillery, whose inventor, I verily believe, is now in hell receiving the reward of his diabolical invention; by means of which it is in the power of a cowardly and base hand to take away the life of the bravest cavalier,and to whichis owing, that without knowing how, or from whence, in the midst of that resolution and bravery, which inflames and animates gallant spirits, comes a chance ball, shot off by one, who, perhaps, fled and was frighted at the very flash in the pan, and in an instant cuts short and puts an end to the thoughts and life of him who deserved to have lived for many ages.

Holy smokes, that was ONE sentence. He makes Paul seem withdrawn and downright taciturn.

 

Chapter 39

In which a long speech is given about various battles and names which leads to the revelation that the Mystery Noble knows Don Fernando’s brother.

BORING

 

Quixote fighting the Giants, err, Giant Wineskins that is

Up to page 298

Italics are what I penciled in the margins

The block quotes are quotes from the book.

Everything else are just my thoughts as I’m typing along here

 

 

 

Chapter 30

In which Dorothea spins her tale to lure Quixote back to his village and in which Quixote and Sancho fight yet again over Sancho’s promised reward.

 

“But, dear madam, how came you to land at Osuna?” answered Don Quixote, “since it is no seaport town.”

What a mix of madness and reason. He swallows her tale of giants and prophecies without a blink but waffles at her choice of town?

 

“I have found it so,” answered Sancho; “and so, in me, the desire of talking is always a first motion, and I cannot forbear uttering, for once at least, whatever comes to my tongue’s end.”

Brainless buffoon

 

“There is another thing remarkable in it,” said the priest, “which is, that, setting aside the follies this honest gentleman utters in everything relating to his madness, he can discourse very sensibly upon other points, and seems to have a clear and settled judgement in all things;”…

Glad Cervantes brings this up even while not answering it.  And my goodness, does he like to use commas.

 

Chapter 31

In which Sancho and Quixote talk about Sancho’s rewards, as Sancho sees the subject. Also, one of those that Quixote has “helped” in former chapters meets him, remonstrates against him and begs him to leave well enough alone.

 

…will you let slip so considerable a match as this, when the dowry is a kingdom, which I have heard say, is above twenty thousand leagues in circumference,…

Now Sancho is just making things up because he is greedy!

 

“I have heard it preached,” quoth Sancho, “that God is to be loved with this kind of love, for Himself alone, without our being moved to it by the hope of reward, or the fear of punishment: though for my part, I am inclined to love and serve Him for what He is able to do for me.”

Just when I thought Sancho couldn’t sink any lower.  And this is how the majority of the world views God, ugh. What dull, fallen, humanity.

 

[Andres] “And your worship is in the fault of all this; for had you gone on your way, and not come where you was not called, nor meddled with other folk’s business…”

The lament, no doubt, to be voiced again and again through the book.

 

Chapter 32

In which the group stops at an inn, previously used by Quixote and Sancho. Said innkeeper thinks his books of chivalry are books of fact and no amount of arguing can convince him otherwise. He brings one out to read to the company.

 

The seemingly usual position of Quixote and Sancho. Upended ass over teakettle.

 

 

Up to page 274

Italics are what I penciled in the margins

The block quotes are quotes from the book.

Everything else are just my thoughts as I’m typing along here

 

 

 

Chapter 24

In which the madman Cardenio begins his tale of woe but Don Quixote interrupts and they fight about some imaginary lady’s honor.

 

Now as love in young men is, for the most part, nothing but appetite, and as pleasure is its ultimate end, it is terminated by enjoyment.

A lot of heart ache would be avoided in our world if more young men would control themselves and more young women would use their minds instead of their hearts.

 

Cardenio, being now mad, and hearing himself called liar and villain, with other such opprobrious words did not like the jest;…

…and when he had beaten and thrashed them all, he left them…

Fight, fight, fight!!!

 

Chapter 25

In which Don Quixote does “penance” in the mountains and writes a letter to his lady Dulcinea and Sancho just wants to leave and go home

 

…to desire me to bear your worship company through these solitudes, night and day, without suffering me to talk when I list, is to bury me alive.

I know that feeling!

 

And understand, with all your five senses, that whatever I have done, do, or shall do, is highly reasonable, and exactly conformable to the rules of chivalry, which I am better acquainted with than all the knights who have professed it in the world.

Most ridiculous thing Quixote has said so far in the entire book!

 

…a knight-errant who runs mad upon a just occasion deserves no thanks; but to do so without reason is the business,

Not a rational thought in Quixotes head. Aye…..

 

“Sovereign and high lady,

“the stabbed by the point of absence, and the pierced to the heart, O sweetest Dulcinea del Toboso, sends that health to you which he wants himself. If your beauty despises me, if your worth profits me nothing, and if your disdain still pursues me, though I am inured to suffering, I shall ill support an affliction, which is not only violent, but the more durable for being so. My good squire Sancho will give a full account, O ungrateful fair, and my beloved enemy, of the condition I am in for your sake. if it pleases you to relieve me, I am yours; and if not, do what seems good to you; for by my death, I shall at once satisfy your cruelty and my own passion.

“Yours until death,

“The Knight of the Sorrowful Figure”

What a load of nonsense. I’d expect it from a teenager, but not a mature man.

 

Chapter 26

Upon his journey to the Lady Dulcinea, Sancho meets Quixote’s friends, the priest and the barber and they all conspire to play along with Quixote to get him back home.

 

Sancho Panza immediately knew them, and resolved to conceal the place and circumstances in which he had left his master;

Why? He knows Quixote is nuts, so why cover for him?

 

Sancho Panza put his hand into his bosom, to take out the letter, but found it not;

…for it remained with Don Quixote, who had forgotten to give it him, and he to ask for it.

So know Sancho must “remember” the letter. Oh my, that isn’t going to be good for anyone.

 

Chapter 27

The rest of the madman Cardenio’s story.

…for, with all his folly and simplicity, the spark (Sancho) was somewhat covetous.

Ya think!? He’s following Quixote for the governship of an island for goodness sake.

 

Since each circumstance seems to me to deserve a long discourse;

Cardenio is a long winded blow hard who likes the sound of his own voice

 

Chapter 28

In which the Priest, the Barber and Sancho hear “the rest of the story” by Dorothea.

 

What your dress, madam, would conceal from us, your hair discovers;

I Corinthians 11:15  A woman’s glory…

 

Chapter 29

A fool, a mad man and a lady, all walk into a bar…

*cymbals*

In which Dorothea with the rest of them, begin to try to lure Quixote back to his village

 

…as the priest was amazed at his simplicity…since he could persuade himself that Don Quixote would, at one time or other, come to be an emperor.

Sancho goes in and out of reality as badly as Quixote.

 

(Cardenio in a mad fit thrashing Quixote, Sancho and a shepherd)