Chrysostom's long poem vents his bitterness and grief. The audience remarks on how the poem reveals his jealousy.
Suddenly, Marcela appears. Those who have never seen her are in awe of her beauty. Ambrosio addresses her angrily, asking if she has come to see the result of her cruelty. Marcela replies she has come to defend her reputation for being the cause of Chrysostom's death.
Marcela tells them that God made her beautiful, and therefore people fall in love with her. They assume she should fall in love with them because they love her. However, she doesn't love them. They may be ugly. Even if they aren't, it doesn't guarantee that she will love them. Chrysostom died of his own obstinancy. She told him she never intended to marry, but to live a life of solitude. She would have been cruel to encourage him with false hope. Had she given in, she would have compromised her virtue. She turns to leave.
Don Quixote defends her argument, saying people should respect her for it. They bury Chrysostom.
The goatherds invite Quixote to come to Seville, but he tells him he plans to rid the roads of robbers first. They bid him farewell and take their leave. Quixote plans to find Marcela to offer his services.