SLAY-GOOD DESTROYED AND FEEBLE-MIND RESCUED. 278

the Jews, of which Christ came, had then lost almost all the sap and spirit of religion.
To the second I say, The words are spoken in the person of the unbelievers, who,
because they want that eye that can see into our prince’s heart, therefore they judge
of Him by the meanness of His outside; just like those that know not that precious
stones are covered over with a homely crust, who, when they have found one, because
they know not what they have found, cast it again away, as men do a common stone.”

“Well,” said Gaius, “now you are here, and since, as I know Mr. Great-heart is
good at his weapons, if you please, after we have refreshed ourselves, we will walk
into the fields, to see if we can do any good. About a mile from hence there is one
Slay-good, a giant, that doth much annoy the King’s highway in these parts; and I
know whereabout his haunt is. He is master of a number of thieves: ’t would be
well if we could clear these parts of him.”

So they consented and went; Mr. Great-heart with his sword, helmet, and shield,
and the rest with spears and staves.

When they were come to the place where he was, they found him with one Feeble-
mind in his hands, whom his servants had brought unto him, having taken him in the
way. Now the giant was rifling of him, with a purpose after that to pick his bones;
for he was of the nature of flesh-eaters.

Well, so soon as he saw Mr. Great-heart and his friends at the mouth of his cave
with their weapons, he demanded what they wanted.

Great. We want thee, for we are come to revenge the quarrel of the many that thou
hast slain of the pilgrims, when thou has dragged them out of the King’s highway ;
wherefore come out of thy cave.

So he armed himself and came out; and to battle they went, and fought for above
an hour, and then stood still to take wind.

Stay. Then said the giant, “ Why are you here on my ground?”

Great. To revenge the blood of pilgrims, as I told thee before.

So they went to it again, and the giant made Mr. Great-heart give back; but he
came up again, and in the greatness of his mind he let fly with such stoutness at the
giant’s head and sides, that he made him let his weapon fall out of his hand. So he
smote him, and slew him, and cut off his head, and brought it away to the inn. He
also took Feeble-mind, the pilgrim, and brought him with him to his lodgings. When
they were come home, they showed his head to the family, and then set it up as they
had done others before, for a terror to those that should attempt to do as he hereafter,

Then they asked Mr. Feeble-mind how he fell into his hands.

Frere. Then said the poor man, “I am a sickly man, as you see; and because