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diff --git a/39452.txt b/39452.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de9d74a --- /dev/null +++ b/39452.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11108 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, by John Bunyan + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan + +Author: John Bunyan + +Editor: Jesse Lyman Hurlbut + +Release Date: April 14, 2012 [EBook #39452] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Neufeld and The Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). +Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. + + +[Illustration: Christian Confides in His Wife. + See page 13] + + + + + THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS + + BY JOHN BUNYAN + + EVERY CHILD CAN READ + + EDITED BY REV. JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT, D.D. + + ILLUSTRATED + + EVERY CHILD'S LIBRARY + + THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. PHILADELPHIA COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY THE JOHN C. + WINSTON CO. + + + + +PREFACE + + +It may seem a very bold undertaking to change even a word of the book +which, next to the Bible, has been read by more people, old and young, +than any other book in the English language. + +But, it must be remembered that, although the Pilgrim's Progress has +come to be a children's book, and is read more often by young people +than by those who are older, it was not in the purpose of John Bunyan to +write a book for children or even for the young. + +The Pilgrim's Progress was a book for men and women; and it was aimed to +teach the great truths of the gospel. Hence while most of it is written +in a simple style,--as all books should be written,--it contains much +that a child cannot understand; not often in the story, but in the +conversations and discussions between the different persons. Some of +these conversations are in reality short sermons on doctrines and +teachings which Bunyan believed to be of great importance. But these are +beyond the minds of children and give them great trouble when the book +is read. They do not like to have them left out of the reading, thinking +that they may lose something interesting. Many a young person has +stumbled through the dull, doctrinal parts of the book, without +understanding them; and even grown people find them in our time somewhat +of a blemish upon the wonderful story, valuable as they were supposed to +be in Bunyan's own time. + +For many years it has been in my mind, not to re-write the Pilgrim's +Progress, for that would destroy its greatest charm, but to change the +words here and there to simpler ones, and to omit all the conversations +and arguments concerning subjects belonging to the field of doctrine; in +other words to place the story of the Pilgrim's Progress in such a form +that every child ten years old can understand it. My purpose is to make +it plain and interesting to children, leaving the older form of the book +to be read by them when they become older. + +Perhaps a short account of Bunyan's own life may add to the interest of +his book. John Bunyan was born in 1628 at Elstow, a small village near +Bedford, which is in the heart of England. His father was a poor man, +traveling on foot from place to place mending pots and pans and the +simple furniture of country kitchens, and the son followed the same +trade, and was known as a "tinker." He tells us that he lived a wild +life, and was especially known as one of the worst swearers in the +region. + +When the great Civil War broke out in England, in 1642, between King +Charles the First and the Parliament, Bunyan became a soldier on the +side of the Commonwealth, as the party against the king was called. He +served in the army between 1644 and 1646. + +In 1648, at the age of twenty years, he married a good young woman, who +led him to prayer and to a new life. But it was hard for one who had led +such a life as his had been to turn to God, and it cost the young man a +great struggle. It seemed to him that his past sins were like a load +upon his back, just as he afterward wrote of his "pilgrim," and it was +long before he found peace. + +He became a member of a little Baptist society, and soon began to +preach. Crowds came to hear him, drawn by his earnest spirit and his +quaint striking manner. But when Charles the Second became king, no +religious services were allowed except those of the Church of England, +and all other meetings were forbidden. Bunyan however went on preaching, +until he was sent to prison in Bedford. In Bedford jail he stayed twelve +years. To find a means of living in jail, he made lace, and sold it as a +support for himself and his blind daughter. + +If the prison was hard for Bunyan his sufferings were made a blessing to +untold millions, for while in Bedford jail he wrote the Pilgrim's +Progress. This story was intended to be a parable, like many of our +Saviour's teachings; that is, it put into the form of a story the life +of one who turns from sin, finds salvation through Christ, and in the +face of many difficulties makes his way through this world to heaven. +Even a child who reads or listens to the book will see this meaning in +part; and he will understand it better as he grows older. + +In 1672 Bunyan was set free, and allowed to begin again his work as a +Baptist minister, and he soon became one of the most popular preachers +in all England. He died quite suddenly in 1688, when he was sixty years +old, and is buried in an old graveyard now near the center of London, +called Bunhill Fields Burial-ground. In the same ground is buried +another great writer, Daniel DeFoe, whose story of "Robinson Crusoe" +ranks next to the Pilgrim's Progress in the number of its readers; also +Isaac Watts, the author of many hymns sung in all the churches, and Mrs. +Susanna Wesley, the mother of the great John Wesley. Four people who +have left a deep mark upon the world, all lie near together in this +small cemetery in London. + +Every child should read the Pilgrim's Progress as a story if no more +than a story; should read it until he knows it by heart. And the older +he grows the deeper will be the meaning that he will see in it. + + JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT. + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + CHRISTIAN CONFIDES IN HIS WIFE _Frontispiece_ + + PAGE + EVANGELIST POINTS TO WICKET-GATE 15 + + CHRISTIAN BEFORE THE CROSS 50 + + CHRISTIAN AND FAITHFUL JOIN COMPANY 89 + + HOPEFUL AND CHRISTIAN 129 + + ATHEIST LAUGHING AT CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL 170 + + CHRISTIANA'S BOYS BEGAN TO EAT 231 + + TURN-AWAY RESISTING EVANGELIST 357 + + + + +THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS + + +PART I + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain +place where was a den,[1] and laid me down in that place to sleep; and +as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man +clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his +own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I +looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein; and as he read, he +wept and trembled; and, not being able longer to contain, he brake out +with a lamentable cry, saying, "What shall I do?" + + [1] Bedford jail, in which Bunyan was twelve years a prisoner. + +In this plight, therefore, he went home, and restrained himself as long +as he could, that his wife and children should not perceive his +distress; but he could not be silent long, because that his trouble +increased. Wherefore at length he brake his mind to his wife and +children; and thus he began to talk to them: "Oh my dear wife," said he, +"and you my sweet children, I, your dear friend, am in myself undone by +reason of a burden that lieth hard upon me; moreover, I am told to a +certainty that this our city will be burned with fire from heaven; in +which fearful overthrow, both myself, with thee, my wife, and you, my +sweet babes, shall miserably come to ruin, except some way of escape +can be found whereby we may be delivered." At this all his family were +sore amazed; not for that they believed that what he had said to them +was true, but because they thought that some frenzy or madness had got +into his head; therefore, it drawing towards night, and they hoping that +sleep might settle his brain, with all haste they got him to bed. But +the night was as troublesome to him as the day; wherefore, instead of +sleeping, he spent it in sighs and tears. So when the morning was come, +they would know how he did. He told them, Worse and worse: he also set +to talking to them again; but they began to be hardened. They also +thought to drive away his madness by harsh and surly treatment of him: +sometimes they would ridicule, sometimes they would chide, and sometimes +they would quite neglect him. Wherefore he began to retire himself to +his chamber, to pray for and pity them, and also to sorrow over his own +misery; he would also walk solitary in the fields, sometimes reading, +and sometimes praying; and thus for some days he spent his time. + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN'S DISTRESS OF MIND] + +Now, I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was +(as he was wont) reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his +mind; and as he read, he burst out as he had done before, crying, "What +shall I do to be saved?" + +I saw also that he looked this way and that way, as if he would run; yet +he stood still, because (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to +go. I looked then, and saw a man named Evangelist coming to him, who +asked, "Wherefore dost thou cry?" + +[Illustration: Evangelist Points to Wicket-Gate. + Page 15] + +He answered, "Sir, I read in the book in my hand, that I am condemned to +die, and after that to come to judgment; and I find that I am not +willing to do the first, nor able to do the second." + +Then said Evangelist, "Why not willing to die, since this life is +troubled with so many evils?" The man answered, "Because I fear that +this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and +I shall fall into Tophet.[2] And, sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, +I am not fit to go to judgment, and from thence to death; and the +thoughts of these things make me cry." + + [2] Tophet here means hell. + +Then said Evangelist, "If this be thy condition, why standest thou +still?" + +He answered, "Because I know not whither to go." Then he gave him a +parchment roll, and there was written within, "Flee from the wrath to +come." + +The man, therefore, read it, and looking upon Evangelist very carefully, +said, "Whither must I fly?" Then said Evangelist (pointing with his +finger over a very wide field), "Do you see yonder wicket-gate?" The man +said, "No." Then said the other, "Do you see yonder shining light?" He +said, "I think I do." Then said Evangelist, "Keep that light in your +eye, and go up directly thereto; so shalt thou see the gate; at which, +when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do." So I saw +in my dream that the man began to run. Now, he had not run far from his +own door, when his wife and children perceiving it, began to cry after +him to return; but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, +crying, "Life! life! eternal life!" So he looked not behind him, but +fled towards the middle of the plain. + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN FLEES FROM THE CITY] + +The neighbors also came out to see him run; and as he ran, some mocked, +others threatened, and some cried after him to return; and among those +that did so there were two that resolved to fetch him back by force. The +name of the one was Obstinate, and the name of the other Pliable. Now, +by this time the man was got a good distance from them; but, however, +they were resolved to pursue him, which they did, and in a little time +they overtook him. Then said the man, "Neighbors, wherefore are ye +come?" They said, "To persuade you to go back with us." But he said, +"That can by no means be: you dwell," said he, "in the City of +Destruction, the place also where I was born: I see it to be so; and, +dying there, sooner or later, you will sink lower than the grave, into a +place that burns with fire and brimstone. Be content, good neighbors, +and go along with me." + +OBST. "What!" said Obstinate, "and leave our friends and comforts behind +us?" + +CHRIS. "Yes," said Christian (for that was his name), "because that all +which you forsake is not worthy to be compared with a little of that I +am seeking to enjoy; and if you would go along with me, and hold it, you +shall fare as I myself; for there, where I go, is enough and to spare. +Come away, and prove my words." + +OBST. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to +find them? + +CHRIS. I seek a place that can never be destroyed, one that is pure, and +that fadeth not away, and it is laid up in heaven, and safe there, to be +given, at the time appointed, to them that seek it with all their heart. +Read it so, if you will, in my book. + +OBST. "Tush!" said Obstinate, "away with your book; will you go back +with us or no?" + +CHRIS. "No, not I," said the other, "because I have put my hand to the +plough." + +[Sidenote: DISCOURSES WITH PLIABLE] + +OBST. Come, then, neighbor Pliable, let us turn again, and go home +without him: there is a company of these crazy-headed fools, that, when +they take a fancy by the end, are wiser in their own eyes than seven men +that can render a reason. + +PLI. Then said Pliable, "Don't revile; if what the good Christian says +is true, the things he looks after are better than ours; my heart +inclines to go with my neighbor." + +OBST. What! more fools still? Be ruled by me, and go back; who knows +whither such a brain-sick fellow will lead you? Go back, go back, and be +wise. + +CHRIS. Nay, but do thou come with thy neighbor Pliable; there are such +things to be had which I spoke of, and many more glories besides. If you +believe not me, read here in this book; and for the truth of what is +told therein, behold, all is made by the blood of Him that made it. + +PLI. "Well, neighbor Obstinate," said Pliable, "I begin to come to a +point; I intend to go along with this good man, and to cast in my lot +with him. But, my good companion, do you know the way to this desired +place?" + +CHRIS. I am directed by a man, whose name is Evangelist, to speed me to +a little gate that is before us, where we shall receive directions about +the way. + +PLI. Come, then, good neighbor, let us be going. Then they went both +together. + +"And I will go back to my place," said Obstinate; "I will be no +companion of such misled, fantastical fellows." + +Now, I saw in my dream, that, when Obstinate was gone back, Christian +and Pliable went talking over the plain; and thus they began: + +CHRIS. Come, neighbor Pliable, how do you do? I am glad you are +persuaded to go along with me. Had even Obstinate himself but felt what +I have felt of the powers and terrors of what is yet unseen, he would +not thus lightly have given us the back. + +PLI. Come, neighbor Christian, since there are none but us two here, +tell me now further what the things are, and how to be enjoyed, whither +we are going. + +CHRIS. I can better understand them with my mind than speak of them with +my tongue; but yet, since you are desirous to know, I will read of them +in my book. + +PLI. And do you think that the words of your book are certainly true? + +CHRIS. Yes, verily; for it was made by Him that cannot lie. + +PLI. Well said; what things are they? + +CHRIS. There is an endless kingdom to be enjoyed, and everlasting life +to be given us, that we may live in that kingdom forever. + +PLI. Well said; and what else? + +CHRIS. There are crowns of glory to be given us, and garments that will +make us shine like the sun in the sky. + +PLI. This is very pleasant; and what else? + +CHRIS. There shall be no more crying, nor sorrow; for he that is owner +of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes. + +PLI. And what company shall we have there? + +CHRIS. There we shall be with seraphims and cherubims, creatures that +shall dazzle your eyes to look on them. There also you shall meet with +thousands and ten thousands that have gone before us to that place; none +of them are hurtful, but all loving and holy; every one walking in the +sight of God, and standing in His presence with acceptance for ever. In +a word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns; there we +shall see the holy women with their golden harps; there we shall see +men that by the world were cut in pieces, burnt in flames, eaten of +beasts, drowned in the seas, for the love they bear to the Lord of the +place, all well, and clothed with everlasting life as with a garment. + +PLI. The hearing of this is enough to delight one's heart. But are these +things to be enjoyed? How shall we get to be sharers thereof? + +CHRIS. The Lord, the Governor of the country, hath written that in this +book; the substance of which is, If we be truly willing to have it, He +will bestow it upon us freely. + +PLI. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things; come +on, let us mend our pace. + +CHRIS. I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burden that is +on my back. + +[Sidenote: THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND] + +Now, I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk, they drew +nigh to a very miry slough or swamp, that was in the midst of the plain; +and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the bog. The name +of the slough was Despond. Here, therefore, they wallowed for a time, +being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and Christian, because of the +burden that was on his back, began to sink into the mire. + +PLI. Then said Pliable, "Ah! neighbor Christian where are you now?" + +CHRIS. "Truly," said Christian, "I do not know." + +PLI. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his +fellow, "Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we +have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect between +this and our journey's end? May I get out again with my life, you shall +possess the brave country alone for me." And with that, he gave a +desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the +swamp which was next to his own house: so away he went, and Christian +saw him no more. + +Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone; +but still he tried to struggle to that side of the slough which was +farthest from his own house, and next to the wicket-gate; the which, he +did but could not get out because of the burden that was upon his back; +but I beheld in my dream, that a man came to him whose name was Help, +and asked him, What he did there? + +CHRIS. "Sir," said Christian, "I was bid to go this way by a man called +Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape the +wrath to come; and as I was going there I fell in here." + +HELP. But why did you not look for the steps? + +CHRIS. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way and fell in. + +HELP. Then said he, "Give me thine hand." So he gave him his hand, and +he drew him out, and set him upon solid ground, and bade him go on his +way. + +Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, "Sir, wherefore, +since over this place is the way from the City of Destruction to yonder +gate, is it that this place is not mended, that poor travelers might go +thither with more safety?" And he said unto me, "This miry slough is +such a place as cannot be mended; it is the hollow whither the scum and +filth that go with the feeling of sin, do continually run, and therefore +it is called the Slough of Despond; for still, as the sinner is awakened +by his lost condition, there arise in his soul many fears, and doubts, +and discouraging alarms, which all of them get together and settle in +this place; and this is the reason of the badness of the ground. + +"It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so +bad. His laborers also have, by the direction of His Majesty's +surveyors, been for about these sixteen hundred years employed about +this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended; yea, and to +my knowledge," said he, "here have been swallowed up at least twenty +thousand cart-loads, yea, millions, of wholesome teachings, that have at +all seasons been brought from all places of the King's dominions (and +they that can tell say they are the best materials to make good ground +of the place), if so be it might have been mended; but it is the Slough +of Despond still, and so will be when they have done what they can. + +"True, there are, by the direction of the Lawgiver, certain good and +substantial steps, placed even through the very midst of this slough; +but at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth +against change of weather, these steps are hardly seen; or, if they be, +men, through the dizziness of their heads, step aside, and then they are +bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground +is good when they are got in at the gate." + +Now, I saw in my dream, that by this time Pliable was got home to his +house. So his neighbors came to visit him; and some of them called him +wise man for coming back, and some called him a fool for risking himself +with Christian; others again did mock at his cowardliness, saying +"Surely since you began to venture, I would not have been so base to +have given out for a few difficulties;" so Pliable sat sneaking among +them. But at last he got more confidence; and then they all turned their +tales, and began to abuse poor Christian behind his back. And thus much +concerning Pliable. + +[Sidenote: WORLDLY WISEMAN'S COUNSEL] + +Now, as Christian was walking solitary by himself, he espied one afar +off come crossing over the field to meet him; and their hap was to meet +just as they were crossing the way of each other. The gentleman's name +that met him was Mr. Worldly Wiseman: he dwelt in the town of Carnal +Policy, a very great town, and also hard by from whence Christian came. +This man, then, meeting with Christian, and having heard about +him--(for Christian's setting forth from the City of Destruction was +much noised abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but also it +began to be the town-talk in some other places)--Mr. Worldly Wiseman +therefore, having some guess of him, by beholding his laborious going, +by noticing his sighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into +some talk with Christian: + +WORLD. How now, good fellow! whither away after this burdened manner? + +CHRIS. A burdened manner indeed, as ever I think poor creature had! And +whereas you ask me, Whither away? I tell you, sir, I am going to yonder +wicket-gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put into +a way to be rid of my heavy burden. + +WORLD. Hast thou a wife and children? + +CHRIS. Yes; but I am so laden with this burden, that I cannot take that +pleasure in them as formerly; methinks I am as if I had none. + +WORLD. Wilt thou hearken to me, if I give thee counsel? + +CHRIS. If it be _good_, I will; for I stand in need of good counsel. + +WORLD. I would advise thee, then, that thou with all speed get thyself +rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then; +nor canst thou enjoy the blessings which God hath bestowed upon thee +till then. + +CHRIS. That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this heavy +burden; but get it off myself I cannot; nor is there any man in our +country that can take it off my shoulders; therefore am I going this +way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden. + +WORLD. Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy burden? + +CHRIS. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honorable +person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist. + +WORLD. I curse him for his counsel! there is not a more dangerous and +troublesome way in the world than is that into which he hath directed +thee; and that thou shalt find, if thou wilt be ruled by his advice. +Thou hast met with something, as I perceive, already; for I see the dirt +of the Slough of Despond is upon thee; but that slough is the beginning +of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in that way. Hear me: I +am older than thou: thou art like to meet with, in the way which thou +goest, wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, +lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not. These +things are certainly true, having been proved by the words of many +people. And why should a man so carelessly cast away himself, by giving +heed to a stranger? + +CHRIS. Why, sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than +all these things which you have mentioned; nay, methinks I care not what +I meet with in the way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance from +my burden. + +WORLD. How camest thou by the burden at first? + +CHRIS. By reading this book in my hand. + +WORLD. I thought so. And it has happened unto thee as unto other weak +men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into +thy crazy thoughts, which thoughts do not only unman men, as thine I +perceive have done thee, but they run them upon desperate efforts to +obtain they know not what. + +CHRIS. I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden. + +WORLD. But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers +attend it? Especially since (hadst thou but patience to hear me,) I +could direct thee to the getting of what thou desirest, without the +dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into. Yea, and the remedy +is at hand. Besides, I will add that, instead of those dangers, thou +shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content. + +CHRIS. Sir, I pray, open this secret to me. + +WORLD. Why, in yonder village (the village is named Morality), there +dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very wise man, and a man of +very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as +thine is from their shoulders; yea, to my knowledge he hath done a great +deal of good this way; aye, and besides, he hath skill to cure those +that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens. To him, as I +said, thou mayest go, and be helped presently. His house is not quite a +mile from this place; and if he should not be at home himself, he hath a +pretty young man as his son, whose name is Civility, that can do it (to +speak on) as well as the old gentleman himself. There, I say, thou +mayest be eased of thy burden; and if thou art not minded to go back to +thy former habitation (as indeed I would not wish thee), thou mayest +send for thy wife and children to thee in this village, where there are +houses now standing empty, one of which thou mayest have at a reasonable +rate; provision is there also cheap and good; and that which will make +thy life the more happy is, to be sure there thou shalt live by honest +neighbors, in credit and good fashion. + +Now was Christian somewhat at a stand; but presently he concluded, "If +this be true which this gentleman hath said, my wisest course is to take +his advice;" and with that, he thus further spake: + +CHRIS. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house? + +WORLD. Do you see yonder high hill? + +CHRIS. Yes, very well. + +WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at is his. + +[Sidenote: EVANGELIST AND CHRISTIAN.] + +So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's house for +help; but, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so +high, and also that side of it that was next the wayside did hang so +much over, that Christian was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill +should fall on his head; wherefore there he stood still, and knew not +what to do. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was +in his way. There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made +Christian afraid that he should be burnt: here, therefore, he sweat and +did quake for fear. And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. +Worldly Wiseman's counsel; and with that, he saw Evangelist coming to +meet him, at the sight also of whom he began to blush for shame. So +Evangelist drew nearer and nearer; and, coming up to him, he looked upon +him with a severe and dreadful countenance, and thus began to reason +with Christian: + +EVAN. "What dost thou here, Christian?" said he; at which words +Christian knew not what to answer; wherefore at present he stood +speechless before him. Then said Evangelist further, "Art thou not the +man that I found crying, without the walls of the City of Destruction?" + +CHRIS. Yes, dear sir, I am the man. + +EVAN. Did not I direct thee the way to the little wicket-gate? + +CHRIS. "Yes, dear sir," said Christian. + +EVAN. How is it, then, that thou art so quickly turned aside? For thou +art now out of the way. + +CHRIS. I met with a gentleman as soon as I had got over the Slough of +Despond, who persuaded me that I might, in the village before me, find a +man that could take off my burden. + +EVAN. What was he? + +CHRIS. He looked like a gentleman, and talked much to me, and got me at +last to yield: so I came hither, but when I beheld this hill, and how it +hangs over the way, I suddenly made a stand, lest it should fall on my +head. + +EVAN. What said that gentleman to you? + +CHRIS. Why, he asked me whither I was going, and I told him. + +EVAN. And what said he then? + +CHRIS. He asked me if I had a family, and I told him. But, said I, I am +so laden with the burden that is on my back, that I cannot take pleasure +in them as formerly. + +EVAN. And what said he then? + +CHRIS. He bid me with speed get rid of my burden; and I told him it was +ease that I sought. And, said I, I am therefore going to yonder gate to +receive further direction how I may get to the place of deliverance. So +he said that he would show me a better way, and short, not so hard as +the way, sir, that you sent me in; which way, said he, will direct you +to a gentleman's house that hath skill to take off these burdens. So I +believed him, and turned out of that way into this, if haply I might +soon be eased of my burden. But, when I came to this place, and beheld +things as they are, I stopped for fear (as I said) of danger; but I now +know not what to do. + +EVAN. Then said Evangelist, "Stand still a little, that I may show thee +the words of God." So he stood trembling. Then said Evangelist, "God +says in his book, 'See that ye refuse not him that speaketh; for if they +escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we +escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.' He said, +moreover, 'Now, the righteous man shall live by faith in God, but if any +man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.'" He also did +thus apply them: "Thou art the man that art running into misery; thou +hast begun to reject the counsel of the Most High, and to draw back thy +foot from the way of peace, even almost to the danger of thy everlasting +ruin." + +Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, crying, "Woe is me, for I +am undone!" At the sight of which Evangelist caught him by the right +hand, saying, "All manner of sin and evil words shall be forgiven unto +men." "Be not faithless, but believing." Then did Christian again a +little revive, and stood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelist. + +Then Evangelist proceeded, saying, "Give more earnest heed to the things +that I shall tell thee of. I will now show thee who it was that led thee +astray, and who it was also to whom he sent thee. That man that met thee +is one Worldly Wiseman; and rightly is he so called; partly because he +seeks only for the things of this world (therefore he always goes to the +town of Morality to church), and partly because he loveth that way best, +for it saveth him from the Cross; and because he is of this evil +temper, therefore he seeketh to turn you from my way though it is the +right way. + +"He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name Legality, is not able +to set thee free from thy burden. No man was as yet ever rid of his +burden by him; no, nor ever is like to be: ye cannot be set right by any +such plan. Therefore, Mr. Worldly Wiseman is an enemy, and Mr. Legality +is a cheat; and, for his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering +looks, he is but a fraud and cannot help thee. Believe me, there is +nothing in all this noise that thou hast heard of these wicked men, but +a design to rob thee of thy salvation, by turning thee from the way in +which I had set thee." After this, Evangelist called aloud to the +heavens for proof of what he had said; and with that there came words +and fire out of the mountain under which poor Christian stood, which +made the hair of his flesh stand up. The words were thus spoken: "As +many as are of the works of the law are under the curse." + +Now, Christian looked for nothing but death, and began to cry out +lamentably; even cursing the time in which he met with Mr. Worldly +Wiseman; still calling himself a thousand fools for listening to his +counsel. He also was greatly ashamed to think that this gentleman's +arguments should have the power with him so far as to cause him to +forsake the right way. This done, he spoke again to Evangelist, in words +and sense as follows: + +CHRIS. Sir, what think you? Is there any hope? May I now go back, and go +up to the wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this, and sent back +from thence ashamed? I am sorry I have hearkened to this man's counsel; +but may my sins be forgiven? + +EVAN. Then said Evangelist to him, "Thy sin is very great, for by it +thou hast committed two evils; thou hast forsaken the way that is good, +to tread in forbidden paths. Yet will the man at the gate receive thee, +for he has good will for men; only," said he, "take heed that thou turn +not aside again, lest thou perish from the way, when his anger is +kindled but a little." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Then did Christian begin to go back to the right road; and Evangelist, +after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him God speed; so +he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor, if +any asked him, would he give them an answer. He went like one that was +all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think +himself safe, till again he was got in the way which he had left to +follow Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel: so after a time, Christian got up +to the gate. Now, over the gate there was written, "Knock, and it shall +be opened unto you." + +He knocked, therefore, more than once or twice, saying: + + "May I now enter here? Will He within + Open to sorry me, though I have been + An undeserving rebel? Then shall I + Not fail to sing His lasting praise on high." + +[Sidenote: GOODWILL OPENS THE GATE] + +At last there came a grave person to the gate named Goodwill, who asked +who was there, and whence he came, and what he would have? + +CHRIS. Here is a poor burdened sinner. I come from the City of +Destruction, but am going to Mount Zion, that I may be set free from the +wrath to come; I would therefore, sir, since I am told that by this +gate is the way thither, know, if you are willing to let me in. + +GOOD. "I am willing with all my heart," said he; and, with that, he +opened the gate. + +So, when Christian was stepping in, the other gave him a pull. Then said +Christian, "What means that?" The other told him, "A little distance +from this gate there is erected a strong castle, of which Beelzebub, the +Evil One, is the captain; from whence both he and they that are with him +shoot arrows at those that come up to this gate, if haply they may die +before they can enter in." Then said Christian, "I rejoice and tremble." +So when he was got in, the man of the gate asked him who directed him +thither. + +CHRIS. Evangelist bid me come hither and knock, as I did; and he said +that you, sir, would tell me what I must do. + +GOOD. An open door is set before thee, and no man can shut it. + +CHRIS. Now I begin to reap the benefit of the trouble which I have +taken. + +GOOD. But how is it that you came alone? + +CHRIS. Because none of my neighbors saw their danger, as I saw mine. + +GOOD. Did any of them know you were coming? + +CHRIS. Yes, my wife and children saw me at the first, and called after +me to turn again; also some of my neighbors stood crying and calling +after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears, and so came on my +way. + +GOOD. But did none of them follow you, to persuade you to go back? + +CHRIS. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable: but, when they saw that they +could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came with me +a little way. + +GOOD. But why did he not come through? + +CHRIS. We indeed came both together until we came to the Slough of +Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my neighbor +Pliable discouraged, and would not venture farther. Wherefore, getting +out again on the side next his own house, he told me I should win the +brave country alone for him: so he went his way, and I came mine; he +after Obstinate, and I to this gate. + +GOOD. Then said Goodwill, "Alas, poor man! is the heavenly glory of so +little worth with him, that he counteth it not worth running the risk of +a few difficulties to obtain it?" + +CHRIS. "Truly," said Christian, "I have said the truth of Pliable; and +if I should also say the truth of myself, it will appear there is not +betterment betwixt him and myself. 'Tis true, he went on back to his own +house; but I also turned aside to go into the way of death, being +persuaded thereto by the words of one Mr. Worldly Wiseman." + +GOOD. Oh! did he light upon you? What! he would have had you seek for +ease at the hands of Mr. Legality! They are both of them a very cheat. +But did you take his counsel? + +CHRIS. Yes, as far as I durst. I went to find out Mr. Legality, until I +thought that the mountain that stands by his house would have fallen +upon my head: wherefore there I was forced to stop. + +GOOD. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of +many more; it is well you escaped being by it dashed in pieces. + +CHRIS. Why, truly, I do not know what had become of me there, had not +Evangelist happily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my +dumps; but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else I had +never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as I am, more fit +indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to stand talking with my +Lord. But, oh! what a favor this is to me, that yet I am to enter here! + +GOOD. We make no objections against any, notwithstanding all that they +have done before they come hither; they in no wise are cast out. And +therefore, good Christian, come a little with me, and I will teach thee +about the way thou must go. Look before thee: dost thou see this narrow +way? That is the way thou must go. It was cast up by the men of old, +prophets, Christ and His apostles, and it is as straight as a rule can +make it: this is the way thou must go. + +CHRIS. "But," said Christian, "are there no turnings nor windings by +which a stranger may lose his way?" + +GOOD. "Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they are +crooked and wide; but thus thou mayest distinguish the right from the +wrong, the right only being straight and narrow." + +Then I saw in my dream, that Christian asked him further if he could not +help him off with his burden that was upon his back. For as yet he had +not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help. + +He told him, "As to thy burden, be content to bear it until thou comest +to the place of deliverance; for there it will fall from thy back of +itself." + +Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to turn again to his +journey. + +So the other told him that as soon as he was gone some distance from the +gate, he would come at the house of the Interpreter, at whose door he +should knock, and he would show him excellent things. Then Christian +took his leave of his friend, and he again bid him God speed. + +[Sidenote: House of the Interpreter] + +Then he went on till he came to the house of the Interpreter, where he +knocked over and over. At last one came to the door, and asked who was +there. + +CHRIS. Sir, here is a traveler who was bid by a friend of the good man +of this house to call here for his benefit; I would therefore speak with +the master of the house. + +So he called for the master of the house, who, after a little time, came +to Christian, and asked him what he would have. + +CHRIS. "Sir," said Christian, "I am a man that am come from the City of +Destruction, and am going to Mount Zion; and I was told by the man that +stands at the gate at the head of this way, that, if I called here, you +would show me excellent things, such as would be helpful to me on my +journey." + +INTER. Then said the Interpreter, "Come in; I will show thee that which +will be profitable to thee." So he commanded his man to light the +candle, and bid Christian follow him; so he led him into a private room, +and bid his man open a door; the which when he had done, Christian saw +the picture of a very grave person hung up against the wall; and this +was the fashion of it: it had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of +books in its hand, the law of truth was written upon its lips, the world +was behind its back; it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of +gold did hang over its head. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian, "What meaneth this?" + +INTER. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand. He can say, +in the words of the apostle Paul, "Though ye have ten thousand teachers +in Christ, yet have you not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have +been your father through the Gospel." And whereas thou seest him with +his eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law +of truth writ on his lips, it is to show thee that his work is to know +and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as +if he pleaded with men. And whereas thou seest the world is cast behind +him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee that, +slighting and despising the things that are in the world, for the love +that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes +next to have glory for his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, I have +showed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this is, +is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath +chosen to be thy guide, in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in +thy way; wherefore take good heed to what I have showed thee, and bear +well in thy mind what thou hast seen, lest in thy journey thou meet with +some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death. + +Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlor, that +was full of dust, because never swept; the which after he had looked at +it a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when +he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about that +Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the Interpreter to +a girl that stood by, "Bring hither water, and sprinkle the room;" the +which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with ease. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian, "What means this?" + +INTER. The Interpreter answered, "This parlor is the heart of a man +that was never made pure by the sweet grace of the Gospel. The dust is +his sin, and inward evils that have defiled the whole man. He that began +to sweep at first is the law; but she that brought water, and did +sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now, whereas thou sawest that, as soon as +the first began to sweep, the dust did fly so about that the room could +not by him be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this +is to show thee, that the law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its +working) from sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in +the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give +power to overcome. Again, as thou sawest the girl sprinkle the room with +water, upon which it was cleansed with ease; this is to show thee, that +when the Gospel comes, in the sweet and gracious power thereof, to the +heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the maiden lay the dust by +sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and +the soul made clean through the faith of it, and, consequently, fit for +the King of Glory to dwell in." + +I saw moreover in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, +and led him into a little room where sat two little children, each one +in his own chair. The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of +the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much discontented, but Patience +was very quiet. The Christian asked, "What is the reason of the +discontent of Passion?" The Interpreter answered, "The governor of them +would have him stay for his best things till the beginning of next year; +but he will have all now. Patience is willing to wait." + +Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure, +and poured it down at his feet; the which he took up, and rejoiced +therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but awhile, +and he had wasted all away, and had nothing left him but rags. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian to the Interpreter, "Explain this matter more +fully to me." + +INTER. So he said, "These two lads are pictures: Passion, of the men of +this world; and Patience, of the men of that which is to come: for, as +here thou seest, Passion will have all now, this year, that is to say in +this world; so are the men of this world; they must have all their good +things now; they cannot stay till the next year, that is, until the next +world, for their portion of good. That proverb, 'A bird in the hand is +worth two in the bush,' is of more weight with them than all the words +in the Bible of the good of the world to come. But, as thou sawest that +he had quickly wasted all away, and had presently left him nothing but +rags, so will it be with all such men at the end of this world." + +CHRIS. Then said Christian, "Now I see that Patience has the best +wisdom, and that upon many accounts. 1. Because he stays for the best +things. 