# On the Gift - Author: [Synesius of Cyrene](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/synesius-of-cyrene/) - Latin title: *De dono* - Date: ca. 400-405 (approximate) - Source: G. Krabinger, ed., Synesii Cyrenensis quae exstant opera omnia, vol. 1 (Landshut, 1850), 78-92 - Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator - Editions and translations: J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca 66 (Paris, 1859); N. Terzaghi, ed., Synesii Cyrenensis opuscula (Rome, 1944) - Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/ - Passages: 15 ## Krabinger p. 78 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-78 - Source: Krabinger 1:78 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Synesius answers Paeonius's complaint that philosophy is slighted while its pretenders are honoured: each gets what he has pursued. ### Greek text ᾿Αλκούων σου πρώῃν ὑπὲρ φιλοσοφίας ἀγανακτοῦντος, εἰ μηδὶν ἴσαι πέρας ἀνθρώποις τῇν εἰς αὐτὴν ἀσεβείας, καὶ ἅμα ὅτι χαλεπῇ χρῷτο τύχῃ, καὶ λίαν ἀγνώμονι, ἣν οἱ μὲν προιποιούμενοι διὰ συχνῆς τερατείας εὐδοκιμοῦσι παρά τε δυνάταις καὶ ἐν τοῖς ᾽) πλήθεσιν" οἱ δδὲ ἀληθεύοντες ἀπιεοῦνται, καὶ ἐν Καρὸς; μοίρᾳ τιμῶνται, τῇς μίν ὁρμῇ! ) ἡγάμην" ἀπὸ γὰρ πάνυ γενναίας προῦῆκτο φύσεω:. Οὐ μὴν ἀγανακτεῖν τινὰ οἴομαι δεῖν, ὅταν τὸ κατὰ λόγον συμβαίνῃ. ἙΕὔλογον δὲ δήπου αὶ τυγχάνειν ἕκατον ὧν τυχεῖν ἐσπούδακε, καὶ περὶ ἃ πεπραγμάτευται᾽ καὶ ἀποτυγχάνειν αὖ πάλιν ἐκείνων, ### English translation (Claude) When I heard you lately vexed on behalf of philosophy — that people set no limit to their impiety toward her, and also that she meets with a hard and very unfeeling fortune, since those who lay claim to her through much charlatanry are well regarded among the powerful and among the crowds, while those who are true to her are slighted and honoured at the value of a Carian slave — I admired your zeal, for it sprang from a very noble nature. Yet I do not think anyone ought to be vexed when what happens happens according to reason. And it is surely reasonable that each should obtain what he has striven to obtain and what he has busied himself about, and in turn should fail of those things ### Translation notes - Synesius addresses Paeonius, an officer at Constantinople, ca. 398, sending him a silver astronomical instrument (an astrolabe or star map). - Krabinger's pages begin and end mid-sentence; each page is translated as far as its Greek runs. The OCR of Krabinger's page is rough: obvious misreadings of accents and letters are translated by sense; only larger slips and leaked notes are corrected. - "At the value of a Carian": the proverb ἐν Καρὸς μοίρᾳ, of the worthless; the OCR's stray semicolon after Καρός is ignored. ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 78 (Krabinger 1:78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/78). ## Krabinger p. 79 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-79 - Source: Krabinger 1:79 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The pretender gets reputation and the true philosopher gets wisdom; the slighted philosopher should accept the rank he has chosen. ### Greek text ὧν οὔτε ὠρέχθη ποτὲ, οὔτε ἐπεμελήθη “ ὅπως ἂν αὐτῷ παραγένοιτο. Ἐὲ τοίνυν ὁ. μὲν ἐφρόντισε τοῦ γενέσθαι σοφὸϊ, ὁ δὲ μόνον τοῦ δόξαι,: ἑκάτερος τὸ προιίῆκον ἔχουσιν, ὁ μὲν ὦν, ὁ δὲ εἶναι 1.) δοκῶν. "Ἢ δεινά γ᾽ ἂν πάθοιεν καὶ δικαιότερον ἀγανακτοῖεν "οἱ διὰ τῆ: ἐκ οὔσης, ἀλλὰ φαινομένης φιλοσοφίας δό- ἢ ἔαν θηρώμενοι, εἰ τοῖς μὲν ἑκάτερον ὑπάρξει θατέρου φροντίσασι., 'σφίσι δὲ μηδέτερον, καίτοι τὸ ῥᾷεον οὐ δι᾽ ἐλάττονος ἐπιμελείας ἐπιτετηδευκόσιν,. ἀπατῇσαι τοὺς οὐκ εἰδότα, περὶ ὧν ἀπατῶνται. Οὗτοι μὲν οὖν ἔσων λαμπροὶ, κἄν τοῖς θεάτροιξ ξἐφανούσθων, εἰ βούλονται’ τῇς γὰρ ἀληθείας καραχιιβίδανι τες, ὀνόματος ῤαφυβύευσαν. “Ημὶν δὲ ὀλιγωρουμένοι;, ἐπειδὴ σύ με βούλει. τοῖς ἐκ τοῦ σπανίου γένουρ συναριθμεῖν, καὶ οὐχ ἦκιτα Α δι᾽ ἐμὲ τὴν φιλοσοφίας τύχην ἐδυιχέρανας" ἡμῖν. Ὦ οὖν ἀμελουμέγοιρ" ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀγαπητίον τὴν τάξιν, εἰς ἣν ὑφ᾽ ἑαυτῶν ἐτάχθημεν, καὶ οὐ δρλωτίον, ### English translation (Claude) which he never desired nor took care to have come to him. If, then, one man has taken thought to become wise and another only to seem so, each has what belongs to him: the one is, the other seems to be. Otherwise those who hunt for reputation through a philosophy that is not real but apparent would suffer a terrible wrong, and be more justly vexed, if those who cared for one of the two should have both, and they themselves neither — though they have practised the easier thing with no less diligence: to deceive those who do not know the matters about which they are deceived. So let these men be brilliant, and let them be crowned in the theatres if they wish; for, having despised the truth, they have fallen in love with a name. But as for us who are slighted — since you wish to count me among those of the rare kind, and not least on my account were annoyed with us at philosophy's fortune — we, then, neglected by people, must be content with the rank in which we placed ourselves, and must not envy ### Translation notes - "Having despised the truth, they have fallen in love with a name": the OCR here is badly damaged (καραχιιβίδανι τες, ὀνόματος ῤαφυβύευσαν); translated by sense, uncertain. ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 79 (Krabinger 1:79; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/79). ## Krabinger p. 80 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-80 - Source: Krabinger 1:80 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The philosopher needs no popular honour, but gladly welcomes Paeonius, who has rejoined philosophy and soldiering. ### Greek text οὐδὲ. μακαριεέον τὺ, ἠἡμιπαιδεύτου; τούτους, ὅταν ὑπὸ τῶν παντελῶς «ἀπαιδεύτων. μετέωροι φέφωνται ὅ). Οὔτε γάρ. ὁρᾷν, ψυχῇ: ἐκκεκαθαρμένή; κάλλος. οὐ μὴ καθαροὶ δυνατοί: καὶ τὸ κηρύττειν ἑαυτὸν, καὶ πάντα ποιεῖν ὑπὲρ ἐπιδείξεως οὐ σοφίας, ἀλλὰ σοφιξείας. ἐτί. “1ιὸ τῇς :απαρὰ τῶν πολλῶν ἀμοιροῦντα; αἰδοῦς καλῶς ἔχει λέγειν... ΕΓ τ - ὡδὶ τυ πος ᾿ οὔτι μὲ᾿ ταύτης Χρεῷ, ΠΣ ἐφρδνέω δὲ τετιμῦσθαι “]ὸς αἴσῃ" ἀγαπᾷν τε καὶ ἀσμενίδειν ἐντυχεῖν ἀνδρὶ φρόνησιν ἅμα,καὶ δύναμιν. κεκερμένῳ" οὕτω γὰρ. οὔτ᾽ ἀναξίοις ἂν συγγιγνοίμεθα, οὔτ᾽ ἂν ἄτιμοι παντάπασι νομιδοίμεθα. ὅς Πω, οὖν οὐ μέλλω τὴν μέσην.) ἐν τῇ Ψυχῦ χώραν τῷ θαυματῷ 'Παϊονίῳ νέἐμεὶν, ὃς ἐκ πολλοῦ ἢ ἶ διατετειχισμέναρ. θριγκοῖ; μεγάλοις φιλοσοφίαν καὶ :ρατεῖαν ἐξεῦρεν ἐπαναγαγεῖν. καὶ συνάψαι». παλαιάν τιναί ἐνιδὼν, τοῖν ἐπιτηδεύμασι τούτοις συγγένειαν; ### English translation (Claude) nor count these half-educated men happy when they are carried aloft by the wholly uneducated. For those who are not pure cannot see beauty, which is for a purified soul; and to proclaim oneself and do everything for display belongs not to wisdom but to sophistry. Therefore it is well for one who has no share in the respect of the many to say: "I have no need of this honour; I think I am honoured by the dispensation of Zeus," and to love and gladly meet a man who has blended wisdom and power together; for so we would neither keep company with the unworthy nor be thought wholly without honour. How then shall I not give the middle place in my soul to the admirable Paeonius, who has found how to bring back and join together philosophy and military command, long walled off from each other by great copings, having perceived an ancient kinship between these pursuits? ### Extrabiblical texts - Homer, Il. 9.607-608 (Homer, Iliad): quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - The quotation is Homer, Iliad 9.607–608 (Achilles to Phoenix). ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 80 (Krabinger 1:80; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/80). ## Krabinger p. 81 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-81 - Source: Krabinger 1:81 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: In the past philosophers ruled and fought: the Pythagoreans in Italy, Zeno against tyrants, Xenophon leading the Ten Thousand. ### Greek text λία ὁ μὲν γὰρ πάλαι τοὺς αὐτούς. ἔχουσα Πυθαγόρου τε ἀκουξὰς καὶ τῶν πόλεών ἀἁρμοςὰς ᾿ Ελλὰς ἡ μεγάλῃ προτηγορεύετο καὶ μάλα ἐν δίκῃ» παρ᾽ οἷς Χαρώνδας ) μὲν ἐνομοθέτει καὶ Ζάλευκος ὅ), ἑερατήγουν δὲ. δ'Αρχύται τε “) καὶ Φιλόλαοι, ὁ δὲ ἀςρονομικώτατος Τίμαιος ἐπολιάρχει. τε καὶ ἐπρέσβευε, καὶ τάλλα ἐπολιτεύετο, παρ᾽ οὗ καὶ ἹΠλάτων ἡμῖν περὶ κόσμου φύσεως διαλέγεται. Ταῦτ᾽ ἄρα μέχρις ἐνάτης; ἀπὸ Πυ- Ὁ θαγόρου γενεᾶς τὰ καινὰ πιςευθέντερ, «εὐδαίμονα τὴν Ι0 Ἰταλίαν ἐτύῴρησαν " καὶ μὴν τὸ ᾿Ελεατικὸν τότε ᾿᾿Αθήνῃσι διδασκαλεῖον λόγων τε ἅμα καὶ ὅπλων ὁμοτίμως ἐπεμελήθησαν 1"). Ζήνων τε γὰρ οὐδ' ἂν ἀριθιεῆσαις ῥᾳδίως ὅσας ἐξέκοψε τυραννίδας, συνιςὰς ἐπ᾿ αὐτὰ, τὸ ὑγιαῖνον τῶν πόλεων᾽ καὶ Ξενοφῶν Ιῷ ἀπειρηκότας ὑπὸ τῶν συμφορῶν καὶ θανατῶντα, ἤδη τὰς μυρίους παραλαβὼν, ἀπ᾽ ἄκρας τῇς Περσῶν " ἐπιπρατείας κατήγαγε ᾽) νικῶντας ἅπαν τὸ ὑφιςάμενον. ### English translation (Claude) For long ago Italy, which had the same men as hearers of Pythagoras and as governors of its cities, was called Great Greece, and with full justice. Among them Charondas and Zaleucus made laws, Archytas and Philolaus were generals, and Timaeus, the greatest of astronomers, governed the city, served as ambassador, and took part in public life in other ways — the Timaeus through whom Plato discourses to us on the nature of the world. That is why, down to the ninth generation from Pythagoras, these men, entrusted with public affairs, kept Italy prosperous. And indeed the Eleatic school, and the one at Athens in those days, cared for words and for arms with equal honour. For Zeno — you could not easily count how many tyrannies he cut down, rallying against them the sound part of the cities; and Xenophon, taking over the Ten Thousand when they had given up under their misfortunes and were longing for death, led them back from the very summit of the Persian empire, victorious over everything that stood against them. ### Extrabiblical texts - Plato, Tim. (Plato (works)): allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - "The Eleatic school, and the one at Athens in those days": the reading of the Greek is uncertain (τὸ Ἐλεατικὸν τότε Ἀθήνῃσι διδασκαλεῖον); the plural verb and the example of Xenophon suggest two schools are meant. - Plato's Timaeus is named for this Timaeus of Locri; Xenophon tells of the Ten Thousand in the Anabasis. ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 81 (Krabinger 1:81; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/81). ## Krabinger p. 82 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-82 - Source: Krabinger 1:82 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Dion, Plato's friend, overthrew Dionysius with one ship; once philosophy and statecraft were joined, but later times split them. ### Greek text Τί δ᾽ ἄν τις εἴποι τὸ “]ίωνα ἐπὶ τὴν “Ἱονυσίου μοναρχίαν ἐλθεῖν, δουλωσαμένην μὲν τὰς ᾿Ελληνίδας λ ἐν Σικελίᾳ πόλεις, οὐκ ἐλαχίτας δὲ ἐν αὐτῇ 3, καὶ βαρβάρους' τὸ δὲ Ἀαρχηδονίων 5“ φρόνημα καθελῦσαν, ἤ ἐπινεμομένην δὲ ἤδη τῇς ᾿Ιταλίας τὴν παραλίαν; ᾽᾿Αλλ᾽ ἐπὶ ταύτην ξενολογήσα; ὁ Πλάτωνος ἐρατὴ: καὶ ἐρώμενος, ἑνὶ πλοίῳ καὶ τούτῳ «ρογγύλῳ τὸ συμμαχικὸν ἅπαν ἐμβιβάσας, τῇ Σικελίᾳ προιέπλευσε " καὶ ἀπὸ τῇς τοσαύτῃς παρασκευῆς “Ζ]ιονύσιος μὲν ἐξηλαύ- 10νετο τὴν πολιτείαν δὲ “]ίων μετεσχημάτιδεν,8Β ἀποδιδοὺς, τῇ τῶν νόμων ἡγεμονίᾳ τὰς πόλει. Οὕτω πάλαι μὲν συνεγίνοντο φιλοσοφία καὶ πολιτεία, καὶ ἐπειδὰν συνέλθοιεν, τοιαῦτα εἰργάδοντο. “Ὥ;ςπερ δὲ ᾿ »,,,, ΙΤ.ς. ᾿ ᾿ τὰ ἄλλα τὰ καλὰ καὶ σεμνά, καθ᾽ ὧν ἁπάντων ὁ χρόνος ἐνεανιεύσατο, καὶ τοῦτο κατιόντα τὸν βίον ἀπέλιπε τὸ διττὸν εἶδος, καὶ κατεχωρίσθῃ παρὰ τῶν ὕστερον. Τοιγαροῦν οὐδὲ ἄξιον εἰπεῖν ὅπως ἔχει τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ πράγματα. Μὴ γὰρ διότι τῦτο καὶ τἄλλα ᾿ - ι) ᾿, ν᾿,᾿ ᾿, «. Ἄ ᾿. ἡμὰς ἀπολέλοιπεν ἀγαθάς ὦ; οὐδὲν ἂν γένοιτο πόλε- ### English translation (Claude) What should one say of Dion's going against the monarchy of Dionysius, which had enslaved the Greek cities in Sicily and not a few of the barbarian ones in it too, had brought down the pride of the Carthaginians, and was already spreading over the coast of Italy? Yet against it the lover and beloved of Plato, having hired foreign troops, put his whole allied force aboard one ship — and that a round merchantman — and sailed to Sicily; and from so great an armament Dionysius was driven out, while Dion reshaped the constitution, giving the cities back to the rule of the laws. So in former times philosophy and statecraft kept company, and when they came together they accomplished such things. But as with the other fine and venerable things, against all of which time has acted insolently, so this too, as life declined, lost its twofold form and was split apart by later men. Therefore it is not even worth saying how human affairs now stand. For since this, like the other goods, has left us, no greater misfortune could befall cities ### Translation notes - The last sentence is uncertain in the OCR (Μὴ γὰρ διότι … ὦ; οὐδὲν ἂν γένοιτο); translated by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 82 (Krabinger 1:82; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/82). ## Krabinger p. 83 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-83 - Source: Krabinger 1:83 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Paeonius, an official who practises philosophy, may restore the union of power and wisdom, and philosophers should help him. ### Greek text σι δυιτύχημα μεῖρον τοῦ τὸ μὲν ἰσχυρὸν ἀνόητον ἔχειν, τὸ δ᾽ ἔμφρον ἀδύνατον..Αλλ᾽ ἔοικας γὰρ αὐτὸς ἄρξειν ἐπανάγειν ἡμὶν τὸν συνδυασμὸν τοῦτον" τά τε γὰρ κοινὰ πράττειν πιὕτεύῃ, καὶ φιλοσοφίαν οἴει δεῖν ἐπιτηδεύειν, Βαλλ᾽ οὕτως, ὡς; ἀγῶνα καλὸν ὑπέρ τε ἡμῶν, ὑπέρ τε τῶν Μουσῶν ἀγωνίξῃ, τοῦ μή τινα αὐτὰς ὡς; ἀπράκτους καὶ ἄχειρας ἀγορᾶς τε καὶ φτρατείας ἀπελαύνειν, ἅτε μηδὲν μὲν ὄφελος οὖσας εἰς τὰς ἐν ὑπαίθρῳ πράαξει:, κομιψὰς δὲ παιδαρίοις προταθύρειν τε καὶ «ωμύλλεσθαι. Ὦ Ἑκαὶ ἡμὰς σοὶ προφήκει χεῖρα ὀρέγειν ἑκάφτους, ὃσῃ δύναμι. Οὕτω γὰρ ἂν σύ τε ἀπειργασμένος εἴης οὐχ ἡμιτελὴ; σοφὸς, οὐδὲ κολοβὸ;, ἐπὶ μόνης ὀχούμενος τῇς φυσικῆς ὑποσχέσεωχ᾽ τῇ τε πολιτείᾳ καλῶς ἂν ἔχοι παρὰ τοιούτων ἐπιτροπεύεσθαι, καὶ ἡμεῖς ὀνῃησόμεθα, τιμὴν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων φιλοσοφίᾳ μινητεύσαντες μετὰ τὰ μένειν ἐν ἤθεσι πρέπουσι. Γένοιτο γὰρ ἂν οὕτως ### English translation (Claude) than to have its strength without understanding and its understanding without strength. But you seem yourself to be about to begin bringing this union back to us: you are entrusted with public affairs, and you think one ought to practise philosophy — and practise it in such a way that you fight a fine fight on behalf of us and of the Muses, so that no one may drive them out of the marketplace and the army as idle and handless, as though they were of no use for the deeds of the open air but were pretty things for chattering and prattling to little boys. And it befits each of us to stretch out a hand to you as far as our power goes. For so you would be a finished wise man, not half-complete or maimed, riding on natural promise alone; the state would do well to be governed by such men; and we shall benefit, having won honour from people for philosophy while remaining in the manners that befit her. For in this way ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 83 (Krabinger 1:83; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/83). ## Krabinger p. 84 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-84 - Source: Krabinger 1:84 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Rulers with understanding will expose the sham philosophers whom the crowd now admires; Paeonius should help philosophy, not blame her. ### Greek text εἰκὸς τοὐναντίον τῷ μικρῷ πρόσθον εἰκότι, ὅτε τῇ μὲν “ποῦ πλήθους ἀμαθίᾳ τὸ σοφισικὸν φῦλον ἐλέγοκεεν ἐπιτίθεσθαι" ἐκ δὲ τούτου συμιβαίνειν τοὺς ἀληθεῖς φι- ἃ λοσοφίας συντρόφε; ἔλαττον ἔχειν εἰς δόξαν τῶν ὑποβολιμαίων καὶ. παρεγγράπτων ᾿)). ᾿Αλλ᾽ ὅταν οἱ τὰς ἀρχὰι ἄρχοντες, καὶ διὰ χειρὸς ἔχοντες τὰ τῶν πόλεων πράγματα μι τοῦ πλύήθους ὦσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἔχωσι νοῦν, ταχὺ διαγνώσονται τὸν νόθον τε καὶ τὸν γνήσιον᾽ καὶ οὐκέτ᾽ ᾽ ἂν χαλεπῶς ὁ δῆμος τὴν ἀπάτην μεταδιδάσκοιτο. Οὐ γὰρ εἰπεῖν. τι δεῖ πρὸς αὐτούς, ἀλλ᾽ ἀφανείᾳ διαγράψαι ᾽) τοὺς κιβδύλου;.. αὶ φύσις ἐεὶ διὰ τῇ: τῶν ἀρχομένων συγκαταθέσεως θαυμάξεσθαι τὸ. ἡγούμενον. ᾿Επεὶ καὶ νῦν οὐχ ἥκιτα τῇ τῶν πραγμάτῶν ἁτοπίᾳ τὸ πλῆθος ἐπόμενον τοὺς ἀκερσεκόμας, καὶ 1ὅ πάντας ᾽ σοὺς τολμιῶντας περιττοὺς δή τινας ἥγηνται" τά τε ἄλλα ποικιλώτερα γένῃ τῶν σοφιςτῶν μονονουχὶ σέβονταί τε καὶ ἄδονται καὶ μάλιτα αὐτῶν ὅσοι βαίνουσι κορύνῃ, καὶ πρὸ τοῦ φθέγξασθαι χρέμπτονται. Οὐκοῦν καὶ βοηθήσεις τῇ τύχῃ φιλοσοφίας, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ κατηγορήσεις' αὐτὴν οὐδὲν ἀδικούσῃ:. Τὸ γὰρ ( ᾿ εἰκὸς ἐφάνῃ γινόμενον, ὃ σὺ μεταθήσεις ἐπὶ τὸ προ,ῇ- ### English translation (Claude) the opposite would likely come about of what was likely a little before, when the sophistic tribe was said to prey on the ignorance of the multitude, with the result that the true nurslings of philosophy fare worse in reputation than the changelings and the falsely enrolled. But when those who hold the offices and have the affairs of cities in hand are not of the multitude but have understanding, they will quickly tell the bastard from the legitimate, and the people would not be hard to teach out of their deception. For there is no need to say anything to them, only to strike out the counterfeits by leaving them in obscurity; for it is natural that what leads should be admired through the assent of those who are ruled. Even now, not least through the absurdity of affairs, the multitude follows along and regards men with unshorn hair, and all who are bold, as some kind of extraordinary beings; and the other, more varied kinds of sophists they all but worship and celebrate, especially those of them who walk with a club and clear their throats before they speak. So you will come to the help of philosophy's fortune, and will not accuse her, who does no wrong. For what was likely has been seen to happen, and you will change it into what is fitting ### Translation notes - The long-haired men with a club are Cynic-style philosophers, whom Synesius also attacks in the Dion. ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 84 (Krabinger 1:84; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/84). ## Krabinger p. 85 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-85 - Source: Krabinger 1:85 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Synesius wants to fan Paeonius's interest in astronomy, the science that leads toward theology, and offers him a gift. ### Greek text κον καὶ βέλτιον, ὅταν ἐῤῥωμενέξερόν σοῳ τὰ φιλοσο- ἡ φίας ἀνθάψηται, ἐπεὶ μηδὲ νῦν ἀγεννῶς ἱνήρξας τῇς συμμιαχίας, τοὺς κύνας ἀνθυλακτήσας, καὶ τὴν Ζ)εκέλειαν ἡμῶν ἀποτειχίζειν ἐπιβαλλόμενο;. Πυθόμενό; τε οὖν περὶ σοῦ ") παρὰ τῶν προλαβόντων ἐπὶ τὴν σὴν συνήθειαν, καὶ αὐτὸς δι᾽ ὀλίγου ὅ) κατανούσα;, ἐρῶ τοὺς ἀξρρονομικοὺς σπινθῆρας ἐνόντας σου τῇ ψυχῇ» τούτου, ἐξάψαι καὶ ἐπὶ μέγα ἄραι, διὰ τῶν ἐνόντων ἐπιβαλλόμενος" ἀτρονομία γὰρ Ὁ αὐτῇ τε ὑπερσεμινός ἔξιν, ὀστιεήμη, καὶ τάχ᾽ ἀναβιβα-}) σμὸς ἐπί τι πρεσβύτερον γίνοιτ᾽ ἄν. Ἣν ἐγὼ προρεχὲς ἡγοῦμαι πορθμεῖον. τῇς ἀποῤῥήτου θεολογία:. -"Ὑλην τε γὰρ -ὑποβέβληται τὸ μακάριον οὐρανοῦ. σῶμα, οὗ καὶ τὴν κίνησιν «νοῦ΄ αἰμησιν εἶναι τοῖς κορυφαιοτάιὅ τοις ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ δοκεῖ" καὶ ιἐπὶ τὰς ἀποδείξεις οὐκ ἀμφιςβητησίμως ποῤεύεται, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπνρέτισι 'χρῆται γεω- “Ἅετρίᾳ τε καὶ ἀριθμητικῇ., «ἃς ἀτραβῇ τῷ: ἀληθείας κανόνα τιρ εἰπὼν οὐκ ἂν ἁμάρτοι τοῦ πρέποντος. Προ;ἄγω δή δοι δῶρον, ἐμοί, τε δοῦναι, σοί τε λαβεῖν πρεπωδέστατον ὅ), διανοίας μὲν ἔργον ἐμῆ:, ὅσα. μοι “) ### English translation (Claude) and better, when you take up the cause of philosophy more vigorously; for even now you have begun the alliance in no mean way, barking back at the dogs and undertaking to wall off our Decelea. Having learned about you from those who came before me into your acquaintance, and having perceived it myself in a short time, I long to kindle the astronomical sparks that are in your soul and raise them to a great flame, working with what is there. For astronomy is itself an exceedingly venerable science, and might quickly become a ladder to something higher — a fitting ferry, as I think, to ineffable theology. For it has as its matter the blessed body of heaven, whose motion the leaders of philosophy think to be an imitation of mind; and it advances to its demonstrations in no disputable way, but uses as its handmaids geometry and arithmetic, which one would not be wrong to call an unbending rule of truth. I bring you, then, a gift most fitting for me to give and for you to receive: the work of my mind, in so far as ### Translation notes - "Barking back at the dogs": answering the Cynics. "Wall off our Decelea": as the Athenians suffered from the Spartan fort at Decelea, philosophy suffers from a hostile stronghold within; Paeonius is cutting it off. - That the heavens' motion imitates mind is a Platonic commonplace (e.g. Plato, Laws 10.897c–898b). ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 85 (Krabinger 1:85; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/85). ## Krabinger p. 86 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-86 - Source: Krabinger 1:86 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Synesius explains his gift, a silver projection of the sphere designed with his teacher's help, completing what Hipparchus began. ### Greek text ᾿ συνευπόρησέν᾽ ἢ σεβασμιωτάτῃ διδάσκαλος, χειρὸς δὲ τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς εἰς δημιουργίαν ἀργύῤου τῇς ἀρίςυς. Περὶ οὗ προδιαλεχθεὶῤ, προὔγου τι ἂν τῷ σκοπῷ ποιήσαιμι. ᾽Ο δὲ σκοπὸς, τὰς ἐν σοὶ "Ἶ φυσικὰς περὶ ὅ φιλοσοφίαν ὁρμὰς ἐἑκκαλέσασθαι. Εἰ γὰρ "᾽) ἔφεσὶς σοι Χαραγένοιτο τοῦ συντείνοντα τὰς ὄψεις ἐπιβαλεῖν τῷ φαινομένῳ, τότε ὅοι μιεῖδον ὀρέξω δῶρον, τὰ περὶ τῇς ἐπιστήμης αὐτῇ! ᾿Α4λλ᾽ ὅπως καὶ νῦν προιέξεις :) τοῖς λεγομένοις περὶ τοῦ δεικνυμένου. Β Σφαιρικῆς. ") ἐπιφανείας ἐξάπλωσιν. ταὐτότητα λόγῶν ἐν "ἑτερότητι τῶν σχημάτων τηροῦσαν ὑνίξατο μὲν Ἵππαρχος ὁ παμπάλαιος καὶ ἐπέθετό. γε πρῶτος τῷ σκέμματιι. Ἡμεῖς δὲ, εἰμὴ πεῖξον ἢ: καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς εἰπεῖν, ἐξυφήναμέν. τε ἄχρι" τῶν 'κρασπέδων: αὐτὸ καὶ ἔτελειώσαμεν ἐν πλείτῳ δή τινι τῷ μὲταξὺ χρόνῳ τοῦ προβλήμιατο; ἀμεληθέντο!, Πτολεμαίου.) τὰ πάνυ, καὶ τοῦ θεσπεσίουι.θιάσου τῶν' διαδεξαμένων, ' ἀὐτὴν μόν“;," “.- ὡ πων.".-" Ἃ ### English translation (Claude) my most revered teacher helped me find the way, and the work of the hand of the best of our craftsmen in silver. If I first explain it, I would be serving my purpose. The purpose is to call out the natural impulses toward philosophy that are in you. For if the desire should come to you to fix your gaze intently on what is shown, then I will hold out to you a greater gift: the account of the science itself. But see that even now you attend to what is said about what is shown. The unfolding of a spherical surface onto a plane that keeps the ratios the same amid the difference of the figures was hinted at by Hipparchus of very ancient times, and he was the first to attempt the problem. But we — if it is not too much for one like me to say — wove it out to its very fringes and completed it, the problem having been neglected in the very long time between; for Ptolemy, outstanding as he was, and the inspired company of his successors were content to have only ### Translation notes - The "most revered teacher" is Hypatia of Alexandria. - The instrument maps the celestial sphere onto a plane (stereographic projection), as in an astrolabe or star map. ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 86 (Krabinger 1:86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/86). ## Krabinger p. 87 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-87 - Source: Krabinger 1:87 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Earlier astronomers met only practical needs; Synesius has gone further, as growing cities add beauty to necessity. ### Greek text νην “ἢ ἔχειν ἀγαπησάντων τὴν χρείαν, ἣν ἀρκοῦσαν εἰς τὸ νυκτερινὸν ὡροσκοπεῖον οἱ ἑκκαίδεκα ἀεέρες παρείχοντο, οὗς μόνους ὅ) Ἵππαρχος μετατιθεὶς ἐγκατέ! ταξε τῷ ὀργάνῳ. αὶ συγγνώμην δὲ τοῖς; ἀνδράσι ὅ τῶν προὐργιαιτέρων ἀτελῶν ὄντων, γεωμετρίας ἔτι τιθηνουμένῃς, περὶ τὰς ὑποθέσεις ἀσχοληθῆναι. Ἡμεῖς δὲ ὑπὲρ τοῦ σῶμα πάγκαλον ἐξεργάσασθαι τῇς ἐπιεήμης, ἀπόνως αὐτοὶ παραδεξάμενοι, χάριν ἴσμεν τοῖς προηγορηῃκόσι Ὗ τῶν μακαρίων ἀνδρῶν. Οὐ μὴν ἀφιλόσοφον φιλοτιμίαν ἡἠγούμεθα τὸ καὶ ὡραϊσμοὺς ἐπειαγαγεῖν ἤδη τινὰς, καὶ τεχνιτεῦσαί τι, καὶ προ:εξεργάσασθαι περιττόν. “Ὥιπερ γὰρ αἱ πόλεις οἰκιδό- ἢ ἅεναι πρὸς τὰ ἀναγκαῖα μόνα ὁρῶσιν, ὅπως ἂν σώξοιντο, καὶ ὅπως, ἂν διαγίγνοιντο " ἐπιδιδοῦσαι δὲ οὐκέτ᾽ ἀγαπῶσι τὸ ἀναγκαῖον, ἀλλ᾽ ἡ δαπάνῃ πλείων αὐταὶς εἰς κάλλῃ ςοῶν καὶ γυμνασίων μεγέθη καὶ λαμπρότητα ἀγορᾶς" οὕτως ἐπισήμη: ἡ ιὲν πρόοδος ἐν τοῖς. ἀναγκαίοις, ἡ δὲ αὐξησις ἐν τοῖς περιτ- ### English translation (Claude) the use which the sixteen stars supplied, sufficient for the night-time hour-reckoner — the only ones that Hipparchus transferred and set into the instrument. One should pardon these men for being occupied with the hypotheses, since the more pressing matters were still incomplete while geometry was still in the nurse's arms. But we, in order to work out a beautiful body for the science, having received these things without labour ourselves, are grateful to those of the blessed men who prepared the way. Yet we do not think it an unphilosophical ambition now to add some ornaments as well, to apply some craftsmanship, and to work out something beyond what is required. For just as cities, while they are being founded, look only to necessities, how they may be preserved and how they may get by, but when they grow are no longer content with the necessary, and spend more on fine porticoes, large gymnasia, and a splendid marketplace; so in a science the first advance lies in the necessities and the growth in the things beyond ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 87 (Krabinger 1:87; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/87). ## Krabinger p. 88 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-88 - Source: Krabinger 1:88 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Synesius describes making the instrument: a treatise, a slightly hollowed surface, stars of six magnitudes, circles divided into degrees. ### Greek text τοῖ. Τὸ δὴ ') σκέμμα τὸ περὶ τὴς ἑξαπλώσεω;, αὐτὸ δι᾽ αὐτὸ φροντίδος; ἀξιώσαντες, ἐξεπονήσαμὲν :ι.313 καὶ σύγγραμμα εἰργασάμεθα, πλήθει τε ἀναγκαίῳ καὶ ποικιλία θεωρημάτων αὐτὸ καταπυκνώσαντες᾽ καὶ εἰς δύλην. μεταθεῖναι τοὺς λόγους σπουδὴν ἐθθέμεθθα,. ἄγαλμα πάγκαλον τοῦ κοσμικοῦ πλάτους δημιουργήσαντες. 