Answer:
declined in popularity following the late 16th century.
Explanation:
The reason why Miguel de Cervantes never quite rose to the same level of popularity as Lope de Vega during the Golden Age of Spanish drama in the late 16th century may be due to differences in the styles of their plays. While Lope de Vega's plays were dominated by fast action and didn't focus much on characterization, Cervantes' plays were characterized by slow action and a greater focus on characterization. This may have made Cervantes' plays less appealing to audiences of the time who were more interested in fast-paced, action-packed plays. Additionally, the popularity of a playwright can also depend on many other factors such as the cultural context, political climate, and personal reputation of the playwright.