2. And also because he will have the glory of his when the +other has nothing but rags." + +INTER. Nay, you may add another; this, the glory of the next world will +never wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore Passion had not +so much reason to laugh at Patience because he had his good things at +first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion, because he had his +best things last; for first must give place to last, because last must +have his time to come; but last gives place to nothing, for there is not +another to succeed: he, therefore, that hath his portion first, must +needs have a time to spend it; but he that hath his portion last, must +have it lastingly. + +CHRIS. Then I see it is not best to covet things that are now, but to +wait for things to come. + +INTER. You say truth; "for the things that are seen soon pass away, but +the things that are not seen endure forever." + +Then I saw in my dream, that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand +and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and +one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, to quench it; yet +did the fire burn higher and hotter. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian, "What means this?" + +INTER. The Interpreter answered, "This fire is the work of God that is +wrought in the heart: he that casts water upon it to extinguish and put +it out, is the devil; but, in that thou seest the fire notwithstanding +burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason of that." So +then he led him about to the other side of the wall, where he saw a man +with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which he did also continually +cast, but secretly, into the fire. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian, "What means this?" + +INTER. The Interpreter answered, "This is Christ, who continually, with +the oil of His grace, helps the work already begun in the heart; by the +means of which notwithstanding what the devil can do, the souls of His +people prove gracious still. And in that thou sawest that the man stood +behind the wall to keep up the fire; this is to teach thee, that it is +hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is kept alive in the +soul." + +I saw also that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and led him +into a pleasant place, where was built a stately palace, beautiful to +behold, at the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted. He saw +also upon the top thereof certain persons walking, who were clothed all +in gold. + +Then said Christian, "May we go in thither?" + +Then the Interpreter took him and led him up toward the door of the +palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as +desirous to go in, but durst not. There also sat a man at a little +distance from the door, at a table-side, with a book and his ink-horn +before him, to take the name of him that should enter therein; he saw +also that in the doorway stood many men in armor to keep it, being +resolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they +could. Now was Christian somewhat in amaze. At last, when every man +started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very +stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, +"Set down my name, sir:" the which when he had done, he saw the man draw +his sword, and put a helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon +the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at +all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So that, +after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to +keep him out, he cut his way through them all and pressed forward into +the palace; at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that +were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace, +saying: + + "Come in, come in; + Eternal glory thou shalt win." + +So he went in, and was clothed in such garments as they. Then Christian +smiled, and said, "I think verily I know the meaning of this." + +"Now," said Christian, "let me go hence." "Nay, stay," said the +Interpreter, "until I have showed thee a little more; and after that +thou shalt go on thy way." So he took him by the hand again, and led him +into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage. + +Now, the man, to look on, seemed very sad. He sat with his eyes looking +down to the ground, his hands folded together; and he sighed as if he +would break his heart. Then said Christian, "What means this?" At which +the Interpreter bid him talk with the man. + +Then said Christian to the man, "What art thou?" The man answered, "I am +what I was not once." + +CHRIS. What wast thou once? + +MAN. The man said, "I was once a fair and flourishing Christian, both in +mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I was once, as I thought, +fair for the Celestial City, and had even joy at the thoughts that I +should get thither." + +CHRIS. Well, but what art thou now? + +MAN. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron +cage. I cannot get out. Oh, _now_ I cannot! + +CHRIS. But how camest thou in this condition? + +MAN. I left off to watch and be sober. I gave free reins to sin; I +sinned against the light of the Word and the goodness of God; I have +grieved the Spirit, and He is gone; I tempted the devil, and he has come +to me; I have provoked God to anger, and He has left me; I have so +hardened my heart that I _cannot_ turn. + +Then said Christian to the Interpreter, "But are there no hopes for such +a man as this?" "Ask him," said the Interpreter. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian, "Is there no hope, but you must be kept in +the iron cage of despair?" + +MAN. No, none at all. + +CHRIS. Why? the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful. + +MAN. I have crucified Him to myself afresh. I have despised His person. +I have despised His holiness; I have counted His blood an unholy thing; +I have shown contempt to the Spirit of mercy. Therefore I have shut +myself out of all the promises of God, and there now remains to me +nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings of +certain judgment and fiery anger, which shall devour me as an enemy. + +CHRIS. For what did you bring yourself into this condition? + +MAN. For the desires, pleasures, and gains of this world; in the +enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight; but now every +one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me, like a burning worm. + +CHRIS. But canst thou not now turn again to God? + +MAN. God no longer invites me to come to Him. His Word gives me no +encouragement to believe; yea, Himself hath shut me up in this iron +cage; nor can all the men in the world let me out. O eternity! eternity! +how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity? + +INTER. Then said the Interpreter to Christian, "Let this man's misery be +remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee." + +[Sidenote: THE DREAM OF THE JUDGMENT] + +CHRIS. "Well," said Christian, "this is fearful! God help me to watch +and be sober, and to pray, that I may shun the cause of this man's +misery. Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now?" + +INTER. Tarry till I show thee one thing more, and then thou shalt go on +thy way. + +So he took Christian by the hand again, and led him into a chamber, +where there was one rising out of bed; and, as he put on his clothing, +he shook and trembled. Then said Christian, "Why doth this man thus +tremble?" The Interpreter then bid him tell to Christian the reason of +his so doing. So he began, and said, "This night, as I was in my sleep, +I dreamed, and behold, the heavens grew exceeding black; also it +thundered and lightened in most fearful manner, that it put me into an +agony. So I looked up in my dream, and saw the clouds rack at an unusual +rate; upon which I heard a great sound of a trumpet, and saw also a Man +sitting upon a cloud, attended with the thousands of heaven; they were +all in flaming fire; also the heavens were in a burning flame. I heard +then a great voice saying, 'Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment.' And +with that the rocks rent, the graves opened, and the dead that were +therein came forth: some of them were exceeding glad, and looked upward; +and some thought to hide themselves under the mountains. Then I saw the +Man that sat upon the cloud open the book and bid the world draw near. +Yet there was, by reason of a fierce flame that issued out and came +before Him, a certain distance betwixt Him and them, as betwixt the +judge and the prisoners at the bar. I heard it also called out to them +that stood around on the Man that sat on the cloud, 'Gather together the +tares, the chaff, and stubble, and cast them into the burning lake. And, +with that, the bottomless pit opened, just whereabout I stood; out of +the mouth of which there came, in an abundant manner, smoke and coals of +fire, with hideous noises. It was also said to the same persons, 'Gather +my wheat into the garner.' And, with that, I saw many catched up and +carried away into the clouds; but I was left behind. I also sought to +hide myself, but I could not; for the Man that sat upon the cloud still +kept His eye upon me; my sins also came into my mind, and my conscience +did accuse me on every side. Upon this I awakened from my sleep." + +CHRIS. But what was it that made you so afraid of this sight? + +MAN. Why I thought that the day of judgment was come, and that I was not +ready for it. But this affrighted me most, that the angels gathered up +several, and left me behind; also the pit of hell opened her mouth just +where I stood. My conscience, too, troubled me; and, as I thought, the +judge had always His eye upon me, showing anger in His countenance. + +INTER. Then said the Interpreter to Christian, "Hast thou considered +these things?" + +CHRIS. Yes; and they put me in hope and fear. + +INTER. Well, keep all things so in thy mind, that they may be as a goad +in thy sides, to prick thee forward in the way thou must go. + +Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his +journey. Then said the Interpreter, "The Comforter be always with thee, +good Christian, to guide thee into the way that leads to the city." + +So Christian went on his way, saying: + + "Here have I seen things rare and profitable; + Things pleasant, dreadful; things to make me stable + In what I have begun to take in hand: + Then let me think on them, and understand + Wherefore they showed me where; and let me be + Thankful, O good Interpreter, to thee." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Now, I saw in my dream that the highway up which Christian was to go was +fenced on either side with a wall that was called Salvation. Up this +way, therefore, did burdened Christian run, but not without great +difficulty, because of the load on his back. + +He ran thus till he came to a place somewhat ascending; and upon that +place stood a Cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a tomb. So I saw +in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden +loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to +tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the tomb, +where it fell in, and I saw it no more. + +[Illustration: Christian Before the Cross. + Page 50] + +Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, "He +hath given me rest by His sorrow, and life by His death." Then he stood +still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him that +the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked, +therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head +sent the water down his cheeks. Now, as he stood looking and weeping, +behold, three Shining Ones came to him, and saluted him with "Peace be +to thee." So the first said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven thee;" the +second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with a change of +garments; the third also set a mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll +with a seal upon it, which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he +should give it in at the heavenly gate; so they went their way. Then +Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on, singing: + + "Thus far did I come laden with my sin; + Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in, + Till I came hither; what a place is this! + Must here be the beginning of my bliss? + Must here the burden fall from off my back? + Must here the strings that bound it to me crack? + Blest cross! blest sepulchre! blest rather be + The Man that was there put to shame for me!" + +[Sidenote: SIMPLE, SLOTH, PRESUMPTION] + +I saw then in my dream that he went on thus, even until he came to the +bottom, where he saw, a little out of the way, three men fast asleep, +with fetters upon their heels. The name of one was Simple, of another +Sloth, and of the third Presumption. + +Christian, then, seeing them lie in this case, went to them, if perhaps +he might awake them, and cried, "You are like them that sleep on the top +of a mast; for the deep sea is under you, a gulf that hath no bottom: +awake, therefore, and come away; be willing, also, and I will help you +off with your irons." He also told them, "If he that goeth about like a +roaring lion comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth." +With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this sort: Simple +said, "I see no danger." Sloth said, "Yet a little more sleep." And +Presumption said, "Every tub must stand upon his own bottom." And so +they lay down to sleep again, and Christian went on his way. + +[Sidenote: FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY] + +Yet was he troubled to think that men in that danger should so little +care for the kindness of him that so offered to help them, both by +awakening of them, advising them, and offering to help them off with +their irons. And, as he was troubled thereabout, he espied two men come +tumbling over the wall on the left hand of the narrow way; and they made +up apace to him. The name of one was Formalist, and the name of the +other was Hypocrisy. So, as I said, they drew up unto him, who thus +began talking with them: + +CHRIS. Gentlemen, whence came you, and whither go you? + +FORM. and HYP. We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and are going for +praise to Mount Zion. + +CHRIS. Why came you not in at the gate which standeth at the beginning +of the way? Know ye not that it is written, "He that cometh not in by +the door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a +robber?" + +FORM. and HYP. They said that to go to the gate for entrance was, by all +their countrymen, counted too far about; and that therefore their usual +way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over the wall as they +had done. + +CHRIS. But will it not be counted a trespass against the Lord of the +city whither we are bound, thus to disobey His will? + +FORM. and HYP. They told him, that as for that, he needed not trouble +his head thereabout; for what they did they had custom for, and could +show, if need were, testimony that could prove it for more than a +thousand years. + +CHRIS. "But," said Christian, "will it stand a trial at law?" + +FORM. and HYP. They told him that custom, it being of so long standing +as above a thousand years, would doubtless now be admitted as a thing +according to law by a fair judge. "And besides," said they, "if we get +into the way, what matter is it which way we may get in? If we are in, +we are in: thou art but in the way, who, as we perceive, came in at the +gate; and we are also in the way, that came tumbling over the wall: +wherein, now, is thy condition better than ours?" + +CHRIS. I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working +of your fancies. You are counted thieves already by the Lord of the way; +therefore I doubt you will not be found true men at the end of the way. +You come in by yourselves without His word, and shall go out by +yourselves without His mercy. + +To this they made him but little answer; only they bid him look to +himself. Then I saw that they went on every man in his way, without much +talking one with another; save that these two men told Christian, that, +as to law and rules, they doubted not but that they should as carefully +do them as he. "Therefore," said they, "we see not wherein thou +differest from us, but by the coat which is on thy back, which was, as +we believe given thee by some of thy neighbors to hide the shame of thy +nakedness." + +CHRIS. By laws and rules you will not be saved, since you came not in by +the door. And as for this coat that is on my back, it was given to me by +the Lord of the place whither I go; and that, as you say, to cover my +nakedness with. And I take it as a token of His kindness to me; for I +had nothing but rags before. And besides, thus I comfort myself as I go. +Surely, think I, when I come to the gate of the city, the Lord thereof +will know me for good, since I have His coat on my back; a coat that He +gave me freely in the day that He stripped me of my rags. I have +moreover, a mark in my forehead, of which perhaps you have taken no +notice, which one of my Lord's most intimate friends fixed there the day +that my burden fell off my shoulders. I will tell you, moreover, that I +had then given me a roll sealed, to comfort me by reading as I go in the +way; I was also bid to give it in at the heavenly gate, in token of my +certain going in after it; all which things, I doubt, you want, and want +them because you came not in at the gate. + +To these things they gave him no answer; only they looked upon each +other, and laughed. Then I saw that they went on all, save that +Christian kept before, who had no more talk but with himself, and +sometimes sighingly, and sometimes comfortably; also he would be often +reading in the roll that one of the Shining Ones gave him, by which he +was refreshed. + +[Sidenote: THE HILL OF DIFFICULTY] + +I beheld then that they all went on till they came to the foot of the +Hill Difficulty, at the bottom of which was a spring. There were also in +the same place two other ways, besides that which came straight from the +gate; one turned to the left hand, and the other to the right, at the +bottom of the hill; but the narrow way lay right up the hill, and the +name of that going up the side of the hill is called Difficulty. +Christian now went to the spring, and drank thereof to refresh himself, +and then began to go up the hill, saying: + + "The hill, though high, I covet to ascend; + The difficulty will not me offend, + For I perceive the way to life lies here. + Come, pluck up, heart, let's neither faint nor fear. + Better, though _difficult_, the right way to go, + Than wrong, though _easy_, where the end is woe." + +The other two also came to the foot of the hill. But when they saw that +the hill was steep and high, and that there were two other ways to go; +and supposing also that these two ways might meet again with that up +which Christian went, on the other side of the hill; therefore they were +resolved to go in those ways. Now, the name of one of those ways was +Danger, and the name of the other Destruction. So the one took the way +which is called Danger, which led him into a great wood; and the other +took directly up the way to destruction, which led him into a wide +field, full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no +more. + +I looked then after Christian, to see him go up the hill, where I +perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to clambering +upon his hands and his knees, because of the steepness of the place. +Now, about the midway to the top of the hill was a pleasant arbor, made +by the Lord of the hill for the refreshment of weary travelers. Thither, +therefore, Christian got, where also he sat down to rest him; then he +pulled his roll out of his bosom, and read therein to his comfort; he +also now began afresh to take a review of the coat or garment that was +given him as he stood by the cross. Thus pleasing himself a while, he at +last fell into a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained +him in that place until it was almost night; and in his sleep his roll +fell out of his hand. Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him, +and awaked him, saying, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard;[3] consider her +ways, and be wise." And, with that, Christian suddenly started up, and +sped on his way, and went apace till he came to the top of the hill. + + [3] Idle one. + +[Sidenote: TIMOROUS AND MISTRUST] + +Now, when he was got up to the top of the hill, there came two men +running amain: the name of the one was Timorous, and of the other +Mistrust; to whom Christian said, "Sirs, what's the matter? You run the +wrong way." Timorous answered, that they were going to the city of Zion, +and had got up that difficult place: "but," said he, "the farther we go, +the more danger we meet with; wherefore we turned, and are going back +again." + +"Yes," said Mistrust, "for just before us lie a couple of lions in the +way, whether sleeping or waking we know not; and we could not think, if +we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces." + +CHRIS. Then said Christian, "You make me afraid; but whither shall I fly +to be safe? If I go back to my own country, that is prepared for fire +and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there; if I can get to the +Celestial City, I am sure to be in safety there: I must venture. To go +back is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death, and life +everlasting beyond it. I will yet go forward." So Mistrust and Timorous +ran down the hill, and Christian went on his way. But, thinking again of +what he heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, and found +it not. Then was Christian in great distress, and knew not what to do; +for he wanted that which used to comfort him, and that which should have +been his pass into the Celestial City. Here, therefore, he began to be +greatly troubled, and knew not what to do. At last he bethought himself +that he had slept in the arbor that is on the side of the hill; and, +falling down upon his knees, he asked God's forgiveness for that his +foolish act, and then went back to look for his roll. But all the way he +went back, who can sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's +heart? Sometimes he sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he blamed +himself for being so foolish to fall asleep in that place, which was +erected only for a little refreshment from his weariness. Thus, +therefore, he went back, carefully looking on this side and on that, all +the way as he went, if happily he might find his roll that had been his +comfort so many times in his journey. He went thus till he came again +within sight of the arbor where he sat and slept; but that sight renewed +his sorrow the more, by bringing again, even afresh, his evil of +sleeping into his mind. Thus, therefore, he now went on, bewailing his +sinful sleep, saying, "O wretched man that I am, that I should sleep in +the day-time; that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I +should so indulge myself, as to use that rest for ease to my flesh which +the Lord of the hill hath builded only for the relief of the spirits of +pilgrims! How many steps have I taken in vain! Thus it happened to +Israel; for their sin they were sent back again by the way of the Red +Sea; and I am made to tread those steps with sorrow which I might have +trod with delight, had it not been for this sinful sleep. How far might +I have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those steps +thrice over which I needed not to have trod but once; yea, also, now I +am like to be benighted, for the day is almost spent. Oh that I had not +slept!" + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN RECOVERS HIS ROLL] + +Now, by this time he was come to the arbor again, where for awhile he +sat down and wept; but at last (as Providence would have it), looking +sorrowfully down under the settle, there he espied his roll, the which +he, with trembling and haste, caught up, and put it into his bosom. But +who can tell how joyful this man was when he had got his roll again? for +this roll was the assurance of his life and acceptance at the desired +haven. Therefore he laid it up in his bosom, giving thanks to God for +directing his eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears +betook himself again to his journey. But oh, how nimbly now did he go up +the rest of the hill! Yet, before he got up, the sun went down upon +Christian; and this made him again recall the folly of his sleeping to +his remembrance; and thus he began again to condole with himself, "Oh, +thou sinful sleep! how for thy sake am I like to be benighted in my +journey. I must walk without the sun, darkness must cover the path of my +feet, and I must hear the noise of the doleful creatures, because of my +sinful sleep." Now also he remembered the story that Mistrust and +Timorous told him, of how they were frighted with the sight of the +lions. Then said Christian to himself again, "These beasts range in the +night for their prey; and if they should meet with me in the dark, how +should I avoid them? how should I escape being torn in pieces?" Thus he +went on his way. But, while he was thus bewailing his unhappy mistake, +he lifted up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately palace before +him, the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood just by the highway +side. + +[Sidenote: WATCHFUL THE PORTER] + +So I saw in my dream that he made haste, and went forward, that, if +possible, he might get lodging there. Now, before he had gone far, he +entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off the +Porter's lodge; and looking very narrowly before him as he went, he +espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the dangers by which +Mistrust and Timorous were driven back. (The lions were chained, but he +saw not the chains). Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go +back after them; for he thought nothing but death was before him. But +the Porter at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that +Christian made a halt as if he would go back, cried out unto him, +saying, "Is thy strength so small? fear not the lions, for they are +chained, and are placed there for the trial of faith where it is, and +for the finding out of those that have none: keep in the midst of the +path, and no hurt shall come unto thee." + +Then I saw that he went on trembling for fear of the lions; but, taking +good heed to the words of the Porter, he heard them roar, but they did +him no harm. Then he clapped his hands, and went on till he came and +stood before the gate where the Porter was. Then said Christian to the +Porter, "Sir, what house is this? and may I lodge here to-night?" + +The Porter answered, "This house was built by the Lord of the hill, and +He built it for the relief and security of pilgrims." The Porter also +asked whence he was, and whither he was going. + +CHRIS. I am come from the City of Destruction, and am going to Mount +Zion; but, because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge here +to-night. + +PORT. What is your name? + +CHRIS. My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless. + +PORT. But how doth it happen that you come so late? The sun is set. + +CHRIS. I had been here sooner, but that, wretched man that I am, I slept +in the arbor that stands on the hill-side. Nay, I had, notwithstanding +that, been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my roll, and +came without it to the brow of the hill; and then, feeling for it and +finding it not, I was forced with sorrow of heart to go back to the +place where I slept my sleep, where I found it; and now I am come. + +PORT. Well, I will call out one of the women of this place, who will, if +she likes your talk, bring you in to the rest of the family, according +to the rules of the house. + +So Watchful the Porter rang a bell, at the sound of which came out of +the door of the house a grave and beautiful young woman, named +Discretion, and asked why she was called. + +The Porter answered, "This man is on a journey from the City of +Destruction to Mount Zion; but, being weary and benighted, he asked me +if he might lodge here to-night; so I told him I would call for thee, +who, after speaking with him, mayest do as seemeth thee good, even +according to the law of the house." + +[Sidenote: PIETY, PRUDENCE, CHARITY] + +Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going; and he told +her. She asked him also how he got into the way; and he told her. Then +she asked him what he had seen and met with on the way; and he told her. +And at last she asked his name. So he said, "It is Christian; and I have +so much the more a desire to lodge here to-night, because, by what I +perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the hill for the relief +and safety of pilgrims." So she smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; +and after a little pause, she said, "I will call forth two or three of +my family." So she ran to the door, and called out Prudence, Piety, and +Charity, who, after a little more discourse with him brought him in to +the family; and many of them, meeting him at the threshold of the house, +said, "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord: this house was built by the +Lord of the hill on purpose to entertain such pilgrims in." Then he +bowed his head, and followed them into the house. So, when he was come +in and sat down, they gave him something to drink, and agreed together, +that, until supper was ready, some of them should talk with Christian, +for the best use of the time; and they appointed Piety, Prudence, and +Charity to talk with him; and thus they began: + +PIETY. Come, good Christian since we have been so loving to you to +receive you into our house this night, let us, if perhaps we may better +ourselves thereby, talk with you of all things that have happened to you +in your pilgrimage. + +CHRIS. With a very good will, and I am glad that you are so well +disposed. + +PIETY. What moved you at first to betake yourself to a pilgrim's life? + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN'S ADVENTURES] + +CHRIS. I was driven out of my native country by a dreadful sound that +was in mine ears; to wit, that certain destruction did await me, if I +abode in that place where I was. + +PIETY. But how did it happen that you came out of your country this way? + +CHRIS. It was as God would have it; for, when I was under the fears of +destruction, I did not know whither to go; but by chance there came a +man even to me, as I was trembling and weeping, whose name is +Evangelist, and he directed me to the wicket-gate, which else I should +never have found, and so set me in the way that hath led me directly to +this house. + +PIETY. But did you not come by the house of the Interpreter? + +CHRIS. Yes, and did see such things there, the remembrance of which will +stick by me as long as I live, especially three things; to wit, how +Christ, in despite of Satan, the Evil One maintains His work of grace +in the heart; how the man had sinned himself quite out of hopes of God's +mercy; and also the dream of him that thought in his sleep the day of +judgment was come. + +PIETY. Why? did you hear him tell his dream? + +CHRIS. Yes, and a dreadful one it was, I thought it made my heart ache +as he was telling of it; but yet I am glad I heard of it. + +PIETY. Was that all you saw at the house of the Interpreter? + +CHRIS. No; he took me, and had me where he showed me a stately palace; +and how the people were clad in gold that were in it; and how there came +a venturous man, and cut his way through the armed men that stood in the +door to keep him out; and how he was bid to come in and win eternal +glory. Methought those things did delight my heart. I would have stayed +at that good man's house a twelvemonth, but that I knew I had farther to +go. + +PIETY. And what saw you else in the way? + +CHRIS. Saw? Why, I went but a little farther, and I saw One, as I +thought in my mind, hang bleeding upon a tree; and the very sight of Him +made my burden fall off my back; for I groaned under a very heavy +burden, and then it fell down from off me. It was a strange thing to me, +for I never saw such a thing before; yea, and while I stood looking up +(for then I could not forbear looking), three Shining Ones came to me. +One of them told me that my sins were forgiven me; another stripped me +of my rags, and gave me this broidered coat which you see; and the third +set the mark which you see in my forehead, and gave me this sealed roll. +(And, with that, he plucked it out of his bosom.) + +PIETY. But you saw more than this, did you not? + +CHRIS. The things that I have told you were the best; yet some other +matters I saw; as namely I saw three men, Simple, Sloth, and +Presumption, lie asleep, a little out of the way as I came, with irons +upon their heels; but do you think I could wake them? I also saw +Formalist and Hypocrisy come tumbling over the wall, to go, as they +pretended, to Zion; but they were quickly lost, even as I myself did +tell them, but they would not believe. But, above all, I found it hard +work to get up this hill, and as hard to come by the lions' mouths; and +truly, if it had not been for the good man the Porter, that stands at +the gate, I do not know but that, after all, I might have gone back +again; but now I thank God I am here, and I thank you for receiving of +me. + +Then Prudence thought good to ask him a few questions, and desired his +answer to them. + +PRU. Do you think sometimes of the country from whence you came? + +CHRIS. Yes, but with much shame and detestation. Truly, if I had been +mindful of that country from whence I came out, I might have had an +opportunity to have returned; but now I desire a better country, that +is, a heavenly one. + +PRU. Do you not yet bear away with you in your thoughts some of the +things that you did in the former time? + +CHRIS. Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward and sinful +thoughts, with which all my countrymen, as well as myself, were +delighted. But now all those things are my grief; and, might I but +choose mine own things, I would choose never to think of those things +more; but when I would be doing that which is best, that which is worst +is with me. + +PRU. Do you not find sometimes as if those things were overcome, which +at other times are your trouble? + +CHRIS. Yes, but that is but seldom; but they are to me golden hours in +which such things happen to me. + +PRU. Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances, at times, +as if they were overcome? + +CHRIS. Yes; when I think what I saw at the cross, that will do it; and +when I look upon my broidered coat, that will do it; also when I look +into the roll that I carry in my bosom, that will do it; and when my +thoughts wax warm about whither I am going, that will do it. + +PRU. And what makes you so desirous to go to Mount Zion? + +CHRIS. Why, there I hope to see Him alive that did hang dead on the +cross; and there I hope to be rid of all these things that to this day +are in me an annoyance to me. There, they say, there is no death; and +there I shall dwell with such company as I like best. For, to tell you +the truth, I love Him because I was by Him eased of my burden; and I am +weary of my inward sickness. I would fain be where I shall die no more, +and with the company that shall continually cry, "Holy, holy, holy!" + +[Sidenote: CHARITY TALKS WITH CHRISTIAN] + +CHAR. Then said Charity to Christian, "Have you a family? are you a +married man?" + +CHRIS. I have a wife and four small children. + +CHAR. And why did you not bring them along with you? + +CHRIS. Then Christian wept, and said, "Oh, how willingly would I have +done it! but they were all of them utterly against my going on +pilgrimage." + +CHAR. But you should have talked to them, and endeavored to have shown +them the danger of staying behind. + +CHRIS. So I did, and told them also what God had shown to me of the +destruction of our city; but I seemed to them as one that mocked, and +they believed me not. + +CHAR. And did you pray to God that He would bless your words to them? + +CHRIS. Yes, and that with much affection; for you must think that my +wife and poor children are very dear unto me. + +CHAR. But did you tell them of your own sorrow and fear of destruction? +for I suppose that you could see your destruction before you. + +CHRIS. Yes, over, and over, and over. They might also see my fears in my +countenance, in my tears, and also in my trembling under the fear of the +judgment that did hang over our heads: but all was not enough to prevail +with them to come with me. + +CHAR. But what could they say for themselves why they came not? + +CHRIS. Why, my wife was afraid of losing this world, and my children +were given to the foolish delights of youth; so, what by one thing, and +what by another, they left me to wander in this manner alone. + +CHAR. But did you not, with your vain life, hinder all that you by words +used by way of persuasion to bring them away with you? + +CHRIS. Indeed, I cannot commend my life, for I am conscious to myself of +many failings therein. I know also, that a man, by his actions may soon +overthrow what, by proofs or persuasion, he doth labor to fasten upon +others for their good. Yet this I can say, I was very wary of giving +them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse to going on +pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing they would tell me I was too +precise, and that I denied myself of things (for their sakes) in which +they saw no evil. Nay, I think I may say that, if what they saw in me +did hinder them, it was my great tenderness in sinning against God, or +of doing any wrong to my neighbor. + +CHAR. Indeed, Cain hated his brother because his own works were evil, +and his brother's righteous; and, if thy wife and children have been +offended with thee for this, they thereby show themselves to be +resolutely opposed to good: thou hast freed thy soul from their blood. + +Now I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together till supper +was ready. So, when they had made ready, they sat down to meat. Now, the +table was furnished with fat things, and wine that was well refined; and +all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill; as, namely, +about what He had done, and wherefore He did what He did, and why He had +builded that house; and by what they said, I perceived that He had been +a great warrior, and had fought with and slain him that had the power of +death, but not without great danger to Himself, which made me love Him +the more. + +For, as they said, and as I believe (said Christian), He did it with the +loss of much blood. But that which puts the glory of grace into all He +did, was, that He did it out of pure love to this country. And, besides, +there were some of them of the household that said they had seen and +spoken with Him since He did die on the cross; and they have declared +that they had it from His own lips, that He is such a lover of poor +pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the east to the west. +They moreover gave an instance of what they affirmed; and that was, He +had stripped Himself of His glory, that He might do this for the poor; +and that they had heard Him say and affirm that He would not dwell in +the mountains of Zion alone. They said, moreover, that He had made many +pilgrims princes, though by nature they were beggars born, and their +home had been the dunghill. + +Thus they talked together till late at night; and after they had +committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they betook +themselves to rest. The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, +whose window opened towards the sunrising. The name of the chamber was +Peace, where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang: + + "Where am I now? Is this the love and care + Of Jesus, for the men that pilgrims are, + Thus to provide that I should be forgiven, + And dwell already the next door to heaven?" + +[Sidenote: THE VIRGINS READ TO CHRISTIAN] + +So in the morning they all got up; and after some more talking together, +they told him that he should not depart till they had shown him the +rarities of that place. And first they took him into the study, where +they showed him records of the greatest age; in which, as I remember in +my dream, they showed him first the history of the Lord of the hill, +that He was the son of the Ancient of Days, and had lived from the +beginning. Here also were more fully written the acts that He had done, +and the names of many hundreds that He had taken into his service; and +how he had placed them in such houses that could neither by length of +days nor decays of nature be destroyed. + +Then they read to him some of the worthy acts that some of His servants +had done; as, how they had conquered kingdoms, wrought righteousness, +obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of +fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, +waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the enemies. + +They then read again in another part of the records of the house, where +it was shown how willing their Lord was to receive into His favor any +even any, though they in time past had done great wrongs to His person +and rule. Here also were several other histories of many other famous +things, of all which Christian had a view; as of things both ancient and +modern, together with prophecies and foretellings of things that surely +come to pass, both to the dread and wonder of enemies, and the comfort +and happiness of pilgrims. + +The next day they took him and led him into the armory, where they +showed him all manner of weapons which their Lord had provided for +pilgrims; as sword, shield, helmet, breast-plate, all-prayer, and shoes +that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness +out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be stars in the +heaven for multitude. + +They also showed him some of the things with which some of His servants +had done wonderful things. They showed him Moses' rod; the hammer and +nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps too, +with which Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian. Then they showed +him the ox's goad wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men. They showed +him also the jaw-bone with which Samson did such mighty feats. They +showed him, moreover, the sling and stone with which David slew Goliath +of Gath, and the sword also with which their Lord will kill the Man of +Sin, in the day that He shall rise up to the battle. They showed him, +besides, many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted. +This done, they went to their rest again. + +Then I saw in my dream that on the morrow he got up to go forward, but +they desired him to stay till the next day also; "and then," said they, +"we will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable Mountains;" which +they said would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer +the desired haven than the place where at present he was. So he +consented and stayed. When the morning was up, they led him to the top +of the house, and bid him look south. So he did, and behold, at a great +distance he saw a most pleasant mountainous country, beautified with +woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and +fountains, very lovely to behold. Then he asked the name of the country. +They said it was Immanuel's Land; "and it is as common," said they, "as +this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest there, +from thence thou mayest see to the gate of the Celestial City, as the +shepherds that live there will make appear." + +Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he +should. "But first," said they, "let us go again into the armory." So +they did; and when he came there, they dressed him from head to foot +with armor of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the +way. He being, therefore, thus armed, walked out with his friends to the +gate; and there he asked the Porter if he saw any pilgrim pass by. Then +the Porter answered, "Yes." + +CHRIS. "Pray, did you know him?" said he. + +PORT. I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithful. + +CHRIS. "Oh," said Christian, "I know him, he is my townsman, my near +neighbor; he comes from the place where I was born. How far do you think +he may be before?" + +PORT. He has got by this time below the hill. + +CHRIS. "Well," said Christian, "good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and +add to all thy blessings much increase for the kindness thou has shown +to me!" + +Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, Charity, and +Prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So they went +on together repeating their former discourses, till they came to go down +the hill. Then said Christian, "As it was difficult coming up, so far so +as I can see, it is dangerous going down." "Yes," said Prudence, "so it +is; for it is a hard matter for a man to go down the Valley of +Humiliation, as thou art now, and to catch no slip by the way; +therefore," said they, "are we come out to accompany thee down the +hill." So he began to go down, but very warily; yet he caught a slip or +two. + +Then I saw in my dream that these good companions, when Christian was +gone down to the bottom of the hill, gave him a loaf of bread, a bottle +of wine, and a cluster of raisins; and then he went his way. