The most important and the most interesting of the remains of Synesius are \\\^ Letters, 157 or 159 in num- ber, accoriling as the Denunciation of Andronicus is ex- cluded from or is included in the series of Epistles, and ten Hymns. The letters are of diverse style, and on the most dissimilar occasions. Some are formal letters of civility ; others are written to l)e paraded by his cor- respondents among their acquaintances. These are strained, rhapsodical, and ostentatious, and are more notable for literary filigree than for their contents. Other letters are friendly communications or earnest expositions. They are simple, fresh, natural, earnest, and modern in their cast. His correspondence with his brother is direct and affectionate, and is rendered at-
tractive by the revelation of his disposition, feelings, and circumstances. Tlie family and serious letters make a favorable contrast to the redundant epistolog- raphy of Libanius and Symmachus, and afford in an ecpial degree pleasure and instruction.
There is much variance of opinion in regard to both the character and the dates of the Hymns of Synesius. Druon has endeavored to fix their chronology, but hard- ly secures confidence in his conclusions. The first two were, almost certainly, the earliest. They are thorough- ly Neo-Platonic, and probably pagan. The rest may be Christian, with a diminishing Neo-Platonic complexion. The only one entirely free from this philosophical char- acteristic is the short one numbered the tenth. Druon assigns seven of the hymns to the years preceding his conversion. This conclusion is not apt to win assent. The third hymn is Neo-Platonic, but it is as Christian as the ninth. The later Neo-Platonism apes so closely and so habitually the language and sentiments of Chris- tianity, and the Christianity of Alexandria is often so deeply imbued with Neo-Platonism, that exact discrim- ination between pagan and Christian utterances is not always possible. The convictions of men were then in a transition stage in everything, and paganism and Christianity frequently lapsed into each otlier. There is a passage in the third hymn (ver. 210- 2oO) which may be simply Neo-Platonic, but it bears a striking re- semblance, in thought and expression, to parts of the Athanasian Creed. As the conversion of Synesius can- not be fixed to any certain date, and as he avowed his inability to renounce his philosophic opinions when chosen bishop, all the hymns may liave been composed under Christian influences, and all but the last may re- tain Neo-Platonic tendencies, without being thereby rendered pagan. But these questions cannot be dis- cussed here. The hymns of Synesius exhibit no emi- nent poetic merit. Their attraction lies in their philos- ophy, in their ease of expression and facility of versifi- cation. It was a strange adaptation of Anacreontic me- tre to fit it to philosophical and theological songs. Yet it may well be asked what meaning should be attached to the claim of Synesius, in the opening of the seventh hymn, to have been tlie first to tune his lyre in honor of Jesus.
IV. Literature. — Synesii Opera, ed. Tnmebi (ed. prin- ceps, Paris, 1553, fol.); id. ed. Morell. (ibid. 1G12, fol. ; corn et aucta, 1640, 1053); id. apud Cursvni Patrolo- gice, etc., ed. Migne (Latin, ibid. 1859, 8vo; Greek and Latin, ibid. 18()4, 8vo); Druon, G^Mvres de Synesius, trad, en Fran^ais (ibid. 1878, 8vo); Synesii Hymni, ed. Boissonade, apud Poett. Or. Sylloge (ibid. 1824-32) ; Synesii Hymni Metrici, ed. Flack (Tub. 1875); Syne- sii Epistolce, ed. Herscher, apud Epistologr. Gr. (Paris, 1873); C\\\a.i\n\,Theologuinena Synesii (Wittenb. 1713, 4to) ; Boysen, Philosophumena Synesii (Halle, 1714, 4to) ; Clausen, De Synesio Philosopho (Hafn. 1831); Krauss, Obss. Crit. in Synesii Cyren. Epistolas (Ratisbon, 1863); Ellies Dupin, Nouveau Bibliothegue des A uteurs Ecclesi- asliques; Tillemont, flistoire Ecclesiastique, xii, 499- 544; Ceillier, Hist, des Auteurs Sacres, s., 1496-1517; Villemain, U Eloquence Chretienne au IVe Siecle (Paris). (G. F. H.)
Synge, Edward, an Irish prelate, was born at Inis- honane, April 6, 1659, and was the second son of Ed- ward, bishop of Cork. He was educated at the gram- mar-school at Cork, and at Clirist Church, Oxford, fin- ishing his studies in the University of Dul)lin. His first preferment was to two small parishes in the diocese of Meath, which he exchanged for the vicarage of Christ Church, Cork, where he served for over twenty j-ears. In 1699 he was offered the deanery of Derry, but declined it for his mother's sake. He was chosen proctor (or the chapter in the Convocation of 1703, and soon after was presented with the crown's title to the deanery of St. Patrick's, Dublin. The title being thought defective, the chancellorship was presented to Mr. Synge, which gave him the care of St. Werburgh's, Dublin. In
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1713he was chosen proctorfor tlic chapter of St. Patrick's, and on Dr. Sterne's pronioiion to the see of Dromorc, the archbishop of Dublin appointed Dr. Syni;e liis vicar- fceneral, in which ottice lie continued until he was ap- ]iointed bishop of Itaphoe, in 1711. He was made arch- bishop ofTuain in 1716, over which see he presided un- til his death, July 21, 1741. He published many ser- mons and relii,'ious tracts, of which a collective edition, under the title of ir(»;7.-.s' (Loud. 1740, 4 vols. l'2mo; 1744, 1759), was issued. The best-known of his works is The Geiit/cmiiii'i! Rc/i'/ioii. His Tre(itl<e on tlie Holy Com- munion was published at I'hiladelphia in 1X49, 32mo. See Allibone, Diet, of Jirit. and Amer. Authors, s. v. ; Chalmers, Biog. Dirt, s. v.