he might worthily be called Polyhistor, that is to say, one that knoweth
much or many things.

And being thus no lesse endued with eloquence, than with singular
learning, he wrote many books for them that should come after: whereof
part by negligence of times be now intercepted and part now extant, doe
sufficiently declare, with how much wisdome and doctrine hee flourished,
and with how much vertue hee excelled amongst the rude and barbarous
people. The like was Anacharsis amongst the most luskish Scythes. But
amongst the Bookes of Lucius Apuleius, which are perished and prevented,
howbeit greatly desired as now adayes, one was intituled Banquetting
questions, another entreating of the nature of fish, another of the
generation of beasts, another containing his Epigrams, another called
'Hermagoras': but such as are now extant are the foure books named
'Floridorum', wherein is contained a flourishing stile, and a savory
kind of learning, which delighteth, holdeth, and rejoiceth the reader
marvellously; wherein you shall find a great variety of things, as
leaping one from another: One excellent and copious Oration, containing
all the grace and vertue of the art Oratory, where he cleareth himself
of the crime of art Magick, which was slanderously objected against him
by his Adversaries, wherein is contained such force of eloquence and
doctrine, as he seemeth to passe and excell himselfe. There is another
booke of the god of the spirit of Socrates, whereof St. Augustine maketh
mention in his booke of the definition of spirits, and description
of men. Two other books of the opinion of Plato, wherein is briefly
contained that which before was largely expressed. One booke of
Cosmography, comprising many things of Aristotles Meteors. The Dialogue
of Trismegistus, translated by him out of Greeke into Latine, so fine,
that it rather seemeth with more eloquence turned into Latine, than it
was before written in Greeke. But principally these eleven Bookes of