_Synesius’s_ _Grief for the Death of his Children, brings upon him a Fit of Sickness; his Letter of Complaint to _Hypatia_ in his Illness_.
Continuing therefore to grieve for the Death of his Children, he fell into an ill State of Health, which he signifies to his Mistress (whom in all his Letters he stiles _The Philosopher_) and to the beloved Companions of his Studies, in these Words. “Being confined to my Bed I have dictated this Letter, which may you receive in good Health, my Mother, my Sister, and my Instructress! in all which Respects you have been my Benefactress, or if there be any other, either Name or Thing, that is more honourable. The Weakness of my Body proceeds from the Anguish of my Soul. The Remembrance of my deceased Children consumes me by little and little. _Synesius_ ought only to have lived so long, as the Evils of Life were unknown to him. Afterwards it has happened to him as to a Stream that is stopt; it rushes over its Dam on a sudden, and forces all the Pleasure of Life before it. Let me cease to live, or to remember the Burial of my Children. May you enjoy Health yourself, and salute in my Name the happy Companions, beginning with Father _Theotecnus_, and Brother _Athanasius_, and so proceeding to the rest. Or if any other be since associated to them, who is agreeable to you (and to whom, for this very Reason of pleasing you, I ought to stand obliged) salute him also from me, as one of my dearest Friends.