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +But now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to +it; for he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend +coming over the field to meet him: his name is Apollyon. Then did +Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether to go back +or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armor for +his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give +him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with darts; therefore he +resolved to venture and stand his ground; for, thought he, had I no more +in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way to +stand. So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now, the monster was hideous +to behold: he was clothed with scales like a fish, and they are his +pride; he had wings like a dragon, and feet like a bear, and out of his +belly came fire and smoke; and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion. +When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful +countenance, and thus began to question with him: + +[Sidenote: APOLLYON STAYS CHRISTIAN] + +APOLLYON. Whence come you, and whither are you bound? + +CHRIS. I am come from the City of Destruction, which is the place of all +evil, and am going to the City of Zion. + +APOL. By this I perceive that thou art one of my subjects; for all that +country is mine, and I am the prince and God of it. How is it then that +thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I hope that thou +mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the +ground. + +CHRIS. I was indeed born in your kingdom; but your service was hard, and +your wages such as a man could not live on; for the wages of sin is +death; therefore, when I was come to years, I did as other thoughtful +persons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend myself. + +APOL. There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects, +neither will I as yet lose thee; but, since thou complainest of thy +service and wages, be content to go back, and what our country will +afford I do here promise to give thee. + +CHRIS. But I have let myself to another, even to the King of princes; +and how can I with fairness go back with thee? + +APOL. Thou hast done in this according to the proverb, "changed a bad +for a worse;" but it is common for those that have called themselves His +servants, after awhile to give Him the slip, and return again to me. Do +thou so too, and all shall be well. + +CHRIS. I have given Him my faith, and sworn my service to Him; how, +then, can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor? + +APOL. Thou didst the same to me, and yet I am willing to pass by all, +if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back. + +CHRIS. What I promised thee was in my youth, and besides, I count that +the Prince under whose banner I now stand is able to set me free, yea, +and to pardon also what I did as to my service with thee. And besides, O +thou destroying Apollyon, to speak the truth, I like His service, His +wages, His servants, His government, His company, and country, better +than thine; therefore leave off to persuade me further: I am His +servant, and I will follow Him. + +APOL. Consider again when thou art in cold blood, what thou art likely +to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that for the most +part His servants come to an ill end, because they are disobedient +against me and my ways. How many of them have been put to shameful +deaths! And besides, thou countest His service better than mine; whereas +He never came yet from the place where He is, to deliver any that served +Him out of their hands; but as for me, how many times, as all the world +very well knows, have I delivered, either by power or fraud, those that +have faithfully served me, from Him and His, though taken by them! And +so I will deliver thee. + +CHRIS. His forbearing at present to deliver them is on purpose to try +their love, whether they will cleave to Him to the end; and, as for the +ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious in their +account. For, for present deliverance, they do not much expect it; for +they stay for their glory, and then they shall have it when their prince +comes in His and the glory of the angels. + +APOL. Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to Him; and how +dost thou think to receive wages of Him? + +CHRIS. Wherein, O Apollyon, have I been unfaithful to Him? + +APOL. Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast almost +choked in the Gulf of Despond. Thou didst attempt wrong ways to be rid +of thy burden, whereas thou shouldst have stayed till thy Prince had +taken it off. Thou didst sinfully sleep and lose thy choice things. Thou +wast almost persuaded to go back at the sight of the lions. And when +thou talkest of thy journey, and of what thou hast seen and heard, thou +art inwardly desirous of glory to thyself in all that thou sayest or +doest. + +CHRIS. All this is true, and much more which thou hast left out; but the +Prince whom I serve and honor is merciful and ready to forgive. But +besides, these infirmities possessed me in thy own country; for there I +sucked them in, and I have groaned under them, been sorry for them, and +have obtained pardon of my Prince. + +APOL. Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, saying, "I am an +enemy to this Prince; I hate His person, His laws, and people. I am come +out on purpose to withstand thee." + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN THE CONQUEROR] + +CHRIS. Apollyon, beware what you do, for I am in the King's highway, +the way of holiness: therefore take heed to yourself. + +APOL. Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, +and said, "I am void of fear in this matter. Prepare thyself to die; for +I swear by my infernal den, that thou shalt go no farther: here will I +spill thy soul." And, with that, he threw a flaming dart at his breast; +but Christian held a shield in his hand, with which he caught, and so +prevented the danger of that. + +Then did Christian draw, for he saw it was time to bestir him; and +Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail, by the +which, notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it, Apollyon +wounded him in his head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give a +little back; Apollyon, therefore, followed his work amain, and Christian +again took courage, and resisted as manfully as he could. This sore +combat lasted for above half a day, even till Christian was almost quite +spent. For you must know that Christian, by reason of his wounds, must +needs grow weaker and weaker. + +Then Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to +Christian, and, wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall; and, with +that, Christian's sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, "I am +sure of thee now." And, with that, he had almost pressed him to death, +so that Christian began to despair of life. But, as God would have it, +while Apollyon was fetching his last blow, thereby to make a full end +of this good man, Christian nimbly reached out his hand for his sword, +and caught it, saying, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I +fall I shall arise;" and, with that, gave him a deadly thrust, which +made him give back, as one that had received his mortal wound. +Christian, perceiving that, made at him again, saying, "Nay, in all +these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." +And, with that, Apollyon spread forth his dragon's wings, and sped him +away, that Christian for a season saw him no more. + +In this combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen and heard, as I +did, what yelling and hideous roaring Apollyon made all the time of the +fight: he spake like a dragon; and, on the other side, what sighs and +groans burst from Christian's heart. I never saw him all the while give +so much as one pleasant look, till he perceived he had wounded Apollyon +with his two-edged sword; then, indeed, he did smile and look upward; +but it was the dreadfullest sight that ever I saw. + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN GIVES THANKS] + +CHRIS. So, when the battle was over, Christian said, "I will here give +thanks to Him that hath delivered me out of the mouth of the lion; to +Him that did help me against Apollyon." And so he did, saying: + + "Great Satan, the captain of this fiend, + Designed my ruin; therefore to this end + He sent him harnessed out: and he with rage + That hellish was, did fiercely me engage; + But blessed angels helped me; and I, + By dint of sword, did quickly make him fly: + Therefore to God let me give lasting praise, + And thank and bless His holy name always." + +Then there came to him a hand with some of the leaves of the tree of +life; the which Christian took, and laid upon the wounds that he had +received in the battle, and was healed immediately. He also sat down in +that place to eat bread, and to drink of the bottle that was given to +him a little before: so, being refreshed, he went forth on his journey, +with his sword drawn in his hand; "For," he said, "I know not but some +other enemy may be at hand." But he met with no other harm from Apollyon +quite through this valley. + +Now, at the end of this valley was another, called the Valley of the +Shadow of Death; and Christian must needs go through it, because the way +to the Celestial City lay through the midst of it. Now this valley is a +very solitary place; the prophet Jeremiah thus describes it: "A +wilderness, a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought, and of the +shadow of death, a land that no man" but a Christian "passeth through, +and where no man dwelt." + +Now here Christian was worse put to it than in his fight with Apollyon, +as in the story you shall see. + +I saw then in my dream, that when Christian was got to the borders of +the Shadow of Death, there met him two men, children of them that +brought up an evil report of the good land, making haste to go back; to +whom Christian spake as follows: + +CHRIS. Whither are you going? + +MEN. They said, "Back, back! and we would have you to do so too, if +either life or peace is prized by you." + +CHRIS. "Why, what's the matter?" said Christian. + +MEN. "Matter!" said they: "we were going that way as you are going, and +went as far as we durst: and indeed we were almost past coming back; for +had we gone a little farther, we had not been here to bring the news to +thee." + +CHRIS. "But what have you met with?" said Christian. + +MEN. Why, we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but that +by good hap we looked before us, and saw the danger before we came to +it. + +CHRIS. "But what have you seen?" said Christian. + +MEN. Seen! why, the valley itself, which is as dark as pitch: we also +saw there the hobgoblins, satyrs, and dragons of the pit; we heard also +in that valley a continual howling and yelling, as of a people under +unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and irons; and +over that hung the discouraging clouds of confusion; Death also does +always spread his wings over it. In a word, it is every whit dreadful, +being utterly without order. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian, "I perceive not yet, by what you have said, +but that this is my way to the desired haven." + +MEN. Be it thy way, we will not choose it for ours. + +So they parted, and Christian went on his way, but still with his sword +drawn in his hand, for fear lest he should be attacked. + +I saw then in my dream, as far as this valley reached, there was on the +right hand a very deep ditch; that ditch is it into which the blind have +led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished. +Again, behold, on the left hand there was a very dangerous quag, or +marsh, into which, if even a good man falls, he finds no bottom for his +foot to stand on: into that quag King David once did fall, and had no +doubt there been smothered, had not He that is able plucked him out. + +The pathway was here also exceedingly narrow, and therefore good +Christian was the more put to it; for when he sought, in the dark, to +shun the ditch, on the one hand he was ready to tip over into the mire +on the other; also when he sought to escape the mire, without great +carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on, +and I heard him here sigh bitterly, for besides the danger mentioned +above, the pathway was here so dark, that ofttimes, when he lifted up +his foot to go forward, he knew not where or upon what he should set it +next. + +[Sidenote: A COMPANY OF FIENDS] + +About the midst of this valley I perceived the mouth of hell to be, and +it stood also hard by the wayside. Now, thought Christian, what shall I +do? And ever and anon the flame and smoke would come out in such +abundance, with sparks and hideous noises (things that cared not for +Christian's sword, as did Apollyon before), that he was forced to put up +his sword, and betake himself to another weapon, called "All-Prayer." So +he cried in my hearing, "O Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul." Thus +he went on a great while, yet still the flames would be reaching towards +him; also he heard doleful voices, and rushings to and fro, so that +sometimes he thought he should be torn in pieces, or trodden down like +mire in the streets. This frightful sight was seen, and those dreadful +noises were heard by him, for several miles together, and, coming to a +place where he thought he heard a company of fiends coming forward to +meet him, he stopped, and began to muse what he had best to do. +Sometimes he had half a thought to go back; then again he thought he +might be half-way through the valley. He remembered, also, how he had +already vanquished many a danger, and that the danger of going back +might be much more than going forward. So he resolved to go on; yet the +fiends seemed to come nearer and nearer. But, when they were come even +almost at him, he cried out with a most vehement voice, "I will walk in +the strength of the Lord God." So they gave back, and came no farther. + +[Sidenote: VALLEY OF SHADOW OF DEATH] + +One thing I would not let slip: I took notice that now poor Christian +was so confounded that he did not know his own voice; and thus I +perceived it: just when he was come over against the mouth of the +burning pit, one of the wicked ones got behind him, and stepped up +softly to him, and whisperingly suggested many wicked words to him, +which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put +Christian more to it than anything he had met with before, even to think +that he should now speak evil of Him that he had so much loved before. +Yet, if he could have helped it, he would not have done it; but he had +not the wisdom either to stop his ears, or to know from whence those +wicked words came. + +When Christian had traveled in this sorrowful condition some +considerable time he thought he heard the voice of a man, as going +before him, saying, "Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of +Death I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me." + +Then he was glad, and that for these reasons: + +First,--Because he gathered from thence, that some who feared God were +in this valley as well as himself. + +Secondly,--For that he perceived God was with them, though in that dark +and dismal state. And why not, thought he, with me, though by reason of +the kindness that attends this place, I cannot perceive it? + +Thirdly,--For that he hoped (could he overtake them) to have company +by-and-by. So he went on, and called to him that was before; but he knew +not what to answer, for that he also thought himself to be alone. And +by-and-by the day broke. Then said Christian, "He hath turned the shadow +of death into the morning." + +Now, morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire to return, +but to see, by the light of the day, what dangers he had gone through in +the dark. So he saw more perfectly the ditch that was on the one hand, +and the quag that was on the other; also how narrow the way which led +betwixt them both. Also now he saw the hobgoblins, and satyrs, and +dragons of the pit, but all afar off; for after break of day they came +not nigh; yet they were shown to him according to that which is written, +"He showeth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the +shadow of death." + +Now was Christian much affected with his deliverance from all the +dangers of his solitary way; which dangers, though he feared them much +before, yet he saw them more clearly now, because the light of the day +made them plain to him. And about this time the sun was rising, and this +was another mercy to Christian; for you must note that, though the first +part of the Valley of the Shadow of Death was dangerous, yet this second +part, which he was yet to go, was if possible far more dangerous; for, +from the place where he now stood, even to the end of the valley, the +way was all along set so full of snares, traps, gins, and nets here, +and so full of pits, pitfalls, deep holes, and shelvings down there, +that, had it now been dark, as it was when he came the first part of the +way, had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away. +But, as I said just now the sun was rising. Then said he, "His candle +shineth on my head, and by His light I go through darkness." + +[Sidenote: POPE AND PAGAN] + +In this light, therefore, he came to the end of the valley. Now, I saw +in my dream that at the end of the valley lay blood, bones, ashes, and +mangled bodies of men, even of pilgrims that had gone this way formerly; +and, while I was musing what should be the reason, I espied a little +before me a cave, where two giants, POPE and PAGAN, dwelt in old time; +by whose power and tyranny, the men whose bones, blood, ashes, etc., lay +there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Christian went +without danger, whereat I somewhat wondered; but I have learnt since, +that Pagan has been dead many a day; and, as for the other, though he be +yet alive, he is, by reason of age, also of the many shrewd brushes that +he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints, +that he can now do little more than sit in his cave's mouth, grinning at +pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails because he cannot come to +them. + +So I saw that Christian went on his way; yet, at the sight of the old +man that sat at the mouth of the cave, he could not tell what to think, +especially because he spoke to him, though he could not go after him, +saying, "You will never mend till more of you be burned." But he held +his peace, and set a good face on it, and so went by and caught no hurt. +Then sang Christian: + + "O, world of wonders (I can say no less), + That I should be preserved in that distress + That I have met with here! Oh, blessed be + That hand that from it hath delivered me! + Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and sin, + Did compass me, while I this vale was in; + Yes, snares, and pits, and traps, and nets did lie + My path about, that worthless, silly I + Might have been catched, entangled, and cast down; + But, since I live, let Jesus wear the crown." + +[Illustration: Christian and Faithful Join Company. + Page 89] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Now as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent which was +cast up on purpose that pilgrims might see before them: up there, +therefore, Christian went; and looking forward, he saw Faithful before +him upon his journey. Then said Christian aloud, "Ho, ho! so-ho! stay, +and I will be your companion." At that Faithful looked behind him; to +whom Christian cried, "Stay, stay, till I come up to you." But Faithful +answered, "No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind +me." + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN JOINS FAITHFUL] + +At this Christian was somewhat moved; and putting to all his strength, +he quickly got up with Faithful, and did also overrun him: so the last +was first. Then did Christian boastfully smile, because he had gotten +the start of his brother; but, not taking good heed to his feet, he +suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise again until Faithful came +up to help him. + +Then I saw in my dream, they went very lovingly on together, and had +sweet talk together of all things that had happened to them in their +pilgrimage; and thus Christian began: + +CHRIS. My honored and well-beloved brother Faithful, I am glad that I +have overtaken you, and that God has so tempered our spirits that we can +walk as companions in this so pleasant a path. + +FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from +our town; but you did get the start of me, wherefore I was forced to +come thus much of the way alone. + +CHRIS. How long did you stay in the City of Destruction before you set +out after me on your pilgrimage? + +[Sidenote: WHAT WAS SAID IN THE CITY] + +FAITH. Till I could stay no longer; for there was great talk, presently +after you were gone out, that our city would, in a short time, with fire +from heaven, be burned down to the ground. + +CHRIS. What! did your neighbors talk so? + +FAITH. Yes, it was for a while in everybody's mouth. + +CHRIS. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the +danger? + +FAITH. Though there was, as I said, a great talk thereabout, yet I do +not think they did firmly believe it. For, in the heat of the talking I +heard some of them deridingly speak of you, and of your desperate +journey; for so they called this your pilgrimage. But I did believe, and +do still, that the end of our city will be with fire and brimstone from +above; and therefore I have made my escape. + +CHRIS. Did you hear no talk of neighbor Pliable? + +FAITH. Yes, Christian; I heard that he followed you till he came to the +Slough of Despond, where, as some said, he fell in; but he would not be +known to have so done; but I am sure he was soundly bedabbled with that +kind of dirt. + +CHRIS. And what said the neighbors to him? + +FAITH. He hath, since his going back, been held greatly in derision, and +that among all sorts of people: some do mock and despise him, and scarce +any will set him on work. He is now seven times worse than if he had +never gone out of the city. + +CHRIS. But why should they be set so against him, since they also +despise the way that he forsook? + +FAITH. "Oh," they say, "hang him; he is a turncoat! he was not true to +his profession!" I think God has stirred up even his enemies to hiss at +him and laugh at him, because he hath forsaken the way. + +CHRIS. Had you no talk with him before you came out? + +FAITH. I met him once in the streets, but he leered away on the other +side, as one ashamed of what he had done; so I spake not to him. + +CHRIS. Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes of that man, but now I +fear he will perish in the overthrow of the city. For it has happened to +him according to the true proverb, "The dog is turned to his vomit +again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." + +FAITH. These are my fears of him too; but who can hinder that which will +be? + +CHRIS. "Well, neighbor Faithful," said Christian, "let us leave him, and +talk of things that more immediately concern ourselves. Tell me now +what you have met with in the way as you came; for I know you have met +with some things, or else it may be writ for a wonder." + +FAITH. I escaped the slough that I perceive you fell into, and got up to +the gate without that danger; only I met with one whose name was Wanton, +that had like to have done me a mischief. + +CHRIS. It was well you escaped her net: Joseph was hard put to it by +her, and he escaped her as you did; but it had like to have cost him his +life. But what did she do to you? + +FAITH. You cannot think (but that you know something) what a flattering +tongue she had; she lay at me hard to turn aside with her, promising me +all manner of enjoyment. + +CHRIS. Nay, she did not promise you the enjoyment of a good conscience. + +FAITH. You know what I mean--not the enjoyment of the soul, but of the +body. + +CHRIS. Thank God you have escaped her: the abhorred of the Lord shall +fall into her ditch. + +FAITH. