DEATH AND CHARACTER OF FERDINAND. 373 about to descend on his grandson Charles. It must chapter be confessed, that it reflects little credit on his heart -^ — or his understanding, that he should have been so ready to sacrifice to personal resentment those noble plans for the consolidation of the monarchy, which had so worthily occupied the attention both of him- self and of Isabella, in his early life. His wishes had nearly been realized. Queen Germaine was delivered of a son, March 3d, 1509. Providence, however, as if unwilling to defeat the glorious con- summation of the union of the Spanish kingdoms, so long desired and nearly achieved, permitted the infant to live only a few hours. Ferdinand repined at the blessing denied him, Deomeof '^ * 'his health. now more than ever. In order to invigorate his constitution, he resorted to artificial means. ^ The medicines which he took had the opposite effect. At least from this time, the spring of 1513, he was 15 13. afflicted with infirmities before unknown to him. Instead of his habitual equanimity and cheerfulness, he became impatient, irritable, and frequently a prey to morbid melancholy. He lost all relish for business, and even for amusements, except field sports, to which he devoted the greater part of his time. The fever which consumed him made him impatient of long residence in any one place, and during these last years of his life the court was in 7 Carbajal, Anales, MS., afio curious precision by Martjrr, — who 1509. — Zurita, Anales, torn. vi. is much too precise, indeed, for our lib. 10, cap. 55. P^ges, — as to leave little doubt of
- They are detailed with such the fact. Opus Epist., epist. 531.
March.
