Now, when they
were gone over the stile, they began to contrive with themselves what they
should do at that stile, to prevent those that shall come after from falling
into the hands of Giant Despair. So they consented to erect there a pillar, and
to engrave upon the side thereof this sentence: “Over this stile is the way to
Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair, who despiseth the King of’ the
Celestial country, and seeks to destroy his holy pilgrims.” Many, therefore,
that followed after, read what was written, and escaped the danger. This done,
they sang as follows:
|
“Out of the way we went, and then we found
What ‘twas to tread upon forbidden ground:
And let them that come after have a care,
Lest heedlessness makes them as we to fare;
Lest they, for trespassing, his prisoners are,
Whose castle’s Doubting, and whose name’s Despair.”
|
