is, he is Master of a Number of Thieves; it would be well if we could clear thefe Parts of him. So they confented and went, Mr. Greatbeart with his Sword, Helmet, and Shield; and the Reft with Spears and Staves. in bis Hand. When they came to the Place where He is found he was, they found him with one Feeble- with one mind in his Hand, whom his Servants had Feeble-mind brought unto him, having taken him in the Way; now the Giant was rifling him, with a Purpose, after that, to pick his Bones; for he was of the Nature of FleshEaters. Well, fo foon as he faw Mr. Great heart and his Friends at the Mouth of his Cave, with their Weapons, he demanded what they wanted. Great-heart. We want thee, for we are come to revenge the Quarrels of the many that thou haft flain of the Pilgrims, when thou haft dragged them out of the King's Highway; wherefore come out of thy Cave. So he armed himself and came out, and to Battle they went, and fought for above an Hour, and then stood still to take Wind. Slay. Then faid the Giant, Why are you here on my Ground... Great-beart. To revenge the Blood of Pilgrims, as I told thee before; fa they went to it again, and the Giant made Mr. Great-beart give back; but he came up again, and in the Greatness of his Mind he let fly with fuch Stoutnefs at the Giant's Head and Sides, that he made him let his Weapon fall out of his Hand; A a 3 fa fo he fmote him, and flew him, and cut off his Head, and brought it away to the Feeble-mind Inn. He alfo took Feeble mind the Pilgrim, refcued from and brought him with him to his Lodgings. When they were come Home, they fhewed his Head to the Family, and fet it up as they had done others before, for a Terror to those that shall attempt to do as he, hereafter. the Giant. Hou Feeble Then they asked Mr. Feeble-mind, how he fell into his Hands? Feeble-mind. Then faid the poor Man, mind came to I am a fickly Man, as you fee, and bebe a Pilgrim. caufe Death did ufually once a Day knock at ry Door, I thought I fhould never be well at Home: So I betook myself to a Pilgrim's Life; and have travelled hither from the Town of Uncertain, where I and my Father were born. I am a Man of no Strength at all of Body, nor yet of Mind, but would, if I could, though I can but crawl, fpend my Life in the Pilgrim's Way. When I came at the Gate that is at the Head of the Way, the Lord of that Place did entertain me freely; neither objected he against my weakly Looks, nor against my feeble Mind; but gave me fuch Things that were neceffary for my Journey, and bid me hope to the End. When I came to the House of the Interpreter, I received much Kindness there; and because the Hill of Difficulty was judged too hard for me, I was carried up that by one of his Servants. Indeed I have found much Relief from Pilgrims, though none was willing to go fo foftly as I am forced to do: Yet till as they came came on, they bid me be of good. Chear, and faid, That it was the Will of their Lord, that Comfort fhould be given to 1 Thef. 5. 4. the Feeble-minded, and fo went on their own Pace. When I was come to AlfaultLane, then this Giant met with me, and bid me prepare for an Encounter: But alas! feeble one that I was, I had more Need of a Cordial: So he came up and took me: I conceived he fhould not kill me: Also when he had got me into his Den, fince I went not with him willingly, I believed I should come out alive again: For I have heard, That not any Pilgrim Mark this. that is taken Captive by violent Hands, if he keeps Heart-whole towards his Mafter, is, by the Laws of Providence, to die by the Hand of the Enemy. Robbed I looked to be, and robbed to be fure I am; but I am, as you fee, efcaped with Life, for the which I thank my King as Author, and you as the Means. Other Brunts I alfo look for, but this I have refolved on, to wit, to run when I can, to go when I cannot run, and to creep when I cannot go. As to the Main, I Mark this. thank him that loved me, I am fixed; my Way is before me, my Mind is beyond the River that has no Bridge, though I am, as you fee, but of a feeble Mind. Hon. Then faid old Mr. Honeft, Have not you some Time ago been acquainted with one Mr. Fearing, a Pilgrim? Feebl. Acquainted with him, Yes; he Mr. Fearing, came from the Town of Stupidity, which Mr. Feeblelieth four Degrees Northward of the Ci- mind's Uncle. ty of Destruction, and as many off of A a 4 where Feeble-mind bas fome of where I was born; yet we were well acquainted, for indeed he was my Uncle, my Father's Brother; he and I have been much of a Temper, he was a little shorter than I, but yet we were much of a Complexion. Hon. I perceive you know him, and I am apt to believe alfo, That you were Mr Fearing's related one to another; for you have his whitely Look, a Caft like his with your Eye, and your Speech is much alike." Features. Gaius comforts him. Notice to be vidence. Feebl. Moft have faid fo, that have known us both; and befides, what I have read in him, I have for the most Part found in myself. Gaius. Come, Sir, faid good Gaius, be of good Chear, you are welcome to me, and to my House, and what thou haft a Mind to, call for freely; and what thou wouldeft have my Servants do for thee, they will do it with a ready Mind. Then faid Mr. Feeble-mind, This is an taken of Pro- unexpected Favour, and as the Sun fhining out of a very dark Cloud: Did Giant Slaygood intend me this Favour when he ftopped me, and refolve to let me go on farther? Did he intend, that, after he had rifled my Pocket, I fhould go to Gaius mine Hof? Yet fo it is. Tidings how Thunderbolt, Now, juft as Mr. Feeble-mind and Gaius ane Not-right were thus in Talk, there comes one runwas flain by a ning, and called at the Door, and told, and Mr. Fee- That about a Mile and a half off, there ble-mind's was one Mr. Not-right, a Pilgrim, struck Comment upon dead upon the Place where he was, with a Thunderbolt. it. Feebl. Feebl. Alas faid Mr. Feeble-mind, is he flain? He overtook me fome Days before I came fo far as hither, and would be my Company-keeper: He alfo was with me when Slay-good the Giant took me, but he was nimble of his Heels and escaped: But it feems he escaped to die, and I was took to live. What, one would think, doth feek to play Oft-times delivers from the faddeft Plight. to me. Now about this Time, Matthew and Mercy were married; alfo Gaius gave his Daughter Phebe to James, Matthew's Brother, to Wife; after which Time, they yet ftaid about ten Days at Gaius's Houfe; fpending their Time, and the Seafons like as Pilgrims used to do. When they were to depart, Gaius made The Pilgrims them a Feaft, and they did eat and drink, prepare to ga and were merry. Now the Hour was forward. come that they must be gone; wherefore Mr. Great-beart called for a Reckoning. But Gaius told him, That at his House it was not the Cuftom of Pilgrims to pay for their Entertainment. He boarded them by the Year, but looked for his Luke 10. 34Pay from the good Samaritan, who had 53. promised I |