_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. CHAP. VIII. _Synesius_ submits his Book of _Dion_ to the Judgment of _Hypatia_; his Description of his Censurers.