Soghita: Dispute between the Cherub and the Thief1. At the Crucifixion I beheld a marvel / when the Thief cried out to our Lord,"Remember me, Lord, on the day when You come / to that Kingdom which does not pass away".Refrain: Praise to You, Lord, for at Your coming / sinners turned back from their wickedness;they entered and found shelter / in the Garden of Eden - which is the holy Church.2. He made a petition, stretched out and gave it / to the crucified King, asking for mercy;and He who is full of mercy heard his cry / and opened the door to his request.3. "Remember me, Lord", was what he cried out on the cross, / "in that kingdom which does not pass away, andin that glory in which You will be revealed / may I behold Your rest, seeing that I have acknowledged You".4. Our Lord replied, "Since you have acknowledged me / this very day you shall be in the Garden of Eden;in very truth, man, you will not be kept back / from that Kingdom to which you are looking.5. "Take with you the cross as a sign, and be off: / it is a great key whereby the mighty gateof that Garden shall be opened, / and Adam, who has been expelled, shall enter again".6. The word of our Lord was sealed / like a royal missive from the palace;it was handed over to the thief / who took it and made off for the Garden of Eden.7. The Cherub heard him and rushed up, / he grabbed the Thief at the gate,stopping him with the sharp blade that he held. / All astonished, he addressed him as follows:8. Cherub: "Tell me, my man, who has sent you? / What is it you want, and how did you get here?What is the reason that brought you here? / Reveal and explain to me who it is who has sent you".9. Thief: "I will tell you who has sent me, / just hold back your blade and listen to my words.I am a Thief, but I supplicated for mercy, / and it was your Lord who sent me on my way here".10. Cherub: "By what powerful means did your arrival take place? / Who brought you to this dread spot?Who transported you across the sea of fir...