2 Matching Annotations
  1. Jan 2017
    1. Sancho had not thought it worth while to hobble Rocinante, feeling sure, from what he knew of his staidness and freedom from incontinence, that all the mares in the Cordova pastures would not lead him into an impropriety. Chance, however, and the devil, who is not always asleep, so ordained it that feeding in this valley there was a drove of Galician ponies belonging to certain Yanguesan carriers, whose way it is to take their midday rest with their teams in places and spots where grass and water abound; and that where Don Quixote chanced to be suited the Yanguesans' purpose very well. It so happened, then, that Rocinante took a fancy to disport himself with their ladyships the ponies, and abandoning his usual gait and demeanour as he scented them, he, without asking leave of his master, got up a briskish little trot and hastened to make known his wishes to them; they, however, it seemed, preferred their pasture to him, and received him with their heels and teeth to such effect that they soon broke his girths and left him naked without a saddle to cover him; but what must have been worse to him was that the carriers, seeing the violence he was offering to their mares, came running up armed with stakes, and so belaboured him that they brought him sorely battered to the ground.

      This passage of Don Quixote seems to give readers a great image of Rocinante's personality. This also further proves that even the animals in Cervantes's book are characters that take on life and add to the plot. In this case, it was Rocinante who wandered into Yanguesan carriers. Rocinante's actions of trying to mate with their Galician ponies did not sit well with the Yanguesans, who began beating the horse. Seeing this, Don Quixote and Sancho were dragged into the fight, making this another notable scene in the plot.

  2. Feb 2016