They were everywhere received with the honors usually bestowed on princes and conquerors.  At Cyprus, Sidon, Ptolemais, Caesarea, and Jerusalem these distinguished travellers were entertained by Christian bishops, and crowds pressed forward to receive their benediction.  The Proconsul of Palestine prepared his palace for their reception, and the rulers of every great city besought the honor of a visit.  But they did not tarry until they reached the Holy Sepulchre, until they had kissed the stone which covered the remains of the Saviour of the world.  Then they continued their journey, ascending the heights of Hebron, visiting the house of Mary and Martha, passing through Samaria, sailing on the lake Tiberias, crossing the brook Cedron, and ascending the Mount of Transfiguration.  Nor did they rest with a visit to the sacred places hallowed by associations with kings and prophets and patriarchs.  They journeyed into Egypt, and, by the route taken by Joseph and Mary in their flight, entered the sacred schools of Alexandria, visited the cells of Nitria, and stood beside the ruins of the temples of the Pharaohs.

A whole year was thus consumed by this illustrious party,—­learning more than they could in ten years from books, since every monument and relic was explained to them by the most learned men on earth.  Finally they returned to Bethlehem, the spot which Jerome had selected for his final resting-place, and there Paula built a convent near to the cell of her friend, which she caused to be excavated from the solid rock.  It was there that he performed his mighty literary labors, and it was there that his happiest days were spent.  Paula was near, to supply his simple wants, and give, with other pious recluses, all the society he required.  He lived in a cave, it is true, but in a way afterwards imitated by the penitent heroes of the Fronde in the vale of Chevreuse; and it was not disagreeable to a man sickened with the world, absorbed in literary labors, and whose solitude was relieved by visits from accomplished women and illustrious bishops and scholars.  Fabiola, with a splendid train, came from Rome to listen to his wisdom.  Not only did he translate the Bible and write commentaries, but he resumed his pious and learned correspondence with devout scholars throughout the Christian world.  Nor was he too busy to find time to superintend the studies of Paula in Greek and Hebrew, and read to her his most precious compositions; while she, on her part, controlled a convent, entertained travellers from all parts of the world, and diffused a boundless charity,—­for it does not seem that she had parted with the means of benefiting both the poor and the rich.