CHAP. VIII.
Synesius submits his Book of Dion to the Judgment of Hypatia; his Description of his Censurers.
Of his Dion therefore he begs Hypatia’s Judgment, resolving not to publish it without her Approbation. He informs her moreover, that she’s the first among the Greeks, or rather the Heathens, to whom he communicates his Treatise of Dreams; and that he might complete, he says, the sacred Number Three, he adds to these two his Account of the Astrolabe presented to Peonius. It will not be a Digression altogether foreign to the Subject (as we shall see hereafter) if we insert here part of the fine Description, which he has given of the second Sort of those that censured him; “who being full of Ignorance (says he) yet armed with Confidence, are readier than all other Men to discourse concerning GOD; and if you happen to light upon them, you will strait hear some of their unreasonable Reasonings, which they will needs obtrude, on such as are desirous of no such Matter; because, I suppose, it is for their Interest so to do. For on the Score of such Things they are made Preachers in Towns, which is the same Thing as to enjoy Amalthea’s Horn or Plenty of all Things, which these think themselves obliged to use. I fancy by this Time you perceive, what this forward Generation of Men may be, that blame my generous Purpose. They invite me to come into their Discipline, promising, that in a short Time I shall appear most confident in Things relating to GOD, and ever after be capable to dispute incessantly both Night and Day.” I believe this Race of Men is not yet extinct; but another Time they may hear of a certain Speech addressed to them by the same Truth-telling Synesius.
CHAP. IX.
Synesius’s Misfortunes; his Letter of Complaint to Hypatia.
On his Promotion, or, as he accounted it himself, his Banishment to the Bishoprick of Ptolemais, he was forced to quit the Fellowship of his Condisciples, and the Presence of his dear Hypatia. As an Augmentation of his Affliction he soon lost his Wife, with his Children in a little Time after, whom he very tenderly loved, and whose Death he did not bear with the same Fortitude, that is reported of some other Philosophers. On this Occasion, and a fancied Neglect of his Friends, he wrote the following Letter, “To Hypatia the Philosopher (that I may use the very Words of the Inscription.) I salute you, happy Lady, and by your Means the most happy Companions. I have of a long Time had an Intention to chide, by reason I have received no Letters from any of you. But now I perceive that I am neglected by all, not that I have in any Thing failed of my Duty; but that I am in many Respects unfortunate, and indeed as unfortunate as any one can be. Nevertheless, could I be thought worthy of receiving your Letters, and of being informed how you lead your Lives (being confident however it is after the best Manner that may be, and that you fail not to exercise a sprightly Genius) I should only think myself unhappy by Halves, while I enjoyed any Happiness on your Account. But now I must reckon this also, as one of the Misfortunes wherein I am involved. For I am not only deprived of my Children, but likewise of my Friends, and of every body’s Kindness; nay, what is more than all, of your most divine Soul, which only Thing I flattered myself would continue stedfast to me, in Spite of the Injuries of Fortune, and the Storms of Fate.” One would think that he could not better express, in so few Lines, the good Opinion he had of his Teacher; yet he’s still more pathetical in other Letters, which, because serving to give us the fuller View of Hypatia’s Character, I shall produce as essential to my Subject.
CHAP. X.
Synesius’s Grief for the Death of his Children, brings upon him a Fit of Sickness; his Letter of Complaint to Hypatia in his Illness.
Continuing therefore to grieve for the Death of his Children, he fell into an ill State of Health, which he signifies to his Mistress (whom in all his Letters he stiles The Philosopher) and to the beloved Companions of his Studies, in these Words. “Being confined to my Bed I have dictated this Letter, which may you receive in good Health, my Mother, my Sister, and my Instructress! in all which Respects you have been my Benefactress, or if there be any other, either Name or Thing, that is more honourable. The Weakness of my Body proceeds from the Anguish of my Soul. The Remembrance of my deceased Children consumes me by little and little. Synesius ought only to have lived so long, as the Evils of Life were unknown to him. Afterwards it has happened to him as to a Stream that is stopt; it rushes over its Dam on a sudden, and forces all the Pleasure of Life before it. Let me cease to live, or to remember the Burial of my Children. May you enjoy Health yourself, and salute in my Name the happy Companions, beginning with Father Theotecnus, and Brother Athanasius, and so proceeding to the rest. Or if any other be since associated to them, who is agreeable to you (and to whom, for this very Reason of pleasing you, I ought to stand obliged) salute him also from me, as one of my dearest Friends. If what relates to me be of any Concern to you, ’tis well done; though, even then, I shall be insensible to this Favour.” What can be more affectionate, what can be more tender, what can be more benevolent or candid? The Soul speaks here in every Line. A while after, the Calamities of War being added to all his other Sorrows, he writes her this Letter, beginning with a couple of Lines out of Homer, changing only a Word or two.
Tho’ ’mong the Dead profound Oblivion reigns,