226 JEROME CARDAN. 



peace. But why speak of deliberation? A man with 

 an unfaithful wife, a man who is in constant grief, cannot 

 deliberate. His mind is never calm enough for the use 

 of such a faculty. Gianbatista also, as it was proved, had 

 begged Brandonia's father to take her away from him, 

 lest harm might happen. Had he deliberated murder 

 would he have wished for the removal of his victim? 

 He urged it again after she had spoken those shameless 

 words. If she had not spoken those words, no crime 

 would have been attempted. " The youth," said Jerome, 

 "acted simply. Out of his simplicity he has confessed 

 the whole truth, without torture, without threats. We 

 have shown, by witnesses produced, that he is a young 

 man of the simplest character; this fact is most notorious. 

 If any of you have known him, such persons will know 

 that I do not lie. Ask even his accusers. If I lie upon 

 a matter that is very manifest, can I ask you to credit me 

 on doubtful points? By simplicity he was led to take a 

 wife without a dowry, by his wife's relatives he was 

 drawn into hostility towards me; he has been guilty of 

 innumerable errors, but of no crime. His nature is the 

 better for its simpleness. He swears in confession as if 

 criminal judges would put faith in him as a wife in her 

 husband, a parent in his child. By that you may be sure 

 that he tells truth to you, though, indeed, you are not 

 bound to believe him." 



