DOUBTING CASTLE. 285

want meat and drink and clothing; here they will be kept from thieves and robbers;
for this Man will die before one of those committed to His trust shall be lost. Besides,
here they shall be sure to have good nurture and admonition, and shall be taught to
walk in right paths: and that, you know, is a favor of no small account. Also here,
as you see, are delicate waters, pleasant meadows, dainty flowers, variety of trees, and
such as bear wholesome fruit—fruit not ke that that Matthew ate of, that fell over
the wall out of Beelzebub’s garden; but fruit that procureth health where there is
none, and that continueth and increaseth it where it is. So they were content to com-
mit their little ones to Him; and that which was also an encouragement to them so to
do, was, for 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 they were so strong, and had got such a man as Mr. Great-heart
for their conductor, whether they had not best make an attempt upon the giant, de-
molish his castle, and if there were any pilgrims in it, to set them at liberty, before
they went any farther. 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, providing their end was good; but Mr. Great-heart said, “Though that asser-
tion 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 Chris-
tiana’s four sons, Matthew, Samuel, Joseph, and James; for they were young men and
strong.” 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, though Giant Despair dwelt so near, they keeping in the road, “a little
child might lead them.”

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 what is he that is so hardy as
after this manner to molest the Giant Despair?”

Mr. Great-heart replied, “It is I, Great-heart, one of the King of the Celestial