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HYPATIA:
HYPATIA:
OR, THE HISTORY OF A Most beautiful, most vertuous, most learned, and every way accomplish’d LADY; WHO Was torn to Pieces by the Clergy of Alexandria , to gratify the Pride, Emulation, and Cruelty of their Archbishop , commonly but undeservedly stiled St. CYRIL . Magnum aliquid instat, efferum, immane, impium. Sen. Medea , Act. 3. Scen. 1. lin. 16. LONDON : Printed for M. Cooper , in Pater-noster-Row ; W. Reeve , in Fleet-street ; and C. Sympson , in Chancery-lane . 1753. [Price 6d.] LONDON : Pr
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CHAP. I.
CHAP. I.
A general Character of the Lady; the Contrivers and Executioners of the Barbarities which she suffered; and the Authorities from whence this Story is extracted. I am going to give a short Account, but as full as antient Books afford us Materials, of the Life and Death of Hypatia ; who will ever continue the Glory of her own Sex, and the Disgrace of ours: For the Women have no less Reason to value themselves, that there existed a Lady of such rare Accomplishments, without the least Blemish, even
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CHAP. II.
CHAP. II.
Alexandria , famous for Learning and Merchandize, but particularly for a School or Academy, of which Theon , the Father of Hypatia , was Master. After Alexander the Great had founded Alexandria in Egypt , as the Center of Commerce in the Empire he was projecting, this City soon became a flourishing Mart for Learning as well as for Merchandize. The Fame of the Alexandrian School , and of the Alexandrian Library , reached much further than the Name of Alexander himself; or at least they carried it
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CHAP. III.
CHAP. III.
Philosophy not an improper Study for the Female Sex; many of them very eminent for their great Progress in the Sciences; particularly Hypatia , who excelled all the Philosophers of her Time. That this Notion is a vulgar Prejudice, the vast Number of Ladies, who have in every Age distinguish’d themselves by their Professions or Performances in Learning, furnishes an unanswerable Argument. Whole Volumes have been written, containing nothing else but the Lives of such Women, as became eminent in al
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CHAP. IV.
CHAP. IV.
Hypatia, succeeds in the Government of the Platonic School at Alexandria , for which she was judged Qualified, in Preference to all the Men of Learning at that Time. And truly were not this Matter so well attested by those Writers we have just nam’d, and by others we shall presently have Occasion to alledge; yet no Body could any longer doubt of it, after being informed by the very same Persons, that Hypatia succeeded in the Government of the Platonic School at Alexandria , the Place of her Birt
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CHAP. V.
CHAP. V.
Hypatia’s School crouded with Scholars of the best Fashion. She is admired for her incomparable Beauty, and the vast Extent of her Learning. Now, I cannot but here represent to myself with Pleasure, let who will censure me for it, the Flower of all the Youth in Europe , Asia , and Africa , sitting at the Feet of a most beautiful Lady (for such we are assur’d Hypatia was) all greedily swallowing Instruction from her Mouth, and many of ’em Love from her Eyes. How she serv’d one of this last Sort,
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CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VI.
An Encomium on Synesius , one of Hypatia ’s Scholars; who, tho’ a Heathen, was consecrated a Christian Bishop. One of these, who has preserved to us the Names of several others, is the celebrated Synesius . He was a Native of Cyrene in Africa , on the Borders of Egypt , a very ancient Greek Colony, the Birth-place of Aristippus and Carneades , which Synesius forgets not to mention in his Writings. He travelled for Improvement to his neighbouring Country of Egypt , the undoubted Mother of the Sci
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CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VII.
Synesius ’s Testimony to the Learning and Virtue of Hypatia . Some Account of his Writings and other Works. The Thing which our Design obliges us not to pass over slightly is, the greatful Testimony he every where bears to the Learning and Virtue of Hypatia , whom he never mentions without the profoundest Respect, and sometimes in Terms of Affection coming little short of Adoration. In a Letter to his Brother Euoptius , Salute ( says he ) the most honoured and the most beloved of God, the Philos
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CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. VIII.
Synesius submits his Book of Dion to the Judgment of Hypatia ; his Description of his Censurers. Of his Dion therefore he begs Hypatia ’s Judgment, resolving not to publish it without her Approbation. He informs her moreover, that she’s the first among the Greeks , or rather the Heathens , to whom he communicates his Treatise of Dreams ; and that he might complete, he says, the sacred Number Three , he adds to these two his Account of the Astrolabe presented to Peonius . It will not be a Digress
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CHAP. IX.
CHAP. IX.
Synesius ’s Misfortunes; his Letter of Complaint to Hypatia . On his Promotion, or, as he accounted it himself, his Banishment to the Bishoprick of Ptolemais , he was forced to quit the Fellowship of his Condisciples, and the Presence of his dear Hypatia . As an Augmentation of his Affliction he soon lost his Wife, with his Children in a little Time after, whom he very tenderly loved, and whose Death he did not bear with the same Fortitude, that is reported of some other Philosophers. On this Oc
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CHAP. X.
CHAP. X.
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, a
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CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XI.
Hypatia is esteemed and caressed by the Publick; is consulted by the Magistrates in all important Cases, and sometimes sat among them. All this, some will say, we readily grant, that Hypatia was a Lady of most eminent Learning, and that Synesius , with probably not a few of her other Disciples, esteemed her to be a Miracle of Virtue and Prudence; but what did the rest of the World think of her Conduct, what Marks of Approbation or Favour did she receive from the Publick? To this Inquiry, which i
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CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XII.
