96. We may regret that Gregory Nazianzen composed a
panegyric instead of a life of Athanasius, but we should
enjoy and improve the advantage of drawing our most
authentic materials from the rich fund of his own epistles
and apologies (tom i. p. 670-951). I shall not imitate the
example of Socrates (1. ii. c. 1), who published the first
edition of his history without giving himself the trouble to
consult the writings of Athanasius. Yet even Socrates, the
more curious Sozomen, and the learned Theodoret, connect the
life of Athanasius with the series of ecclesiastical
history. The diligence of Tillemont (tom. viii.) and of the
Benedictine editors has collected every fact and examined
very difficulty.