wishing to learn how he began his training, and who he was before
it, and what sort of an end he made to his life, and whether what is
said of him is true, in order that you may bring yourselves to
emulate him, with great readiness I received your command. For to
me, too, it is a great gain and benefit only to remember Antony; and
I know that you, when you hear of him, after you have wondered at
the man, will wish also to emulate his purpose. For the life of
Antony is for monks a perfect pattern of ascetic training. What,
then, you have heard about him from other informants do not
disbelieve, but rather think that you have heard from them a small
part of the facts. For in any case, they could hardly relate fully
such great matters, when even I, at your request, howsoever much I
may tell you in my letter, can only send you a little which I
remember about him. But do not cease to inquire of those who sail
from hence; for perhaps, if each tells what he knows, at last his
history may be worthily compiled. I had wished, indeed, when I
received your letter, to send for some of the monks who were wont to
be most frequently in his company, that I might learn something
more, and send you a fuller account. But since both the season of
navigation limited me, and the letter-carrier was in haste, I
hastened to write to your piety what I myself know (for I have often
seen him), and what I was able to learn from one who followed him
for no short time, and poured water upon his hands; always taking
care of the truth, in order that no one when he hears too much may
disbelieve, nor again, if he learns less than is needful, despise
the man.

Antony was an Egyptian by race, born of noble parents, {33} who had
a sufficient property of their own: and as they were Christians, he
too was Christianly brought up, and when a boy was nourished in the