AT the beginning of the year 1565 Cardan had a 

 narrow escape from death by burning, for his bed from 

 some unknown cause caught fire twice in the same night 

 while he was asleep. The servant was disturbed by the 

 smoke, and having aroused his master, told him what 

 was amiss, whereupon Cardan flew into a violent rage, 

 for he deemed that the youth must be drunk. But he 

 soon perceived the danger, and then they both set to 

 work to extinguish the flames. His own description of 

 the occurrence is highly characteristic. " Having put 

 out the fire, I settled myself again to sleep, and, while I 

 was dreaming of alarms, and that I was flying from 

 some danger, it happened that either these terrifying 

 dreams, or the fire and smoke again aroused me, and, 

 looking around, I found that the bed was once more 

 alight, and the greater part of it consumed. The vari- 

 coloured coverlet, the leather hangings, and all the 

 covering of the bed was unhurt. Thus this great alarm 

 and danger and serious disturbance caused only a trifling 

 loss ; less than half of the bed-linen was burnt, but the 

 blankets were entirely consumed. On the first alarm 

 the flames burnt out twice or thrice with little smoke, 

 and caused scarcely any damage. The second time the 

 fire and the mishap forced me to rise just before dawn, 

 the fire lasting altogether about seven hours." 



215 



