Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub
[graphic][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors]

[The Pilgrims in the Dungeon of Giant Despair.]

from under his hand. I was a fool that I did not try to do it before; but, however, my brother, let's be patient, and endure a while; the time may come that may give us a happy release; but let us not be our own murderers." With these words Hopeful at present did moderate the mind of his brother; so they continued together, in the dark, that day in their sad and doleful condition.

Well, towards evening, the Giant goes down into the dungeon again, to see if his prisoners had taken his counsel; but, when he came there, he found them alive; and, truly, alive was all; for now, what for want of bread and water, and by reason of the wounds they received when he beat them, they could do little but breathe. But, I say he found them alive: at which he fell into a grievous rage, and told them that, seeing they had disobeyed his counsel, it should be worse with them than if they had never been born.

At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian fell into a swoon; but, coming a little to himself again, they renewed their discourse about the Giant's counsel, and whether yet they had best take it or no. Now Christian again seemed for doing it; but Hopeful made his second reply as followeth :

Christian still dejected.

:

My brother, said he, rememberest thou not how valiant thou hast been heretofore? Apollyon could not crush thee; nor could

Hopeful comforts him again by calling former things

to remembrance.

all that thou didst hear, or see, or feel, in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. What hardship, terror, and amazement hast thou already gone through! and art thou now nothing but fears? Thou seest that I am in the dungeon with thee, a far weaker man by nature than thou art; also this Giant hath wounded me as well as thee, and hath also cut off the bread and water from my mouth, and with thee I mourn without the light. But let us exercise a little more patience. Remember how thou playedst the man at Vanity-fair, and wast neither afraid of the chain nor cage, nor yet of bloody death. Wherefore let us (at least to avoid the shame that becomes not a Christian to be found in) bear up with patience as well as we can.

Now, night being come again, and the Giant and his wife being in bed, she asked him concerning the prisoners, and if they had taken his counsel? To which he replied, They are sturdy rogues; they choose rather to bear all hardships than to make way with themselves. Then said she, Take them into the Castle-Yard tomorrow, and show them the bones and sculls of those that thou hast already despatched; and make them believe, ere a week comes to an end, thou wilt tear them in pieces, as thou hast done their fellows before them.

On Saturday, the
Giant threatened

that shortly he
would pull them
in pieces.

So, when the morning was come, the Giant goes to them again, and takes them into the Castle-Yard, and shows them as his wife had bidden him. These, said he, were Pilgrims as you are once; and they trespassed on my grounds as you have done; and, when I thought fit, I tore them in pieces; and so within ten days I will do you. Go, get you down to your den again! and with that he beat them all the way thither. They lay, therefore, all day on Saturday, in lamentable case, as before. Now, when night was come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her husband the Giant were got to bed, they began to renew their discourse of their prisoners; and withal the old Giant wondered that he could neither by his blows nor counsel bring them to an end. And with that his wife replied, I fear, said she, that they live in hopes that some will come to relieve them; or that they have pick-locks about them, by the means of which they hope to escape. And sayest thou so, my dear, said the Giant; I will therefore search them in the morning.

Well, on Saturday, about midnight, they began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day.

Now, a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half

[graphic][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

A key in Chris

[The Pilgrims escaping from Doubting Castle.]

amazed, brake out into this passionate speech: What a fool, quoth he, am I, to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle. Then said Hopeful, That's good news: good brother, pluck it

tian's bosom called Promise, opens a ny lock in Doubting Castle.

out of thy bosom, and try.

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the dungeon door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he went to the outward door, that leads into the Castle-Yard, and with his key opened that door also. After that he went to the iron gate, for that must be opened too; but that lock went damnable hard, yet the key did open it. Then they thrust

[graphic]
[ocr errors]

[The Delectable Mountains.]

open the gate to make their escape with speed; but that gate, as it opened, made such a creaking, that it waked Giant Despair, who hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail; for his fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on, and came to the King's highway, and so were safe, because they were out of his jurisdiction.

A Pillar erected

by Christian and

Now, when they were gone over the stile, they began to contrive with themselves what they should do at that stile, to prevent those that should come after from falling into the hands of Giant Despair. So they consented to erect there a Pillar, and to engrave upon the side thereof this sentence: "Over this stile is the way to Doubting Castle, which is his fellow. kept by Giant Despair, who despiseth the King of the Celestial Country, and seeks to destroy his holy Pilgrims." Many, therefore, that followed after read what was written, and escaped the danger. This done, they sang as follows:

Out of the way we went, and then we found,
What 'twas to tread upon forbidden ground;
And let them that come after have a care,

Lest they, for trespassing, his prisoners are,

Whose castle's Doubting, and whose name 's Despair.

The Delectable
Mountains.

They are refreshed in the mountains.

They went then till they came to the Delectable Mountains; which mountains belong to the Lord of that Hill of which we have spoken before: so they went up to the mountains to behold the gardens and orchards, the vineyards, and fountains of water; where also they drank, and washed themselves, and did freely eat of the vineyards. Now there were on the tops of these mountains Shepherds feeding their flocks, and they stood by the highway-side. The Pilgrims, therefore, went to them, and leaning upon their staffs, as is common with weary Talk with the shep- Pilgrims, when they stand to talk with any by the way, they asked, Whose Delectable Mountains are these? and whose be the sheep that feed upon them?

herds.

Shep. These mountains are Immanuel's land, and they are within sight of his City: and the sheep also are his, and he laid down his life for them.

Chr. Is this the way to the Celestial City ?

Shep. You are just in your way.

Chr. How far is it thither?

Shep. Too far for any but those who shall get thither indeed. Chr. Is the way safe, or dangerous?

Shep. Safe for those for whom it is to be safe, "but transgressors shall fall therein."*

Chr. Is there in this place any relief for Pilgrims that are weary and faint in the way?

Shep. The Lord of these Mountains hath given us a charge "not to be forgetful to entertain strangers ;"† therefore the good of the place is before you.

I saw also in my dream, that when the Shepherds perceived they were wayfaring men, they also put questions to them, (to which they made answer as in other places,) as, Whence came you? and how got you into the way ? and by what means have you so persevered therein? for but few of them that begin to come hither do show their face on these Mountains. But when

welcome them.

The Shepherds the Shepherds heard their answers, being pleased therewith, they looked very lovingly upon them, and said, "Welcome to the Delectable Mountains!"

The Shepherds, I say, whose names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, took them by the hand, and had them to their tents, and made them partake of what was ready at present. They said, moreover, We would that you should stay here a while, to be acquainted with us, and yet more to solace yourselves with

[blocks in formation]
« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »