ABSTRACT
Two of the earliest poets of significance, who may be called Byzantine by most standards, are Gregory of Nazianzos and Synesios of Cyrene.2 These two highly educated bishops are noted for their union of classical form with Christian content. Gregory’s close friend Basil of Caesarea gave Byzantine culture its most representative expression regarding the proper attitude of a cultured Christian toward the wisdom of pagan antiquity when he wrote that one should take what is useful and leave behind what is not, precisely as the bee knows which parts of the flower to touch and which to avoid.3 Just how much of the flower Synesios thought safe is apparent in the following passage from his eighth hymn (verses 41-54):
Smil’ed Hesperus the golden, Who smileth soft for Venus gay! While that horn’ed glory holden Brimful from the fount of fire, The white moon, was leading higher In a gentle pastoral wise All the nightly deities! Yea, and Titan threw abroad
The far shining of his hair ’Neath Thy footsteps holy fair, Owning Thee the Son of God; The Mind artificer of all, And his own fire’s original.4
