314 JEROME CARDAN. 



book, to the memory of Giahbatista. The old man, too, 

 from the edge of the tomb looked back to the wife who had 

 shared his earlier and lesser sorrows : 



" hallowed wife, most happy in the gain, 

 By death, of freedom from this weight of pain! 



son, whose name is stained by my own sin, 



1 too neglected suffer through my kin. 



From home and hearth thrust out, I conquer fate. 

 Hurts from my country, from my kindred hate, 

 Of envy born, kill me, and yet I live. 

 But through all ages shalt thou, son, survive; 

 For Ind and Bactria shall his tale rehearse, 

 Who quitted me to fill the universe." 



Such were the latest thoughts of Jerome Cardan in his 

 desolate old age. Beyond them there was in this world 

 nothing but the grave. He died at Rome on the 20th 

 of September, 1576, when he was seventy-five years old, 

 and his body was deposited in the church of St. Andrew. 

 Afterwards, probably by his grandson in fulfilment of his 

 own desire, it was removed to Milan, to be buried at St. 

 Mark's 1 . There he again slept with Fazio his father. 



1 Thuanus, loc. cit. 



