CARDAN EXPOSTULATES. 255 



and with great difficulty. However, he had them, and 

 understood them ; I presented them on the same Tuesday 

 in the evening. Truly I think you were wrong in not 

 making yourself known to his excellency, because he is 

 a most liberal prince, and a g reat lover and abettor of 

 genius, and he valued your instruments and desired to 

 have them explained to him, and I showed him succinctly 

 their value ; now that must suffice ; the time may yet 

 come when you may be glad to be known by the lord 

 marquis. When I know for what reason you left, or by 

 whom you were advised to do so, I will tell him. 



As for my work, I think it will be complete next week, 

 for there are only three more leaves to be filled. As for 

 the question of your case of the cosa and cube equal to the 

 number, I thank you much for having given me the 

 rule, and I will let you see that I shall not be ungrateful. 

 But, however, I must confess my fault in not having had 

 ingenuity enough yet to understand it, therefore I beg 

 you, for the love you bear me, and for the friendship that 

 is between us, and that will, I hope, last while we live, to 

 send me solved this question one cube, three cosas equal 

 to ten; and I hope that you will have as much good-will 

 in sending as I in receiving it. So no more. Christ keep 

 you from harm. In Milan, on the 9th of April, 1539. 



HTERONIMO CARDAN, Physician. 

 " All" [we should say ever] " yours." 



