for the word "monk," the word "man."

But there are records of Antony which represent him as a far more
genial and human personage; full of a knowledge of human nature, and
of a tenderness and sympathy, which account for his undoubted power
over the minds of men; and showing, too, at times, a certain covert
and "pawky" humour which puts us in mind, as does the humour of many
of the Egyptian hermits, of the old-fashioned Scotch. These
reminiscences are contained in the "Words of the Elders," a series
of anecdotes of the desert fathers collected by various hands; which
are, after all, the most interesting and probably the most
trustworthy accounts of them and their ways. I shall have occasion
to quote them later. I insert here some among them which relate to
Antony.


SAYINGS OF ANTONY, FROM THE "WORDS OF THE ELDERS."


A monk gave away his wealth to the poor, but kept back some for
himself. Antony said to him, "Go to the village and buy meat, and
bring it to me on thy bare back." He did so: and the dogs and
birds attacked him, and tore him as well as the meat. Quoth Antony,
"So are those who renounce the world, and yet must needs have money,
torn by daemons."

Antony heard high praise of a certain brother; but, when he tested
him, he found that he was impatient under injury. Quoth Antony,
"Thou art like a house which has a gay porch, but is broken into by
thieves through the back door."