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her or no. + +CHRIS. Why, I suppose you did not consent to her desires? + +FAITH. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old writing that I +had seen which saith, "Her steps take hold of hell." So I shut mine +eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her looks. Then she railed +on me, and I went my way. + +CHRIS. Did you meet with no other assault as you came? + +[Sidenote: FAITHFUL AND ADAM THE FIRST] + +FAITH. When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, I met with +a very aged man, who asked me what I was and whither bound. I told him +that I was a pilgrim, going to the Celestial City. Then said the old +man, "Thou lookest like an honest fellow: wilt thou be content to dwell +with me, for the wages that I shall give thee?" Then I asked him his +name, and where he dwelt. He said his name was Adam the First, and that +he dwelt in the town of Deceit. I asked him then what was his work, and +what the wages that he would give. He told me that his work was many +delights; and his wages, that I should be his heir at last. I further +asked him what house he kept, and what other servants he had. So he told +me that his house was filled with all the dainties of the world, and +that his servants were his own children. Then I asked him how many +children he had. He said that he had but three daughters, the Lust of +the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life, and that I +should marry them if I would. Then I asked, how long time he would have +me live with him? And he told me, As long as he lived himself. + +CHRIS. Well, and what conclusion came the old man and you to at last? + +FAITH. Why, at first I found myself somewhat inclinable to go with the +man, for I thought he spake very fair; but looking in his forehead, as +I talked with him, I saw there written, "Put off the old man with his +deeds." + +CHRIS. And how then? + +FAITH. Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he said, and +however he flattered, when he got home to his house he would sell me for +a slave. So I bid him forbear, for I would not come near the door of his +house. Then he reviled me, and told me that he would send such a one +after me that should make my way bitter to my soul. So I turned to go +away from him; but, just as I turned myself to go thence, I felt him +take hold of my flesh, and give me such a deadly twitch back, that I +thought he had pulled part of me after himself: this made me cry, "O +wretched man!" So I went on my way up the hill. Now, when I had got +about half-way up, I looked behind me, and saw one coming after me, +swift as the wind; so he overtook me just about the place where the +settle stands. + +CHRIS. "Just there," said Christian, "did I sit down to rest me; but +being overcome with sleep, I there lost this roll out of my bosom." + +FAITH. But, good brother, hear me out. So soon as the man overtook me, +he was but a word and a blow; for down he knocked me, and laid me for +dead. But, when I was a little come to myself again, I asked him +wherefore he served me so. He said, because of my secret inclining to +Adam the First. And, with that, he struck me another deadly blow on the +breast, and beat me down backwards; so I lay at his feet as dead as +before. So, when I came to myself again, I cried him mercy; but he said, +"I know not how to show mercy;" and, with that, he knocked me down +again. He had doubtless made an end of me, but that One came by, and bid +him forbear. + +CHRIS. Who was that that bid him forbear? + +FAITH. I did not know him at first; but, as He went by, I perceived the +holes in His hands and His side; then I concluded that He was our Lord. +So I went up the hill. + +CHRIS. That man that overtook you was Moses. He spareth none, neither +knoweth he how to show mercy to those that disobey his law. + +FAITH. I know it very well: it was not the first time that he has met +with me. It was he that came to me when I dwelt securely at home, and +that told me he would burn my house over my head if I stayed there. + +CHRIS. But Did not you see the house that stood there, on the top of +that hill on the side of which Moses met you? + +FAITH. Yes, and the lions too, before I came at it. But, for the lions, +I think they were asleep, for it was about noon; and because I had so +much of the day before me I passed by the Porter, and came down the +hill. + +CHRIS. He told me, indeed, that he saw you go by; but I wished you had +called at the house, for they would have showed you so many rarities, +that you would scarce have forgot them to the day of your death. But +pray tell me, did you meet nobody in the Valley of Humility? + +FAITH. Yes, I met with one Discontent, who would willingly have +persuaded me to go back again with him: his reason was, for that the +valley was altogether without honor. He told me, moreover, that there to +go was the way to disoblige all my friends, as Pride, Arrogancy, +Self-Conceit, Worldly-Glory, with others, who he knew, as he said, would +be very much offended if I made such a fool of myself as to wade through +this valley. + +CHRIS. Well, and how did you answer him? + +FAITH. I told him that, although all these that he named might claim +kindred of me, and that rightly (for, indeed, they were my relations +according to the flesh), yet, since I became a pilgrim, they have +disowned me, as I also have rejected them; and therefore they were to me +now no more than if they had never been of my lineage. I told him, +moreover, that as to this valley, he had quite misrepresented the thing; +for before honor is humility, and a haughty spirit before a fall. +"Therefore," said I, "I had rather go through this valley to the honor +that was so accounted by the wisest, than choose that which he esteemed +most worthy of our affections." + +CHRIS. Met you with nothing else in that valley? + +[Sidenote: SHAME A BOLD VILLAIN] + +FAITH. Yes, I met with Shame; but, of all the men that I met with in my +pilgrimage, he I think, bears the wrong name. The others would take +"No" for an answer, at least after some words of denial; but this +bold-faced Shame would never have done. + +CHRIS. Why, what did he say to you? + +FAITH. What? why, he objected against religion itself. He said it was a +pitiful, low, sneaking business for a man to mind religion. He said that +a tender conscience was an unmanly thing; and that for a man to watch +over his words and ways, so as to tie up himself from that liberty that +the brave spirits of the times accustom themselves unto, would make him +the ridicule of all the people in our time. He objected also, that but a +few of the mighty, rich, or wise were ever of my opinion; nor any of +them neither, before they were persuaded to be fools, to venture the +loss of all for nobody else knows what. He, moreover, objected the base +and low estate and condition of those that were chiefly the pilgrims of +the times in which they lived; also their ignorance, and want of +understanding in all worldly knowledge. Yea, he did hold me to it at +that rate also, about a great many more things than here I relate; as, +that it was a shame to sit whining and mourning under a sermon, and a +shame to come sighing and groaning home; that it was a shame to ask my +neighbor forgiveness for petty faults, or to give back what I had taken +from any. He said also that religion made a man grow strange to the +great, because of a few vices (which he called by finer names), and +because religion made him own and respect the base, who were of the same +religious company; "and is not this," said he, "a shame?" + +CHRIS. And what did you say to him? + +FAITH. Say? I could not tell what to say at first. Yea, he put me so to +it that my blood came up in my face; even this Shame fetched it up, and +had almost beat me quite off. But at last I began to consider that that +which is highly esteemed among men is had in abomination with God. And I +thought again, This Shame tells me what men are, but it tells me nothing +what God, or the Word of God is. And I thought, moreover, that at the +day of doom we shall not be doomed to death or life according to the +spirits of the world, but according to the wisdom and law of the +Highest. Therefore, thought I, what God says is best--is best, though +all the men in the world are against it. Seeing, then, that God prefers +His religion; seeing God prefers a tender conscience; seeing they that +make themselves fools for the kingdom of heaven are wisest, and that the +poor man that loveth Christ is richer than the greatest man in the world +that hates Him; Shame, depart! thou art an enemy to my salvation. Shall +I listen to thee against my sovereign Lord? how, then, shall I look Him +in the face at His coming? Should I now be ashamed of His way and +servants how can I expect the blessing? But, indeed, this Shame was a +bold villain: I could scarce shake him out of my company; yea, he would +be haunting of me, and continually whispering me in the ear with some +one or other of the weak things that attend religion. But at last I told +him it was in vain to attempt further in this business; for those things +that he despised, in those did I see most glory; and so, at last, I got +past this persistent one. And when I had shaken him off, then I began to +sing, + + "The trials that those men do meet withal, + That are obedient to the heavenly call, + Are manifold, and suited to the flesh, + And come, and come, and come again afresh; + That now, or some time else, we by them may + Be taken, overcome, and cast away. + Oh, let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims then, + Be vigilant and quit themselves like men!" + +CHRIS. I am glad, my brother, that thou didst withstand this villain so +bravely: for of all, as thou sayest, I think he has the wrong name; for +he is so bold as to follow us in the streets, and to attempt to put us +to shame before all men; that is, to make us ashamed of that which is +good. But, if he was not himself bold, he would never attempt to do as +he does. But let us still resist him; for, notwithstanding all his bold +words, he promoteth the fool, and none else. "The wise shall inherit +glory," said Solomon; "but shame shall be the promotion of fools." + +FAITH. I think we must cry to Him for help against Shame who would have +us to be valiant for truth upon the earth. + +CHRIS. You say true. But did you meet nobody else in that valley? + +FAITH. No, not I; for I had sunshine all the rest of the way through +that, and also through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. + +CHRIS. It was well for you! I am sure it fared far otherwise with me. I +had for a long season, as soon almost as I entered into that valley, a +dreadful combat with that foul fiend Apollyon; yea, I thought verily he +would have killed me, especially when he got me down, and crushed me +under him, as if he would have crushed me to pieces. For, as he threw +me, my sword flew out of my hand; nay, he told me he was sure of me; and +I cried to God, and He heard me, and delivered me out of all my +troubles. Then I entered into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and had +no light for almost half the way through it. I thought I should have +been killed there over and over: but at last day broke, and the sun +rose, and I went through that which was behind with far more ease and +quiet. + +[Sidenote: TALKATIVE OVERTAKEN] + +Moreover, I saw in my dream that, as they went on, Faithful, as he +chanced to look on one side, saw a man whose name is Talkative walking +at a distance beside them; for in this place there was room enough for +them all to walk. He was a tall man, and something better looking at a +distance than near at hand. To this man Faithful spoke himself in this +manner: + +FAITH. Friend, whither away? Are you going to the heavenly country? + +TALK. I am going to that same place. + +FAITH. That is well; then I hope we may have your good company. + +TALK. With a very good will, will I be your companion. + +FAITH. Come on, then, and let us go together, and let us spend our time +in talking of things that are profitable. + +TALK. To talk of things that are good, to me is very acceptable, with +you or with any other; and I am glad that I have met with those that +incline to so good a work; for, to speak the truth, there are but few +who care thus to spend their time as they are in their travels, but +choose much rather to be speaking of things to no profit; and this has +been a trouble to me. + +FAITH. That is, indeed, a thing to be lamented; for what things so +worthy of the use of the tongue and mouth of men on earth, as are the +things of the God of heaven? + +TALK. I like you wonderfully well, for your saying is full of the truth; +and I will add, What thing is so pleasant, and what so profitable, as to +talk of the things of God? What things so pleasant? that is, if a man +hath any delight in things that are wonderful. For instance, if a man +doth delight to talk of the history or the mystery of things, or if a +man doth love to talk of miracles, wonders, or signs, where shall he +find things written so delightful, or so sweetly penned, as in the Holy +Scripture? + +FAITH. That's true; but to be profited by such things in our talk should +be that which we design. + +[Sidenote: TALKATIVE SELF-DECEIVED] + +TALK. That is it that I said; for to talk of such things is most +profitable; for, by so doing, a man may get knowledge of many things; as +of the folly of earthly things, and the benefit of things above. +Besides, by this a man may learn what it is to turn from sin, to +believe, to pray, to suffer, or the like; by this, also, a man may learn +what are the great promises and comforts of the Gospel, to his own +enjoyment. Further, by this a man may learn to answer false opinions, to +prove the truth, and also to teach the ignorant. + +FAITH. All this is true; and glad am I to hear these things from you. + +TALK. Alas! the want of this is the cause that so few understand the +need of faith, and the necessity of a work of grace in their soul, in +order to eternal life. + +FAITH. But, by your leave, heavenly knowledge of these is the gift of +God; no man attaineth to them by human working, or only by the talk of +them. + +TALK. All that I know very well, for a man can receive nothing except it +be given him from heaven; I could give you a hundred scriptures for the +confirmation of this. + +FAITH. "Well, then," said Faithful, "what is that one thing that we +shall at this time found our talk upon?" + +TALK. What you will. I will talk of things heavenly or things earthly; +things in life or things in the gospel; things sacred or things worldly; +things past or things to come; things foreign or things at home; things +necessary or things accidental, provided that all be done to our profit. + +FAITH. Now did Faithful begin to wonder; and, stepping to Christian (for +he walked all this while by himself), he said to him, but softly, "What +a brave companion have we got! Surely this man will make a very +excellent pilgrim." + +[Sidenote: FAITHFUL DISPUTES TALKATIVE] + +CHRIS. At this Christian modestly smiled, and said, "This man with whom +you are so taken will deceive with this tongue of his twenty of them +that know him not." + +FAITH. Do you know him, then? + +CHRIS. Know him? Yes, better than he knows himself. + +FAITH. Pray what is he? + +CHRIS. His name is Talkative; he dwelleth in our town. I wonder that you +should be a stranger to him: only I consider that our town is large. + +FAITH. Whose son is he? and whereabout doth he dwell? + +CHRIS. He is the son of one Say-well. He dwelt in Prating Row, and is +known to all that are acquainted with him by the name of Talkative of +Prating Row; and notwithstanding his fine tongue, he is but a sorry +fellow. + +FAITH. Well, he seems to be a very pretty man. + +CHRIS. That is, to them that have not a thorough acquaintance with him, +for he is best abroad; near home he is ugly enough. Your saying that he +is a pretty man brings to my mind what I have observed in the work of +the painter, whose pictures show best at a distance, but very near more +unpleasing. + +FAITH. But I am ready to think you do but jest, because you smiled. + +CHRIS. God forbid that I should jest (though I smiled) in this matter, +or that I should accuse any falsely. I will give you a further discovery +of him. This man is for any company, and for any talk. As he talketh now +with you, so will he talk when he is on the ale-bench; and the more +drink he hath in his crown, the more of these things he hath in his +mouth. Religion hath no place in his heart, or house, or conversation: +all he hath lieth in his tongue, and his religion is to make a noise +therewith. + +FAITH. Say you so? Then am I in this man greatly deceived. + +CHRIS. Deceived! you may be sure of it. Remember the proverb, "They say, +and do not;" but the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. He +talketh of prayer, of turning to God, of faith, and of the new birth; +but he knows but only to talk of them. I have been in his family, and +have seen him both at home and abroad, and I know what I say of him is +the truth. His house is as empty of religion as the white of an egg is +of savor. There is there neither prayer nor sign of turning from sin; +yea, the brute, in his kind, serves God far better than he. He is the +very stain, reproach, and shame of religion to all that know him. It can +hardly have a good word in all that end of the town where he dwells, +through him. Thus say the common people that know him: "A saint abroad, +and a devil at home." His poor family finds it so: he is such a +fault-finder, such a railer at, and so unreasonable with his servants, +that they neither know how to do for or speak to him. Men that have any +dealings with him say, it is better to deal with a Turk than with him, +for fairer dealing they shall have at their hands. This Talkative, if it +be possible, will go beyond them, cheat, beguile, and overreach them. +Besides, he brings up his sons to follow his steps; and, if he findeth +in any of them a foolish timorousness (for so he calls the first +appearance of a tender conscience), he calls them fools and blockheads, +and by no means will employ them in much, or speak to their commendation +before others. For my part, I am of opinion that he has, by his wicked +life, caused many to stumble and fall, and will be, if God prevent not, +the ruin of many more. + +FAITH. Well, my brother, I am bound to believe you, not only because you +say you know him, but also because like a Christian you make your +reports of men. For I cannot think you speak these things of ill-will, +but because it is even so as you say. + +CHRIS. Had I known him no more than you, I might, perhaps, have thought +of him as at first you did; yea, had he received this report only from +those that are enemies to religion, I should have thought it had been a +slander, a lot that often falls from bad men's mouths upon good men's +names and professions. But all these things, yea, and a great many more +as bad, of my own knowledge I can prove him guilty of. Besides, good men +are ashamed of him: they can neither call him brother nor friend; the +very naming of him among them makes them blush, if they know him. + +FAITH. Well, I see that saying and doing are two things, and hereafter I +shall better observe the difference between them. + +CHRIS. They are two things, indeed, and are as diverse as are the soul +and the body; for, as the body without the soul is but a dead carcase, +so _saying_, if it be alone, is but a dead carcase also. The soul of +religion is the practical part. "Pure religion and undefiled before God +and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widows in their +affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." This, +Talkative is not aware of: he thinks that hearing and saying will make a +good Christian, and thus he deceiveth his own soul. Hearing is but as +the sowing of the seed; talking is not sufficient to prove that fruit is +indeed in the heart and life. And let us assure ourselves that, at the +day of doom, men shall be judged according to their fruits. + +FAITH. Well, I was not so fond of his company at first, but I am as sick +of it now. What shall we do to be rid of him? + +CHRIS. Take my advice, and do as I bid you, and you shall find that he +will soon be sick of your company too, except God shall touch his heart +and turn it. + +FAITH. What would you have me to do? + +CHRIS. Why, go to him, and enter into some serious conversation about +the power of religion and ask him plainly (when he has approved of it, +for that he will) whether this thing be set up in his heart, house or +conduct. + +FAITH. Then Faithful stepped forward again, and said to Talkative, +"Come, what cheer? How is it now?" + +TALK. Thank you, well: I thought we should have had a great deal of talk +by this time. + +FAITH. Well, if you will, we will fall to it now; and, since you left it +with me to state the question, let it be this: How doth the saving grace +of God show itself when it is in the heart of man? + +TALK. I perceive, then, that our talk must be about the power of things. +Well, it is a very good question, and I shall be willing to answer you. +And take my answer in brief, thus. First, where the grace of God is in +the heart, it causeth there a great outcry against sin. Secondly,-- + +FAITH. Nay, hold; let us consider of one at once. I think you should +rather say, it shows itself by inclining the soul to hate its sin. + +TALK. Why, what difference is there between crying out against and +hating sin? + +FAITH. Oh! a great deal. A man may cry out against sin in order to +appear good; but he cannot hate it except by a real dislike for it. I +have heard many cry out against sin in the pulpit, who yet can abide it +well enough in the heart, house, and life. Some cry out against sin, +even as the mother cries out against her child in her lap, when she +calleth it a naughty girl, and then falls to hugging and kissing it. + +TALK. You are trying to catch me, I perceive. + +FAITH. No, not I; I am only for setting things right. But what is the +second thing whereby you would prove a discovery of a work of God in the +heart? + +TALK. Great knowledge of hard things in the Bible. + +[Sidenote: TALKATIVE PARTS COMPANY] + +FAITH. This sign should have been first; but, first or last, it is also +false; for knowledge, great knowledge, may be obtained in the mysteries +of the Gospel, and yet no work of grace in the soul. Yea, if a man have +all knowledge, he may yet be nothing, and so, consequently, be no child +of God. When Christ said, "Do ye know all these things?" and the +disciples had answered, "Yes," He added, "Blessed are ye if ye do them." +He doth not lay the blessing in the knowledge of them, but in the doing +of them. For there is a knowledge that is not attended with doing: "He +that knoweth his master's will, and doeth it not." A man may know like +an angel, and yet be no Christian; therefore your sign of it is not +true. Indeed, to know, is a thing that pleaseth talkers and boasters; +but to do is that which pleaseth God. + +TALK. You are trying to catch me again: this is not profitable. + +FAITH. Well, if