Don Quixote Volume 2, Chapter 17

Sancho did not hear his master's specific directive, but only the urgency of the command. Quickly placing the cottage cheese in his master's helmet (the shepherds did not provide containers for their customers), he hurries back. Don Quijote places the helmet on his head and is immediately bathed in the cheese. He at first fears that his brain is melting away or he is having a massive case of perspiration, until he recognizes cheese for cheese and accuses Sancho of treachery. Sancho blames Don Quijote's persecuting enchanters -- they are now persecuting Sancho by filling Don Quijote's helmet with cottage cheese to make Sancho look bad.

Topic Tracking: Helmet Imagery 16
Topic Tracking: Scapegoat 17

The cart is carrying two huge lions that are being sent as presents to King. Don Quijote demands that they be released so that he may fight them, and no one is able to dissuade him from the grandiose fantasy raging in his head. Don Quijote allows Sancho, Don Diego, the muledriver and his mules to leave the immediate area and seek safety. The lion tamer opens the door to the cage but the King of the Beasts merely yawns, turns about and lays down, presenting his backside to Don Quijote. Don Quijote wishes the tamer to prod the lion into battle but he refuses explaining that the lion would then attack him; besides, Don Quijote has already claimed great honor by merely attempting this worthy act of courage and quickly agrees to produce a written testimony saying just that. Don Quijote has Sancho tip the travelers for his delaying them, and the lion tamer orally testifies that the mere sight of Don Quijote frightened the lion so, that he refused to leave his cage. Don Quijote instructs them that when they tell the King of this feat, to refer to Don Quijote as The Knight of the Lions, his new name.

Don Diego invites them to rest and visit at his home that they will soon be reaching.