Published in 1614, this tale in verse tells of the journey to Mount Parnassus by Cervantes and other great Spanish poets. Cervantes, riding a mule, travels to real and mythical places with his team of poets. After passing through Madrid, the delegation arrives in Valencia, and assisted by Mercury, take to the sea to Parnassus in a boat made of verses. On the trip they see Genoa, Rome, and Naples and manage to cross the terrible strait of Messina. In Parnassus, after a short break, they engage in battle with the army of bad poets using books and poems as ammunition.