Letter 97
To Olympius
On reading the letter wherein you spoke to me of your illness, I was at first alarmed. At last I was reassured, for after first alarming me about a danger you had incurred, you ended by announcing the good news of your recovery. As to the things you asked me to send or bring to you, all that are possible will certainly be sent or brought. But which of them are possible, and which impossible, it is needless to say, for the gift will declare itself. Live on in health and happiness, and acceptance with God, friend thrice dear! May we soon be together again, and rejoice in one another! Do not set out before we meet. But if Heaven decide otherwise, at least remember me, in spite of separation. You will meet with many better people than Synesius, but you will never find any others who love you more.
Letter 98
To Olympius
How do you think I received your pleasant letters, I who was
thirsting to hear from you; and o'er what passage in them did not my heart melt? They
inspired many different feelings, and I look forward to seeing again soon that Alexandria
where there still lives a friend who is so dear to me. In taking so great an interest in
Secundus, you have done my great honour, and in honouring him so in your letter you have
attached us to yourself, and have made us yours entirely.
As I am one of those men who walk humbly, I do not deem myself worthy
of so great honour. For you do me a double honour, both by the greatness of what you have
written, and by the zeal of your actions. I have already written frequently to my Lord the
Count, but as in the letter I received through the young man you reproach me for not
writing to him, I have entrusted my brother with a letter to him. Take care of your
health, continue happy, give yourself up to philosophy, as it befits one to do who has
cloven to her, led on by divine love. I am writing to you from my bed, holing myself up
with difficulty to form the letters. Pray that the best things may be mine, whatso'er God
may adjudge the best. If I recover, I am off to Alexandria at once.
Letter 99
To Olympius
This is a new practice of mine in use of letters. I have written not
to recommend the bearer of this to your friendly offices, but rather to give you the
benefit of the acquaintance of a man who will be very useful both to you and to your
beloved friend the great Diogenes. Do not be angry with me if I believe, and if I say,
that the advantage will be on your side, and not on Theotimus'. But this is the case,
since this man is the most inspired poet of our times, and since every one needs the power
of the poet, in order that he may be famous for posterity, and may not escape the notice
of those who are distant. Great actions, if they do not gain his clarion notes, disappear
from men's memories, and are clothed in oblivion. They blossom only at the moments in
which they are accomplished amongst those who witness them. Therefore this godsend ought
to be honoured by you, and ought to be welcomed above everything, quite apart from any
personal interest, for out of reverence for the Muses one should honour their priests, and
never hold them in less esteem than those who know how to dispense flattery at your gates.
Let there be also a third reason why you should give honour to
Theotimus. It is that Synesius is an admirer of all his good qualities, of all those for
which men praise men and deem them happy. May you pass your life in good health, you whom
I honour for every reason! All who live in my house send greetings to your illustrious
person, and above all your own Ision. I send greetings to all those who are with you, and
above all to my dear Abramius. You yourself shall judge whether or not you ought to hand
over what I have written to the Count.