The Eagle-Tiger God

　　The City God Temple of the prefectural city stood in the southern suburb. To the left and right of its main gate stood divine statues over ten feet tall, commonly known as the "Eagle-Tiger Gods." Their fierce expressions were terrifying to behold.

　　In the temple lived a Daoist priest named Ren. Every morning at the crow of the rooster, he would rise and conduct his incense-burning and chanting. A thief had hidden himself in the temple corridor beforehand. Waiting for the priest to get up, he sneaked into the sleeping quarters and rifled through the belongings. But there was nothing of value in the room—only three hundred coins found beneath a straw mat, which he stuffed into his waistband.

　　He unlatched the door and slipped out, heading for Mount Qianfo. After fleeing south for some time, he finally reached the foot of the mountain. There he saw a giant of a man coming down from the heights, with a goshawk perched on his left arm—and the thief met him face to face. Drawing closer, he saw that the man's face was bronze-green, vaguely resembling the divine statues he was used to seeing at the temple gate.

　　Terrified, the thief crouched down, trembling violently. The god said in astonishment, "Where do you think you're going with that stolen money?" The thief grew even more frightened and kowtowed without ceasing. The god seized him and forced him to return to the temple, where he made him empty out all the stolen coins and kneel guard over them.

　　When the priest finished his chanting and looked around, he was startled. The thief then confessed everything in detail. The priest took back the money and sent the thief away.



原文如下:

郡城东岳庙，在南郭，大门左右神高丈馀，俗名“鹰虎神”，狰狞可畏。庙中道士任姓，每鸡鸣，辄起焚诵。有偷儿预匿廊间，伺道士起，潜入寝室，搜括财物。奈室无长物，惟于荐底得钱三百，纳腰中。拔关而出，将登千佛山。南窜许时，方至山下。见一巨丈夫，自山上来，左臂苍鹰，适与相遇。近视之，面铜青色，依稀似庙门中所习见者。大恐，蹲伏而战。神诧曰：“盗钱安往！”偷儿益惧，叩不已。神揪令还入庙，使倾所盗钱，跪守之。道士课毕，回顾骇愕。盗历历自述。道士收其钱而遣之。

【翻译】

郡城的东岳庙，位于南郊，大门的左右各有一尊一丈多高的神像，人们俗称作“鹰虎神”，面目狰狞，让人害怕。庙里有一个姓任的道士，每天鸡鸣时分，他就起床焚香念经。有一个小偷，预先躲藏在庙里的走廊当中，等到道士一起床，就偷偷地钻进房里搜寻钱财。无奈房里没有什么值钱的东西，只是在草垫子下面找到了三百文钱，小偷就把钱装入了腰包。他打开门跑了出去，准备上千佛山去。小偷朝南逃窜了好一阵子，才到了山脚下。这时，只见一个身材特别高大魁梧的人，从山上走了下来，左臂上架着一只苍鹰，恰好和小偷迎面相遇。走到近处一看，见这人的脸皮是青铜色的，仿佛是庙门里常见的那位神。小偷非常害怕，蹲在地上浑身发抖。神斥责他说：“你偷了钱，往哪里跑！”小偷一听更加害怕，连连叩头不止。神揪住小偷，让他返回庙里去，回到庙里后，又让他把偷去的钱全都掏出来，跪在地上守在那里。道士念完了经，回过头来一看，大吃了一惊。小偷自己一五一十地说出了事情的经过。道士收回了钱，把小偷放走了。