Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/418

390 390 DEATH OF GONSALVO. PART II. His temper- ance and economy. choly. He was grave in speech and action, and had a marvellous dignity of presence. His whole demeanor, in fine, was truly that of a great king." For this flattering portrait Ferdinand must have sat at an earlier and happier period of his life.^^ His education, owing to the troubled state of the times, had been neglected in his boyhood, though he was early instructed in all the generous pastimes and exercises of chivalry. ^^ He was esteemed one of the most perfect horsemen of his court. He led an active life, and the only kind of reading he ap- peared to relish was history. It was natural that so busy an actor on the great political theatre should have found peculiar interest and instruction in this study.^^ He was naturally of an equable temper, and inclined to moderation in all things. The only amusement for which he cared much was hunting, especially falconry, and that he never carried to ex- cess till his last years. ^^ He was indefatigable in application to business. He had no relish for the pleasures of the table, and, like Isabella, was tem- perate even to abstemiousness in his diet.^^ He 43 L. Marineo, Cosas Memora- bles, fol. 182. Pulgar's portrait of the king, taken also in tiie morning of his life, the close of which the writer did not live to see, is equally bright and pleasing. " Habia," says he, " una gracia singular, que qual- quier con 61 fablese, luego le amaba 6 le deseaba servir, porque tenia la communicacionamigable." Reyes Catolicos, p. 36. 44 " He tilted lightly," says Pul- gar, " and with a dexterity not surpassed by any man in the king- dom." Reyes Catolicos, ubi supra. 43 L. Marineo, Cosas Memora- bles, fol. 153. — Abarca, Reyes de Aragon, torn. ii. rey 30, cap. 24. — Sandoval, Hist, del Emp. Car- los v., tom. i. p. 37. 46 Pulgar, indeed, notices his fondness for chess, tennis, and oth- er games of skill, in early life. Reyes Catolicos, part. 2, cap. 3. 47 L. Marineo, Cosas Memora- bles, fol. 182. — Pulgar, Reyes Catolicos, part. 2, cap. 3. " Stop and dine with us ; " he was known to say to his uncle, the