"You have this night been on trespass in 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 that they were in fault. The giant, therefore, drove them before him, and put them into his castle, in a very dark dungeon. 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 far from friends and people whom they knew.

Now Giant Despair had a wife, and her name was Diffidence. So when he had gone to bed, he told his wife what he had done-that he had taken a couple of prisoners and cast them into his dungeon for being on trespass in his grounds. Then he asked her also what he had better 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 advised him, when he arose in the morning, to 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 them as if they were dogs, though they never gave him a word to displease him. 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 mourn under their distress.

So all that day they spent in nothing but sighs and bitter groanings. The next night she, talking with her husband about them further, and hearing 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 a surly manner as before, and seeing that they were very sore with the stripes he had given them the day before, told them that since they were never likely to come out of that place, their only way would be at once to make an end of themselves, either with knife, halter, or poison; "For why," said he, "should you choose 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 sunshiny 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. They decided to reject the giant's counsel and not to kill themselves, for that would be wicked in the sight of God. Besides, they had hopes that by good luck they might yet make their escape from Doubting Castle.

Well, towards evening the giant goes down into the dungeon again to see if the prisoners had taken his counsel, but when he came there he found them alive. But now for want of bread and water, and by reason of the wounds they received when he beat them, they could do little but

breathe. But, I say, he found them alive; at which he fell into a grievous rage, and told them that seeing they had set at nought his counsel, it should be worse for them than if they had never been born.

At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian fell into a swoon; but coming to himself again, they renewed their discourse about the giant's counsel, and whether they yet had better take it or no. But Hopeful exhorted Christian to be of good cheer, and bear up with patience as well as he could, and do no such wicked thing as the giant advised.

Now night being come again, and the giant and his wife being in bed, she asked him concerning the prisoners if they had taken his counsel. To which he replied, "They are sturdy rogues; they choose to bear all hardships rather than make away with themselves." "Then," said she, "take them into the castle-yard to-morrow, and show them the bones and skulls of those whom you have already killed, and make them believe, before a week comes to an end you will also tear them in pieces as you have done their fellows before them.”

So when the morning was come the giant goes to them again, and takes them into the castle-yard, and shows them the bones and skulls of his former victims, as his wife had bidden him. "These," said he, "were pilgrims as you are, once, and they trespassed on 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. Go, get you

down to your den again;" and with that he beat them all the way there.

Now when night was come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her husband the giant were got to bed, they began to renew their discourse about the prisoners. The giant wondered that he could neither by his blows or his counsel bring them to an end. And with that his wife replied, "I fear," said she, "that they live in hopes that some will come to relieve them, or that they have picklocks about them, by the means of which they hope to escape." "And sayest thou so, my dear?" said the giant. "I will therefore search them in the morning."

Well, on Saturday, about midnight, they began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day.

Now a little before it was day, good Christian, as one-half amazed, broke out in this passionate speech: "What a fool am I, thus to lie in a stinkdungeon when I may as well walk at liberty. I have a key in my bosom called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle." "Then," said Hopeful, "that is good news, good brother; pluck it out of thy bosom and try."

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the dungeon door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he went to the outward door that leads into the castle-yard, and with his key opened that door also. After he went to the iron

gate, for that must be opened too; but that lock went fearfully hard, yet the key did open it. Then they thrust open the gate to make their escape with speed; but that gate, as it opened, made such a creaking, that it woke Giant Despair, who hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on, and came to the king's highway, and so were safe, because they were out of his grounds, and far away from his palace.

GIANT DESPAIR AND HIS VICTIMS.

PART II.

When Christian and Hopeful had reached the Celestial country, and had been received into the arms of the king, his wife Christiana started upon a pilgrimage, and with her Mr. Greatheart, to be her guide and defender.

Now when they were come to By-path Meadow, to the stile over which Christian went with his fellow pilgrim Hopeful when they were taken by Giant Despair, and put into Doubting Castle, they sat down and consulted what was best to be done. They thought as they were now so strong, and had got such a man as Mr. Greatheart for their conductor, whether they had not better make an attempt on the giant, demolish his castle, and if there were any pilgrims in it, set them at liberty before they went any further,