_Synesius_’s Testimony to the Learning and Virtue of _Hypatia_. Some
Account of his Writings and other Works.
The Thing which our Design obliges us not to pass over slightly is, the
greatful Testimony he every where bears to the Learning and Virtue of
_Hypatia_, whom he never mentions without the profoundest Respect, and
sometimes in Terms of Affection coming little short of Adoration. In a
Letter to his Brother _Euoptius_, _Salute (_says he_) the most honoured
and the most beloved of God, the Philosopher; and that happy Sodality or
Fellowship, which injoys the Blessing of her divine Voice_. In another
to his said Brother he mentions one _Egyptus, who sucked in the Seeds of
Wisdom from Hypatia_. And thus he expresses himself writing to
_Olympius_: _I suppose these Letters will be delivered by Peter which he
will receive from that sacred Hand. I send them from _Pentapolis_ to our
common Instructress, and she will intrust them with whom she thinks fit,
which I am sure will be to one that is well known to her_. In a Letter
addressed to herself, he desires her to direct a _Hydroscope_ to be made
and bought for him, which he there describes. _Petavius_ thinks it was a
sort of Level, and others an Hour-Measure. That famous Silver
_Astrolabe_ which he presented to _Peonius_, a Man equally excelling in
Philosophy and Arms, he owns to have been perfected by the Directions of
_Hypatia_. In a long Epistle he acquaints her with the Reasons of his
writing two Books, which he thereby sends her. The one was his mystical
Treatise _of Dreams_, and the other his _Dion_. This last is a most
ingenious Apology for Learning against two Sorts of Men, who by very
opposite Lines tended to the same Center of Ignorance. The one, that
under Pretence of being reserved towards unworthy Hearers, concealed
their Want of real Knowledge, did accuse him of being two Communicative,
and of prostituting Philosophy. The others would have him to be
eternally prating like themselves, not that they studied more than
others, nor yet so much, to be furnished with Matter of Discourse; but
that talking by Rote out of certain _Systems_, the Truth of which they
took for granted, and which no Body must contradict, they could tire the
Patience of their Hearers, without making these or themselves a whit the
wiser. Both Sorts charged him with studying Elegance and Oratory in his
Compositions; for the Divines of that Time were substituting apace to
Philosophy and other Learning, Legends and Enthusiasm, Fables and
Fancies, which they sanctified by the Name of _Divine Contemplation_.
Metaphysical Distinctions about the _Trinity_, and extravagant Notions
about the Essence of GOD (whose Majesty they blasphemed by their profane
Definitions) was all the Study then in Vogue, to the irreparable Damage
of polite and useful Letters.