Life of Antony

 He was content with what he found, and sought nothing more. After the death of his parents, he was left alone with one very young sister and he was a

 he signified love for one another and thus filled, he would return to his own place of the hermitage then he himself, gathering to himself the thing

 I undertook to tickle the young, and I have been called the spirit of fornication. How many who wished to be chaste have I deceived! How many who were

 to learn of the ascetic from the life of the great Elijah, as in a mirror his own life always. Thus, then, having strengthened himself, Antony departe

 he forgot the contest of Antony, but came to his aid. So, looking up, he saw the roof as if opening, and a certain ray of light coming down to him. An

 that these were at work, and they themselves, being afraid, called for Antony. But he listened more to these than he cared for those. And coming near

 the Scriptures are sufficient for teaching but it is good for us to exhort one another in the faith, and to anoint one another with words. And you, t

 In this the Lord is also a helper, as it is written: To everyone who chooses the good, God works with him for the good. And so that we may not be negl

 in the air about us, and they are not far from us and there is a great difference among them. And concerning their nature and their difference would

 enemy: Having pursued I will overtake and again by another: I will take the whole world in my hand, as a nest, and I will take it up as abandoned egg

 God said to the sinner: Why do you declare my 26.884 statutes, and take up my covenant in your mouth? For they do all things, and they speak, and make

 worlds from which they ought rather to be despised as weak. For the true angel, sent by the Lord against the Assyrians, had no need of crowds, nor of

 they themselves lied. So also concerning the river's water they sometimes babble for having seen many rains occurring in the parts of Ethiopia, and k

 God so granting. For the vision of the saints is not troubled. For he will not strive, nor cry out, neither shall any man hear their voice. But it hap

 is of our virtue and life but to cast out demons, this grace is of the Savior who gave it. Whence to those who boast not in virtue, but in signs, and

 long-nosed. Then as I was saying Why then are you here? he said Why do the monks, and all other Christians, blame me in vain? Why do they curse me e

 was cast out, and the conceit of others was stopped and all were persuaded to despise the demonic plotting, marveling at the grace given to Antony by

 zeal for he himself also prayed to be martyred, as I said before. He therefore seemed to be grieving, because he had not been martyred but the Lord

 and a few neglected palm trees. Antony, therefore, as if moved by God, loved the place for this was what he who had spoken to him by the banks of the

 you are hesitating, but depart 26.920 for I am a servant of Christ. As Antony said these things, they fled, as if pursued by the whip of his word. Th

 examine, and test yourselves. Therefore, let each one take account to himself day by day of his actions by day and by night and, if he has sinned, le

 and for them to enter, this indeed he did not permit, but said: Go, and you will find her, if she has not died, healed. For this is not my achievement

 Amoun had fallen asleep at the hour in which his old man saw his soul being carried up. And indeed both these and those marveled at the purity of Anto

 to hinder so that he might not pass through. But when his guides fought against them, they demanded an account, whether he was not subject to them. So

 he conversed for their benefit but he yielded to him in the matter of prayer, not being ashamed to learn himself. For he often inquired, and 26.940 a

 believing they were being helped. Indeed, so many became 26.944 Christians in those few days, as many as one might see become in a year. Then, when so

 that Christ was made manifest as a man whereas you, separating the soul from heaven, claim that it has wandered and fallen from the vault of the heav

 we understand by faith, this you attempt to construct through words and often you are not even able to express what we understand so that the operat

 but faith working through love for Christ which if you also should have, you will no longer seek proofs through words but you will consider faith in

 Arians act irrationally like beasts. And when he saw this vision, he exhorted those with him, saying: Do not be disheartened, children for just as th

 coming upon you Therefore cease persecuting Christians, lest at any time the wrath should seize you for it is already about to come upon you. But Ba

 we shall see one another again in this life. It is time for me at last to depart for I am nearly one hundred and five years old. So when they heard t

 Remember me as a father. Do not let anyone take my body to Egypt, lest they place it in their houses for it was for this reason that I went into the

 those who are hiding themselves, and are striving to withdraw, He makes manifest and renowned everywhere on account of both their own virtue and the b

