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He Dwells Among
the Tombs
8. Thus tightening his hold upon himself, Antony departed to the tombs,
which happened to be at a distance from the village; and having bid one
of his acquaintances to bring him bread at intervals of many days, he
entered one of the tombs, and the other having shut the door on him, he
remained within alone. And when the enemy could not endure it but was
even fearful that in a short time Antony would fill the desert with the
discipline, coming one night with a multitude of demons, he so cut him
with stripes that he lay on the ground speechless from the excessive
pain. For he affirmed that the torture had been so excessive that no
blows inflicted by man could ever have caused him such torment. But by
the Providence of God--for the Lord never overlooks them that hope in
Him--the next day his acquaintance came bringing him the loaves. And
having opened the door and seeing him lying on the ground as though
dead, he lifted him up and carried him to the church in the village,
and laid him upon the ground. And many of his kinsfolk and the
villagers sat around Antony as round a corpse. But about midnight he
came to himself and arose, and when he saw them all asleep and his
comrade alone watching, he motioned with his head for him to approach,
and asked him to carry him again to the tombs without waking anybody.
9. He was carried therefore by the man, and as he was wont, when the
door was shut he was within alone. And he could not stand up on account
of the blows, but he prayed as he lay. And after he had prayed, he said
with a shout, Here am I, Antony; I flee not from your stripes, for even
if you inflict more nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ.
And then he sang, “though a camp be set against me, my heart shall not
be afraid.” These were the thoughts and words of this ascetic. But the
enemy, who hates good, marvelling that after the blows he dared to
return, called together his hounds and burst forth, “Ye see,” said he,
“that neither by the spirit of lust nor by blows did we stay the man,
but that he braves us, let us attack him in another fashion.” But
changes of form for evil are easy for the devil, so in the night they
made such a din that the whole of that place seemed to be shaken by an
earthquake, and the demons as if breaking the four walls of the
dwelling seemed to enter through them, coming in the likeness of beasts
and creeping things. And the place was on a sudden filled with the
forms of lions, bears, leopards, bulls, serpents, asps, scorpions, and
wolves, and each of them was moving according to his nature. The lion
was roaring, wishing to attack, the bull seeming to toss with its
horns, the serpent writhing but unable to approach, and the wolf as it
rushed on was restrained; altogether the noises of the apparitions,
with their angry ragings, were dreadful. But Antony, stricken and
goaded by them, felt bodily pains severer still. He lay watching,
however, with unshaken soul, groaning from bodily anguish; but his mind
was clear, and as in mockery he said, “If there had been any power in
you, it would have sufficed had one of you come, but since the Lord
hath made you weak you attempt to terrify me by numbers: and a proof of
your weakness is that you take the shapes of brute beasts.” And again
with boldness he said, “If you are able, and have received power
against me, delay not to attack; but if you are unable, why trouble me
in vain? For faith in our Lord is a seal and a wall of safety to us.”
So after many attempts they gnashed their teeth upon him, because they
were mocking themselves rather than him.
10. Nor was the Lord then forgetful of Antony's wrestling, but was at
hand to help him. So looking up he saw the roof as it were opened, and
a ray of light descending to him. The demons suddenly vanished, the
pain of his body straightway ceased, and the building was again whole.
But Antony feeling the help, and getting his breath again, and being
freed from pain, besought the vision which had appeared to him, saying,
“Where wert thou? Why didst thou not appear at the beginning to make my
pains to cease?” And a voice came to him, “Antony, I was here, but I
waited to see thy fight; wherefore since thou hast endured, and hast
not been worsted, I will ever be a succor to thee, and will make thy
name known everywhere.” Having heard this, Antony arose and prayed, and
received such strength that he perceived that he had more power in his
body than formerly.And he was then about thirty-five years old.
Preface
Part I: Antony's Youth
and First Struggles with Demons
Part II: He Dwells Among the Tombs
Part III: He Goes to
the Desert
Part IV: His Sermon to
the Young Men
Part V: His Life in
the Desert
Part VI: He Goes to
the Inner Desert
Part VII: Advice and
Assistance for Visitors
Part VIII: His
Discourses Against Schismatics, Arians, and Pagans
Part IX: His Growing
Fame
Part X: His Death
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