26.39–44

For thirty years (Paul continues) the otter would bring a fish every third day, and there was also a small spring for water.  After thirty years Paul found the two caves and the spring. The spring provides (somehow) all the sustenance he needs.  He has lived, in all, 140 years, and is ready for death.

[39] semper tertiā diē: i.e., every other day (because the Romans counted inclusively); “The Third Day” was also the day of Jesus’ Resurrection, as in the Nicene Creed: et resurrexit tertia die, secundum scripturas.

ad trēs diēs < ... >: a verb meaning “carried,” with the idem minister (the otter) as its subject, has been lost.

[40] < ...> tertiam partem piscis assī omnī diē: a verb meaning “I have been eating” has been lost.

et nihil mihi erat sitis grātiā: “I had nothing for my thirst.”

ad opus manuum: “to wash my hands.”

[42] Post trīgintā quoque annōs invēnī, etc.: Realistically he could hardly have missed these features on such a small island. The “discovery” symbolizes his spiritual progress; he now receives his spiritual sustenance more directly from Christ.

ab ipsō vīvō: = vīvō ab ipsō (fonte). We might have expected vīvēbam or vīxī.

[44] usque modo: “until now” (see on 11.38).

Et hīc dēbeō modo ... expectāre: = Et dēbeō modo expectāre hīc.