I
Turned My Horse, And Was Hastening To Regain The Path Which I Had
Left, When Antonio, My Faithful Greek, Pointed Out To Me A Meadow
By Which, He Said, We Might Regain The High Road Much Lower Down
Than If We Returned On Our Steps.
The meadow was brilliant with
short green grass, and in the middle there was a small rivulet of
water.
I spurred my horse on, expecting to be in the high road in
a moment; the horse, however, snorted and stared wildly, and was
evidently unwilling to cross the seemingly inviting spot. I
thought that the scent of a wolf, or some other wild animal might
have disturbed him, but was soon undeceived by his sinking up to
the knees in a bog. The animal uttered a shrill sharp neigh, and
exhibited every sign of the greatest terror, making at the same
time great efforts to extricate himself, and plunging forward, but
every moment sinking deeper. At last he arrived where a small vein
of rock showed itself: on this he placed his fore feet, and with
one tremendous exertion freed himself, from the deceitful soil,
springing over the rivulet and alighting on comparatively firm
ground, where he stood panting, his heaving sides covered with a
foamy sweat. Antonio, who had observed the whole scene, afraid to
venture forward, returned by the path by which we came, and shortly
afterwards rejoined me. This adventure brought to my recollection
the meadow with its footpath which tempted Christian from the
straight road to heaven, and finally conducted him to the dominions
of the giant Despair.
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