  Synesius’s recommendatory Letter to Hypatia, in Behalf of two young Gentlemen, on a Suit depending at Alexandria. It was during this prosperous Gale of publick Favour, that Hypatia’s devoted Friend Synesius sent her this recommendatory Letter on the Behalf of two young Gentlemen, that had a Claim depending at Alexandria. “Although Fortune cannot take every thing from me, yet she has a mind to strip me of all she can; she that “Of many Sons, and good, has me bereft. “But to be ambitious of doing the best Things, and to assist the unjustly Oppressed, is what she shall never take from me; for far be it from me, that she should ever be able to conquer my Mind. Therefore I hate Injustice, since this I may do still; and am also desirous to repress it, but that is one of the Things taken out of my Power, and which I lost before my Children. “Once the Milesians valiant were. “Time also was, when I could be useful to my Friends, and when you were wont to call me Others Good; as turning to the Profit of other Men my Interest with Persons in great Authority, whom I made to serve me as so many Hands. Now I am left destitute of all, unless you have any Power; for you, together with Virtue, I reckon a Good, of which none will be able to rob me. But you have, and will always have Power, by reason of the excellent Use you make of your Credit. Wherefore let Niceus and Philolaus, virtuous Youths and Relations, return Masters of their own, thro’ the Care of all who honour you, whether private Men or Magistrates.” Thus, as a necessary Part of her History, I have inserted at Length, all the Letters written to Hypatia by Synesius, except the 15th, whereof I have given the Substance; and the 33d in the Collection of his Letters, which is too short to contain any Instruction; as likewise the 154th, which, being too long, I have abridged above. |
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