Through lane it lay-through bramble-1
Through clearing and through wood-
Banditti often passed us
Upon the lonely road.
The wolf came peering curious- 5
The owl looked puzzled down-
The serpent's satin figure
Glid stealthily along-
The tempests touched our garments- 9
The lightning's poinards gleamed-
Fierce from the Crag above us
The hungry Vulture screamed-
The satyr's fingers beckoned- 13
The valley murmured "Come"-
These were the mates-
This was the road
Those children fluttered home.
Through clearing and through wood-
Banditti often passed us
Upon the lonely road.
The wolf came peering curious- 5
The owl looked puzzled down-
The serpent's satin figure
Glid stealthily along-
The tempests touched our garments- 9
The lightning's poinards gleamed-
Fierce from the Crag above us
The hungry Vulture screamed-
The satyr's fingers beckoned- 13
The valley murmured "Come"-
These were the mates-
This was the road
Those children fluttered home.
(F.43/J.9)
[4] the lonely road:: "Christian was walking solitarily by himself."
[9, 10] tempests, lightning:: "now it began to rain, and thunder, and lighten in a very dreadful manner; and the water rose amain."
[13, 14] Satyrs, Valley:: "we also saw there the hobgoblins, satyrs, and dragons of the pit; we heard also in that Valley a continual howling and yelling."
[15] mates:: Christian's friends including Pliable, Faithful, and Hopeful.
[17] Children:: God's children.
This 1678 book by John Bunyan was about a man called Christian journeyed from his hometown the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Along the road he was tested by "Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and sin . . . snares, and pits, and traps, and nets."