Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/299

Rh Christiana therefore went to the Shepherds apart (now the names of the Shepherds were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere), and said unto them, There is one of my daughters, a married woman, that I think doth long: for something that she hath seen in this house; and she thinks that she shall miscarry if she should by you be denied.

Experience. Call her, call her; she shall assuredly have what we can help her to. So they called her, and said to her, Mercy, What is that thing: thou wouldst have? Then she blushed, and said, The great glass that hangs up in the dining-room. So Sincere ran and fetched it, and with a joyful consent it was given her. Then she bowed her head, and gave thanks, and said, By this I know that I have obtained favour in your eyes.

They also gave to the other young women such things as they desired, and to their husbands great commendations, for that they had joined with Mr. Great—heart in the slaying of Giant Despair, and the demolishing of Doubting Castle.

About Christiana's neck the Shepherds put a bracelet, and so did they about the necks of her four daughters; also they put earrings in their ears. and jewels on their foreheads.

When they were minded to go hence, they let them go in peace, but gave not to them those certain cautions which before were given to Christian and his companion. The reason was, for that these had Greatheart to be their guide, who was one that was well acquainted with things, and so could. give them their cautions more seasonably, to wit, even When the danger was nigh the approaching. What cautions

Christian and his companion had received of the Shepherds, they had also lost by that the time was come that they had need to put them, in practice. Wherefore here was the advantage that this company had over the other. From thence they went on singing, and they said,—