by Lope de Vega

Lope Felix de Vega Carpio was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1562 and educated at the University of Alcala de Henares. In 1583 he became involved in the theater world, writing several plays for his mistress Elena Osorio, an actress and the daughter of an actor-manager. The love affair ended badly in 1587, after which Lope vented his feelings in writing. He circulated scurrilous verses about Elena and her family that resulted in his being convicted of malicious libel and exiled from Madrid for eight years and from Castile for two years. During his banishment, Lope married Isabel De Urbina by proxy. In 1588 he sailed with the Spanish Armada in its ill-fated attack on England, then took up residence with his bride in Valencia, where his career as a professional playwright began in earnest. After his exile from the region of Castile ended, Lope moved...