Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/292

288 also an encouragement to them so to do was, that all this was to be at the charge of the King, and so was as an hospital for young children and orphans.

Now they went on. And when they were come to By-path Meadow, to the stile over which Christian went with his fellow Hopeful, when they were taken by Giant Despair, and put into Doubting Castle, they sat down, and consulted what was best to be done: to wit, now that they were so strong, and had got such a man as Mr. Great-heart for their conductor, whether they had not best to make an attempt upon the giant, demolish his castle, and if there were any pilgrims in it, to set them at liberty before they went any further. So one said one thing, and another said the contrary. One questioned if it were lawful to go upon unconsecrated ground; another said they might, provided their end was good; but Mr. Great-heart said, Though that assertion offered last cannot be universally true, yet I have a commandment to resist sin, to overcome evil, to fight the good fight of faith; and, I pray, with whom should I fight this good fight, if not with Giant Despair? I will, therefore, attempt the taking away of his life, and the demolishing of Doubting Castle. Then. said he, Who will go with me? Then said old Honest, I will. And so will we too, said Christiana's four sons, Matthew, Samuel, Joseph, and James; for they were young men and strong. (1 John ii. 13, 14.) So they left the women in the road, and with them Mr. Feeble-mind, and, Mr. Ready to-halt with his crutches, to be their guard, until they came back; for in that place Giant Despair dwelt, so near, they, keeping in the road a little H child might lead them. (Isa. xi. 6.)

So Mr. Great-heart, old Honest, and the four young, men went to go up to Doubting Castle, to look for Giant Despair. When they came, at the castle gate, they knocked for entrance with an unusual noise. At that the old giant comes to the gate, and Diffidence his wife follows. Then said he, Who and