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Then said Joseph, Mother, what

THE PILGRIMS

as I have not seen. is it? An ugly thing, child, an ugly thing, said she. But, mother, what is it like? said he. It is like I cannot tell what, said she;

and now it is but a little way off.

is nigh!

ARe afraid.

Then said she, It

GREAT-HEART en-
COURAGES them.

Well, well, said Mr. Great-heart, let them that are most afraid keep close to me. So the Fiend came on, and the conductor met it; but when it was just come to him, it vanished to all their sights. Then remembered they what had been said some time ago," Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."5

A LION.

They went therefore on, as being a little refreshed; but they had not gone far before Mercy, looking behind her, saw, as she thought, something most like a Lion; and it came a great padding pace after; and it had a hollow voice of roaring; and, at every roar that it gave, it made all the Valley echo, and all their hearts to ache, save the heart of him that was their Guide. So it came up, and Mr. Great-heart went behind, and put the Pilgrims all before him. The Lion also came on apace, and Mr. Great-heart addressed himself to give him battle;" but when he saw that it was determined that resistance should be made, he also drew back, and came no farther.

Then they went on again, and their conductor did go before them, till they came at a place where was cast up a pit the whole breadth of the way; and before they could be prepared to go DARKNESS.

A PIT AND

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CHRISTIANA NOW

darkness fell upon them, Then said the Pilgrims,

over that, a great mist and a so that they could not see. Alas! what now shall we do? But their Guide made answer, Fear not; stand still, and see what an end will be put to this also. So they staid there, because their path was marred. They then also thought that they did hear more apparently the noise and rushing of the enemies; the fire also, and smoke of the pit, was much easier to be discerned. Then said Christiana to Mercy, Now I see what my KNOWS WHAT HER poor Husband went through! I have heard much of this place, but I never was here afore now. Poor man! he went here all alone in the night; he had night almost quite through the way; also these Fiends were busy about him, as if they would have torn him in pieces. Many have spoken of it; but none can tell what the Valley of the Shadow of Death should mean, until they come in it themselves. "The heart knows its own bitterness; and a stranger intermeddleth not with its joy." To be here is a fearful thing.

HUSBAND FELT.

Great-heart. This is like doing business in great waters, or like going down into the deep; this is like being in the heart of the sea, and like going down to the bottoms of the mountains. Now it seems as if the earth, with its bars, were about us for ever. But "let them that walk in darkness, and have no light, trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon their God." For my part, as I have told you already, I have gone often through this Valley, and have been

7 Isaiah 1. 10.

much harder put to it than now I am; and yet you see I am alive. I would not boast, for that I am not my own Saviour; but I trust we shall have a good deliverance. Come, let us pray for light to him that can lighten our darkness, and that can rebuke not only these, but all the Satans in Hell.

THEY PRAY.

So they cried and prayed; and God sent light and deliverance, for there was now no let in their way; no, not there, where but now they were stopped with a Pit. Yet they were not got through the Valley; so they went on still, and behold, great stinks and loathsome smells, to the great annoyance of them. Then said Mercy to Christiana, There is not such pleasant being here, as at the Gate, or at the Interpreter's, or at the House where we lay last.

ONE OF THE

BOYS REPLY. know, one

Oh! but, said one of the boys, it is not so bad to go through here, as it is to abide here always! and, for aught I reason why we must go this way to the House prepared for us, is, that our home might be made the sweeter to us.

Well said, Samuel, quoth the Guide; thou hast now spoke like a man. Why, if ever I get out here again, said the boy, I think I shall prize light and good way better than ever I did in all my life. Then said the Guide, we shall be out by and by.

So on they went, and Joseph said, Cannot we see to the end of this Valley as yet? Then said the Guide, Look to your feet, for we shall presently be among the snares! So they looked to their feet, and went on ;

HEEDLESS IS
SLAIN, AND
TAKE-HEED

but they were troubled much with the snares. Now, when they were come among the snares, they espied a man cast into the ditch on the left hand, with his flesh all rent and torn. Then said the Guide, That is one Heedless, that was going this way; he has lain there a great PRESERVED. while. There was one Take-heed with him, when he was taken and slain; but he escaped their hands. You cannot imagine how many are killed hereabouts; and yet men are so foolishly venturous as to set out lightly on Pilgrimage, and to come without a Guide. Poor Christian! it was a wonder that he here escaped; but he was beloved of his God: also he had a good heart of his own, or else he could never have done it. Now they drew towards the end of this way; and just there where Christian had seen the Cave when he went by, out thence came forth Maul, a giant. This Maul did use to spoil young Pilgrims with sophistry; and he called GreatQUARRELS WITH heart by his name, and said unto him, How many times have you been forbidden to do these things? Then said Mr. Great-heart, What things?-What things? quoth the Giant; you know what things; but I will put an end to your trade! But pray, said Mr. Great-heart, before we fall to it, let us understand wherefore we must fight? (Now the women and children stood trembling, and knew not what to do.) Quoth the Giant, you rob the country, and rob it with the worst of thefts. These are but generals, said Mr. Great-heart; come to particulars, man!

MAUL, A GIANT,

GREAT-HEART.

COUNTED AS KID-
NAPPERS.

Then said the Giant, Thou practisest GOD'S MINISTERS the craft of a kidnapper; thou gatherest up women and children, and carriest them into a strange country, to the weakening of my Master's Kingdom. But now Great-heart replied, I am a servant of the God of heaven; my business is to persuade sinners to repentance. I am commanded to do my endeavour to turn men, women, and children, from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; and if this be indeed the ground of thy quarrel, MR. GREAT-HEART let us fall to it as soon as thou wilt.

THE GIANT AND

MUST FIGHT.

Then the Giant came up, and Mr. Great-heart went to meet him; and, as he went, he drew his sword; but the Giant had a club. So, without more ado, they fell to it; and, at the first blow, the Giant struck Mr. Great-heart down upon one of his knees; with that the women and children cried out. So Mr. Great-heart recovering himself, laid about him in full lusty manner, and gave the his arm. Thus he fought for the space of an hour, to that height of heat, that the breath came out of the Giant's nostrils as the heat doth out of a boiling caldron.

WEAK FOLKS PRAYERS
AT SOME TIMES HELP
STRONG FOLKS CRIES.

Giant a wound in

Then they sat down to rest them, but Mr. Greatheart betook himself to prayer; also the women and children did nothing but sigh and cry all the time that the battle did last.

When they had rested them, and taken breath, they both fell to it again; and Mr. Greatheart, with a blow, fetched the Giant DOWN.

Y

THE GIANT STRUCK

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