t
thou such things? If thus injustice triumph, why do I remain here? I
will again enter the world, and do as other men do."

And so he left his hermitage, and went again into the world; but God
willed not that he should be lost: an angel in the form of a man was
sent to join him. And so, crossing the hermit's path, he said to him,
"Whither bound, my friend?" "I go," said he, "to yonder city." "I will
go with you," replied the angel; "I am a messenger from heaven, come to
be your companion on the way."

So they walked on together to the city. When they had entered, they
begged for the love of God harbourage during the night, at the house of
a certain soldier, who received them cheerfully and entertained them
nobly. The soldier had an only and most dear son lying in the cradle.
After supper, their bed-chamber was sumptuously adorned for them; and
the angel and the hermit went to rest. But about the middle of the
night the angel rose, and strangled the sleeping infant. The hermit,
horror-struck at what he witnessed, said within himself, "Never can
this be an angel of God. The good soldier gave us everything that was
necessary; he had but this poor innocent, and he is strangled." Yet he
was afraid to reprove him.

In the morning both arose and went forward to another city, in which
they were honourably entertained at the house of one of the inhabitants.
This person had a rich gold cup, which he highly valued; and of which,
during the night, the angel robbed him. But still the hermit held his
peace, for great was his fear.

On the morrow they went forward; and as they walked they came to a
certain river, over which was a bridge. They went on the bridge, and
about midway a poor pilgrim met them. "My friend," said the angel to
him, "show us the way to yonder city." The pilgrim turned, and pointed
with his finger to the road they were to take; but as he turned the
angel seized him by the shoulders, and hurled him into the stream below.
At this the terror of the hermit became greater. "It is the devil," he
said to himself; "it is the devil, and no good angel! What evil had the
poor man done that he should be drowned?"

He would now have gladly gone alone; but was afraid to speak his mind.
About the hour of vespers they came to a city, in which they again
sought shelter for the night; but the master of the house where they
applied sharply refused it. "For the love of heaven," said the angel,
"give us shelter, lest we fall p