I undertook to tickle the young, and I have been called the spirit of fornication. How many who wished to be chaste have I deceived! How many who were continent did I persuade to change by my titillations! I am he through whom the prophet also finds fault with the fallen, saying: By the spirit of fornication you have been led astray; for it was through me that they were overthrown. I am he who has often troubled you, and so many times been overthrown by you. And Antony, having given thanks to the Lord and taken courage against him, says to him: You are very contemptible, then; for you are black in 26.852 mind, and weak as a child; henceforth I have not one care for you; For the Lord is my helper, and I shall look upon my enemies. When that black one heard this, he immediately fled, cowering at the words, and fearing even to approach the man any more. This was Antony's first contest against the devil; or rather, this success in Antony was the Savior's work, Who condemned sin in the flesh, that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. But neither did Antony, as though the demon had fallen, henceforth grow careless and despise himself; nor did the enemy, as though defeated, cease from lying in wait for him. For he went about again as a lion, seeking some occasion against him. But Antony, having learned from the Scriptures that the wiles of the enemy are many, used his ascetic training intensely, reasoning that, even if he had not been able to deceive the heart with bodily pleasure, he would certainly try to ensnare him by another method; for the demon is a lover of sin. Therefore, more and more he chastened his body and brought it into subjection, lest, having conquered in some things, he should be dragged down in others. He resolved, therefore, to accustom himself to a more severe mode of life. And while many marvelled, he himself bore the toil more easily; for the eagerness of his soul, having persisted for a long time, worked a good habit in him, so that taking even a small occasion from others, he showed great zeal in this. For he kept such vigils that he would often pass the whole night without sleep; and doing this not once but very often, he was an object of admiration. And he ate once a day after sunset; there were times when he did so every two days, and often he would partake every four. And 26.853 his food was bread and salt; and his drink, only water. For concerning meat and wine, it is superfluous even to speak, since indeed not even among the other zealous men was anything of the sort found. And for sleep, a rush mat was sufficient for him; but for the most part he lay on the bare ground. And he refused to anoint himself with oil, saying it is more fitting for the younger men to be zealous in their ascetic practice, and not to seek the things that relax the body; but rather to accustom it to toils, remembering the saying of the Apostle: When I am weak, then I am strong. For then, he said, the vigor of the soul is strong, when the pleasures of the body are weak. And this reasoning of his was truly remarkable; for he did not think it right to measure the path of virtue, or the withdrawal for its sake, by time, but by longing and by choice. He himself, at any rate, did not remember the time that was past; but each day, as though beginning his asceticism, he made a greater effort for progress, constantly repeating to himself the saying of Paul: Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before; remembering also the voice of the prophet Elijah saying: The Lord lives, before whom I stood today. For he observed that, in saying "today," he did not measure the time that had passed; but as though always making a beginning, each day he strove to present himself as one ought to appear before God, pure in heart, and ready to obey His will, and no one else's. And he said to himself, that the

