第18章 兩個監護天使

一天黃昏，兩個天使在城門口相遇，互相致敬，談起話來了。 一個天使說："這些日子你在忙些什麼，交給了你什麼工作。" 另一個大使答道："指派我去監護一個墮落的人，他就住在下面山谷裡，是個作惡多端的罪人，卑劣之至。我敢向你斷言，這是個重大任務，我工作得好辛苦。" 第一個天使說道："那是個輕而易舉的差使。我時常碰到罪人，好幾次作過他們的監護者。 然而現在指派我去監護一個善良的聖徒，他就住在那邊的村舍裡。我敢向你斷言，這是件十分艱鉅的工作，而且微妙極了。 " 第二個天使說道："這不過是臆測罷了。一個聖徒倒比一個罪人難於監護，這怎麼可能呢？"第一個天使答道："竟說我妄加臆測，真是無禮極了！我說的只是真情實況。依我看來，你才是妄加臆測哩！"於是兩個天使又吵又鬥，起初是用語言吵嘴，接著就用拳頭和翅膀武鬥了。

他們正在打架的時候，有個天使長走過。他阻止他們打架，說道："你們為什麼打架？究竟是為了什麼緣故？你們可知道，監護天使在城門口打架是最不像話的？告訴我，你們不和睦的原因何在？"於是兩個天使立刻說起話來，誰都聲稱指派給他做的工作是更辛苦的，因此他應該得到更大的賞識。 天使長搖搖頭，自己細細思考。 然後他說道："我的朋友們，我現在沒法兒說你們哪一位有更大的權利要求光榮和獎勵。 但是，既然授與我權力，既然你們每一位都堅持對方的任務比自己的任務輕而易舉，那麼，為了和平的緣故，為了良好的監護職責，我派你們兩位都擔當起對方的職務。現在你們走吧，祝你們工作勝任愉快。 "

兩個天使奉命而去。但每個天使都懷著更大的憤怒回頭看望天使長。每個天使的心裡都在想："這個天使長啊！他們使我們天使的生活一天比一天難過！"但天使長站定在那兒，自己再一次的思考。他在心裡說道："我們確實非警惕不可，非監督我們的監護天使不可了。" The Two Guardian Angels On an evening two angels met at the city gate, and they greeted one another, and they conversed. The one angel said, "What are you doing these days, and what work is given you?"

And the other answered, "It was been assigned me to be the guardian of a fallen man who lives down in the valley, a great sinner, most degraded. Let me assure you it is an important task, and I work hard." The first fallen angel said, "That is an easy commission. I have often known sinners, and have been their guardian many a time. But it has now been assigned me to be the guardian of the good saint who lives in a bower out yonder. And I assure you that is an exceedingly difficult work, and most subtle."

Said the first angel, "This is but assumption. How can guarding a saint be harder than guarding a sinner?" And the other answered, "What impertinence, to call me assumptious! I have stated but the truth. Methinks it is you who are assumptious!" Then the angels wrangled and fought, first with words and then with fists and wings.

While they were fighting an archangel came by. And he stopped them, and said, "Why do you fight? And what is it all about? Know you not that it is most unbecoming for guardian angels to fight at the city gate? Tell me, what is your disagreement?" Then both angels spoke at once, each claiming that the work given him was the harder, and that he deserved the greater recognition.

The archangel shook his head and bethought him. Then he said, "My friends, I cannot say now which one of you has the greater claim upon honour and reward. But since the power is bestowed in me, therefore for peace sake and for good guardianship, I give each of you the others occupation, since each of you insists that the others task is the easier one. Now go hence and be happy at your work."

The angels thus ordered went their ways. But each one looked backward with greater anger at the archangel. And in his heart each was saying, "Oh, these archangels! Every day they make life harder and still harder for us angels!" But the archangel stood there, and once more he bethought him. And he said in his heart, "We have indeed, to be watchful and to keep guard over our guardian angels."