Of all consolations these two are the best: The consciousness of wishing the right however much we may err and stumble through human weakness, and prayer." Once more he embraced the departing youth, then he went across the sand of the shore back to the mountain without looking round.
Hermas looked after him for a long time greatly distressed, for his strong friend tottered like a drunken man, and often pressed his hand to his head which was no doubt as burning as his lips.
The young warrior never again saw the Holy Mountain or Paulus, but after he himself had won fame and distinction in the army he met again with Petrus' son, Polykarp, whom the emperor had sent for to Byzantium with great honor, and in whose house the Gaulish woman Sirona presided as a true and loving wife and mother.
After his parting from Hermas, Paulus disappeared.

The other anchorites long sought him in vain, as well as bishop Agapitus, who had learned from Petrus that the Alexandrian had been punished and expelled in innocence, and who desired to offer him pardon and consolation in his own person.

At last, ten days after, Orion the Saite found him in a remote cave.

The angel of death had called him only a few hours before while in the act of prayer, for he was scarcely cold.

He was kneeling with his forehead against the rocky wall and his emaciated hands were closely clasped over Magdalena's ring.