Returning to Spain about 1611, he entered the household of the marquis de Salinas, and began a frustrating life of job-seeking at court. At the same time, purely as a way of making money apparently, he threw himself into the heady literary and theatrical life of the capital, eventually having a number of his plays performed. His first play, "El semejante de sí mismo" was unsuccessful, yet it attracted attention to him. By some, he was ridiculed and criticized; from others he obtained support.