Summary Chapter 47




Don Quixote is puzzled by the way he is being transported. Knights are commonly transported to other places by magical means. However, he assumes new ways have come into fashion.

Sancho expresses his doubts about the apparitions carrying them off are Catholic. Though they appear to be devils, one doesn't smell like a devil. Instead of the stench of brimstone, he smells of a gentlemanly perfume. Don Quixote claims devils don't have smells, and if the devil smells sweet--then he must be trying to deceive Sancho into thinking he is not a devil.

The others, fearing Sancho will discover their scheme, wish to leave right away. The curate hires the officers to escort them to their village. The landlady, Maritornes, and the daughter of the landlord pretend to weep at Don Quixote's misfortune.

The curate and the barber bid farewell to their friends, promising to keep in contact and update them about Quixote's health. The landlord gives the curate some papers he found within the book of The Ill-Advised Curiosity.

The curate and barber are masked so that Quixote doesn't recognize them. The procession begins. They are soon greeted by the canon of Toledo. He is surprised by the way Quixote is being transported, but he assumes that he must be a criminal since he sees the officers. He asks one of them about the man in the cage. The officer tells him he should ask Quixote. Quixote offers to explain the situation, but the curate comes up--fearing their plot will be revealed.

However, the canon is very knowledgeable about chivalry. Don Quixote tells him he is being held prisoner by evil enchanters who envy him. The curate tells the man he surely has heard of Quixote, and it is true that he is being held prisoner.

Sancho says that Don Quixote has his senses, and he is not enchanted. Enchanted people don't eat or sleep. He reveals that he knows it is the curate under the mask. He accuses the curate of being the one who is jealous. If it hadn't been for him, Quixote would have married the princess...and Sancho would have been a count or someone important.

The barber remarks that perhaps Sancho should be in the same cage as his master. Fearing Sancho will reveal too much, the curate asks the canon to ride a little ahead so they can explain to him what is happening. The canon admits that while he has read books on chivalry, he never finishes them. They pretty much tell the same type of story and are full of nonsense. They have no moral value. The curate tells him that is why he burned the books in Quixote's library.



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