Demolishing Doubting Castle and Death to Despair and Diffidence
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 to make an attempt upon the giant; demolish his castle; and if there were any pilgrims in it, to set them at liberty before they went any further.
So one said one thing, and another said the contrary. One questioned if it was lawful to go upon unconsecrated ground; another said they might, provided their end was good: but Mr. GREAT-HEART said, "Though that assertion 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 shall 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 CHRISTIAN'S four SONS--MATTHEW, SAMUEL, JAMES, and JOSEPH; for they were young men, and strong.
"I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." 1 John 2:13, 14
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".
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6
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 to the castle gate, they knocked for entrance with an unusual noise. At that the old Giant came to the gate, and DIFFIDENCE his wife followed: then said he, "Who and what is he that is so hardy as after, his manner to molest the Giant DESPAIR?" Mr. GREAT-HEART replied, "It is I, GREAT-HEART, one of the King of the celestial country's conductors of pilgrims to their place; and I demand of thee that thou open thy gates for my entrance; prepare thyself also to fight, for I am come to take away thy head, and to demolish Doubting Castle."
Now Giant DESPAIR, because he was a giant, thought no man could overcome him; and again, thought he, since heretofore I have made a conquest of angels, shall GREAT-HEART make me afraid! So he harnessed himself and went out. He had a cap of steel upon his head; a breast plate of fire girded to him; and he came out in iron shoes, with a great club in his hand. Then these six men made up to him, and beset him behind and before; also when DIFFIDENCE the giantess came up to help him, old Mr. HONEST cut her down at one blow. Then they fought for their lives; and Giant DESPAIR was brought down to the ground, but was very loath to die. He struggled hard, and had, as they say, as many lives as a cat; but GREAT-HEART was his death, for he left him not till he had severed his head from his shoulders.
Then they fell to demolishing Doubting Castle, and that, you know, might with ease be done, since Giant DESPAIR was dead. They were seven days in destroying of that: and in it of pilgrims they found one Mr. DESPONDENCY, almost starved to death; and one MUCH-AFRAID, his daughter; these two they saved alive. But it would have made you wonder to have seen the dead bodies that lay here and there in the castle yard, and how full of dead men's bones the dungeon was.
When Mr. GREAT-HEART and his companions had performed this exploit, they took Mr. DESPONDENCY, and his daughter MUCH-AFRAID into their protection; for they were honest people, though they were prisoners in Doubting Castle to that tyrant Giant DESPAIR. They therefore, I say, took with them the head of the giant (for his body they had buried under a heap of stones); and down to the road and to their companions they came, and showed them what they had done. Now when FEEBLE-MIND and READY-TO-HALT saw that it was the head of Giant DESPAIR indeed, they were very jocund and merry. Now CHRISTIANA, if need was, could play upon the viol, and her daughter MERCY upon the lute; so, since they were so merry disposed, she played them a lesson, and READY-TO-HALT would dance. So he took DESPONDENCY'S daughter named MUCH-AFRAID by the hand, and to dancing they went in the road. True, he could not dance without one crutch in his hand; but, I promise you, he footed it well: also the girl was to be commended: for she answered the music handsomely.
As for Mr. DESPONDENCY, the music was not much to him; he was for feeding rather than dancing, for that he was almost starved. So CHRISTIANA gave him some of her bottle of spirits for present relief, and then prepared him something to eat; and in little time the old gentleman came to himself, and began to be finely revived.
Now I saw in my dream, when all these things were finished, Mr. GREAT-HEART took the head of Giant DESPAIR, and set it upon a pole by the highway side, right over against the pillar that CHRISTIAN erected for a caution to pilgrims that came after, to take heed of entering into his grounds.
Then he wrote under it, upon a marble stone, these verses following:
"This is the head of him whose name only,
In former times, did pilgrims terrify.
His castle's down; and DIFFIDENCE his wife
Brave Master GREAT-HEART has bereft of life.
DESPONDENCY, his daughter MUCH-AFRAID,
GREAT-HEART for them also the man has played.
Who hereof doubts, if he'll but cast his eye
Up hither, may his scruples satisfy!
This head, also when doubting cripples dance,
Doth show from fears they have deliverance."