poral diseases with which you
are afflicted. Live always in the fear of God, apd never forget his
benefits." He added several proper instructions for her conduct, any
disappeared. The woman awaking, described to her husband the person she
had seen in her dream, with all his features, in such a manner as to
leave no room to doubt but it was the blessed man that had appeared to
her. Whereupon he returned the next day to give him thanks for the
satisfaction he had vouchsafed his wife. But the saint on his arrival
prevented him, saying: "I have fulfilled your desire, I have seen your
wife, and satisfied her in all things she had asked: go in peace." The
officer received his benediction, and continued his journey to Seyne.
What the man of God foretold happened to him, as, {666} among other
things, that he should receive particular honors from the emperor.
Besides the authors of the saint's life, St. Austin relates this history
which he received from a nobleman of great integrity and credit, who had
it from the very persons to whom it happened. St. Austin adds, had he
seen St. John, he would have inquired of him, whether he himself really
appeared to this woman, or whether it was an angel in his shape, or
whether the vision only passed in her imagination.[3]

In the year 394, a little before the saint's death, he was visited by
Palladius, afterwards bishop of Helenopolis, who is one of the authors
of his life. Several anchorets of the deserts of Nitria, all strangers,
the principal of whom were Evagrius, Albinus, Ammonius, had a great
desire to see the saint. Palladius, one of this number, being young, set
out first in July, when the flood of the Nile was high. Being arrived at
this mountain, he found the door of his porch shut, and that it would
not be open till the Saturday following. He waited that time in the
lodgings of strangers. On Saturday, at eight o'clock, Palladius entered
the porch, and saw the saint sitting before his window, and giving
advice to those who applied to him for it. Having saluted Palladius by
an interpreter, he asked him of what country he was, and what was his
business, and if he was not of the company or monastery of Evagrius:
Palladius owned he was. In the mean time arrived Alypius, governor of
the province, in great haste. The saint, on the arrival of Alypius,
broke off his discourse with Palladius, who withdrew to make room for
the governor to discourse with the saint. Their conversation was ver