stood fearless, showing forth the readiness of us Christians. For
he himself prayed to be a martyr, as I have said, and was like one
grieved, because he had not borne his witness. But the Lord was
preserving him for our benefit, and that of the rest, that he might
become a teacher to many in the training which he had learnt from
Scripture. For many, when they only saw his manner of life, were
eager to emulate it. So he again ministered continually to the
confessors; and, as if bound with them, wearied himself in his
services. And when at last the persecution ceased, and the blessed
Bishop Peter had been martyred, he left the city, and went back to
his cell. And he was there, day by day, a martyr in his conscience,
and wrestling in the conflict of faith; for he imposed on himself a
much more severe training than before; and his garment was within of
hair, without of skin, which he kept till his end. He neither
washed his body with water, nor ever cleansed his feet, nor actually
endured putting them into water unless it were necessary. And no
one ever saw him unclothed till he was dead and about to be buried.

When, then, he retired, and had resolved neither to go forth
himself, nor to receive any one, one Martinianus, a captain of
soldiers, came and gave trouble to Antony. For he had with him his
daughter, who was tormented by a daemon. And while he remained a
long time knocking at the door, and expecting him to come to pray to
God for the child, Antony could not bear to open, but leaning from
above, said, "Man, why criest thou to me? I, too, am a man, as thou
art. But if thou believest, pray to God, and it comes to pass."
Forthwith, therefore, he believed, and called on Christ; and went
away, with his daughter cleansed from the daemon. And many other
things the Lord did by him, saying, "Ask, and it shall be given
you." For most of the sufferers, when he did not open the door,