CHAPTER XXXVIII

HOW, DURING HIS ILLNESS, HE CURED ONE OF HIS ATTENDANTS OF A DIARRHŒA

§ 64. HIS malady now began to grow upon him, and we thought that the time of his dissolution was at hand. He bade his attendants carry him to his cell and oratory. It was the third hour of the day. We therefore carried him thither, for he was too feeble to walk himself. When we reached the door, we asked him to let one of us go in with him to wait upon him: for no one had ever entered therein but himself, He cast his eyes round on all, and fixing them on the sick brother, above mentioned, said, “Wahlstod shall go in with me.” Now Wahlstod was the man’s name. He went in accordingly, and stayed till the ninth hour; when he came out, and said to me, “The bishop wishes you to go in unto him; but I have a most wonderful thing to tell you: from the moment of my touching the bishop, when I supported him into the oratory, I have been entirely free from my old complaint.” No doubt this was brought about by the effect of his heavenly piety, that, whereas in his time of health and strength he had healed many, he should now heal this man, when he was himself at the point of death, that so there might be a standing proof how strong the holy man was in Spirit, though his body was at the lowest degree of weakness. In this cure he followed the example of the holy and reverend father and bishop, Aurelius Augustine, who, when weighed down by the illness of which he died, and lying on his couch, was entreated by a man to lay his hand on a sick person whom he had brought to him, that so he might be made well. To which Augustine replied, “If I had such power, I should first have practised it towards myself.” The sick man answered: “I have been commanded to come to you: for some one said to me in a dream—‘Go to Bishop Augustine, and let him place his hand upon you, and you shall be well.’ ” On hearing this, Augustine placed his hand upon him, gave him his blessing, and sent him home perfectly recovered.