Then _Apollyon_ espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to _Christian_, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall; and with that _Christian's_ Sword flew out of his hand. Then said _Apollyon_, _I am sure of thee now_: and with that he had almost prest him to death, so that _Christian_ began to despair of life. But as God would have it, while _Apollyon_ was fetching of his last blow, thereby to make a full end of this good Man, _Christian_ nimbly reached out his hand for his Sword, and caught it, saying, _Rejoyce not against me, O mine Enemy! when I fall I shall arise_; and with that gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give back, as one that had received his mortal wound: _Christian_ perceiving that, made at him again, saying, _Nay, in all these things we are more then Conquerours_. And with that _Apollyon_ spread forth his Dragon's wings, and sped him away, that _Christian_ for a season saw him no more. In this Combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen and heard as I did, what yelling and hideous roaring _Apollyon_ made all the time of the fight; he spake like a Dragon: and on the other side, what sighs and groans brast from _Christian's_ heart. I never saw him all the while give so much as one pleasant look, till he perceived he had wounded _Apollyon_ with his two-edged Sword; then indeed he did smile, and look upward; but 'twas the dreadfullest sight that ever I saw. So when the Battel was over, _Christian_ said, I will here give thanks to him that hath delivered me out of the mouth of the Lion, to him that did help me against _Apollyon_. And so he did, saying,-- "Great _Beelzebub_, the Captain of this Fiend, Design'd my ruin; therefore to this end He sent him harnest out: and he with rage That hellish was, did fiercely me ingage: But blessed _Michael_ helped me, and I By dint of Sword did quickly make him fly. Therefore to him let me give lasting praise, And thank and bless his holy name always." Then there came to him an hand, with some of the leaves of the Tree of Life, the which _Christian_ took, and applyed to the wounds that he had received in the Battel, and was healed immediately. He also sat down in that place to eat Bread, and to drink of the Bottle that was given him a little before; so being refreshed, he addressed himself to his Journey, with his Sword drawn in his hand; for he said, I know not but some other Enemy may be at hand. But he met with no other affront from _Apollyon_ quite through this Valley. THE CASTLE OF GIANT DESPAIR _By John Bunyan_