Mathematical and Philosophical Works

them to which he attained. His prudence was very remarkable and seldom failed him; but he was so open-hearted and sincere himself that he was ready—except he knew some cause to the contrary—to think other men were so too, by which he was sometimes imposed upon.

His greatness of mind was evident to all who knew anything of him, nor was the depth of his judgment less discernible. He was never eager in his pursuit of dignities but was advanced to them by his merit. He contemned scorned riches as much as others admired them, and he spent his ecclesiastical revenues in the service of the Church from which he received them. Being secured against want, he would often say that he would be no richer, and his conduct made it evident that he was as good as his word.

He was a stranger to revenge and yet not insensible of personal injuries, especially such as reflected on his good name, if they proceeded from those who had a good reputation of their own. The reproaches of others he despised, but he frequently wished he had been better understood by the former. He bore it, however, patiently as his misfortune; he never requited them with the like measure but always mentioned them with respect and seized all opportunities to oblige them and do them good.

His conversation was profitable and pleasant, and his discourse was commonly of useful things without occasioning trouble or weariness in those who conversed with him. He cultivated that most necessary (but too much neglected) part of friendship: to give seasonable reproof and wholesome advice upon occasion. This he did with a great deal of freedom, but with so much calmness and prudence that it seldom gave offense.

He was particularly careful of the reputation of his friends and would suffer no blot to lie upon the good name or memory of any of them if he could help it.

His enemies, who were strangers to moderation themselves, made that virtue in which he excelled the chief subject of their reproaches, as if he had been a person of