Sections 4-5, pages 26 - 47 Summary

In the next two sections, we are finally introduced to the two main protagonists, that the book is named after; Baltasar and Blimunda. The first section concerns Baltasar and where he has travelled from, whereas the second in this part concerns his meeting with Blimunda.

Baltasar was a soldier of Portugal, where he was fighting in Spain in a semi-religious war. Having survived the battles but lost his left hand, he was retired from the army and had to find his way back home. On the journey he manages to find a blacksmith who helps him to craft two instruments to replace his severed hand; a hook and a spike, each of which he can strap with leather braces to the stump. After doing this he makes his way for Lisbon, in the hope of receiving some...