No las damas, amor, no gentilezas De caballeros canto enamorados; Ni las muestras, regalos, y ternezas De amorosos afectos y cuidados: Mas el valor, los hechos, las proezas De aquellos españoles esforzados, Que a la cerviz de Arauco, no domada, Pusieron duro yugo por la espada. Cosas diré también harto notables De gente que a ningún rey obedecen, Temerarias empresas memorables Que celebrarse con razón merecen; Raras industrias, términos loables Que más los españoles engrandecen; Pues no es el vencedor más estimado De aquello en que el vencido es reputado.[58] [Sidenote: Spain against Portugal] Soon after this publication the king sent Ercilla to Saragossa to confer there with the Duke of Brunswick and to persuade him to postpone his visit to Madrid. At the same time the question of the succession to the Portuguese crown seemed to portend war, and Ercilla looked forward to playing a conspicuous rôle in the projected campaign, and to celebrating once more in verse the glory of Spanish arms. But the opposition to Spain’s pretensions collapsed, and Portugal was annexed to Spain without exploits worthy of heroic song. The poet turned from literary work to religious devotion and prayer, and his tendency to melancholy was intensified in his last years by the loss of his brother, Juan, who was accompanying Philip II. to Portugal, and by the death of his only son, Diego. Somewhat of this attitude of mind finds expression in the last octave of his poem: Y yo que tan sin rienda al mundo he dado El tiempo de mi vida más florido, Y siempre por camino despeñado Mis vanas esperanzas he seguido; Visto ya el poco fruto que he sacado, Y lo mucho que a Dios tengo ofendido, Conociendo mi error, de aquí adelante Será razón que llore y que no cante.[59] [Sidenote: The poet’s mental depression] This mental depression had also a cause in the withdrawal of the king’s favour as well as in the loss of relatives and friends and the fact that the poet faced old age without descendants. In 1589 Ercilla published the third part of _La Araucana_. Some years later a new edition was issued, with two additional cantos, making the whole number thirty-seven.[60] He died in the city of Madrid on the 29th of November, 1594. The statement sometimes made that he died in extreme poverty does not appear to be supported by the fact that at the time of his death he had a household establishment consisting of twelve persons, to whom he bequeathed considerable sums, but with the statement that these sums were moderate, since all of these persons were expected to remain in the service of his widow, and derive advantage from her liberality. Among other bequests were five thousand ducats to his nieces and nephews, and ten thousand ducats as a contribution for the construction of a monastery, where his body and that of his widow might be buried. [Sidenote: The writing of the poem]