not go along by the way-fide? So Hopeful, being perfua ded by his fellow, went after him over the file. When they were gone over, and got into the path, they found it very eafy for their feet; and withal, they looking before them, espied a man walking as they did, and his name was Vain-confidence: fo they called after him, and afked him whither that way led? He faid, to the celeftial gate. Look, faid Chriftian, did not I tell you fo? by this you may fee we are right: So they followed, and he went before them. But behold the night came on, and it grew very, dark, fo that they that were behind lof the fight of him that went before.

He therefore that went before (Vain-confidence by name) not feeing the way before him, fell into a deep pit, which was on purpose there made by the prince of thofe grounds to catch vain-glorious fools withal, and was dashed in pieces with his fall.

Reafening between Chriftian and Hopeful.

1.

Now Chriftian and his fellow heard him fall. So they called to know the master, but there was none to answer, only they heard a groaning. Then faid Hopeful, where we are now? Then was his fellow filent, as mistruft. ing that he had led him out of the way. And now it began to rain, and thunder, and lighten in a most dreadful manmer, and the waters rofe amain.

Then Hopeful groaned in himself, faying, Oh, that I had kept on my way!

Chr. Who would have thought that this path should have led us out of the way ?

Hope. I was afraid on't at the very firft, and therefore gave you that gentle caution, I would have fpoke plainer, but that you are older than Ì.

Chriftian's repentance for leading his brother out of the way.

Chr. Good brother, be not offended, I am forry I have brought thee out of the way, and that I have put thee into fuch imminent danger: Pray, my brother, forgive me, I did not do it of an evil intent, Hope. Be comforted, my brother, for I forgive thee, and believe too that this thall be for our good.

Chr. I am glad I have met with 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 fift, that if there be any danger I may be first therein, because by my means we are both gone out of the way.

Hope. No, faid Hopeful, you fhall not go firft; for your mind being troubled, may lead you out of the way again. Then for their encouragement they heard the voice of ose, saying, Let thine heart be towards the highway; ever the way that thou wenteft, turn not again But by this time the waters were greatly rifen, by reafon of which the way of going back was very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is eafier going out of the way when we are in, than going in when we are out.) Yet they adventured to go back; but it was fo dark, and the flood was fo high, that in their going back, they had like to have been drowned nine or ten times.

Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to the file that night: Wherefore at last, lighting under a little shelter, they fat down there till the day broke; but, being weary, they fell asleep. Now there was not far from the place where they lay a caftle called Doubting Cafile, the owner whereof was giant Defpair, and it was in his grounds they now were fleeping: wherefore he getting up in the morning early, and walking up and down his fields, caught Chriftian and Hopeful afleep in his grounds. Then, with a grim and furly voice, he bade 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 loft their way. Then faid the giant, you have this night trefpaffed 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 far ftronger than they. They alfo had but little to fay, for they knew themselves in a fault. The giant therefore drove them before him, and put them into his caftle, in a very dark dungeon, nafty and Stinking to the fpirits of thefe two men, here they lay from Wednesday morning till Saturday

night without one bit of bread or drop of The grievouswater, or light, or any to ask how they did; nefs of their imthey were therefore here in evil cafe, were prifenment. far from friends and acquaintance. Now P. 81. 86. in this place Chriftian had double forrow,

because

becaufe 'twas through his unadvifed hafte they were brought into this diftrefs.

Now giant Defpair had a wife, and her name was Diff dence; so when he was gone to bed, he told his wife wha he had done, to wit, that he had taken a couple of prifon ers, and caft them into his dungeon for trefpaffing on hi grounds. Then he asked her alfo what he had beft to di further to them. So the asked him what they were, whence they came, and whither they were bound? and he told her; then the counselled him that, when he arose in the morning, he should beat them without mercy: So when he arofe,

