Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/255

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The Pilgrim's Progress.
251

what to do.) Quoth the giant, You rob the country, and rob it with the worst of thefts—These are but generals, said Mr. Great—heart; come to particulars, man.

Then said the giant, Thou practisest the craft of a kidnapper; thou gatherest up women end children, and carriest them into so strange country to the weakening of my master's kingdom, But now Great—heart replied, I em a servant of the God of heaven; my business is to persuade sinners to repentance. I am commanded to do my endeavour to turn men, women, and children "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God;" and if this be indeed the ground of thy quarrel, let us fell to it as soon as thou wilt.

Then the giant came up, end Mr. Great-heart went to meet him; and, as he went, he drew his sword: but the giant had a club. So, without more ado, they fell to it, and at the first blow the giant street: My. Great-heart down upon one of his knees. With that the women and children cried out. So Mr. Great—heart, recovering himself, laid about him in full lusty manner, and gave the giant a wound in his arm. Thus he fought for the space of an hour to that height of heat, that the breath came out of the giants nostrils as the heat cloth out of a, boiling cauldron.

Then they set down to rest them, but Mr. Great-heart he took himself to prayer; also the women and children did nothing but sigh and cry all the time that the battle did last.

When they had rested them and taken breath, they both fell to it again; and Mr Greet-heart, with a blow, fetched the giant down to the ground. Nay, hold, let me recover, quoth he. So Mr; Great-heart fairly let him get up. So to it they went again: and the giant missed but little of all-to-breaking Mr. Great-heart's skull with his club.

Mr. Great-heart seeing that, remote him in the full heat of his spirit, and pierceth him under the fifth rib. With that