COURTEOUSLY INTRODUCED. 193 



"You troubled mindes with torments tost that sighes and sobs con- 

 sumes : 

 (Who breathes and puflfes from burning breast both sraothring smoke 



and fumes) 



Come reade this booke that freely bringes, a box of balme full swete 

 An oyl to noynt the brused partes, of everye heavye spriete," 



I propose to quote from Cardan's work, as Bedingfeld 

 translated it, only the opening and closing paragraphs. 

 They will suffice to convey a very fair impression of the 

 style and temper of the poor philosopher who was so 

 rude and hasty in his speech, yet at the same time always 

 so deliberate and gentle in his writings. The opening 

 sentences remind us of the fact that, not long before the 

 writing of this work was commenced, Jerome had occu- 

 pied himself in reading word by word the whole of the 

 extant works of Cicero. Thus he begins : 



" Amonge such and so manye auncient monuments as 

 perished in y e Barbarian warres : would God that at least 

 Marcus Tullius bokes of com forte, written at the deathe 

 of his daughter, had been tyll this day preserued. For 

 as in all other matters hee declared himselfe more then a 

 man, so may it be thought that herein he had written 

 most excellently : the matter being neyther common, 

 fayned or touchinge others, but procedinge from his 

 own naturall affection and extreme perturbation of myndc. 

 And suche is the condicion and qualitie of cornfortinge, as 

 al be it no persuation or eloquence were there in used, yet 



VOL. I. O 



