Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/446

418 418 REGENCY OF XIMENES. PART n. His charac ler. His versatil- ity of talent. Such was the end of this remarkable man; the - most remarkable, in many respects, of his time. His character was of that stern and lofty cast, which seems to rise above the ordinary wants and weaknesses of humanity ; his genius, of the se- verest order, like Dante's or Michael Angelo's in the regions of fancy, impresses us with ideas of power, that excite admiration akin to terror. His enterprises, as we have seen, were of the boldest character. His execution of them equally bold. He disdained to woo fortune by any of those soft and pliant arts, which are often the most effectual. He pursued his ends by the most direct means. In this way he frequently multiplied difficulties ; but difficulties seemed to have a charm for him, by the opportunity they afforded of displaying the energies of his soul. With these qualities he combined a versatility of talent, usually found only in softer and more flexi- ble characters. Though bred in the cloister, he distinguished himself both in the cabinet and the camp. For the latter, indeed, so repugnant to his regular profession, he had a natural genius, accord- ing to the testimony of his biographer ; and he evinced his relish for it by declaring, that " the smell of gunpowder was more grateful to him than cap. 9, who dates the cardinal's death December 8th, in which he is followed by Lanuza. The following epitaph, of no great merit, was inscribed on his sepulchre, composed by the learned Jonn Vergara in his younger days. ' Condideram musis Franciscus grande lyceum, Condor in exiguo nunc ego sarcophago. Pra;texlam Junxi saccho, galeomque ga- lero, Frater, dux, praesul, cardineusque pa- ter. Quin virtiite mel junctum est diadema cucullo, Cum inihi rcgnanti paruit Ilesperia,"