The Golden Ass | Page 4

foul sin of avarice. By Phaeton, that unskilfully took

in hand to rule the chariot of the Sunne, are represented those persons which attempt
things passing their power and capacity. By Castor and Pollux, turned into a signe in
heaven called Gemini, is signified, that vertuous and godly persons shall be rewarded
after life with perpetuall blisse. And in this feined jest of Lucius Apuleius is
comprehended a figure of mans life, ministring most sweet and delectable matter, to such
as shall be desirous to reade the same. The which if your honourable lordship shall accept
ant take in good part, I shall not onely thinke my small travell and labour well employed,
but also receive a further comfort to attempt some more serious matter, which may be
more acceptable to your Lordship : desiring the same to excuse my rash and bold
enterprise at this time, as I nothing doubt of your Lordships goodnesse. To whome I
beseech Almighty God to impart long life, with encrease of much honour.
>From Vniversity Colledge in Oxenforde, the xviij. of September, 1566.
Your Honours most bounden,
WIL. ADLINGTON.

The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described
LUCIUS APULEIUS African, an excellent follower of Plato his sect, born in Madaura, a
Countrey sometime inhabited by the Romans, and under the jurisdiction of Syphax,
scituate and lying on the borders of Numidia and Getulia, whereby he calleth himself half
a Numidian and half a Getulian : and Sidonius named him the Platonian Madaurence : his
father called Theseus had passed all offices of dignity in his countrey with much honour.
His mother named Salvia was of such excellent vertue, that she passed all the Dames of
her time, borne of an ancient house, and descended from the philosopher Plutarch, and
Sextus his nephew. His wife called Prudentila was endowed with as much vertue and
riches as any woman might be. Hee himselfe was of an high and comely stature, gray
eyed, his haire yellow, and a beautiful personage. He flourished in Carthage in the time of
Iolianus Avitus and Cl. Maximus Proconsuls, where he spent his youth in learning the
liberall sciences, and much profited under his masters there, whereby not without cause
hee calleth himself the Nource of Carthage, and the celestial Muse and venerable
mistresse of Africke. Soone after, at Athens (where in times past the well of all doctrine
flourished) he tasted many of the cups of the muses, he learned the Poetry, Geometry,
Musicke, Logicke, and the universall knowledge of Philosophy, and studied not in vaine
the nine Muses, that is to say, the nine noble and royal disciplines.
Immediately after he went to Rome, and studied there the Latine tongue, with such labour
and continuall study, that he achieved to great eloquence, and was known and approved
to be excellently learned, whereby 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 the 'Golden
Asse', are enriched with such