Letter 126

To Asclepiodotus. The cry of grief comes naturally, but — why grieve? What we have lost is mortal. The third of my sons, the only one who remained to me, is gone. Yet I still hold to the view that good and evil cannot be predicated of what is not in our power. Or rather, this lesson I learned long ago has now become a belief forged by experience. The blow was of course more violent than my own suffering from it. The evil spirit whose business it is to hurt me also arranged that you — always so dear to me — should not be present. Best, thrice-dear, most loyal of friends — may you come yet. I can testify that the noble Menelaus has warm affection for you. I often spend time with him for that reason — he speaks of you with something close to reverence. Though he is deeply absorbed in the care of his soul and has entrusted himself today to guides bringing him straight to Taucheira, he remains devoted to the great Asclepiodotus and continues to express gratitude for all he owes you. I am searching for a marble container to store fresh water — the larger the better. It will be placed by the river Asclepius [a play on the recipient's name, also the name of the pagan god of healing], where I am building a monastery and preparing the sacred vessels. May God bless my enterprise.

Letter 126: Death of Synesius' Son [1] To Asclepiodotus Alas! but why alas! Our lost is but mortal. The third of my sons, the only one who remained to me, has gone. I still, however, hold to the view that good and evil cannot be predicated of that which is not in our power. Or rather, this lesson which I learned long ago has now become a belief of a soul schooled in experience; the blow was of course more violent than my own suffering from it. [2] The evil spirit whose business it is to hurt me arranged beforehand also that you, always so dear to me, should not be present. Oh best, thrice dear and most loyal of friends, may you come yet! [3] I can bear witness that the noble Menelaus has a warm affection for you. For this reason I often spend a day with him, because he remembers you with something akin to veneration. Although he is very much occupied with the care of his soul, and has given himself up today to the guardians who are bringing him straight to Taucheira , he was well-disposed to the great Asclepiodotus, and he has continued to express gratitude to one to whom he owes so much. [4] I am searching for a marble pot or cask to keep fresh water in, the larger the better. It shall be placed in the river Asclepius, note [A play on the name of the addressee. However, the name is also that of the pagan god of health; obviously, Synesius was converting an ancient shrine into a monastery, which was a common practice when Theophilus was patriarch of Alexandria .] for beside it I am building the monastery, and getting ready the holy vases. May God bless my enterprise!