On Thursday giant Despair beats his prifon

he getteth him a grievous crab-tree cudgel, and goes down into the dungeon to them, and there falls to rating of them as if they were dogs, altho' they gave never a word of distaste then he falls upon them, and beat them fearfully, in fuch fort, 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 mifery, and to mourn under their diftrefs; fo all that day they spent their time in nothing but ghs and bitter lamentations. The next night the talked with the 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 furly manner as before, and perceiving them to be very fore with the fripes that he had given them the day before, he told them, that fince 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 poifon. For why, faid he, fhould you chufe life, feeing it is attended with fo much bitterness? But they defired him to let them go; with that he looked pon them, and rushing to them, had doubtless made an end of them himself, but that he fell into one of his fits; (for he fometimes in fun-fhiny weather fell into fits) and loft for a time the use of his hands; wherefore he withdrew, and

The pilgrims now, to gratify the flesh,
Wall feek it's ease; but oh how they afresh
Do hereby plunge themfelves new griefs into!
Who seck to please the flesh, themselves unde.

and left them as before to confider what to do.

Then did

the prifoners confult between themselves, whether it was eft to take his counsel or no, and thus they began to dif courfe:

Brother, faid Chriftian, what fhall we Chriftian begins da, the life that we now live is miferable; to despair. For my part, I know not whether it is

eft to live thus, or die out of hand. My foul chufth frangng, rather than life, and the grave is more eafy for me than his dungeon; shall we be ruled by the giant?

Hop. Indeed our prefent condition is

Creaiful, and death would be far more Hopeful comforts

elcome to me than thus for ever to aide: But yet let us confider, the Lord

bim.

f the country to which we are going, hath faid, Thou alt do no murder, no, not to another man's perfon; much nore then are we forbidden to take his counsel to kill ourCelves. Befices, he that kills another can but commit murJer upon his body; but for one to kill himself, is to kill body and foul at once. And, moreover, my brother, thou alkeft of cafe in the grave; but halt thou forgotten the tell whither for certain the murderers go? For no murderer aath eternal life, &c. And let us confider again, that all he law is not in the hand of giant Defpair: Others to far is I can understand, have been taken by him as well as we, and yet have escaped out of his hands. Who knows but that God, who made the world, may caufe that giant Defpair may die; or that, at fome time or other, he may for get to lock us in; or that he may in a short time have another of his fits before us, and may lose the ufe of his limbs; and if ever that fhould come to pass again, for my part, I am refolved to pluck up the heart of a man, and to try the utmost to get from under his hands; 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 releafe, but let us not be our own mardeters. With these words Hopeful at prefent did moderate the mind of his brother; fo they continued together, in the dark, that day in their fad and doleful condition. Well, towards evening, the giant goes down into the dungeon again, to fee if his prifoners had taken his counel; bat when he came there he found them alive, and, truly

alive was all; for now, what for want of bread and wate and by reason of the wounds they received when he be them, they could do little but breathe. But, I fay, found them alive; at which he fell into a grievous rag and told them that, feeing they had difobeyed his conn it should be worfe with them, than if they had never be born.

At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Chrifliz fell into a fwoon; but, coming a little to himself agai they renewed their difcourfe about the ant's counfel, and whether yet they ha beft take it or no. Now Christian agai feemed to be for doing it; but Hopef made his fecond reply as followeth :

Chriflian fill dejected.

Hopeful comforts him again.

hop. My brother, faid he, remembere thou not how valiant thou hast been hereto fore; Apollyon could not crush thee, no could all that thou diift hear, or fee, or feel in the valle of the fhadow of death. What hardships, terror, and a mazement hast thou already gone through, and art tho now nothing but fear? Thou feeft that I am in the dun geon with thee, a far weaker man by nature than thou art Alto this giant has wounded me as well as thee, and has alfo cut off the bread and water from my mouth, and with thee I mourn without the light; but let us exercife little more patience. Remember how thou played'ft the man at Vanity Fair, and waft neither afraid of the chain mor cage, nor yet of bloody death. Wherefore let us, at leaft, to avoid the fhame 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, the afked him concerning the prifoners, and if they had taken his counsel; to which he replied, They are furdy rogues, they chufe rather to bear all hardfhips than to make away themselves. Then, faid he,

take them into the caftle-yard to-morrow, and fhew them the bones and skulls of thofe that thou hast already dif patched, and make them believe, ere a week comes to an end, thou wilt also tear them in pieces, as thou hast done before them,

So when the morning was come, the giant goes to them again, and takes them into the castle-yard, and fhews them