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γαργαλισμοὺς κατὰ τῶν νέων ἀνεδεξάμην, καὶ πνεῦμα πορνείας κέκλη μαι. Πόσους θέλοντας σωφρονεῖν ἠπάτησα! Πόσους ἐγκρατευομένους μετέπεισα γαργαλίζων! Ἐγώ εἰμι δι' ὃν καὶ ὁ προφήτης μέμφεται τοὺς πεσόντας, λέγων· Πνεύματι πορνείας ἐπλανήθητε· δι' ἐμοῦ γὰρ ἦσαν ἐκεῖνοι σκελισθέντες. Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ πολλάκις σοι ὀχλήσας, καὶ τοσαυτάκις ἀνατραπεὶς παρὰ σοῦ. Ὁ δὲ Ἀντώνιος εὐχαριστήσας τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ καταθαῤῥήσας αὐτοῦ, φησὶ πρὸς αὐτόν· Πολὺ τοίνυν εὐκαταφρόνητος τυγχάνεις· καὶ γὰρ μέλας εἶ τὸν 26.852 νοῦν, καὶ ὡς παῖς ἀσθενής· οὐδὲ μία μοι λοιπόν ἐστι φροντὶς περὶ σοῦ· Κύριος γὰρ ἐμοὶ βοηθὸς, κἀγὼ ἐπόψομαι τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου. Ταῦτα ἀκούσας ὁ μέλας ἐκεῖνος, εὐθὺς ἔφυγε καταπτήξας τὰς φωνὰς, καὶ φοβηθεὶς ἔτι κἂν ἐγγίσαι τῷ ἀνδρί. Τοῦτο πρῶτον ἆθλον Ἀντωνίου γέγονε κατὰ τοῦ διαβόλου· μᾶλλον δὲ τοῦ Σωτῆρος καὶ τοῦτο γέ γονεν ἐν τῷ Ἀντωνίῳ τὸ κατόρθωμα, τοῦ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν κατακρίναντος ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ, ἵνα τὸ δι καίωμα τοῦ νόμου πληρωθῇ ἐν ἡμῖν, τοῖς μὴ κατὰ σάρκα περιπατοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ πνεῦμα. Ἀλλ' οὔτε Ἀντώνιος, ὡς ὑποπεσόντος τοῦ δαίμονος, ἠμέλει λοιπὸν καὶ κατεφρόνει ἑαυτοῦ· οὔτε ὁ ἐχθρὸς, ὡς ἡττηθεὶς, ἐπαύετο τοῦ ἐνεδρεύειν. Περιήρχετο γὰρ πάλιν ὡς λέων, ζητῶν τινα πρόφασιν κατ' αὐ τοῦ. Ὁ δὲ Ἀντώνιος, μαθὼν ἐκ τῶν Γραφῶν πολλὰς εἶναι τὰς μεθοδείας τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, συντόνως ἐκέχρητο τῇ ἀσκήσει, λογιζόμενος, ὅτι, εἰ καὶ μὴ ἴσχυσε τὴν καρδίαν ἐν ἡδονῇ σώματος ἀπατῆσαι, πειράσει πάν τως δι' ἑτέρας ἐνεδρεῦσαι μεθόδου· ἔστι γὰρ φιλ αμαρτήμων ὁ δαίμων. Μᾶλλον οὖν καὶ μᾶλλον ὑπ επίαζε τὸ σῶμα καὶ ἐδουλαγώγει, μήπως, ἐν ἄλλοις νικήσας, ἐν ἄλλοις ὑποσυρῇ. Βουλεύεται τοίνυν σκληροτέραις ἀγωγαῖς ἑαυτὸν ἐθίζειν. Καὶ πολλοὶ μὲν ἐθαύμαζον, αὐτὸς δὲ ῥᾷον τὸν πόνον ἔφερεν· ἡ γὰρ προθυμία τῆς ψυχῆς, πολὺν χρόνον ἐμμείνασα, ἕξιν ἀγαθὴν ἐνειργάζετο ἐν αὐτῷ· ὥστε καὶ μικρὰν πρόφασιν λαμβάνοντα παρ' ἑτέρων, πολλὴν εἰς τοῦτο τὴν σπουδὴν ἐνδείκνυσθαι· ἠγρύπνει γὰρ το σοῦτον, ὡς πολλάκις καὶ ὅλην τὴν νύκτα διατελεῖν αὐτὸν ἄϋπνον· καὶ τοῦτο δὲ οὐχ ἅπαξ, ἀλλὰ καὶ πλειστάκις ποιῶν ἐθαυμάζετο. Ἤσθιέ τε ἅπαξ τῆς ἡμέρας μετὰ δύσιν ἡλίου· ἦν δ' ὅτε καὶ διὰ δύο, πολ λάκις δὲ καὶ διὰ τεσσάρων μετελάμβανε. Καὶ 26.853 ἦν αὐτῷ ἡ τροφὴ ἄρτος καὶ ἅλας· καὶ τὸ ποτὸν ὕδωρ μόνον. Περὶ γὰρ κρεῶν καὶ οἴνου περιττόν ἐστι καὶ λέγειν· ὅπου γε οὐδὲ παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις σπου δαίοις ηὑρίσκετό τι τοιοῦτον. Εἰς δὲ τὸν ὕπνον ἠρκεῖτο ψιαθίῳ· τὸ δὲ πλεῖστον καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς μόνης κατέκειτο. Ἀλείφεσθαι δὲ ἐλαίῳ παρῃτεῖτο, λέγων μᾶλλον πρέ πειν τοὺς νεωτέρους ἐκ προθυμίας ἔχειν τὴν ἄσκη σιν, καὶ μὴ ζητεῖν τὰ χαυνοῦντα τὸ σῶμα· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐθίζειν αὐτὸ τοῖς πόνοις, λογιζομένους τὸ τοῦ Ἀπο στόλου ῥητόν· Ὅταν ἀσθενῶ, τότε δυνατός εἰμι. Τότε γὰρ ἔλεγεν ἰσχύειν τῆς ψυχῆς τὸν τόνον, ὅταν αἱ τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενῶσιν ἡδοναί. Καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ πα ράδοξος ὄντως καὶ οὗτος ὁ λογισμός· οὐ γὰρ ἠξίου χρόνῳ μετρεῖν τὴν τῆς ἀρετῆς ὁδὸν, οὐδὲ τὴν δι' αὐ τὴν ἀναχώρησιν, ἀλλὰ πόθῳ καὶ τῇ προαιρέσει. Αὐτὸς γοῦν οὐκ ἐμνημόνευε τοῦ παρελθόντος χρόνου· ἀλλὰ καθ' ἡμέραν, ὡς ἀρχὴν ἔχων τῆς ἀσκήσεως, μείζω τὸν πόνον εἶχεν εἰς προκοπὴν, ἐπιλέγων ἑαυτῷ τὸ τοῦ Παύλου ῥητὸν συνεχῶς· Τῶν ὄπισθεν ἐπιλανθανόμενος, τοῖς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν ἐπεκτεινό μενος· μνημονεύων τε καὶ τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ προφήτου Ἠλίου λέγοντος· Ζῇ Κύριος, ᾧ παρέστην ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ σήμερον. Παρετηρεῖτο γὰρ, ὅτι, σήμερον λέγων, οὐκ ἐμέτρει τὸν παρελθόντα χρόνον· ἀλλ' ὡς ἀρχὴν ἀεὶ καταβαλλόμενος, καθ' ἡμέραν ἐσπούδα ζεν ἑαυτὸν παριστάνειν τοιοῦτον, οἷον χρὴ φαίνεσθαι τῷ Θεῷ, καθαρὸν τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ ἕτοιμον ὑπακούειν τῷ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ, καὶ μηδενὶ ἄλλῳ. Ἔλεγε δὲ ἐν ἑαυτῷ, δεῖν τὸν

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