demás del ordinario y justo recelo con que todos sacan sus obras a la almoneda de tantos y tan varios gustos, donde cada uno corta a la medida del suyo, tengo yo otros muchos particulares motivos para encogerme y temblar de sacar a la luz de los altos y claros entendimientos la escuridad y baxeza del mío, assí por ser en la era de agora cuando todo, y en especial el arte de la divina poesía, con su riqueza de lenguaje y alteza de concetos, está tan adelgazado y en su punto que ya parece no sería perfeción sino corrupción el pasar del término a que llega; como por suceder yo (si assí lo puedo dezir) a los escritos de tan celebrado y bien aceto poeta como don Alonso de Ercilla y Çúñiga […] (‘Prólogo’, p. 548)

[In addition to the usual and proper apprehension with which everyone brings out their works to the auction of so many and various tastes, in which everyone cuts to their own measure, I have many other particular reasons to shy away and tremble from bringing to the light of superior and unclouded intellects the darkness and lowliness of my own, both because this is the era in which everything, and especially the divine art of poetry, with its rich language and elevated conceits, has reached a point of such refinement that it seems to be not perfection but corruption to pass beyond its bounds, and because I am the successor (if I might put it that way) to the writings of such a celebrated and well-liked poet as Don Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga]