Letter 1

To Nicander. I have fathered children in my books — some by the noble Philosophy, some by her temple-companion Poetry, and others by Rhetoric, who works in the public square. But anyone can see they all come from the same father, one who turns now to the serious, now to the playful side. This book will show for itself which category it belongs to. As far as I am concerned, it is exceptionally dear to me. I would happily graft it onto Philosophy and rank it among my legitimate offspring, but the laws of the City will not allow that — they are terribly strict guardians of noble birth. Still, I have given it whatever gifts I can bestow in secret, and I have worked a good deal of serious thought into it as well. So if you agree with me about its merits, share my work with your Greek friends. If they do not like it, send it back. After all, parental love is so powerful a force in nature that — as the fable goes — even apes gaze at their own young as though they were idols and marvel at their beauty, while seeing other apes' offspring for exactly what they are: baby apes. We should leave it to others to judge the value of what we create, since affection is perfectly capable of warping our judgment. That is why Lysippus [the famous sculptor] brought Apelles [the famous painter] to see his pictures, and Apelles brought Lysippus to see his.

Letter 1: The "Eulogy of Baldness" [1] To Nicander note [Only known from Synesius' Letter 75 .] I have begotten children in my books, some from most august Philosophy, and from Poesy who dwelleth with her in the Temple, some again from Rhetoric of the public place. But anyone can see that they are all from the same father, who inclines now to the serious and now to the lighter side. This book note [ A Eulogy of Baldness .] therefore shall give its own pledge as to which category it belongs. [2] So far as I am concerned, it is exceptionally dear to me that I would most gladly graft it on to Philosophy, and would rank it amongst my legitimate offspring, but this the very laws of the City refuse me, for they are terribly stern guardians of noble birth. Notwithstanding this, it has whatever bounty I am able to bestow upon it in secret, and I have put much of the sterner side into it also. [3] If, therefore, you agree with me as to its merit, make my work known to your Greek friends, and if its reception be unfavorable let it be returned to the sender. After all, love of offspring is so great a force in nature that, according to the fable, the very apes when they bring forth their young gaze upon them as idols, and are lost in admiration of their beauty, but those of their fellows they see just as they are - the offspring of apes. Hence we should leave to others the task of appraising the value of our creation, for partiality is quite capable of warping our judgment. It was for this that Lysippus note [A famous sculptor.] brought Apelles note [A famous painter.] to see his pictures, and for the same reason Apelles brought Lysippus to see his own.