Señores and señoras: what of our joys, our sufferings? Item, I would be interested in our fate as can be gleaned from other contemporary works, such as those of chivalric romance.
Your humble equine servant
I read Don Quixote when it was first published in Italy. I was studying in Padua then. Never really evaluated the story from the "Equestrian Lens."
I actually don't remember much of the book, or my days in Padua for that matter. I suspect wine's stronger on the mainland.
Funny story, Cervantes fought in the Battle of Lepanto with my own father and uncle. No idea if they ever met though. Seeing as there were two hundred ships per side and my father and uncle were junior officers, they probably didn't.
This answer doesn't really answer your question. Let's hope for clemency from the mods XP