The Life of Severus

...became a sophist, and after him, under Sopater, who was renowned in the art of rhetoric, as everyone bore him great witness. It happened that I also attended the courses of this master at that time, as well as Menas, of pious memory, whose orthodoxy, humility of life, great chastity, love for his fellow man, and commiseration toward the poor were universally attested. He was, in fact, one of those who attend the holy Church with assiduity, those whom the Alexandrians, following the custom of the country, are accustomed to call Philoponoi lovers of labor/diligent ones.

During our studies, while we were in Alexandria, we admired the finesse of the marvelous Severus, as well as his love for science. We were astonished to see how, in a short space of time, he had learned to express himself with elegance by applying himself assiduously to the study of the precepts of the ancient rhetors, and by striving to imitate their brilliant and worked style. His mind occupied itself only with that, and not at all with what usually seduces the youth. He devoted himself entirely to study, distancing himself in his zeal for it from any blameworthy spectacle.
Afflicted that such an intelligence had not yet received the divine baptism...

* fol. 110 r° b.