e. his master Syrianus) completed by his most pure and
luminous apprehensions, who did most truly share the Platonic feast, and
was the medium for transmitting the divine truth, the guide in our
speculations, and the hierophant of these divine words; who, as I think,
came down as a type of philosophy, to do good to the souls that are
here, in place of idols, sacrifices, and the whole mystery of
purification, a leader of salvation to the men who are now and who shall
be hereafter. And may the whole band of those who are above us be
propitious; and may the whole force which they supply be at hand,
kindling before us that light which, proceeding from them, may guide us
to them."
Surely this is an interesting document. The last Pagan Greek prayer, I
believe, which we have on record; the death-wail of the old world--not
without a touch of melody. One cannot altogether admire the style; it
is inflated, pedantic, written, I fear, with a considerable
consciousness that he was saying the right thing and in the very finest
way: but still it is a prayer. A cry for light--by no means,
certainly, like that noble one in Tennyson's "In Memoriam:"
So runs my dream. But what am I?
An infant crying in the night;
An infant crying for the light;
And with no language but a cry.
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