OnhisreturntoSpainhefoundhisoldregimentabouttomarchforPortugaltosupportPhilip'sclaimtothecrown, andutterlypennilessnow, hadnochoicebuttorejoinit.HewasintheexpeditionstotheAzoresin1582andthefollowingyear, andontheconclusionofthewarreturnedtoSpainintheautumnof1583, bringingwithhimthemanuscriptofhispastoralromance, the "Galatea," andprobablyalso, tojudgebyinternalevidence, thatofthefirstportionof "PersilesandSigismunda." Healsobroughtbackwithhim, hisbiographersassert, aninfantdaughter, theoffspringofanamour, assomeofthemwithgreatcircumstantialityinformus, withaLisbonladyofnoblebirth, whosename, however, aswellasthatofthestreetshelivedin, theyomittomention.Thesolefoundationforallthisisthatin1605therecertainlywaslivinginthefamilyofCervantesaDonaIsabeldeSaavedra, whoisdescribedinanofficialdocumentashisnaturaldaughter, andthentwentyyearsofage.
Withhiscrippledlefthandpromotioninthearmywashopeless, nowthatDonJohnwasdeadandhehadnoonetopresshisclaimsandservices, andforamandrawingontofortylifeintherankswasadismalprospect; hehadalreadyacertainreputationasapoet; hemadeuphismind, therefore, tocasthislotwithliterature, andforafirstventurecommittedhis "Galatea" , asSalvayMallenshowsconclusively, atAlcala, hisownbirthplace, in1585andnodoubthelpedtomakehisnamemorewidelyknown, butcertainlydidnotdohimmuchgoodinanyotherway.
