32 JEROME CARDAN. 



and both from his nature, and from the imperfect training 

 he had hitherto received, it was evident that he could 

 earn his living only as a scholar. The old man also had 

 not failed to recognise the good abilities his boy possessed, 

 while it was certain that his quick wit could be turned to 

 no account, that he might as well not think at all among 

 philosophers, while he was unable to write his thoughts 

 in Latin. At length, therefore, when he was nineteen 1 

 years old, he was, for the first time, released from bondage 

 in his father's house, and sent to study at a university. 



1 De ConsoL p. 74. De Propr. Vit. p, 16. 



