and withal, they looking before them, espied a man walking as they did, (and his name was Vain-Confidence) so they called after him, and asked him whither that way led? he said to the Celestial Gate. *Look said Christian, did not I tell you so? by this you may see we are right; so they followed, and he went before them. behold the night came on, and it grew very dark; * See what it is too suddenly to fall in with strangers. But so that they that went behind, lost the sight of him that went before. Isa. 9. 16. He therefore that went before (Vain-Confidence by name) not seeing the way before him, fell into a deep Pit, which was on purpose there made by the Prince of those grounds to catch vainglorious Fools withal, and was dashed in pieces with his fall. A pit to catch the vainglorious in. Reasoning between Now Christian and his fellow heard him fall. So they called to know the matter, but there was none to answer, only they heard a groaning, Then said Hopeful, where are we now? Then was his fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had led him out of the way. And now it began to rain and thunder, and lighten in a very dreadful manner, and the water rose amain. Then Hopeful groaned in himself, saying, Oh that I had kept on my way! Christian and Chr. Who could have thought that this Path should have led us out of the way? Hope. I was afraid on't at the very first, and therefore gave you that gentle caution. I would have spoke plainer, but you are older than I. Chr. Good brother be not offended, I am sorry I have brought thee out of the way, and that I have put thee into such eminent danger; pray my Brother forgive me, I did not do it of an evil intent. Christian's repentance for leading of his Brother out of the way. Hope. Be comforted my Brother, for I forgive thee; and believe too, that this shall be for our good. Chr. I am glad I have with me a merciful Brother: but we must not stand thus, let's try to go back again. Hope. But good Brother let me go before. Chr. No, if you please let me go first; that if there be any danger, I may be first therein, because by my means we are both gone out of the way. Jer. 31. 1. They are in danger of Hope. No said Hopeful, you shall not go first, for your mind being troubled may lead you out of the way again. Then for their encouragement they heard the voice of one saying, Let thine heart be towards the High-way, even the way that thou wentest, turn again. But by this time the waters were greatly risen; by reason of which the way of going back was very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is, easier going out of the way when we are in, than going in when we are out.) Yet they adventured to back; but it was so dark, and the flood was so high, that in their going back they had like to have been drowned nine or ten times. go drowning, as they go back. They sleep in the grounds of Giant Despair. He finds them in his ground and carries them to Doubting. Neither could they with all the skill they had get again to the Stile that night. Wherefore at last lighting under a little shelter, they sat down there till the day brake: But being weary, they fell asleep. Now there was not far from the place where they lay, a Castle called Doubting-Castle, the Owner whereof was Giant Despair, and it was in his grounds they were now sleeping; wherefore he getting up in the morning early, and walking up and down in his Fields, caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds. Then with a grim and surly, voice he bid them awake, and asked them whence they were? and what they did in his grounds? They told him they were Pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then said the Giant, you have this night trespassed on me, by trampling in and lying on my Ground, and therefore you must go along with me. So they were forced to go, because he was stronger than they. They also had but little to say, for they knew themselves in a fault. The Giant therefore drove them before him, and put them into his Castle, into a very dark Dungeon, nasty and stinking to the Spirits of these two men: Here then they lay from Wednesday Morning till Saturday Night without one bit of bread, or drop of drink or light, or any to ask how they did: They were therefore here in evil case, and were far from friends and acquaintance. Now in this place Christian had double The grievousness of their Imprison ment. Psal. 88. 16. sorrow, because 'twas through his unadvised Counsel that they were brought into this distress. On Thursday beats his Now Giant Despair had a Wife and her name was Diffidence: So when he was gone to bed, he told his Wife what he had done, to wit, that he had taken a couple of Prisoners, and cast them into his Dungeon, for trespassing on his Grounds. Then he asked her also what he had best to do further to them. So she asked what they were, whence they came, and whither they were bound? and he told her. Then she counselled him, that when he arose in the morning, he should beat them without mercy: So when he arose, he getteth him a grievous Crab-Tree Cudgel, and goes down into the Dungeon to them, and there first falls to rating of them as if they were dogs: although they gave him never a word of distaste; then he falls upon them, and beats them fearfully, in such sort that they were not able to help themselves, or to turn them upon the floor. This done he withdraws and leaves them, there to condole their misery, and to mourn under their distress: so all that day, they spent the time in nothing but sighs and bitter lamentations. The next night she talking with her Husband about them further, and understanding that they were yet alive, did advise him to counsel them to make away themselves: So when morning was come, he goes to them in a surly manner, as before, and perceiving them to be very sore with the stripes that he had given them the day before; he told them, that since they were never like to come out of that place, their only way would be, forthwith to make an end of themselves; either with Knife, Halter or Poison: For why, said he, should you chuse life, seeing it is attended with so much bitterness? But they desired him to let them go, with that he looked ugly upon them, and rushing to them, had doubtless made an end of them himself, but that he fell into one of his fits; (for he sometimes in Sun-shiny weather fell into fits) and lost (for a time) the use of his hand: wherefore he withdrew and left them, (as before) to consider what to do. Then did the prisoners consult between themselves, whether 'twas best to take his counsel or no: and thus they began to discourse. * On Friday Giant Despair counsels them to kill themselves. * The Giant sometimes has fits. Christian Chr. Brother, said Christian; what shall we do? the life that we now live is miserable: for my part, I know not whether is best, to live thus, or die out of hand. My Soul chuseth strangling rather than life: and the Grave is more easie for me than this Dungeon: shall we be ruled by the Giant? * * Job 7. 15. and death *Hopeful comforts him. Hope. Indeed our present condition is dreadful, would be far more welcome to me than thus for ever to abide but yet let us consider, the Lord of the countrey to which we are going, hath said, Thou shalt do no Murther, no not to another mans person; much more then are we forbidden to take his counsel to kill our selves. Besides be that kills another, can but commit murder upon his body; but for one to kill himself, is to kill body and soul at once. And moreover, my Brother, thou talkest of ease in the Grave, but hast thou forgotten the Hell whither for certain the murderers go? for no murderer bath eternal life, &c. And let us consider again, that all the Law is not in the hand of Giant Despair: Others, so far as I can understand, have been taken by him, as well as we; and yet have escaped out of his hand: Who knows, but that God that made the World, may cause that Giant Despair may die; or that, at some time or other, he may forget to lock us in; or, but he may in a short time have another of his fits before us, and may lose the use of his limbs; and if ever that should come to pass again, for my part, I am resolved to pluck up the heart of a man, and to try my utmost to get 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 continuea 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 breath: 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. 1 At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian fell into a Swound; 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 to be for doing it, but Hopeful made his second reply as followeth. * Christian still dejected. Hope. * Hopeful comforts him again by calling former things to remembrance. *My Brother, said he, remembrest thou not how valiant thou hast been heretofore? Apollion could not crush thee, nor could 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 has wounded me as well as thee; and hath also cut off the Bread and Water from my mouth; and with that I mourn without the light; But let's exercise a little more patience. Remember how thou plaidst the man at Vanity Fair, and wast neither afraid of the Chain or 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 chuse rather to bear all hardship, than to make away themselves. Then said she, take them into the Castle-yard to morrow, and shew them the Bones and Skulls of those that thou hast already dispatched, and make them believe e're a week comes to an end, thou also wilt tear them in pieces as thou hast done their fellows before them. * On Saturday the Giant So when the morning was come, the Giant goes to them again and takes them into the Castle-yard, and shews them, as his Wife had bidden him. These, said he, were Pilgrims, as you are, once, and they trespassed in 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. Get down into your den again and with that he beat them threatned that shortly he would pull them in pieces. you all the way thither: they lay therefore all day on Saturday in a lamentable case, as before. Now when night was come, and |