you please, name another sign how this work of grace +showeth itself where it is. + +TALK. Not I; for I see we shall not agree. + +FAITH. Well, if you will not, will you give me leave to do it? + +TALK. You may say what you please. + +FAITH. God's work in the soul showeth itself either to him that hath it +or to standers by. To him that has it, it is shown by making him see and +feel his own sins. To others who are standing by it is shown by his +life, a life of doing right in the sight of God. And now, sir, as to +this brief account of the work of grace, and also the showing of it, if +you have aught to object, object; if not, then give me leave to ask you +a second question. + +TALK. Nay, my part is not now to object, but to hear; let me, therefore, +have your second question. + +FAITH. It is this: Have you felt your own sins, and have you turned from +them? And do your life and conduct show it the same? Or is your religion +in word or in tongue, and not in deed and truth? Pray, if you incline to +answer me in this, say no more than you know the God above will say +Amen to, and also nothing but what your conscience can approve you in; +for not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord +commendeth. Besides, to say I am thus and thus, when my conduct and all +my neighbors tell me I lie, is great wickedness. + +TALK. Then Talkative at first began to blush; but, recovering himself, +thus he replied: "This kind of discourse I did not expect; nor am I +disposed to give an answer to such questions, because I count not myself +bound thereto, unless you take upon you to be a questioner; and though +you should do so, yet I may refuse to make you my judge. But, I pray, +will you tell me why you ask me such questions?" + +FAITH. Because I saw you forward to talk, and because I knew not that +you had aught else but notion. Besides, to tell you all the truth, I +have heard of you that you are a man whose religion lies in talk, and +that your life gives this your mouth-profession the lie. They say you +are a spot among Christians, and that religion fareth the worse for your +ungodly conduct; that some already have stumbled at your wicked ways, +and that more are in danger of being destroyed thereby: your religion, +and an alehouse, and greed for gain, and uncleanness, and swearing, and +lying, and vain company-keeping, etc., will stand together. You are a +shame to all who are members of the church. + +TALK. Since you are ready to take up reports, and to judge so rashly as +you do, I cannot but conclude you are some peevish or cross man, not fit +to be talked with; and so adieu. + +CHRIS. Then came up Christian, and said to his brother, "I told you how +it would happen; your words and his heart could not agree. He had rather +leave your company than reform his life. But he is gone, as I said: let +him go; the loss is no man's but his own: he has saved us the trouble of +going from him; for he continuing (as I suppose he will do) as he is, he +would have been but a blot in our company. Besides, the Apostle says, +'From such withdraw thyself.'" + +FAITH. But I am glad we had this little talk with him; it may happen +that he will think of it again: however, I have dealt plainly with him, +and so am clear of his blood, if he perisheth. + +CHRIS. You did well to talk so plainly to him as you did. There is but +little of this faithful dealing with men now-a-days; and that makes +religion to be despised by so many; for they are these talkative fools, +whose religion is only in word, and are vile and vain in their life, +that, being so much admitted into the fellowship of the godly, do puzzle +the world, blemish Christianity, and grieve the sincere. I wish that all +men would deal with such as you have done; then should they either be +made more suitable to religion, or the company of saints would be too +hot for them. + +FAITH. Then did Faithful say, + + "How Talkative at first lifts up his plumes! + How bravely doth he speak! How he presumes + To drive down all before him! But so soon + As Faithful talks of heart-work, like the moon + That's past the full, into the wane he goes; + And so will all but he who heart-work knows." + +Thus they went on, talking of what they had seen by the way, and so made +that way easy, which would otherwise, no doubt, have been tedious to +them; for now they went through a wilderness. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Now, when they were got almost quite out of this wilderness, Faithful +chanced to cast his eye back, and espied one coming after him, and he +knew him. "Oh!" said Faithful to his brother, "who comes yonder?" Then +Christian looked, and said, "It is my good friend Evangelist." "Ay, and +my good friend, too," said Faithful; "for it was he that set me the way +to the gate." Now was Evangelist come up unto them, and thus saluted +them: + +EVAN. Peace be with you, dearly beloved, and peace be to your helpers. + +CHRIS. Welcome, welcome, my good Evangelist: the sight of thy face +brings to my thought thy former kindness and unwearied laboring for my +eternal good. + +FAITH. "And a thousand times welcome," said good Faithful: "thy company, +O sweet Evangelist, how desirable is it to us poor pilgrims!" + +EVAN. Then said Evangelist, "How hath it fared with you, my friends, +since the time of our last parting? What have you met with, and how have +you behaved yourselves?" + +Then Christian and Faithful told him of all things that had happened to +them in the way; and how, and with what difficulty, they had arrived to +that place. + +EVAN. "Right glad am I," said Evangelist, "not that you met with trials, +but that you have been victors, and for that you have, notwithstanding +many weaknesses, continued in the way to this very day. I say, right +glad am I of this thing, and that for my own sake and yours. I have +sowed, and you have reaped; and the day is coming when 'both he that +sowed and they that reaped shall rejoice together;' that is, if you +faint not. The crown is before you, and it is an uncorruptible one: so +run that you may obtain it. Some there be that set out for this crown, +and after they have gone far for it, another comes in and takes it from +them: 'Hold fast, therefore, that you have; let no man take your +crown.'" + +Then Christian thanked him for his words, but told him withal that they +would have him speak further to them, for their help the rest of the +way; and the rather, for that they well knew that he was a prophet, and +could tell them of things that might happen unto them, and also how they +might resist and overcome them. To which request Faithful also +consented. So Evangelist began as followeth: + +[Sidenote: EVANGELIST EXHORTS CHRISTIAN] + +EVAN. My sons, you have heard, in the words of the truth of the Gospel, +that you must "through many trials enter into the kingdom of heaven;" +and again, that "in every city bonds and afflictions await you;" and +therefore you cannot expect that you should go long on your pilgrimage +without them in some sort or other. You have found something of the +truth of these words upon you already, and more will immediately follow; +for now, as you see, you are almost out of this wilderness, and +therefore you will soon come into a town that you will by-and-by see +before you; and in that town you will be hardly beset with enemies who +will strain hard but they will kill you; and be you sure that one or +both of you must seal the truth which you hold with blood: but be you +faithful unto death, and the King will give you a crown of life. He that +shall die there, although his death will be unnatural, and his pain, +perhaps, great, he will yet have the better of his fellow; not only +because he will be arrived at the Celestial City soonest, but because he +will escape many miseries that the other will meet with in the rest of +his journey. But when you are come to the town, and shall find fulfilled +what I have here related, then remember your friend, and quit yourselves +like men, and commit the keeping of your souls to God in well-doing, as +unto a faithful Creator. + +[Sidenote: THE PILGRIMS AT VANITY FAIR] + +Then I saw in my dream, that, when they were got out of the wilderness, +they presently saw a town before them, and the name of that town is +Vanity; and at the town there is a fair kept, called Vanity Fair. It is +kept all the year long. It beareth the name of Vanity Fair, because the +town where it is kept is lighter than vanity, and also because all that +is there sold, or that cometh thither, is vanity; as is the saying of +the Wise, "All that cometh is vanity." + +This is no newly begun business, but a thing of ancient standing. I will +show you the original of it. + +Almost five thousand years ago, there were pilgrims walking to the +Celestial City, as these two honest persons are; and Beelzebub, +Apollyon, and Legion, with their companions, perceiving by the path that +the pilgrims made that their way to the city lay through this town of +Vanity, they contrived here to set up a fair; a fair wherein should be +sold all sorts of vanity, and that it should last all the year long. +Therefore at this fair are all such things sold as houses, lands, +trades, places, honors, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, +pleasures, and delights of all sorts, as wives, husbands, children, +masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, +precious stones, and what not. + +And, moreover, at this fair there are at all times to be seen jugglings, +cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of every +kind. + +Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders, false +swearers, and that of a blood-red color. + +And, as in other fairs of less moment there are several rows and streets +under their proper names, where such and such wares are vended; so here +likewise you have the proper places, rows, streets (namely, countries +and kingdoms), where the wares of this fair are soonest to be found. +Here are the Britain Row, the French Row, the Italian Row, the Spanish +Row, the German Row, where several sorts of vanities are to be sold. +But, as in other fairs some one commodity is as the chief of all the +fair, so the ware of Rome and her goods are greatly promoted in this +fair; only our English nation, with some others, have taken dislike +thereat. + +Now, as I said, the way to the Celestial City lies just through this +town where this lusty fair is kept; and he that would go to the city, +and yet not go through this town, "must needs go out of the world." The +Prince of princes Himself, when here, went through this town to His own +country, and that upon a fair day too; yea, and as I think, it was +Beelzebub, the chief lord of this fair, that invited Him to buy of his +vanities; yea, would have made Him lord of the fair, would He but have +done him reverence as He went through the town. Yea, because He was such +a person of honor, Beelzebub had Him from street to street, and showed +Him all the kingdoms of the world in a little time, that he might, if +possible, allure that Blessed One to ask for and buy some of his +vanities; but He had no mind to the merchandise, and therefore left the +town without laying out so much as one farthing upon these vanities. +This fair, therefore, is an ancient thing of long-standing, and a very +great fair. + +Now, these pilgrims, as I said, must needs go through this fair. Well, +so they did; but, behold, even as they entered into the fair, all the +people in the fair were moved and the town itself, as it were, in a +hubbub about them, and that for several reasons; for, + +First,--The pilgrims were clothed with such kind of garments as were +different from the raiment of any that traded in that fair. The people, +therefore, of the fair, made a great gazing upon them: some said they +were fools; some, they were bedlams; and some, they were outlandish men. + +Secondly,--And, as they wondered at their apparel, so they did likewise +at their speech; for few could understand what they said. They naturally +spoke the language of Canaan; but they that kept the fair were the men +of this world. So that from one end of the fair to the other, they +seemed barbarians each to the other. + +Thirdly,--But that which did not a little amuse the store-keepers was, +that these pilgrims set very light by all their wares. They cared not so +much as to look upon them; and if they called upon them to buy, they +would put their fingers in their ears, and cry, "Turn away mine eyes +from beholding vanity," and look upwards, signifying that their trade +and traffic were in heaven. + +One chanced, mockingly, beholding the actions of the men, to say unto +them, "What will you buy?" But they, looking gravely upon him, said, "We +buy the truth." At that there was an occasion taken to despise the men +the more: some mocking, some taunting, some speaking reproachfully, and +some calling on others to smite them. At last things came to a hubbub +and great stir in the fair, insomuch that all order was confounded. Now +was word presently brought to the great one of the fair, who quickly +came down, and deputed some of his most trusty friends to take these men +for trial about whom the fair was almost overturned. So the men were +brought to trial, and they that sat upon them asked them whence they +came, whither they went, and what they did there in such an unusual +garb. The men told them that they were pilgrims and strangers in the +world, and that they were going to their own country, which was the +heavenly Jerusalem, and that they had given no occasion to the men of +the town, nor yet to the merchants, thus to abuse them, and to hinder +them in their journey, except it was for that, when one asked them what +they would buy, they said they would buy the truth. But they that were +appointed to examine them did not believe them to be any other than +crazy people and mad, or else such as came to put all things into a +confusion in the fair. Therefore they took them and beat them, and +besmeared them with dirt, and then put them into the cage, that they +might be made a spectacle to all the men of the fair. There, therefore, +they lay for some time, and were made the objects of any man's sport, or +malice, or revenge; the great one of the fair laughing still at all that +befell them. But, the men being patient, and "not rendering railing for +railing, but contrariwise blessing," and giving good words for bad, and +kindness for injuries done, some men in the fair that were more +observing and less opposed than the rest, began to check and blame the +baser sort for their continual abuses done by them to the men. They, +therefore, in an angry manner, let fly at them again, counting them as +bad as the men in the cage, and telling them that they seemed to be in +league with them, and should be made partakers of their misfortunes. The +others replied, that, for aught they could see, the men were quiet and +sober, and intended nobody any harm; and that there were many that +traded in their fair that were more worthy to be put into the cage, yea, +and pillory too, than were the men that they had abused. Thus, after +divers words had passed on both sides (the men behaving themselves all +the while very wisely and soberly before them,) they fell to some blows, +and did harm to one another. Then were these two poor men brought before +the court again, and there charged as being guilty of the late hubbub +that had been in the fair. So they beat them pitifully, and hanged irons +upon them, and led them in chains up and down the fair, for an example +and terror to others, lest any should speak in their behalf, or join +themselves unto them. But Christian and Faithful behaved themselves yet +more wisely, and received the wrongs and shame that were cast upon them +with so much meekness and patience, that it won to their side (though +but few in comparison of the rest) several of the men in the fair. This +put the other party in yet a greater rage, insomuch that they resolved +upon the death of these two men. Wherefore they threatened that neither +cage nor irons should serve their turn, but that they should die for the +abuse they had done, and for deceiving the men of the fair. + +[Sidenote: THE PILGRIMS IN STOCKS] + +Then were they remanded to the cage again, until further order should be +taken with them. So they put them in, and made their feet fast in the +stocks. + +Here, therefore, they called again to mind what they had heard from +their faithful friend Evangelist, and were more confirmed in their way +and sufferings, by what he told them would happen to them. They also now +comforted each other, that whose lot it was to suffer, even he should +have the best of it; therefore each man secretly wished he might have +that privilege. But, committing themselves to the all-wise disposal of +Him that ruleth all things, with much content they abode in the +condition in which they were, until they should be otherwise disposed +of. + +[Sidenote: LORD HATE-GOOD] + +Then a convenient time being appointed, they brought them forth to their +trial, in order to their being condemned. When the time was come, they +were brought before their enemies, and placed on trial. The judge's name +was Lord Hate-good: the charges against both were one and the same in +substance, though somewhat varying in form; the contents whereof were +this: "That they were enemies to and disturbers of their trade; that +they had made riots and divisions in the town, and had won a party to +their own most dangerous opinions, in contempt of the law of their +prince." + +Then Faithful began to answer, that he had only set himself against that +which had set itself against Him that is higher than the highest. "And," +said he, "as for disturbances, I make none, being myself a man of peace; +the parties that were won to us, were won by beholding our truth and +innocence, and they are only turned from the worse to the better. And, +as to the king you talk of, since he is Beelzebub, the enemy of our +Lord, I defy him and all his angels." + +[Sidenote: THE PILGRIMS ON TRIAL] + +Then it was made known that they that had aught to say for their lord +the king against the prisoner at the bar should forthwith appear and +give in their evidence. So there came in three witnesses; to wit, Envy, +Superstition, and Pickthank. They were then asked if they knew the +prisoner at the bar, and what they had to say for their lord the king +against him. + +Then stood forth Envy, and said to this effect: "My lord, I have known +this man a long time, and will attest upon my oath before this honorable +bench that he is--" + +JUDGE. Hold! Give him his oath. + +ENVY. So they sware him. Then said he, "My lord, this man, +notwithstanding his name, Faithful is one of the vilest men in our +country. He cares for neither prince nor people, law nor custom, but +doth all that he can to possess all men with certain of his disloyal +notions, which he in the general calls principles of faith and holiness. +And in particular, I heard him once myself affirm that Christianity and +the customs of our town of Vanity were opposite, and could not be +reconciled. By which saying, my lord, he doth at once not only condemn +all our laudable doings, but us in the doing of them." + +JUDGE. Then did the judge say to him, "Hast thou any more to say?" + +ENVY. My lord, I could say much more, only I would not be tiresome to +the court. Yet, if need be, when the other gentlemen have given in their +evidence, rather than anything shall be wanting that will dispatch him, +I will have more to speak against him. So he was bid stand by. + +Then they called Superstition, and bade him look upon the prisoner. They +also asked what he could say for their lord the king against him. Then +they sware him: so he began: + +SUPER. My lord, I have no great acquaintance with this man, nor do I +desire to have further knowledge of him. However, this I know, that he +is a very pestilent fellow, from some discourse the other day that I had +with him in this town; for then, talking with him, I heard him say that +our religion was naught, and such by which a man could by no means +please God. Which saying of his, my lord, your lordship very well knows +what necessarily thence will follow; to wit, that we still do worship in +vain, are yet in our sins, and finally shall be destroyed: and this is +that which I have to say. + +Then was Pickthank sworn, and bid say what he knew, in behalf of their +lord the king, against the prisoner at the bar. + +PICK. My lord, and you gentlemen all, this fellow I have known a long +time, and have heard him speak things that ought not to be spoken, for +he hath railed on our noble prince Beelzebub, and hath spoken +contemptuously of his honorable friends, whose names are, the Lord +Old-man, the Lord Carnal-Delight, the Lord Luxurious, the Lord +Desire-of-Vain-Glory, my old Lord Lust, Sir Having Greedy, with all the +rest of our nobility and he hath said, moreover, that, if all men were +of his mind, if possible there is not one of these noblemen should have +any longer a being in this town. Besides, he has not been afraid to rail +on you, my lord, who are now appointed to be his judge, calling you an +ungodly villain, with many other such-like abusive terms, with which he +hath bespattered most of the gentry of our town. + +JUDGE. When this Pickthank had told his tale, the judge directed his +speech to the prisoner at the bar, saying, "Thou runagate, heretic, and +traitor! hast thou heard what these honest gentlemen have witnessed +against thee?" + +FAITH. May I speak a few words in my own defense? + +JUDGE. Sirrah, sirrah, thou deservest to live no longer, but to be slain +immediately upon the place; yet, that all men may see our gentleness +towards thee, let us hear what thou, vile runagate, hast to say. + +FAITH. 