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.