Amid his errors, the pleasure he had taken in prolonging his
journey unnecessarily, and the attention which he had bestowed on the
beauty of the fair female, when his thoughts ought to have been
dedicated to the religious discourse of her father, were set before him
in the darkest colours; and he was treated as one who, having sinned
against light, was, therefore, deservedly left a prey to the Prince of
Darkness. As the fated and influential hour rolled on, the terrors of
the hateful Presence grew more confounding to the mortal senses of the
victim, and the knot of the accursed sophistry became more inextricable
in appearance, at least to the prey whom its meshes surrounded. He had
not power to explain the assurance of pardon which he continued to
assert, or to name the victorious name in which he trusted. But his
faith did not abandon him, though he lacked for a time the power of
expressing it. "Say what you will," was his answer to the Tempter;
"I know there is as much betwixt the two boards of this Book as can
insure me forgiveness for my transgressions, and safety for my soul.
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