THE ENCHANTED GROUND. 299

There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent

To be a pilgrim.

‘*Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound—
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright ;
He'll with a giant fight,
But he will have a right
To be a pilgrim.

‘* Hobgoblin nor foul fiend

Can daunt his spirit ;
He knows he at the end

Shall life inherit.
Then, fancies fly away,
He’ll fear not what men say ;
He’ll labor night and day

To be a pilgrim.”

CHAPTER IX.

THE ENCHANTED GROUND.

Y this time they were got to the Enchanted Ground, where the air naturally
tended to make one drowsy. And that place was all grown over with briers
and thorns, excepting here and there, where was an enchanted arbor, upon
which if a man sits, or in which if a man sleeps, it is a question, say some,

whether ever he shall rise or wake again in this world. Over this forest, therefore, they
went, both one and another; and Mr. Great-heart went before, for that he was the
guide, and Mr. Valiant-for-truth came behind, being rear-guard, for fear lest. perad-
venture some fiend, or dragon, or giant, or thief, should fall upon their rear, and so do
mischief. They went on here, each man with his sword drawn in his hand, for they