Numb. xxi. 4.

By-path meadow.

One temptation makes way for another.

Strong Christians

may lead weak ones out of the way.

See what it is too suddenly to fall in with strangers.

A pit to catch the bain-glorious in.

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Now I beheld in my dream, that they had not journeyed far, but the river and the way for a time parted, at which they were not a little sorry; yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender by reason of their travels; so the souls of the pilgrims were much discouraged because of the way. Wherefore still as they went on, they wished for a better way. Now a little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow and a stile to go over into it, and that meadow is called By-path meadow. Then said Christian to his fellow, If this meadow lieth along by our way-side, let's go over into it. Then he went to the stile to see, and behold a path lay along by the way on the other side of the fence. It is according to my wish, said Christian; here is the easiest going; come, good Hopeful, and let us go over.

HOPEFUL. But, how if this path should lead us out of the

way?

CHRISTIAN. That is not likely, said the other. Look, doth it not go along by the way-side? So Hopeful, being persuaded by his fellow, went after him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were got into the path, they found it very easy for their feet; 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 I not tell you so? by this you may see we are right. So they followed, and he went before them. But behold the night came on, and it grew very dark; so that they that were behind lost the sight of him that went before.

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 vain-glorious fools withal, and was dashed in pieces with his fall.

So they called

Now Christian and his fellow heard him fall. to know the matter, but there was none to answer, only they

Isa. ix. 16.

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 most dreadful manner, and the water rose amain. Then Hopeful groaned in himself, saying, Oh that I had kept on my way!

CHRISTIAN. Who could have thought that this path should have led us out of the way?

Christian's repentance for leading his

brother out of the

way.

Jer. xxxi. 21.

They are in danger
of drowning as
they go back.

They sleep in the grounds of Giant Despair.

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HOPEFUL. I was afraid on 't at the very first, and therefore gave you that gentle caution. I would have spoke plainer, but that you are older than I.

CHRISTIAN. Good brother, be not offended; I am sorry I have brought thee out of the way, and that I have put thee into such imminent danger. Pray, my brother, forgive me; I did not do it of an evil intent.

HOPEFUL. Be comforted, my brother, for I forgive thee; and believe, too, that this shall be for our good.

CHRISTIAN. I am glad I have with me a merciful brother; but we must not stand here; let us try to go back again.

HOPEFUL. But, good brother, let me go before.

CHRISTIAN. 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.

HOPEFUL. 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 highway, 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 go 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.

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 until 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 grounds, 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 an evil case, and were far from friends and acquaintance. Now in this place Christian had double sorrow, because it was through his unadvised haste that they were brought into this distress.

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 him 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 crabtree cudgel, and goes down into the dungeon to them, and there first falls to rating of them as if they were dogs, although they never gave him 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 dis-
tress so all that day they spent their time in
nothing but sighs and bitter lamentations.
The next night she, talking with her husband
further about them, and understanding that
they were yet alive, did advise him to counsel
them to make away with themselves.

So

when morning was come, he goes to them in

KNIFE.

a surly manner, as before, and perceiving them to be very sore with the stripes that he had given them

The giant sometimes has fits.

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
sunshiny weather, fell into fits,) and
lost for a time the use of his hands s;
wherefore he withdrew and left them
as before to consider what to do.
Then did the prisoners consult be-
tween themselves, whether it was best

XXX

POISON.

to take his counsel or no; and thus they began to discourse : CHRISTIAN. Brother, said Christian, what shall we do? The

S