When this potion was prepared and brought to the boy, he was loth to take it, though torn with the gripes as if he should be pulled in pieces.
"Come, come," said the physician, "you must take it."
"It goes against my stomach," said the boy.
"I must have you take it," said his mother.
"I shall vomit it up again," said the boy.
"Pray, sir," said Christiana to Mr. Skill, "how does it taste?"
"It has no ill taste," said the doctor; and with that she touched one of the pills with the tip of her tongue.
"O Matthew," said she, "this potion is sweeter than honey. If thou lovest thy mother, if thou lovest thy brothers, if thou lovest Mercy, if thou lovest thy life, take it."
So, with much ado, after a short prayer for the blessing of God upon it, he took it, and it wrought kindly with him. It caused him to purge, it caused him to sleep and rest quietly; it put him into a fine heat and breathing sweat, and did quite rid him of his gripes. So, in a little time he got up, and walked about with a staff, and would go from room to room, and talk with Prudence, Piety, and Charity, of his sickness, and how he was healed.
So, when the boy was healed, Christiana asked Mr. Skill, saying, "Sir, what will content you for your pains and care to and of my child?"
And he said, "You must pay the Master of
