He was well acquainted with the beauties and virtues of the herb mandragora, which, as every one knows, is of both sexes.

He had many recipes.

He cured burns with the salamander wool, of which, according to Pliny, Nero had a napkin.

Ursus possessed a retort and a flask; he effected transmutations; he sold panaceas.

It was said of him that he had once been for a short time in Bedlam; they had done him the honour to take him for a madman, but had set him free on discovering that he was only a poet.