BEING RESTED AND REFRESHED THEY SET FORWARDS. 57

Mr. INTERPRETER put into my hand just when I came out of his doors; he gave me also a piece of an honey-comb, and a little bottle of spirits. • I thought ' he gave you something,' said MERCY, because he • called you aside.' Yes, so he did,' said the other. But,' said CHRISTIANA, it shall be still as I said

it should, when at first we came from home; thou ⚫ shalt be a sharer in all the good that I have, because thou so willingly didst become my companion.' Then she gave to them, and they did eat, both MERCY and the boys. And said CHRISTIANA to Mr. GREATSir, will you do as we ?' But he answered, • You are going on pilgrimage, and presently I shall return: much good may what you have do to you. At home I eat the same every day.' Now when they had eaten and drunk, and had chatted a little longer, their guide said to them, The day wears away; if

HEART,

you think good, let us prepare to be going.' So they got up to go, and the little boys went before: but CHRISTIANA forgot to take her bottle of spirits with her; so she sent her little boy back to fetch it. Then said MERCY, I think this is a losing place. Here CHRISTIAN lost his roll; and here CHRISTIANA left her bottle behind her; Sir, what is the cause of this?' So their guide made answer, and said, The ⚫cause is sleep or forgetfulness; some sleep when they should keep awake; and some forget when they • should remember; and this is the very cause, why ' often at the resting-places some pilgrims in some things come off losers. Pilgrims should watch and

58

THE PUNISHMENT OF MISTRUST AND TIMORous.

⚫ remember what they have already received, under their greatest enjoyments; but for want of doing so, oftentimes their rejoicing ends in tears, and their sunshine in a cloud :-witness the story of CHRISTIAN ' at this place.'

When they were come to the place where MISTRUST and TIMOROUS met CHRISTIAN to persuade him to go back for fear of the lions, they perceived as it were a stage, and before it, towards the road, a broad plate, with a copy of verses written thereon, and underneath, the reason of raising up of that stage in that place rendered. The verses were—

Let him that sees that stage, take heed

Upon his heart and tongue:

Left if he do not, here he speed

As some have long agone,'

The words underneath the verses were,

This stage

was built to punish such upon, who, through timorousness or mistrust, shall be afraid to go further on pilgrimage: also on this stage both MISTRUST and TIMOROUS were burnt through the tongue with a hot iron, for endeavouring to hinder CHRISTIAN on his journey.'

Then said MERCY, This is much like to the saying of the Beloved, "What shall be given unto thee; "or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? "sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of ju"niper'."

So they went on, till they came within sight of the

IPs. cxx. 3, 4.

THE LIONS BACKED BY GIANT GRIM.

59

lions'. Now Mr. GREAT-HEART was a strong man, so he was not afraid of a lion: but yet when they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys that went before were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the lions; so they stept back and went behind. At this their guide smiled, and said, How now, my boys, do you love to go before when no danger doth approach, and love to come behind so soon as the lions appear?'

Now as they went on, Mr. GREAT-HEART drew his sword, with intent to make a way for the pilgrims in spite of the lions. Then there appeared one, that it seems had taken upon him to back the lions: and he said to the pilgrims' guide, What is the cause of your coming hither?' Now the name of that man was GRIM or BLOODY-MAN, because of his slaying of pilgrims; and he was of the race of the giants.

Then said the pilgrims' guide, These women and children are going on pilgrimage; and this is the way they must go,and go it they shall,in spite of thee and the lions.

GRIM. This is not their way, neither shall they go therein. I am come forth to withstand them, and to that end will back the lions.

Now, to say the truth, by reason of the fierceness of the lions, and of the grim carriage of him that did back them, this way had of late lain much unoccupied, and was almost all grown over with grass.

Then said CHRISTIANA, Though the highways have been unoccupied heretofore, and though the travellers have been made in times past to walk through

1 P. 1. p. 46.

60

GREAT-HEART ENCOUNTERS AND SLAYS HIM.

by-paths, it must not be so now I am risen,

66 am risen a mother in Israel'."

"Now I

Then he swore by the lions, but it should: and therefore bid them turn aside, for they should not have passage there. But their guide made first his approach unto GRIM, and laid so heavily on him with his sword, that he forced him to retreat,

Then said he that attempted to back the lions, Will you slay me upon mine own ground?"

GR.-H. It is the King's highway that we are in, and in this way it is that thou hast placed the lions; but these women and these children, though weak, shall hold on their way in spite of the lions.-And with that he gave him again a downright blow, and brought him upon his knees. With this blow he also broke his helmet, and with the next cut off an arm. Then did the giant roar so hideously, that his voice frighted the women; and yet they were glad to see him lie sprawling upon the ground. Now the lions were chained, and so of themselves could do nothing. Wherefore, when old GRIM, that intended to back them, was dead, GREAT-HEART said to the pilgrims, Come now, and follow me, and no hurt shall happen to you from the lions.' They therefore went on, but the women trembled as they passed by them; the boys also looked as if they would die, but they all got by without further hurt.

6

Now, when they were within sight of the Porter's lodge, they soon came up unto it; but they made the more haste after this to go thither, because it is dan

a Judg. v. 6, 7.