It is difficult to fix upon the period when Lope's dramatic genius was accepted by his public: 1592 seems a likely date. He took no interest in publishing his plays, though _El Perseguido_ was issued by a Lisbon pirate so early as 1603. Eight volumes of his theatre were in print before he was induced in 1617 to authorise an edition which was called the _Ninth Part_, and after 1625 he printed no more dramatic pieces, despite the fact that he produced them more abundantly than ever. We may, perhaps, assume that the best of his work has reached us. Among the finest of his earlier efforts is justly placed _El Acero de Madrid_ (The Madrid Steel), from which Molière has borrowed the _Médecin malgré lui_, and the opening scene, as Ticknor renders it, admirably illustrates Lope's power of interesting his audience from the very outset by a situation which explains itself. Lisardo, with his friend Riselo, enamoured of Belisa, awaits the latter at the church-door, and, just as Riselo declares that he will wait no more, Belisa enters with her pious aunt, Teodora, as _dueña_:— Teodora. "_Show more of gentleness and modesty; Of gentleness in walking quietly, Of modesty in looking only down Upon the earth you tread._ Belisa. _'Tis what I do._ Teodora. _What? When you're looking straight towards that man?_ Belisa. _Did you not bid me look upon the earth? And what is he but just a bit of it?_ Teodora. _I said the earth whereon you tread, my niece._ Belisa. _But that whereon I tread is hidden quite With my own petticoat and walking-dress._ Teodora. _Words such as these become no well-bred maid. But, by your mother's blessed memory, I'll put an end to all your pretty tricks;— What? You look back at him again._ Belisa. _Who? I?_ Teodora. _Yes, you;—and make him secret signs besides._ Belisa. _Not I! 'Tis only that you troubled me With teasing questions and perverse replies, So that I stumbled and looked round to see Who would prevent my fall._ Riselo (to Lisardo). _She falls again. Be quick and help her._ Lisardo (to Belisa). _Pardon me, lady, And forgive my glove._ Teodora. _Who ever saw the like?_ Belisa. _I thank you, sir; you saved me from a fall._ Lisardo. _An angel, lady, might have fallen so, Or stars that shine with heaven's own blessed light._ Teodora. _I, too, can fall; but 'tis upon your trick. Good gentleman, farewell to you!_ Lisardo. _Madam, Your servant._ (_Heaven save us from such spleen!_) Teodora. _A pretty fall you made of it; and now I hope You'll be content, since they assisted you._ Belisa. _And you no less content, since now you have The means to tease me for a week to come._ Teodora. _But why again do you turn back your head?_ Belisa.