A Further Account of the Innumerable Hardships Which the brave Don Quixote, and His Worthy Squire Sancho, Underwent in the Inn

Don Quixote comes to and calls out pitifully to his squire. Panza is in a foul mood and says “all the imps of hell have been tormenting him” all night. Quixote claims this is an enchanted castle and makes Panza swear not to tell anyone what he is about to say, at least until Quixote is dead. The squire agrees and hopes that happens tomorrow, as he hates to keep things around too long.

Quixote explains that a great adventure happened to him last night. The daughter of the lord of this castle, a stunningly beautiful and charming woman, came to him. When they were engaged in the most “tender and passionate discourses,” a mighty, unseen giant knocked Quixote in the jaw. Soon the woman joined in and “barbarously bruised” him, and this morning he feels even worse than after yesterday’s beating. He suspects this damsel is protected by some enchantment and is not allowed to adore any but the man who cast the spell—probably a Moor.

Panza agrees and explains that he was assaulted last night by four hundred Moors. He wonders why the knight calls this a pleasant adventure, since they both got “lamentably pounded” in it. At least Quixote got to hold a lovely woman for a while; Panza whines that he will never be a knight-errant but is consistently treated more horribly than his master. Quixote plans to make the special healing potion for his squire.

The peace officer comes to see who was murdered last night; the squire sees the man’s strange outfit and assumes this must be the enchanted Moor who has come back to finish beating him. Quixote says it cannot be the Moor, for enchanted people cannot be seen by others; Panza says perhaps they cannot be seen, but they can certainly be felt. As they argue, the officer approaches and sees the bruised and bloody knight. Quixote gets insulted and says that is no way to address a knight-errant. The officer, insulted at being spoken to in such a way by such a “scurvy figure,” whacks Quixote hard with his lantern and quickly leaves under the cover of darkness.

Quixote is now convinced that he was the enchanted Moor and asks his squire to hurry to the lord of the castle and gather the ingredients for the potion, as he is bleeding profusely from the officer’s blow. Panza gimps his way to the inn and finds the officer, who is waiting to learn how badly he had wounded the knight; Panza asks the man for some supplies so he can treat his master’s wound, a wound inflicted by the enchanted Moor of this inn. The officer assumes the man is crazy, and Panza is given the ingredients for the potion.

Quixote boils the ingredients long enough (he hopes) and then mumbles a blessing before deciding to try the potion before giving it to his squire. As soon as he swallows it, Quixote retches and shivers with fever so violently that he falls into an exhausted sleep.

Three hours later, Quixote wakes up so refreshed and whole that he feels he can accomplish any task. When Panza drinks the potion, the effects are so horrible he thinks he is going to die. Quixote believes his squire is suffering because he is not a knight. After two hours of torment, the squire is spent but does not recuperate as his master did; he can hardly stand.

Quixote determines to leave and loads Panza over his donkey, sighing at the innkeeper’s daughter who is among those watching his preparations. Everyone thinks Quixote’s sighs are due to his pain from the beating. Finally Quixote tells the innkeeper that he has been treated so well at his castle that he will gladly do avenging deeds on his behalf; all the innkeeper wants is the money due him for food and lodging. Quixote is dumbfounded to learn this is an inn and insists that he thought it was a castle; knights must never pay for staying in an inn, for it is the least people can do to reward brave knights.

Quixote immediately rides away, assuming Panza is following him. The innkeeper now threatens Panza for the money and some guests toss Panza in the air in a blanket; finally Quixote recognizes his squire’s cries and hurries back to the inn, though his efforts to help are ineffectual. Finally the men release Panza and drape him back over his donkey; Maritornes pities Panza and pays for wine to relieve him. After Panza is refreshed, the two men leave the inn, satisfied at not having paid the innkeeper; the innkeeper is satisfied because, unknown to Panza, he has Panza’s wallet.