A young monk came and told Antony how he had seen some old men weary
on their journey, and had bidden the wild asses to come and carry
him, and they came. Quoth Antony, "That monk looks to me like a
ship laden with a precious cargo; but whether it will get into port
is uncertain." And after some days he began to tear his hair and
weep; and when they asked him why, he said, "A great pillar of the
Church has just fallen;" and he sent brothers to see the young man,
and found him sitting on his mat, weeping over a great sin which he
had done; and he said, "Tell Antony to give me ten days' truce, and
I hope I shall satisfy him;" and in five days he was dead.

Abbot Elias fell into temptation, and the brethren drove him out.
Then he went to the mountain to Antony. After awhile, Antony sent
him home to his brethren; but they would not receive him. Then the
old man sent to them, and saying, "A ship has been wrecked at sea,
and lost all its cargo; and, with much toil, the ship is come empty
to land. Will you sink it again in the sea?" So they took Elias
back.

Quoth Antony, "There are some who keep their bodies in abstinence:
but, because they have no discretion, they are far from God."

A hunter came by, and saw Antony rejoicing with the brethren, and it
displeased him. Quoth Antony, "Put an arrow in thy bow, and draw;"
and he did. Quoth Antony, "Draw higher;" and again, "Draw higher
still." And he said, "If I overdraw, I shall break my bow." Quoth
Antony, "So it is in the work of God. If we stretch the brethren
beyond measure, they fail."