Pilgrim's Progress

CAPTIVES IN DOUBTING CASTLE
HOW THE PILGRIMS ESCAPED FROM GIANT DESPAIR

Now, I saw in my dream that Christian went not forth from Vanity Fair alone, for there was one whose name was Hopeful—being made so by the beholding of Christian and Faithful in their words and behaviour in their sufferings at the Fair — who joined himself unto him and, entering into a brotherly covenant, told him that he would be his companion.

Having passed over the little plain called Ease, and refused the invitation of one Demas that they should leave the narrow way to look at the silver-mine on the hill called Lucre, they came to a stile leading into Bypath Meadow.

The road that they had come by was very rough, and Christian, looking over the stile, saw that a path led along by the way on the other side of the fence.
" Here is the easiest going," said Christian. " Come, good Hopeful, and let us go over ! "
" But how if this path should lead us out of the way ? " said Hopeful.
Christian remarking that it went along by the wayside, Hopeful was persuaded, and the two went over the stile, and found the path very easy for their feet.

Presently the night came on, and it grew very dark; then it began to rain and thunder and lighten in a very dreadful manner. They saw they had lost their way, and Christian began to blame himself for bringing his companion out of the way.
But Hopeful comforted him and forgave him, and presently they were at rivalry as to who should go first, and so meet any danger that might lie in wait for them on the way back to the stile. By this time the waters were greatly risen, and the way was perilous.
At last, lighting under a little shelter, after having been nearly drowned nine or ten times, they decided to rest there till daybreak. But, being weary, they fell asleep.

Now, near where they lay was a castle called Doubting Castle, the owner whereof was Giant Despair; and it was in his grounds that they were sleeping. And he, getting up early, saw them, bade them awake, and, driving them before him, put them into a dark and stinking dungeon of his castle, where they lay from Wednesday morning till Saturday night.

Giant Despair, who lives in Doubting Castle and tries to make life unendurable to all doubters so that they may destroy themselves, failing which he kills them himself.

On the Thursday, acting on the counsel of his wife Diffidence, Giant Despair got a crab-tree cudgel, wherewith he beat them fearfully. On the next morning, again on the advice of his wife, he came to them and advised them to make away with themselves.
And when they prayed him to let them go, he rushed upon them, and had doubtless made an end of them himself, but that he fell into one of his fits—for he sometimes, in sunshiny weather, fell into fits—and lost for a time the use of his hand.