Again, slight changes in such fictions were attempted. Mata, in two dull tales, called “The Solitudes of Aurelia,” published in 1637, endeavoured to give them a more religious character;[170] and in 1641, André del Castillo, in six stories misnamed “The Masquerade of Taste,” sought to give them even a lighter tone than the old one.[171] Both found successors. Lozano’s “Solitudes of Life,” which are four stories supposed to be told by a hermit on the wild peaks of the Monserrate, belong to the first class, and, notwithstanding a somewhat affected style, were much praised by Calderon, and went through at least six editions;[172]--while, in the opposite direction, between 1625 and 1640, we have a number of the freest secular tales, by Castillo Solorzano, among which the best are probably “The Alleviations of Cassandra,” and “The Country-House of Laura,” both imitations of Castro’s “Diana.”[173] [170] Gerónimo Fernandez de Mata, “Soledades de Aurelia,” 1638, to which, in the edition of Madrid, 1737, 12mo, is added a poor dialogue between Crates and his wife, Hipparcha, against ambition and worldliness; originally printed in 1637. [171] André del Castillo, “La Mogiganga del Gusto,” Zaragoza, 1641. Segunda Impresion, Madrid, 1734. They are written in the affected style of the _cultos_. [172] Christóval Lozano, “Soledades de la Vida,” 6a impresion, Barcelona, 1722, 4to. After the four connected stories told by the hermit, there follow, in this edition, six others, which, though separate, are in the same tone and style. Lozano wrote the “Reyes Nuevos de Toledo,” noticed, _ante_, p. 91; the “David Perseguido,” and other similar works;--at least, I believe they are all by one person, though the Index Expurgatorius of 1790 makes the “Soledades” the work of Gaspar Lozano, as if he were not the same. [173] Of Alonso del Castillo Solorzano I have spoken, _ante_, p. 72, as the author of _picaresque_ tales. A list of most of his works may be found in Antonio, (Bib. Nov., Tom. I. p. 15,) among which is a sort of suite with the following titles: “_Jornadas_ Alegres,” 1626;--“_Tardes_ Entretenidas,” 1625;--and “_Noches_ de Placer,” 1631. None of these had much success; nor, indeed, did he succeed much in any of his tales, except “La Garduña de Sevilla,” already noticed. But his “Quinta de Laura” was printed three times, and his “Alivios de Cassandra,” which first appeared in 1640,--and is something like the “Para Todos” of Montalvan, being a collection of dramas, poetry, etc., besides six stories,--was translated into French, and printed at Paris, both in 1683 and 1685.