The Knickerbocker, Vol. 22, No. 3, September 1843Various
General
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 22, No. 3, September 1843
Various
Periodicals
A NIGHT ADVENTURE IN ENGLAND: THE MYSTERY OF STYLE.--We scarcely
know why it was, that a perusal of the remarkable adventure which
ensues should so forcibly have struck the electric chain of memory,
and carried us back to early childhood, and the book which was its
especial delight, the 'Pilgrim's Progress' of BUNYAN. If the reader
will turn with us, however, to the scene in that most felicitous
of narratives, where CHRISTIAN and HOPEFUL find their way into
the dungeons of 'Doubting Castle,' they will be able perhaps to
discover the secret of the association. Let us condense therefore a
passage of that scene, in illustration of these remarks. 'Now I saw
in my dream,' says BUNYAN, 'that the pilgrims went on their way to
a pleasant river, and their path lay just upon the bank; and here
CHRISTIAN and his companion walked with great delight. On either
side of the river was a beautiful meadow, curiously beautified with
lilies; and it was green all the year long. Now I beheld in my dream
that they had not journeyed far, when the river and the way for a
time parted; at which they were not a little sorry; yet they durst
not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and
their feet tender by reason of their travels: so the souls of the
pilgrims were much discouraged because of the way. Now a little
before them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and
a stile to go over into it; and behold a path lay along by the way
on the other side of the fence; so they went over the stile; and
when they were gone over, and were got into the path, they found
it very easy for their feet; and withal, looking before them, they
espied a man walking as they did, whose name was VAIN CONFIDENCE. So
they followed; and he went before them. But behold, the night came
on, and it grew very dark; so that they that were behind lost the
sight of him that went before; who, not seeing the way before him,
fell into a deep pit, and was dashed in pieces with his fall. Now
CHRISTIAN and HOPEFUL heard him fall; so they called to know the
matter; but there was none to answer; only they heard a groaning.
And now it began to rain, and thunder and lighten in a most dreadful
manner; and the waters rose amain! Then said CHRISTIAN, 'Who would
have thought that this path should have led us astray? Oh, that we
had kept on our way!' But now, for their encouragement, they heard
the voice of one saying: 'Let thine heart be toward the highway;
even the way that thou wentest, turn again!' But by this time the
waters were greatly risen; by reason of which the way of going back
was very dangerous. Yet they adventured to go back; but it was so
dark, and the flood so high, that in their going back they had like
to have been drowned nine or ten times. Neither could they, with all
the skill they had, get again to the stile that night; wherefore,
at last lighting under a little shelter, they sat down there till
the day-break; but being weary, they fell asleep.' Here it was, it
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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