ORIGIN OF MONACHISM; J-JfJ 



diftance from the village where he was born. This 

 curious habitation feemed to increafe his difpolition tov 

 fullennefs and melancholy, and I need only relate what 

 his moft cautious hiftorian fays of him, for ihewing 

 how much his brain had fuffered from this firfl afcetic 

 attempt. In his fepulchre he was perpetually engaged 

 in imaginary fcuffles with the devil ; and, in this un-» 

 ealinefs and anxiety of mind, he beat himfelf fo dread- 

 fully againft the narrow vault, that his limbs were co- 

 vered with bruifes, infomuch, that he was taken out of 

 his grave for dead, and brought to the village church 

 for interment. Probably he was epileptic. However, 

 fcarcely was he come to himfelf in the church, but he 

 requefted, that, regardlefs of his wounds, they would 

 carry him again into his cavern. Inftantly the devil 

 was there ; that is, his diftemper returned. He renewed 

 the engagement, was wounded afrefh, and retained mi 

 wounds for a long time after. 



Antonius refolved now to repair once for all to the 

 defart, in company with an old afcetic ; this latter re- 

 fufed to go, being afraid to engage in fo novel an un- 

 dertaking. Antonius therefore fet out on his journey 

 alone, in the five and thirtieth year of his age. He 

 paffed the Nile, came into the mountainous country, 

 where, feeing an old ruinous caftle, he fliut himfelf up 

 in it, and there remained for twenty years. 



All this time, his nourifhment confirmed of old crufe 

 ■ of bread that were brought him half-yearly, and of 

 water that he found in his caftle. His door he neither 

 opened for thofe who brought him bread ; nor for any 

 that wanted to vifit him. But, to their terror and 

 aftonimment, thefe people frequently heard a dreadful 



riot 



