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Saint Anthony |
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7
. . . The blessed Paul had already lived on earth the life of heaven for
a hundred and thirteen years, and Anthony at the age of ninety was
dwelling in another place of solitude (as he himself was wont to
declare), when the thought occurred to the latter, that no monk more
perfect than himself had settled in the desert. However, in the
stillness of the night it was revealed to him that there was farther in
the desert a much better man than he, and that he ought to go and visit
him. So then at break of day the venerable old man, supporting and
guiding his weak limbs with a staff, started to go: but what direction
to choose he knew not. Scorching noontide came, with a broiling sun
overhead, but still he did not suffer himself to be turned from the
journey he had begun. Said he, “I believe in my God: some time or
other He will show me the fellow-servant whom He promised me.” He said
no more. All at once he beholds a creature of mingled shape, half horse
half man, called by the poets Hippocentaur. At the sight of this he arms
himself by making on his forehead the sign of salvation, and then
exclaims, “Holloa! Where in these parts is a servant of God living?”
The monster after gnashing out some kind of outlandish utterance, in
words broken rather than spoken through his bristling lips, at length
finds a friendly mode of communication, and extending his right hand
points out the way desired. Then with swift flight he crosses the
spreading plain and vanishes from the sight of his wondering companion.
But whether the devil took this shape to terrify him, or whether it be
that the desert which is known to abound in monstrous animals engenders
that kind of creature also, we cannot decide. 8. Anthony was amazed, and
thinking over what he had seen went on his way. Before long in a small
rocky valley shut in on all sides he sees a manikin with hooked snout,
horned forehead, and extremities like goats’ feet. When he saw this,
Anthony like a good soldier seized the shield of faith and the helmet of
hope: the creature none the less began to offer to him the fruit of the
palm-trees to support him on his journey and as it were pledges of
peace. Anthony perceiving this stopped and asked who he was. The answer
he received from him was this: “I am a mortal being and one of those
inhabitants of the desert whom the Gentiles deluded by various forms of
error worship under the names of Fauns, Satyrs, and Incubi. I am sent to
represent my tribe. We pray you in our behalf to entreat the favour of
your Lord and ours, who, we have learnt, came once to save the world,
and ‘whose sound has gone forth into all the earth.’” As he
uttered such words as these, the aged traveller’s cheeks streamed with
tears, the marks of his deep feeling, which he shed in the fullness of
his joy. He rejoiced over the Glory of Christ and the destruction of
Satan, and marvelling all the while that he could understand the
Satyr’s language, and striking the ground with his staff, he said,
“Woe to thee, Alexandria, who instead of God worships monsters! Woe to
thee, harlot city, into which have flowed together the demons of the
whole world! What will you say now? Beasts speak of Christ, and you
instead of God worship monsters.” He had not finished speaking when,
as if on wings, the wild creature fled away. Let no one scruple to
believe this incident; its truth is supported by what took place when
Constantine was on the throne, a matter of which the whole world was
witness. For a man of that kind was brought alive to Alexandria and
shewn as a wonderful sight to the people. Afterwards his lifeless body,
to prevent its decay through the summer heat, was preserved in salt and
brought to Antioch that the Emperor might see it. 9. To pursue my proposed
story. Anthony traversed the region on which he had entered, seeing only
the traces of wild beasts, and the wide waste of the desert. What to do,
whither to wend his way, he knew not. Another day had now passed. One
thing alone was left him, his confident belief that he could not be
forsaken by Christ. The darkness of the second night he wore away in
prayer. While it was still twilight, he saw not far away a she-wolf
gasping with parching thirst and creeping to the foot of the mountain.
