which I have brought hither.' And she said: ' Reach hither the basket that thou hast brought with thee[1].' Then immediately she touched with the very tip of her finger the lentils (which are peas), and put into her mouth about the quantity of three grains, and said thus, that such a gift sufficed for one who kept her soul steadfast in purity. And she said to the old man: ' Pray for me, and protect me, for my unhappy state.' At once he touched her feet with tears, praying that she might worship in the holy assembly of God. And then she left him, weeping and sighing; and he dared in no wise to hinder her. She could in no wise be hindered; but again [began] to touch the Jordan by dipping in it the mark of the holy rood, and went over the water's soft waves just as she 748 did before thitherwards. Then Zosimus returned with great joy, and was suddenly filled with great awe. Regretfully he reproached himself that he had [not] asked the Saint's name. Nevertheless he hoped that, in the succeeding year, he might know it. Then, after the space of a year had passed away, he came to the wilderness, and diligently hastened towards the wonderful vision; and went for a long while, seeking hither and thither, until that he should perceive a sure token of the desired vision and some indication[2] of the place; eagerly looking, with the sharpness of his eyes, both on the right hand and on the left, just like a most skilful hunter, if he could catch there that sweetest creature. When he could not find anything that stirred, he began to suffuse himself with tears; and, with eyes uplifted, prayed and said: 'Make known to me, O Lord, that hidden treasure which thou didst once deign to reveal to myself; I pray thee, Lord, for Thy glory's sake.' When he had thus prayed, he arrived at the place where the bourn was marked out where they first spake together; and there, standing on the other side, he saw as it were a shining sun, and the body of the holy woman lying lifeless; and the hands were laid as they should be, and turned eastwards. Then he immediately ran thither, and washed her feet with his tears; he did not dare to touch any other part of the body. Then, with much weeping, he performed the burial-service, with psalm-singing and other prayers that belonged to that matter. Then he began
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