54 The Hermit of the Pillar

sued his way for many months till he had
got to the ancient city of Treves. There,
among the ruins of a temple of the heathen
goddess Diana, he found a vast pillar of
marble still erect, and the top of this he
thought to make his home and holy watch-
tower. Wherefore he sought out the Bishop
of the city and asked his leave and blessing,
and the Bishop, marvelling greatly at his
zeal and austerity, gave his consent.

The people of Treves were amazed at
what they considered his madness; but they
gave him no hindrance, nor did they molest
him in any way. Indeed, in no long time
the fame of his penance was noised abroad,
and multitudes came, as they had come at
Ancyra, to see with their own eyes what there
was of truth in the strange story they had
heard. Afterwards, too, many came out of
sorrow for sin and an ardent desire of
holiness ; and others brought their sick and
maimed and afflicted, in the hope that the
Hermit might be able to cure their ailments,
or give them assuagement of their sufferings.
Many of these, in truth, Basil sent away
cleansed and made whole by the virtue of
his touch or of the blessing he bestowed
upon them.