258 JEROME CARDAN. 



matter for not resting content with that which ought to 

 content you, that is to say the word of a gentleman, and 

 depending on a thing that is of no worth at all, that is to 

 say the finishing of a book to which a capitulum novum 

 or capitula nova could at any time be added, and there are 

 a thousand other ways, but the point is that there is no 

 greater treachery than to break faith and to displease 

 those who have given us pleasure, and if you were to try 

 me you would find whether I shall be your friend or not, 

 and whether I shall be grateful for your friendship and 

 the favours you have done me. 



" I send word to you also,, and earnestly beg concerning 

 these my printed works for my love of him who has 

 printed them, and will send some into your town for 

 sale, that you will not lend them about more than neces- 

 sary, for my sake. If they had been printed, at my own 

 expense I would not say a word, because I care more for 

 the profit of my friends than for my own. So no more. 

 God keep you from evil. In Milan, the 12th of May; 

 1539. 



" HIERONIMUS CARDANUS medicus, totus vcster" 



Nicolo, partly appeased, or glad of something new to 

 grumble at, replied on this occasion to the " Honoran- 

 dissimo Messer Nicolo," and signed himself " Nicolo Tar- 

 talea of Brescia, all yours." He had received the book, 



