226 THE PILGRIMS PROGRESS.

underneath the reason of the raising up of that stage in that place rendered. The
verses were these:

“Let him that sees this stage take heed
Unto his heart and tongue;
Lest, if he do not, here he speed
As some have, long agone.”’

The words underneath the verses were, “This stage was built to punish such upon,
who, through timorousness or mistrust, shall be afraid to go farther on pilgrimage.
-\lso on this stage both Mistrust and Timorous were burned through the tongue with
« hot iron, for endeavoring to hinder Christian in his journey.”

Then said Mercy, “ This is much like to the saying of the Beloved, ‘ What shall be
given unto thee, or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows
of the mighty, with coals of juniper.’ ” ®

So they went on till they came within sight of the lions. Now, Mr. Great-heart was
a strong man, so he was not afraid of a lion. But yet, when they were come up to the
place where the licns were, the boys, that went before, were glad to cringe behind, for
they were afraid of the lions; so they stepped back, and went behind.

At this their guide smiled, and said, “ How now, my boys! do you love to go before
when no danger doth approach, and love to come behind go soon as the lions
appear ?”

Now, as they went up, Mr. Great-heart drew his sword, with intent to make a way
for the pilgrims in spite of the lions. Then there appeared one that, it seems, had
taken upon him to back the lions; and he said to the pilgrims’ guide, “ What is the
-ause of your coming hither?” Now, the name of that man was Grim, or Bloody-
man, because of his slaying of pilgrims; and he was of the race of the giants.

Grear. Then said the pilgrims’ guide, “These women and children are going on
pilgrimage, and this is the way they must go; and go it they shall, in spite of thee
and the lions.”

Gra. This is not their way, neither shall they go therein. I am come forth to
withstand them, and to that end will back the lions.

Now, to say truth, by reason of the fierceness of the lions, and of the grim carriage
of him that did back them, this way had of late lain much unoceupied, and was almost
all grown over with grass.

Cur. Then said Christiana, “Though the highways have been unoccupied hereto-
fore, and though the travellers have been made in times past to walk through by-paths,
it must not be so now Iam risen. ‘Now I am risen a mother in Israel.’ ” ®