182 ORIGIN OF MONACHISM. 



perfons of great faith in Antonius, they told nim they 

 were people from Jerufalem. If they faid, ^Egyptians 

 were there, then Antonius would order lentile por- 

 ridge to be given them to eat ; which done, he dif- 

 patched them with a prayer and a ihort exhortation. 

 If ihey fa.d, people from Jerufalem were there, then 

 he was extremely gracious and affable, fat down, and 

 chatted with them the whole night through on matters 

 of falvatiom Thus, Antonius was in reality more po- 

 lite to foreigners than to his own countrymen. 



At times, the taint went down from his mountain, 

 tmd ro ,k long journies, efpecially to Alexandria ; where 

 great numbers that felt themfelves opprelled implored 

 his interceffiom with the governor. But, as loon as 

 ever he had prefented their petitions, he hurried back 

 to his folitude. 



In the ninetieth year of his age, he made a very 

 memorable vint to Paul the flrlt hermit, who had al- 

 ready lived ninety years, unknown to all the reft of 

 mankind ^ entirely alone, and in the profoundeft con- 

 cealment. The old head of the great Antonius was 

 again uncommonly hot on this journey ; for the moft 

 material particulars he relates of it fhew, that he had 

 been dreaming with open eyes. 



On the way lie would have it that he had difcourfed 

 wi h a monfter. It was half man and half horfe, who 

 befought him, in the name of a whole herd of them, 

 to cadi upon God in their behalf. Such monfters a 

 man never ices when he is right in his head. Then 

 Antonius lavs, that a raven brought him twice as much 

 bread as he had been u f cd to bring Paul for fixtyj'ears 

 before. But this is not all : for Paul unfolded to his 



