Section 6

At last, when the dragon could not overthrow Antony even in this way, but saw himself driven from his heart, he gnashed his teeth, as Scripture says, and was beside himself. He then appeared visibly to Antony in the form of a black child, taking a bodily appearance corresponding to the darkness of his mind. As though humbling himself before Antony, the deceiver no longer attacked him with thoughts, for he had been defeated. Instead, he spoke in a human voice: “I have deceived many and cast down many. But now, when I attacked you and your labors as I have attacked many others, I proved weak.”

When Antony asked, “Who are you who speak this way to me?” he answered in a pitiful voice: “I am the friend of sexual immorality. I have taken upon myself the temptations that lead the young toward it. I am called the spirit of lust. How many who wished to live chastely have I deceived! How many who were self-controlled have I persuaded by my enticements! I am the one because of whom the prophet rebukes those who have fallen, saying, ‘You were led astray by a spirit of sexual immorality.’ Through me they were made to stumble. I am the one who so often troubled you and was so often overthrown by you.”

Antony gave thanks to the Lord and, taking courage, said to him, “Then you are utterly contemptible. Your heart is black, and you are as weak as a child. From now on you will cause me no concern, ‘for the Lord is my helper, and I shall look upon my enemies.’” When the dark figure heard this, he fled at once, trembling at the words and afraid even to come near Antony again.