THE GREAT GLASS. 294

Now, the glass was one of a thousand. It would present a man, one way, with his
own features exactly ; and, turn it but another way, and it would show one the very
face and similitude of the Prince of pilgrims Himself. Yea, I have talked with them
that can tell, and they have said that they have seen the very crown of thorns upon
Klis head, by looking in that glass; they have therein also seen the holes in [is hands,
in His feet, and in His side. Yea, such an excellency is there in this glass, that it
will show Him to one where they have a mind to see Him, whether living or dead,
whether in earth or in heaven, whether in a state of humiliation or in His exaltation,
whether coming to suffer or coming to reign.”

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 breeding 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
favor 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 joined with Great-heart to the slaying of
Giant Despair and the demolishing of Doubting Castle.

About Christiana’s neck the shepherds put a bracelet, and so they did 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 Great-heart to be their guide, who was one that
was well acquainted with things, and so could give them their cautions more season-
ably; to wit, even then 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 hence they went on singing, and they said: