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He Goes to the
Inner Desert
49. But when he saw himself beset by many, and not suffered to withdraw
himself according to his intent as he wished, fearing because of the
signs which the Lord wrought by him, that either he should be puffed
up, or that some other should think of him above what he ought to
think, he considered and set off to go into the upper Thebaid, among
those to whom he was unknown. And having received loaves from the
brethren, he sat down by the bank of the river, looking whether a boat
would go by, that, having embarked thereon, he might go up the river
with them. While he was considering these things, a voice came to him
from above, “Antony, whither goest thou and wherefore?” But he no way
disturbed, but as he had been accustomed to be called often thus,
giving ear to it, answered, saying, “Since the multitude permit me not
to be still, I wish to go into the upper Thebaid on account of the many
hindrances that come upon me here, and especially because they demand
of me things beyond my power.” But the voice said unto him, “Even
though you should go into the Thebaid, or even though, as you have in
mind, you should go down to the Bucolia, you will have to endure more,
aye, double the amount of toil. But if you wish really to be in quiet,
depart now into the inner desert.” And when Antony said, “Who will show
me the way, for I know it not?” immediately the voice pointed out to
him Saracens about to go that way. So Antony approached, and drew near
them, and asked that he might go with them into the desert. And they,
as though they had been commanded by Providence, received him
willingly. And having journeyed with them three days and three nights,
he came to a very lofty mountain, and at the foot of the mountain ran a
clear spring, whose waters were sweet and very cold; outside there was
a plain and a few uncared-for palm trees.
50. Antony then, as it were, moved by God, loved the place, for this
was the spot which he who had spoken with him by the banks of the river
had pointed out. So having first received loaves from his fellow
travellers, he abode in the mountain alone, no one else being with him.
And recognising it as his own home, he remained in that place for the
future. But the Saracens, having seen the earnestness of Antony,
purposely used to journey that way, and joyfully brought him loaves,
while now and then the palm trees also afforded him a poor and frugal
relish. But after this, the brethren learning of the place, like
children mindful of their father, took care to send to him. But when
Antony saw that the bread was the cause of trouble and hardships to
some of them, to spare the monks this, he resolved to ask some of those
who came to bring him a spade, an axe, and a little corn. And when
these were brought, he went over the land round the mountain, and
having found a small plot of suitable ground, tilled it; and having a
plentiful supply of water for watering, he sowed. This doing year by
year, he got his bread from thence, rejoicing that thus he would be
troublesome to no one, and because he kept himself from being a burden
to anybody. But after this, seeing again that people came, he
cultivated a few pot-herbs, that he who came to him might have some
slight solace after the labor of that hard journey. At first, however,
the wild beasts in the desert, coming because of the water, often
injured his seeds and husbandry. But he, gently laving hold of one of
them, said to them all, “Why do you hurt me, when I hurt none of you?
Depart, and in the name of the Lord come not nigh this spot.” And from
that time forward, as though fearful of his command, they no more came
near the place.
51. So he was alone in the inner mountain, spending his time in prayer
and discipline. And the brethren who served him asked that they might
come every month and bring him olives, pulse and oil, for by now he was
an old man. There then he passed his life, and endured such great
wrestlings, “Not against flesh and blood ,” as it is written, but
against opposing demons, as we learned from those who visited him. For
there they heard tumults, many voices, and, as it were, the clash of
arms. At night they saw the mountain become full of wild beasts, and
him also fighting as though against visible beings, and praying against
them. And those who came to him he encouraged, while kneeling he
contended and prayed to the Lord. Surely it was a marvellous thing that
a man, alone in such a desert, feared neither the demons who rose up
against him, nor the fierceness of the four-footed beasts and creeping
things, for all they were so many. But in truth, as it is written, “He
trusted in the Lord as Mount Sion ,” with a mind unshaken and
undisturbed; so that the demons rather fled from him, and the wild
beasts, as it is written, “kept peace with him.”
52. The devil, therefore, as David says in the Psalms, observed Antony
and gnashed his teeth against him. But Antony was consoled by the
Savior and continued unhurt by his wiles and varied devices. As he was
watching in the night the devil sent wild beasts against him. And
almost all the hyenas in that desert came forth from their dens and
surrounded him; and he was in the midst, while each one threatened to
bite. Seeing that it was a trick of the enemy he said to them all: “If
ye have received power against me I am ready to be devoured by you; but
if ye were sent against me by demons, stay not, but depart, for I am a
servant of Christ.” When Antony said this they fled, driven by that
word as with a whip.
53. A few days after, as he was working (for he was careful to work
hard), some one stood at the door and pulled the plait which he was
working, for he used to weave baskets, which he gave to those who came
in return for what they brought him. And rising up he saw a beast like
a man to the thighs but having legs and feet like those of an ass. And
Antony only signed himself and said, “I am a servant of Christ. If thou
art sent against me, behold I am here.” But the beast together with his
evil spirits fled, so that, through his speed, he fell and died. And
the death of the beast was the fall of the demons. For they strove in
all manner of ways to lead Antony from the desert and were not able.
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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