In this excerpt, the protagonist is depicted as riding at a leisurely pace under the intense heat of the sun. The oppressive warmth creates a vivid image, suggesting that the extreme conditions could almost cause a person's mind to boil away. This humorous and exaggerated observation highlights the character's slow pace and his struggle against the sweltering environment.
The passage reflects a moment of absurdity, where the heat plays a crucial role in emphasizing the character's state of being. Cervantes uses this scenario to illustrate not only the physical discomfort the character faces but also perhaps a deeper commentary on the effects of madness and the human condition, hinting at the thin line between sanity and lunacy in such extreme circumstances.