How we cite our quotes: (Part.Book.Chapter.Paragraph) We use the P. A. Motteux translation from 1712 for our quotes. Some familiar character names appear differently in this edition (Sancho Panza is Sancho Panca here, Rocinante is Rozinante, and Doña Rodriguez is Donna Rodriguez). We preserve Motteux's spellings in our quotes but use the more familiar versions of these names in our analysis.
Quote #7
Claudia pressed his hand, and being pierced at once to the very heart, dropped on his bloody breast into a swoon, and Don Vincente fainted away into a deadly trance. (2.1.60.8)
Uh oh. It turns out that Vicente didn't betray Claudia after all, and he never had any intention of marrying anyone but her. It's a shame that Claudia blew his heart out with a pistol before asking him to explain himself. But let that just be a lesson to everyone: ask questions first; shoot later. We'd also like to point out that this story shows how dangerous the pranks and manipulation we see in every chapter of the novel can really be. It's all fun and games until someone gets shot through the heart. Any of these stories could have ended in tragedy if people had reacted differently.
Quote #8
One of the banditti overhearing him, cocked his gun, and would certainly have shot him through the head, had not the captain commanded him to hold. (2.1.60.11)
The text of Don Quixote has some ups and downs when it comes to the subject of violence. The two most violent parts are definitely the first half of Part 1 and the second half of Part 2. In this scene, Don Quixote and Sancho run into some robbers, and one of the robbers cocks a pistol right at Sancho's head, ready to blow his brains out. These robbers are some truly nasty dudes.
Quote #9
The wretch spoke so low, but he was overheard by Roque, who, whipping out his sword, with one stroke almost cleft his skull in two. (2.1.60.15)
At first glance, Roque seems like a Robin Hood figure. He's a thief, for sure, but he's very generous with the money he steals. But don't let that fool you. The second that one of his men questions him, he buries his sword in the guy's skull.