Synesius ’s recommendatory Letter to Hypatia, in Behalf of two young Gentlemen, on a Suit depending at Alexandria. It was during this prosperous Gale of publick Favour, that Hypatia ’s devoted Friend Synesius sent her this recommendatory Letter on the Behalf of two young Gentlemen, that had a Claim depending at Alexandria . “Although Fortune cannot take every thing from me, yet she has a mind to strip me of all she can; she that “Of many Sons, and good, has me bereft. “But to be ambitious of doi
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CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIII.
Hypatia married, yet said to die a Maid. Isidorus , her Husband, the most eminent Philosopher of his Time. It would be as great a Prodigy in Nature as Hypatia was herself, if a Lady of such Beauty, Modesty, Wisdom, and Virtue, were not by many eagerly sought in Marriage: And, in Effect, we find that she was actually married to the Philosopher Isidorus , tho’ Suidas says she died a Maid; which is not so irreconcilable a Thing, as People may be apt to imagine on first Thoughts, but, as we shall sh
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CHAP. XIV.
CHAP. XIV.
In what Sense it might be said, that tho’ Hypatia was married, yet she died a Maid. Suidas likewise makes her the Wife of the same Isidorus , tho’ he be the very Man who tells us she died a Virgin. That Matter, considering the great Uncertainty in which we are left by the meditated Destruction or casual Decay of authentick Writers, I conceive to stand thus. Damascius says, that Isidorus had another Wife, whose Name was Domna , by which he had a Son call’d Proclus . She died the fifth Day after h
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CHAP. XV.
CHAP. XV.
Hypatia ’s Lovers, one of whom she cured of his Passion, in a very particular Manner. A Lady of such uncommon Merit and Accomplishments as Hypatia , daily surround with a Circle of young Gentelmen, many of them distinguished by their Fortune or Quality; besides her frequently appearing in publick Assemblies, and receiving Visits from Persons of the first Rank, could not possibly fail being sometimes importuned with Addresses of Gallantry. Such Attempts the severest Virtue cannot avoid, tho’ it c
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CHAP. XVI.
CHAP. XVI.
The close Intimacy between Hypatia and Orestes the Governor of Alexandria , very displeasing to Cyril the Bishop. At the Time that Hypatia thus reigned the brightest Ornament of Alexandria , Orestes was Governor of the same Place for the Emperor Theodosius , and Cyril Bishop or Patriarch. As Orestes was a Person educated suitable to his Rank, he could not but take Notice of those Perfections in Hypatia , which all the World admired; and, as he was a wise Governor, he would not be so far wanting
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CHAP. XVII.
CHAP. XVII.
Cyril expels the Jews out of Alexandria ; Orestes complains to the Emperor; Cyril and Orestes become irreconcileable Enemies. One main Reason why Cyril could not bear the Governor, as we are told by Socrates , was, that Orestes hated the Principality of the Bishops; as well because they transferred to themselves much of the Power belonging to those appointed Governors, by the Emperor; as, in particular, because Cyril would needs be prying into his Actions . Their Enmity became sufficiently known
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CHAP. XVIII.
CHAP. XVIII.
Orestes the Governor, assaulted by the Monks; their Captain racked to Death, but esteemed as a Martyr by Cyril . Now the Revenge which Cyril took of Orestes , being the Prelude to poor Hypatia ’s Tragedy, I chuse to relate it, as I have done other Passages, in the Words of honest Socrates . Certain of the Monks ( says he ) living in the Nitrian Mountains, leaving their Monasteries to the Number of about Five Hundred, flocked to the City, and spied the Governor going Abroad in his Chariot; whereu
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CHAP. XIX.
CHAP. XIX.
Hypatia ’s tragical Death, perpetrated by Cyril ’s Clergy, who hated her for Intimacy with Orestes . But Cyril ’s Rage was not yet satiated. Tho’ Orestes had the good Luck to escape being murdered, Hypatia must fall a Sacrifice to the Prelate’s Pride and to the Ghost of Ammonius . This Lady, as we mentioned above, was profoundly respected by Orestes , who much frequented and consulted her; for which Reason, says Socrates , she was not a little traduced among the Mob of the Christian Church; as i
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CHAP. XX.
CHAP. XX.
Cyril the main Instigator of Hypatia ’s Murder, being envious of the Fame she had acquired by her Learning and Philosophy. Be it so that the Clergy of Alexandria were the Murderers (some may say) and that their Affection for Cyril transported them beyond what can be justified; how does it appear that he himself had any Hand in this black Deed, which perhaps he neither knew nor could prevent? For the Sake of our common Humanity (since true Christiany is not at all concerned) I wish it were so; bu
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CHAP. XXI.
CHAP. XXI.
The Death of Hypatia brought an Infamy on Cyril and the Christian Church: She was no Catholick, but a Heathen. Thus ended the Life of Hypatia , whose Memory will ever last, and whose Murder happen’d in the fourth Year of Cyril ’s Episcopate, Honorius being the tenth Time and Theodosius the sixth Time Consuls, in the Month of March , in the Time of Lent , and in the Year 415. “That Action (says Socrates ) brought no small Infamy not only upon Cyril , but also upon the whole Church of Alexandria ;
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CHAP. XXII.
CHAP. XXII.
The making Cyril a Saint a Dishonour to Religion. Three Sorts of Persons canonized for Saints. And now that Cyril ’s Name puts me once more in mind of him, how insufferable a burlesquing of God and Man is it to revere so ambitious, so turbulent, so perfidious, and so cruel a Man, as a Saint ? since History shows that this was his just Character. But in good Earnest this same Title of Saint has not seldom been most wretchedly conferred; for the greatest Part of the Saints after Constantine ’s Rei
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