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.