1: δὲ αὐτῆς ἰφόδου καὶ ἐπίπεδον ἐπιφάνειαν καὶ τὴν ὁμαλῶς κοίλην εἰς τοὺς αὐτούς λόγους τέἱνεῖιν διδούση;, συγγενεεέραν ἡγούμενοι τὴν ὁπωροῦν κοίλην τῇ τέλεον σφαιρικῇ, ὑπεμβολαίᾳ τὸ πλάτος ἔκοιλάναμεν, τα τε ἄλλα ἐπεμελήθημεν, ὅπως ἂν ἡ φαντασία τοῦ ὀργάνου τῇς ἀληθείας ὑπομιμνήσκοι τὸν ἔννουν θεατήν" καὶ γὰρ τοῖς ἕξ μεγέθεσι διαφέροντας τοὺς ἀξεέρας ἰνετάξαμεν, καὶ τοὺς πρὸς ἀλλήλους αὐτῶν σχηματισμοὺς ἐτηρήσαμεν" τῶν δὲ κύκλων τοὺς νι μὲν περι)γάγομεν, τοὺς δὲ διργάγομεν" ἅπαντας δὲ ἐτέμολῖεν μοιρικῶς, τὰς πενταμοιριαίυς γραμμὰς μείδους ### English translation (Claude) them. So, thinking the problem of the unfolding worthy of attention for its own sake, we worked it out fully and composed a treatise, packing it with a necessary number and variety of theorems; and we took pains to transfer the reasoning into matter, crafting a most beautiful image of the breadth of the cosmos. Since the same method allows both a plane surface and a uniformly concave one to be brought to the same ratios, we judged any concave surface more akin to the perfectly spherical one, and hollowed out the surface slightly; and we took care of the other things so that the appearance of the instrument might remind the intelligent viewer of the truth. For we set in the stars, distinguished by the six magnitudes, and preserved their configurations relative to one another; of the circles we drew some around and some across; and we divided them all into degrees, making the five-degree lines longer ### Translation notes - "Hollowed out … slightly": the OCR reading ὑπεμβολαίᾳ is uncertain; the sense is that the surface was made slightly concave. ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 88 (Krabinger 1:88; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/88). ## Krabinger p. 89 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-89 - Source: Krabinger 1:89 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The divisions are unequal to the eye but proportional; two gold inscriptions are set along the outer circle, the first an old epigram. ### Greek text τῶν μοιριαίων ποιήσαντε!,, ὅτι καὶ τῶν ἐπιγραφὰς τῶν 3 παρηυξήκαμεν, καὶ ἐν ἀργύρῳ, ἀριθμῶν κατ᾽ αὐτὰς τοῦ μέλανος ἔμφασιν βιβλίου ποιοῦντος, τὸ ὑποκείμενον. Τέτμηνται δὲ οὐχ ὁμοςοίχως ἅπαντες, οὐθ᾽ ἑαυτοῖς, αὶ δ οὔτ᾽ ἀλλήλοις ἀλλ᾽ οἱ μὲν εἰς ἴσας τομάς, οἱ δὲ ἄνωμάλως μὲν καὶ ἀνίσως κατὰ τὴν αἴσθησιν, τῷ λόγῳ 1, Τοῦτο γὰρ ἔδει συμβαίδὲ ὁμαλῶς τε καὶ εἰς ἴσα νεῖν, ἵν᾽ ὁμολογήσῃ τὰ διαφέροντα σχήματα. “1 ἣν αἰτίαν καὶ οἱ διὰ τῶν πόλων τε καὶ τῶν τροπικῶν σημείων γραφόμενοι μέγιτοι κύκλοι, τῷ λόγῳ μένοντες. κύκλοι, γεγόνασιν εὐθεῖαι τῇ μεταθέσει τοῦ θεωρηματος" ὃ τε ἀνταρκτικὸς μείξων ἐντέτακται τῶν Σ μεγίτων, καὶ τὰ πρὸς ἀλλήλους; διαεήμιατα τῶν ἀεέρων ἐμεγεθύνθη κατ᾽ ἐκεῖνο τῇς ἐξαπλώσεω. Τῶν δὲ ἐπι- ἢ γραμμάτων, ἅ διὰ χρυσοῦ τςεἐρεοῦ ταῖς σχολαξούσαις ἀξέρων χώραις κατὰ τὸν ἀνταρκτικὸν κύκλον ἐγκολάψαντες ἐνεθήκαμεν, τὸ μὲν ὕξερον, τὸ τετράξιχον, ἀρχαῖόν ἕτιν, ἁπλουφτέρως ἔχον, εἰς ἀςσρονομέας ἐγκώ-. ἅμτον" ΄ ### English translation (Claude) than the single-degree lines, because we also enlarged the inscriptions of the numbers; and on the silver the black of the figures alongside them gives the base the look of a book. They are not all divided in the same way, either with respect to themselves or to one another: some into equal segments, others unevenly and unequally to the eye, but in ratio evenly and into equal parts. This had to be so in order that the differing figures might agree. For this reason too the greatest circles drawn through the poles and the solstitial points, while remaining circles in principle, have become straight lines in the transfer of the theorem; the antarctic circle is set in larger than the greatest circles; and the distances of the stars from one another are enlarged in proportion to that part of the unfolding. Of the inscriptions which we engraved in solid gold and set into the places free of stars along the antarctic circle, the latter, the four-line one, is ancient and simpler, an encomium of astronomers: ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 89 (Krabinger 1:89; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/89). ## Krabinger p. 90 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-90 - Source: Krabinger 1:90 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The old epigram praises the astronomer's ascent to heaven; Synesius's own eight-line