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“Blessed be the almighty Allah!” saith Cide Hamete Benengeli, in the beginning of this eighth chapter; and this benediction he repeats three times, in consequence of finding Don Quixote and Sancho in the field again[.]
Cide Hamete, a fictional Muslim historian created by Cervantes, praises the Muslim deity Allah. Cervantes claimed that Cide Hamete originally wrote
He who translated this sublime history from the original, composed by its first author Cide Hamete Benengeli, says, that turning to the chapter which treats of the adventure of the cave, he found this observation written on the margin, in the handwriting of the said Hamete. I cannot conceive or persuade myself that the valiant Don Quixote literally saw and heard all that is recounted in the foregoing chapter, for this reason: all the adventures in which he has hitherto been engaged, are feasible and likely to have happened; but this, of the cave I can by no means believe true, in any circumstance, because it is so wide of all reason and probability[.]
Cervantes includes a margin note from Cide Hamete saying he cannot verify what Don Quixote experienced in the cave. This comment represents one of few instances where Cide Hamete puts forth his own opinion on the subject matter by doubting Don Quixote.
Cide Hamete moreover observes, that he looked upon the deceivers to be as mad as those who were deceived, and the duke and duchess to be within two fingers’ breadth of lunacy; seeing they placed such happiness in playing pranks upon two confirmed madmen[.]
As the duke and duchess prepare to play a prank on Don Quixote by misleading him that Altisidora has died, Cide Hamete expresses his disapproval of the two. Cide Hamete views the duke and duchess as just as insane as Don Quixote. Cide Hamete acts as the only objective figure not only in this situation, but throughout the novel.
