Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Faithful's Jury


We’re still reading Pilgrim’s Progress in our family devotions. The children particularly seemed to enjoy the not so subtle names and corresponding comments made by the jurors at Faithful’s trial in Vanity:

Then went the jury out, whose names were: Mr. Blindman, Mr. No-good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Heady, Mr. High-mind, Mr. Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr. Cruelty, Mr. Hate-light, and Mr. Implacable, who every one gave his private verdict against him among themselves, and afterwards unanimously concluded to bring him in guilty before the judge.

And first among themselves, Mr. Blindman, the foreman, said, “I see clearly that this man is a heretic.”

Then said Mr. No-good, “Away with such a fellow from the earth.”

“Ay,” said Mr. Malice, “for I hate the very looks of him.”

Then said Mr. Love-lust, “I could never endure him.”

“Nor I,” said Mr. Live-loose, “for he would always be condemning my way.”

“Hang him, hang him,” said Mr. Heady.

“A sorry scrub,” said Mr. High-mind.

“My heart riseth against him,” said Mr. Enmity.

“He is a rogue,” said Mr. Liar.

“Hanging is too good for him,” said Mr. Cruelty.

“Let’s dispatch him out of the way,” said Mr. Hate-light.

Then said Mr. Implacable, “Might I have all the world given me, I could not be reconciled to him; therefore, let us forthwith bring him in guilty of death.”

And so they did; therefore he was presently condemned, To be had from the place where he was, the place from whence he came, and there to be put to the most cruel death that could be invented.

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