Montanus. "In order to render it yet more subtle, I have instituted many mortifications, three Lents a year, and prayers to be uttered nightly by the mind only, keeping the mouth closed, lest breathing might tarnish thought. It is necessary to abstain from second marriages, or rather from all marriage! The Angels themselves have sinned with women!"
The Archontics (wearing cilices of hair):
"The Saviour said: 'I come to destroy the work of the Woman!'"
The Tatianites (wearing cilices of reed):
"She is the tree of evil. Our bodies are but garments of skin."
(And continuing to advance along the same side, Anthony meets:—)
The Valesians (extended upon the ground, with red wounds below their bellies, and blood saturating their tunics. They offer him a knife.)
"Do as Origen did and as we have done! Is it the pain that thou fearest, coward? Is it the love of thy flesh that restrains thee, hypocrite?"
(And while he watches them writhing upon their backs, in a pool of blood—)
The Cainites (wearing knotted vipers as fillets about their hair, pass by, vociferating in his ear):—