hell.' Then Smaragdus, seeing that he would receive no comfort, said to him: 'Wherefore art thou thus grievously troubled and wilt kill thyself? Sayest thou that the Lord's hand is weak, or that anything is hard for Him 1 Put an end to thy affliction, and remember how God revealed to Jacob the patriarch his son Joseph, whom he likewise bewept as if he were dead. But I pray thee that thou leave me not for three days.' So Paphnutius [remained] for the space of three days, thus saying: 'perchance God hath revealed to him something concerning me.' And then, on the third day, said he to him, ' I have waited, brother, these three days.' When Smaragdus, who before was hight Euphrosyne, perceived that the day of her departure had come, then said she to him; ' God Almighty hath well ordered my poor life and fulfilled my desire, that I might manfully end the course of my life. It was not by my own might, but through the assistance of Him who preserved me from the snares of the fiend; and now, my course being ended, the glorious crown of righteousness is kept for me. Be no longer careful about thy daughter Euphrosyne. Verily I, miserable one, am she herself; and thou art Paphnutius my father. Lo! now thou hast seen me, and thy desire is fulfilled; but let not anyone know this, neither suffer thou that any man wash and prepare my body, save thyself. Moreover, I told the abbot that I had great possessions, and I promised him that I [would] bring them in hither if I continued here; now perform thou that which I promised; for this place is worthy; and pray for me.' This said, she gave up her spirit. When Paphnutius heard these words, and saw that she was departed, then all his limbs trembled, so that he fell on the earth as if he were dead. Then ran Agapitus thither, and saw Smaragdus dying, and Paphnutius half alive lying on the earth. Then he threw water on him, and lifted him up and said: ' What is come to thee, my lord? ' Then said he, ' Let me here die; verily I have seen God's miracle to-day.' And he therewith arose, and fell upon her, weeping and thus saying; ' Woe is me, my sweetest child! wherefore wouldest thou not make thyself known
