TO GIAN BATISTA FROM HIS FATHER. 197 



secret to a woman, or indulge her more than is proper. 

 For a woman is a, foolish animal, and therefore full of 

 fraud : if you bestow over much endearment on her, you 

 cannot be happy, she will drag you into mischief. 



" Avoid as much as you can bleeding and purging. 



" You have the book on Consolation, you shall receive 

 also the book on Water and JEther, and, after a time, also 

 that on the Uses of Adversity. 



" Derive instruction from admitted error, live frugally, 

 be content with a famulus and a horse, do without a nurse : 

 for Phocion who ruled Athens had even a smaller family. 

 Be moderately flattering towards all, and give your mind 

 to study. Now enough of this, since it has all been specially 

 set forth by me in the volumes named, as well as in the 

 books on Wisdom and some others. Above all things, 

 never dwell on empty promises or empty hopes. Consider 

 that you possess only what is in your hand, and reckon 

 only on your actual possessions. Farewell. 



" I would have sent you also the little book of Precepts, 

 but my copy of it is too much engaged. 

 " September the Fifth." 



Upon the many little illustrations of Cardan's daily life 

 and of his character contained in the preceding letter, it 

 would be superfluous to dwell. The son of course gladly 

 became indebted to his father's overflowing love, and we 



