Some days after this, the Knight and his squire reached Barcelona.  Neither of them had ever before been near the sea, and the galleys that they saw in the distance being rowed about in the bay sorely puzzled Sancho, who thought that the oars were their legs, and that they must be some strange kind of beast.

Now, one morning, when Don Quixote rode out, fully armed as usual, to take the air on the seashore, he saw a knight riding towards him, armed like himself, and having a bright moon painted on his shield.  As soon as this knight came within hearing he halted, and in a loud voice called out: 

“Illustrious Don Quixote de la Mancha, I am the Knight of the White Moon, of whose doings you may have heard.  I am come to fight with you and to make you own that the Lady of my Heart, whoever she may be, is more beautiful by far than the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso.  Which truth, if you will confess, I will not slay you.  And if we fight, and I should conquer you, then I ask no more than that you shall go to your own home, and for the space of one year give up carrying arms or searching for adventures.  But if you should conquer me, then my head shall be at your disposal, my horse and arms shall be your spoils, and the fame of my deeds shall be yours.  Consider what I say, and let your answer be quick.”

Don Quixote was amazed at hearing these words.

“Knight of the White Moon,” said he very solemnly, “the fame of whose doings has not yet come to my ears, I dare swear that thou hast never seen the beautiful Dulcinea, for hadst thou ever viewed her, thou wouldst have been careful not to make this challenge.  The sight of her would have made thee know that there never has been, nor can be, beauty to match hers.  And therefore, without giving thee the lie, I only tell thee thou art mistaken.  I accept your challenge, on your conditions, and at once, except that I am content with the fame of my own deeds, and want not yours.  Choose then whichever side of the field you please, and let us set to.”

The two knights then turned their horses to take ground for their charge, but at this moment up rode, with some friends, the Governor of the city of Barcelona, who knew Don Quixote, and who fancied that perhaps this was some new trick being played on him.  The Governor, seeing both knights ready to turn for their charge, asked the Knight of the White Moon what was the cause of the combat, and having heard his answer, could not believe that the affair was not a joke, and so stood aside.

Instantly the two knights charged at top speed.  But the horse of the Knight of the White Moon was by far the bigger and heavier and faster, and he came with such a shock into poor old “Rozinante” that Don Quixote and his horse were hurled to the ground with terrible force, and lay stunned and helpless.  In a moment the Knight of the White Moon was off his horse and holding his spear at Don Quixote’s throat.