246 JEKOME CARDAN. 



pass, because if I do not go to Milan the lord marquis 

 may take offence, and such offence might do me mischief, 

 I go thither unwillingly ; however, I will go." The sug- 

 gestion that there was any danger in not going sprung 

 entirely, it should be noticed, from Tartalea himself. 

 Cardan had only urged, that as D'Avalos was a free- 

 handed patron a point upon which all chroniclers who 

 speak of him agree Nicolo should not fear that he would 

 be a loser by the journey. 



Accordingly, Tartalea went to Milan, and happening 

 to arrive at a time when D'Avalos was absent, stayed for 

 three days in Cardan's house as his guest. The result of 

 the visit Nicolo represented to himself in his common- 

 place-book by the succeeding dialogue 1 : 



" Result of personal intercourse with his Excellency the 

 said Messer Hieronimo Cardano, at his house in 

 Milan, the 25th of March, 1539. 



MESSER HIERONIMO. I am very pleased that you 

 have come just at this time when his excellency has 

 ridden to Vigevano, because we shall have leisure to 

 enjoy ourselves and talk together over our affairs till he 

 returns. Certainly you were somewhat too discourteous 

 in resolving not to give me the rule you discovered upon 



1 Op. cit. p. 123. 



