Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/239

Rh will not away without means. And I tell you, he must be purged, or else he will die.

Then said Samuel, Mother, What was that which my brother did gather up and eat, so soon as we were come from the gate that is at the head of this way? You know that there was an orchard on the left hand, on the other side of the wall, and some of the trees hung over the wall, and my brother did pluck and eat.

True, my child, said Christiana, he did take thereof, and did eat: naughty boy as he was, I chid him, and yet he would eat thereof.

Skill. I knew he had eaten something that was not wholesome food; and that food—to wit, that fruit—is even the most hurtful of all. It is the fruit of Beelzehub's orchard. I do marvel that none did warn you, of it; many have died thereof.

Then Christiana began to cry; and she said, O naughty boy! and O careless mother! What shall I do for my son?

Skill. Come, do not be too much dejected; the boy may do well again, but he must purge and vomit.

Chr. Pray, sir, try the utmost of your skill with him, whatever it costs.

Skill. Nay, I hope I shall he reasonable. So he made him a purge, but it was too weak; 'twas said it was made of the blood of a goat, the ashes of a heifer, and some of the juice of hyssop, etc. (Heb. ix. 19; x. 1–4.) When Mr. Skill had seen that that purge was too weak, he made him one to the purpose: it was made ex carne et sanguine Christi (John vi. 54–57) (you know physicians give strange medicines to their patients): and it was made into pills, with a promise or two, and aproportionable quantity of salt. (Mark ix. 49.) Now he was to take them three at a time, fasting, in half a quarter of a pint of the tears of repentance.

When this potion was, prepared and brought to the boy, he was loath to take it, though torn with the gripes as if he