He followed it with his eyes; and after the beast had disappeared in a
cave he drew near and began to look within. His curiosity profited
nothing: the darkness hindered vision. But, as the Scripture says,
perfect love casteth out fear. With halting step and bated breath he
entered, carefully feeling his way; he advanced little by little and
repeatedly listened for the sound. At length through the fearful
midnight darkness a light appeared in the distance. In his eager haste
he struck his foot against a stone and roused the echoes; whereupon the
blessed Paul closed the open door and made it fast with a bar. Then
Anthony sank to the ground at the entrance and until the sixth hour or
later craved admission, saying, “Who I am, whence, and why I have
come, you know. I know I am not worthy to look upon you: yet unless I
see you I will not go away. You welcome beasts: why not a man? I asked
and I have found: I knock that it may be opened to me. But if I do not
succeed, I will die here on your threshold. You will surely bury me when
I am dead.” “Such was his constant cry:
unmoved he stood. To whom the hero thus brief answer made: “Prayers like these do not
mean threats; there is no trickery in tears. Are you surprised at my not
welcoming you when you have come here to die?” Thus with smiles Paul
gave him access, and, the door being opened, they threw themselves into
each other’s arms, greeted one another by name, and joined in
thanksgiving to God. 10. After the sacred kiss
Paul sat down and thus began to address Anthony. “Behold the man whom
you have sought with so much toil, his limbs decayed with age, his grey
hairs unkempt. You see before you a man who ere long will be dust. But
love endures all things. Tell me therefore, I pray you, how fares the
human race? Are new homes springing up in the ancient cities? What
government directs the world? Are there still some remaining for the
demons to carry away by their delusions?” Thus conversing they noticed
with wonder a raven which had settled on the bough of a tree, and was
then flying gently down till it came and laid a whole loaf of bread
before them. They were astonished, and when it had gone, “See,” said
Paul, “the Lord truly loving, truly merciful, has sent us a meal. For
the last sixty years I have always received half a loaf: but at your
coming Christ has doubled his soldier’s rations.” 11. Accordingly, having
returned thanks to the Lord, they sat down together on the brink of the
glassy spring. At this point a dispute arose as to who should break the
bread, and nearly the whole day until eventide was spent in the
discussion. Paul urged in support of his view the rites of hospitality,
Anthony pleaded age. At length it was arranged that each should seize
the loaf on the side nearest to himself, pull towards him, and keep for
his own the part left in his hands. Then on hands and knees they drank a
little water from the spring, and offering to God the sacrifice of
praise passed the night in vigil. At the return of day the blessed Paul
thus spoke to Anthony: “I knew long since, brother, that you were
dwelling in those parts: long ago God promised you to me for a
fellow-servant; but the time of my falling asleep now draws nigh; I have
always longed to be dissolved and to be with Christ; my course is
finished, and there remains for me a crown of righteousness. Therefore
you have been sent by the Lord to lay my poor body in the ground, yea to
return earth to earth.” 12. On hearing this Anthony
with tears and groans began to pray that he would not desert him, but
would take him for a companion on that journey. His friend replied:
“You ought not to seek your own, but another man’s good. It is
expedient for you to lay aside the burden of the flesh and to follow the
Lamb; but it is expedient for the rest of the brethren to be trained by
your example. Wherefore be so good as to go and fetch the cloak Bishop
Athanasius gave you, to wrap my poor body in.” The blessed Paul asked
this favour not because he cared much whether his corpse when it decayed
were clothed or naked (why should he indeed, when he had so long worn a
garment of palm-leaves stitched together?); but that he might soften his
friend’s regrets at 302his decease. Anthony was astonished to find
Paul had heard of Athanasius and his cloak; and, seeing as it were
Christ Himself in him, he mentally worshipped God without venturing to
add a single word; then silently weeping he once more kissed his eyes
and hands, and set out on his return to the monastery which was
afterwards seized by the Saracens. His steps lagged behind his will.
Yet, exhausted as he was with fasting and broken by age, his courage
proved victorious over his years. 13. At last wearied and
panting for breath he completed his journey and reached his little
dwelling. Here he was met by two disciples who had begun to wait upon
him in his advanced age. Said they, “Where have you stayed so long,
father?” He replied, “Woe to me a sinner! I do not deserve the name
of monk. I have seen Elias, I have seen John in the desert, and I have
really seen Paul in Paradise.” He then closed his lips, beat upon his
breast, and brought out the cloak from his cell. When his disciples
asked him to explain the matter somewhat more fully he said, “There is
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” 14. He then went out, and
without taking so much as a morsel of food returned the same way he
came, longing for him alone, thirsting to see him, having eyes and
thought for none but him. For he was afraid, and the event proved his
anticipations correct, that in his absence his friend might yield up his
spirit to Christ. And now another day had dawned and a three hours’
journey still remained, when he saw Paul in robes of snowy white
ascending on high among the bands of angels, and the choirs of prophets
and apostles. Immediately he fell on his face, and threw the coarse sand
upon his head, weeping and wailing as he cried, “Why do you cast me
from you, Paul? Why go without one farewell? Have you made yourself
known so late only to depart so soon?” 15. The blessed Anthony used
afterwards to relate that he traversed the rest of the distance at such
speed that he flew along like a bird; and not without reason: for on
entering the cave he saw the lifeless body in a kneeling attitude, with
head erect and hands uplifted. The first thing he did, supposing him to
be alive, was to pray by his side. But when he did not hear the sighs
which usually come from one in prayer, he fell to kisses and tears, and
he then understood that even the dead body of the saint with duteous
gestures was praying to God unto whom all things live. |
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