poem explains the use of the instrument. ### Greek text Οἷδ᾽ ὅτι θνατὸς ἐγὼ καὶ ἐφάμερος" ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν ἄστρων ᾿Ιχνεύω πυκινὰς ἀμφιδρόμου; ἕλικας, Οὐκέε" ἐπιψαύω γαίης ποσὶν, ἀλλὰ παρ᾽ αὐτῷ Ζηνὶ “5 θεοτρεφέος 3“) πίμπλαμαι ἀμβροσίῃης. ΠΣ δ Τὸ δὲ ἡγούμενον αὐτοῦ, τὸ ὀκτάξτιχον, ἐποιήθη μὲν ὑφ᾽ οὗ καὶ Ἶ) τὸ ἔργον, ἐμοῦ" σπερματικὴν δὲ ἔχει " καὶ καθολικὴν περίνοιαν τῶν ἐνορωμένων, μετ᾽ ἰσχύος ἀπηγγελμένον, καὶ ἱπιτημονικῶς μᾶλλον ἢ ἁβρῶ;ς συγκείμενον. Ὃ διαλέγεται πρὸς μόνον τὸν ἀςρονόμον, 10τί ἄν δναιτὸ τοῦ ὀργάνου" τὰς γὰρ ἐποχὰς “ ὑπισχνεῖται τῶν ἀεέρων" ἀλλ᾽ οὔτι, φησὶ, πρὸς τὸν δωδιακὸν, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸν ἰσημερινόν " ἐφάνη γὰρ διὰ τῶν ### English translation (Claude) "I know that I am mortal, a creature of a day; but when I track the dense, circling spirals of the stars, I no longer touch the earth with my feet, but beside Zeus himself I am filled with god-nourishing ambrosia." The one that comes before it, the eight-line one, was made by the one who also made the work — by me. It has a seminal and comprehensive grasp of what is seen on the instrument, set out with force, and composed scientifically rather than elegantly. It tells the astronomer alone what he can get from the instrument: it promises the positions of the stars — not, it says, with reference to the zodiac but to the equator, for it was evident from the ### Translation notes - The four-line epigram is traditionally ascribed to Ptolemy (Greek Anthology 9.577). ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 90 (Krabinger 1:90; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/90). ## Krabinger p. 91 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-91 - Source: Krabinger 1:91 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The poem promises the stars' positions by the equator, the obliquities and the co-risings; Synesius quotes it for later readers. ### Greek text γραμμάτων τὸ ἐκείνως ἐλεῖν ἀδύνατον" καὶ τὰς λοξώσει; φησὶ ) δίδοσθαι, τῶν μερῶν τοῦ δωδιακῦ δηλονότι πρὸς τὰ μέρῃ τοῦ ἰσημερινοῦ" ἐπὶ πᾶσι τὰς συ ναναφορὰ;, τρῦτ' ἔσι δ) ταῖς πόσαι; τοῦ δωδιακοῦ μοίὅραις' αἱ πόσαι τοῦ ἰσημερινοῦ ὅ) τὸν αὐτὸν ἰσημερινὸν διεξέρχονται. Ἔτι δὲ τόδε" γεγράφθω δὲ τῶν ὕξερον ἀναγνωσομένων εἵνεκα " ἐπεὶ σοί γε κἀν τῷ πίνακι κείμενον ἐξαρκεῖ, ΠΝ ' Ἢ σοφίῃ, είβον εὗρεν ἐς οὐρανόν "). Οὐ μέγα θαῦμα. Ἑαὶ νόος ἐξ αὐτῶν ἦλθεν ἐπουρανίων. ᾿Ηνίδε.13}) καὶ γυρὰ σφαίρας ἐπετάσσατο νῶτα, εν ΠΊΊσα δὲ κύκλα τομαῖς; οὐχ ὁμαλαῖσι τέμεν." Σκίέπτεο τείρεα πάντα πρὸς ἄντυγα, τῇς ἔπι Τιτὰν α Ἰγύκτα ταλαντεύει καὶ φάος ἐρχόμενος " ### English translation (Claude) lines that to take them that way was impossible. It says too that the obliquities are given — that is, of the parts of the zodiac in relation to the parts of the equator; and on top of all, the co-risings — that is, with how many degrees of the zodiac how many degrees of the equator pass the same horizon. And there is this besides (let it be written down for the sake of later readers; for you it is enough lying on the tablet): "If wisdom found her way to heaven, it is no great wonder: for mind too came from the heavenly ones themselves. Lo, she spread out the curved backs of the sphere, and cut all the circles with uneven sections. Look at all the constellations toward the rim on which the Titan, as he comes, weighs night against light, ### Translation notes - The poem is Synesius's own; the OCR of its lines is damaged in places and the translation follows the general sense. ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 91 (Krabinger 1:91; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/91). ## Krabinger p. 92 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/synesius-de-dono/78/#p-92 - Source: Krabinger 1:92 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The end of Synesius's poem on the instrument. ### Greek text “ἰξο ξωοφόρου " λοξώσια;, οὐδέ σε λήσει Ἀλεινὰ μεσημβρινῆ; κέντρα συνηλύσιος ### English translation (Claude) the obliquities of the zodiac; nor will the … centres of the meridian conjunction escape you." ### Translation notes - Only the last two lines of the poem stand on this page; the rest of the page as printed in the OCR was Krabinger's apparatus, removed. The first word of the last line (Ἀλεινὰ, perhaps κλεινὰ) is uncertain and left untranslated. ### Citation (SBL) Synesius, Dono 92 (Krabinger 1:92; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/synesius-de-dono/92).