1. I say, then, in answer to what Mr. Envy hath spoken, I have +never said aught but this, that what rule, or laws, or custom, or people +were flat against the Word of God, are opposite to Christianity. If I +have said amiss in this, convince me of my error, and I am ready here +before you to take back my words. + +2. As to the second, to wit, Mr. Superstition and his charge against me, +I said only this, that in the worship of God there is required true +faith. But there can be no true faith without a knowledge of the will of +God. Therefore, whatever is thrust into the worship of God that is not +agreeable to the word of God will not profit to eternal life. + +3. As to what Mr. Pickthank hath said, I say (avoiding terms, as that I +am said to rail, and the like), that the prince of this town, with all +the rabblement his attendants, by this gentleman named, are more fit for +a being in hell than in this town and country. And so the Lord have +mercy upon me! + +Then the judge called to the jury (who all this while stood by to hear +and observe), "Gentlemen of the jury, you see this man about whom so +great an uproar hath been made in this town; you have also heard what +these worthy gentlemen have witnessed against him; also you have heard +his reply and confession. It lieth now in your breast to hang him or to +save his life; but yet I think meet to instruct you into our law. + +"There was an act made in the days of Pharaoh, the great servant to our +prince, that, lest those of a contrary religion should multiply and grow +too strong for him, their males should be thrown into the river. There +was also an act made in the days of Nebuchadnezzar the Great, another of +his servants, that whoever would not fall down and worship his golden +image should be thrown into a fiery furnace. There was also an act made +in the days of Darius, that whoso for some time called upon any god but +him should be cast into the lions' den. Now, the substance of these laws +this rebel has broken, not only in thought (which is not to be borne,) +but also in word and deed, which must, therefore, needs be intolerable. +You see he disputeth against our religion; and for the reason that he +hath confessed he deserveth to die the death." + +[Sidenote: FAITHFUL DIES AT THE STAKE] + +Then went the jury out, whose names were Mr. Blind-man, 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 in his private voice against him among themselves, and +afterwards unanimously concluded to bring him in guilty before the +Judge. And first among themselves, Mr. Blind-man, 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 look 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 us dispatch him out of the way," said Mr. Hate-light. Then said Mr. +Implacable, "Might I have all the world given to 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, to the place from whence he came, and there to be +put to the most cruel death that could be invented. + +They therefore brought him out, to do with him according to their law; +and first they scourged him, then they buffeted him, then they lanced +his flesh with knives; after that they stoned him with stones, then +pricked him with their swords, and, last of all, they burned him to +ashes at the stake. Thus came Faithful to his end. + +Now, I saw that there stood behind the multitude a chariot and a couple +of horses waiting for Faithful, who (so soon as his enemies had slain +him) was taken up into it, and straightway was carried up through the +clouds with sound of trumpet the nearest way to the Celestial Gate. But +as for Christian, he had some delay, and was sent back to prison; so he +there remained for a space. But He who overrules all things, having the +power of their rage in his own hand, so wrought it about that Christian +for that time escaped them, and went his way. And as he went, he sang, +saying, + + "Well, Faithful, thou hast faithfully professed + Unto thy Lord, with whom thou shalt be blest, + When faithless ones, with all their vain delights, + Are crying out under their hellish plights. + Sing, Faithful, sing, and let thy name survive; + For though they killed thee, thou art yet alive." + +[Illustration: Hopeful and Christian. + Page 120] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Now, I saw in my dream, that Christian went forth not alone; for there +was one whose name was Hopeful (being so made by looking upon Christian +and Faithful in their words and behavior in their sufferings at the +fair,) who joined himself unto him, and, entering into a brotherly +pledge told him that he would be his companion. Thus one died to show +faithfulness to the truth, and another rises out of his ashes to be a +companion with Christian in his pilgrimage. This Hopeful also told +Christian that there were many more of the men in the fair that would +take their time and follow after. + +[Sidenote: BY-ENDS OF FAIR-SPEECH] + +So I saw that, quickly after they were got out of the fair, they +overtook one that was going before them, whose name was By-ends; so they +said to him, "What countryman, sir? and how far go you this way?" He +told them that he came from the town of Fair-speech, and he was going to +the Celestial City; but told them not his name. + +CHRIS. "From Fair-speech! are there any that be good live there?" + +BY. "Yes," said By-ends, "I hope." + +CHRIS. Pray, sir, what may I call you? + +BY. I am a stranger to you, and you to me: if you be going this way, I +shall be glad of your company; if not, I must be content. + +CHRIS. This town of Fair-speech, I have heard of it; and, as I remember, +they say it's a wealthy place. + +BY. Yes, I will assure you that it is; and I have very many rich kindred +there. + +CHRIS. Pray, who are your kindred there? if a man may be so bold. + +BY. Almost the whole town; but in particular my Lord Turnabout, my Lord +Timeserver, my Lord Fair-speech, from whose ancestors that town first +took its name; also Mr. Smooth-man, Mr. Facing-both-ways, Mr. Anything; +and the parson of our parish, Mr. Two-tongues, was my mother's own +brother by father's side; and to tell you the truth, I am become a +gentleman of good quality; yet my great-grandfather was but a waterman, +looking one way and rowing another, and I got most of my estate by the +same occupation. + +CHRIS. Are you a married man? + +BY. Yes, and my wife is a very virtuous woman, the daughter of a +virtuous woman; she was my Lady Feigning's daughter: therefore she came +of a very honorable family, and is arrived to such a pitch of breeding, +that she knows how to carry it to all, even to prince and peasant. 'Tis +true we somewhat differ in religion from those of the stricter sort, yet +but in two small points: First, we never strive against wind and tide; +secondly, we are always most zealous when Religion is well dressed and +goes in his silver slippers: we love much to walk with him in the +street if the sun shines and the people praise him. + +Then Christian stepped a little aside to his fellow Hopeful, saying, "It +runs in my mind that this is one By-ends, of Fair-speech; and if it be +he, we have as very a knave in our company as dwelleth in all these +parts." Then said Hopeful, "Ask him; methinks he should not be ashamed +of his name." So Christian came up with him again, and said, "Sir, you +talk as if you knew something more than all the world doth; and if I +take not my mark amiss, I deem I have half a guess of you. Is not your +name Mr. By-ends, of Fair-speech?" + +BY. This is not my name; but, indeed, it is a nickname that is given me +by some that cannot abide me, and I must be content to bear it as a +reproach, as other good men have borne theirs before me. + +CHRIS. But did you never give an occasion to men to call you by this +name? + +BY. Never, never! The worst that ever I did to give them an occasion to +give me this name was, that I had always the luck to jump in my judgment +with the present way of the times, whatever it was, and my chance was to +gain thereby. But if things are thus cast upon me, let me count them a +blessing; but let not the malicious load me therefore with reproach. + +CHRIS. I thought, indeed, that you were the man that I heard of; and, to +tell you what I think, I fear this name belongs to you more properly +than you are willing we should think it doth. + +BY. Well, if you will thus imagine, I cannot help it: you shall find me +a fair company-keeper if you still admit me your companion. + +CHRIS. If you will go with us, you must go against wind and tide; the +which, I perceive, is against your opinion; you must also own Religion +in his rags, as well as when in his silver slippers; and stand by him, +too, when bound in irons, as well as when he walketh the streets with +applause. + +BY. You must not impose or lord it over my faith; leave it to my +liberty, and let me go with you. + +CHRIS. Not a step farther, unless you will do in what I declare as we +do. + +BY. Then said By-ends, "I never desert my old principles, since they are +harmless and profitable. If I may not go with you, I must do as I did +before you overtook me, even go by myself, until some overtake me that +will be glad of my company." + +[Sidenote: MONEY-LOVE'S PRINCIPLES] + +Now, I saw in my dream that Christian and Hopeful forsook him, and kept +their distance before him; but one of them, looking back, saw three men +following Mr. By-ends; and, behold, as they came up with him, he made +them a very low bow, and they also gave him a compliment. The men's +names were Mr. Hold-the-world, Mr. Money-love, and Mr. Save-all; men +that Mr. By-ends had been formerly acquainted with; for in their +boyhood they were schoolfellows, and taught by one Mr. Gripe-man a +schoolmaster in Love-gain, which is a market town in the county of +Coveting, in the North. This schoolmaster taught them the art of +getting, either by violence, cheating, flattery, lying, or by putting on +a pretence of religion; and these four gentlemen had learned much of the +art of their master, so that they could each of them have kept such a +school themselves. + +Well, when they had, as I said, thus saluted each other, Mr. Money-love +said to Mr. By-ends, "Who are they upon the road before us?" for +Christian and Hopeful were yet within view. + +BY. They are a couple of far countrymen, that, after their mode, are +going on pilgrimage. + +MONEY. Alas! why did they not stay, that we might have had their good +company? for they, and we, and you, sir, I hope, are all going on +pilgrimage. + +BY. We are so, indeed; but the men before us are so rigid, and love so +much their own notions, and do also so lightly esteem the opinions of +others, that, let a man be ever so godly, yet, if he agrees not with +them in all things, they thrust him quite out of their company. + +SAVE. That is bad; but we read of some that are righteous overmuch, and +such men's rigidness makes them to judge and condemn all but themselves. +But I pray, what and how many were the things wherein you differed? + +BY. Why, they, after their headstrong manner conclude that it is their +duty to rush on their journey all weathers; and I am for waiting for +wind and tide. They are for taking the risk of all for God at a clap; +and I am for taking all advantages to secure my life and property. They +are for holding their notions, though all other men be against them; but +I am for religion in what and so far as, the times and my safety will +bear it. They are for Religion when in rags and contempt; but I am for +him when he walks in his golden slippers, in the sunshine, and with +applause. + +HOLD. Ay, and hold you there still, good Mr. By-ends; for, for my part, +I can count him but a fool, that, having the liberty to keep what he +has, shall be so unwise as to lose it. Let us be wise as serpents. It is +best to make hay while the sun shines. You see how the bee lieth still +all winter, and bestirs her only when she can have profit and pleasure. +God sends sometimes rain and sometimes sunshine; if they be such fools +to go through the rain, yet let us be content to take fair weather along +with us. For my part, I like that religion best that will stand with the +safety of God's good blessings unto us; for who can imagine, that is +ruled by his reason, since God has bestowed upon us the good things of +this life, but that He would have us keep them for His sake? Abraham and +Solomon grew rich in religion; and Job says that "a good man should lay +up gold as dust;" but he must not be such as the men before us, if they +be as you have described them. + +SAVE. I think that we are all agreed in this matter, and therefore there +needs no more words about it. + +MONEY. No, there needs no more words about this matter, indeed; for he +that believes neither Scripture nor reason (and you see we have both on +our side), neither knows his own liberty nor seeks his own safety. + +And so these four men, Mr. By-ends, Mr. Money-love, Mr. Save-all, and +old Mr. Hold-the-world, walked on together, while Christian and Hopeful +were far in advance. + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL] + +Then Christian and Hopeful went on till they came to a delicate plain, +called Ease, where they went with much content; but that plain was but +narrow, so they were quickly got over it. Now at the farther side of +that plain was a little hill, called Lucre,[4] and in that hill a silver +mine, which some of them that had formerly gone that way, because of the +rarity of it, had turned aside to see; but going too near the brink of +the pit, the ground, being deceitful under them, broke, and they were +slain; some also had been maimed there, and could not to their dying day +be their own men again. + + [4] An old word meaning "money" or "riches." + +Then I saw in my dream that a little off the road, over against the +silver mine, stood Demas (gentleman-like) to call to passengers to come +and see; who said to Christian and his fellow, "Ho! turn aside hither, +and I will show you a thing." + +CHRIS. What thing so deserving as to turn us out of the way? + +DEMAS. Here is a silver mine, and some digging in it for treasure; if +you will come, with a little pains you may richly provide for +yourselves. + +HOPE. Then said Hopeful, "Let us go see." + +CHRIS. "Not I," said Christian. "I have heard of this place before now, +and how many have there been slain; and besides, that treasure is a +snare to those that seek it, for it hindereth them in their pilgrimage." + +CHRIS. Then Christian called to Demas, saying, "Is not the place +dangerous? Hath it not hindered many in their pilgrimage?" + +DEMAS. Not very dangerous, except to those that are careless. But +withal, he blushed as he spake. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian to Hopeful, "Let us not stir a step, but +still keep on our way." + +HOPE. I will warrant you, when By-ends comes up, if he hath the same +invitation as we, he will turn in thither to see. + +CHRIS. No doubt thereof, for his principles lead him that way; and a +hundred to one but he dies there. + +DEMAS. Then Demas called out again, saying, "But will you not come over +and see?" + +CHRIS. Then Christian roundly answered, saying, "Demas, thou art an +enemy to the right ways of the Lord of this way, and hast been already +condemned for thine own turning aside, by one of His Majesty's judges; +and why seekest thou to have us condemned also? Besides, if we at all +turn aside, our Lord the King will certainly hear thereof, and will +there put us to shame where we should stand with boldness before Him." + +Demas cried again that he also was one of their company, a pilgrim like +themselves, and that, if they would tarry a little, he also himself +would walk with them. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian, "What is thy name? Is it not the same by the +which I have called thee?" + +DEMAS. Yes, my name is Demas; I am the son of Abraham. + +CHRIS. I know you: Gehazi was your great-grandfather, and Judas your +father, and you have trod in their steps. It is but a devilish prank +that thou usest: thy father was hanged for a traitor, and thou deservest +no better reward. Assure thyself that when we come to the King, we will +tell him of this thy behavior. Thus they went their way. + +By this time By-ends and his companions were come again within sight, +and they at the first beck went over to Demas. Now, whether they fell +into the pit by looking over the brink thereof, or whether they went +down to dig, or whether they were smothered in the bottom by the damps +that commonly arise, of these things I am not certain; but this I +observed, that they never were seen again in the way. Then sang +Christian: + + "By-ends and silver Demas both agree; + One calls; the other runs, that he may be + A sharer in his lucre; so these two + Take up in this world, and no farther go." + +Now, I saw that just on the other side of the plain the pilgrims came to +a place where stood an old monument hard by the highway-side; at the +sight of which they were both concerned, because of the strangeness of +the form thereof; for it seemed to them as if it had been a woman +changed into the shape of a pillar. Here, therefore, they stood looking +and looking upon it, but could not for a time tell what they should make +thereof. At last Hopeful espied written above, upon the head thereof, a +writing in an unusual hand; but he, being no scholar, called to +Christian (for he was learned,) to see if he could pick out the meaning; +so he came, and after a little laying of letters together, he found the +same to be this, "Remember Lot's wife." So he read it to his fellow; +after which, they both concluded that that was the pillar of salt into +which Lot's wife was turned, for her looking back with a covetous heart +when she was going from Sodom. Which sudden and amazing sight gave them +occasion for speaking thus: + +CHRIS. Ah, my brother! this is a seasonable sight. It came just in time +to us after the invitation which Demas gave us to come over to view the +hill Lucre; and, had we gone over, as he desired us, and as thou wast +inclining to do, my brother, we had, for aught I know, been made +ourselves, like this woman, a spectacle for those that shall come after +to behold. + +HOPE. I am sorry that I was so foolish, and am made to wonder that I am +not now as Lot's wife; for wherein was the difference betwixt her sin +and mine? She only looked back, and I had a desire to go see. Let God's +goodness be praised; and let me be ashamed that ever such a thing should +be in mine heart. + +CHRIS. Let us take notice of what we see here, for our help for time to +come. This woman escaped one judgment, for she fell not by the +destruction of Sodom; yet she was destroyed by another, as we see: she +is turned into a pillar of salt. + +HOPE. What a mercy is it that neither thou, but especially I, am not +made myself this example! This gives reason to us to thank God, to fear +before Him and always to remember Lot's wife. + +[Sidenote: RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE] + +I saw, then, that they went on their way to a pleasant river, which +David the King called "the river of God," but John, "the river of the +water of life." Now their way lay just upon the bank of this river; +here, therefore, Christian and his companion walked with great delight; +they drank also of the water of the river, which was pleasant and +enlivening to their weary spirits. Besides, on the banks of this river +on either side were green trees that bore all manner of fruit; and the +leaves of the trees were good for medicine; with the fruit of these +trees they were also much delighted; and the leaves they ate to prevent +illness, especially such diseases that come to those that heat their +blood by travels. On either side of the river was also a meadow, +curiously beautified with lilies, and it was green all the year long. In +this meadow they lay down and slept, for here they might lie down +safely. When they awoke, they gathered again of the fruit of the trees +and drank again of the water of the river, and they lay down again to +sleep. This they did several days and nights. Then they sang: + + "Behold ye, how these crystal streams do glide, + To comfort pilgrims by the highway-side; + The meadows green, besides their fragrant smell, + Yield dainties for them; and he who can tell + What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield, + Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field." + +So when they were disposed to go on (for they were not as yet at their +journey's end,) they ate and drank, and departed. + +Now, I beheld in my dream that they had not journeyed far, but the river +and the way for a time parted, at which they were not a little sorry; +yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was +rough, and their feet tender by reason of their travels; so the souls of +the pilgrims were much discouraged because of the way. Wherefore, still +as they went on they wished for a better way. Now, a little before them +there was, on the left hand of the road, a meadow, and a stile to go +over into it, and that meadow is called By-path Meadow. Then said +Christian to his fellow, "If this meadow lieth along by our wayside, +let's go over it." Then he went to the stile to see; and behold, a path +lay along by the way on the other side of the fence. "It is according to +my wish," said Christian; "here is the easiest going. Come, good +Hopeful, and let us go over." + +HOPE. But how if this path should lead us out of the way? + +[Sidenote: VAIN-CONFIDENCE] + +CHRIS. "That is not likely," said the other. "Look, doth it not go along +by the wayside?" So Hopeful, being persuaded by his fellow, went after +him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were got into the +path, they found it very easy to their feet; and withal, they, looking +before them, espied a man walking as they did, and his name was +Vain-Confidence: so they called after him, and asked him whither that +way led. He said, "To the Celestial Gate." "Look," said Christian, "did +not I tell you so? By this you may see we are right." So they followed, +and he went before them. But, behold, the night came on, and it grew +very dark; so that they that were behind lost sight of him that went +before. He, therefore, that went before (Vain-Confidence by name) not +seeing the way before him, fell into a deep pit, which was on purpose +there made by the prince of those grounds to catch careless fools, +withal and was dashed in pieces with his fall. + +Now Christian and his fellow heard him fall. So they called to know the +matter; but there was none to answer, only they heard a groaning. Then +said Hopeful, "Where are we now?" Then was his fellow silent, as +mistrusting that he had led him out of the way; and now it began to +rain, and thunder, and lighten in a most dreadful manner, and the water +rose amain. + +Then Hopeful groaned in himself, saying, "Oh that I had kept on my way!" + +CHRIS. Who could have thought that this path should have led us out of +the way? + +HOPE. I was afraid on't at the very first, and therefore gave you that +gentle caution. I would have spoken plainer, but that you are older than +I. + +CHRIS. Good brother, be not offended. I am very sorry I have brought +thee out of the way, and that I have put thee into such great danger. +Pray, my brother, forgive me: I did not do it of any evil intent. + +HOPE. Be comforted, my brother, for I forgive thee, and believe, too, +that this shall be for our good. + +CHRIS. I am glad I have with me a merciful brother; but we must not +stand still: let us try to go back again. + +HOPE. But, good brother, let me go before. + +CHRIS. No, if you please; let me go first, that, if there be any +danger, I may be first therein, because by my means we are both gone out +of the way. + +HOPE. "No, you shall not go first; for your mind being troubled may lead +you out of the way again." Then for their encouragement they heard the +voice of one saying, "Let thine heart be towards the highway, even the +way that thou wentest; turn again." But by this time the waters were +greatly risen, by reason of which the way of going back was very +dangerous. (Then I thought that it is easier going out of the way when +we are in, than going in when we are out.) Yet they undertook to go +back; but it was so dark, and the flood so high, that, in their going +back, they had like to have been drowned nine or ten times. + +[Sidenote: GIANT DESPAIR] + +Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to the stile +that night. Wherefore, at last lighting under a little shelter, they sat +down there until daybreak; but, being weary, they fell asleep. Now, +there was, not far from the place where they lay, a castle, called +Doubting Castle the owner whereof was Giant Despair, and it was in his +grounds they now were sleeping; wherefore he, getting up in the morning +early, and walking up and down in his fields, caught Christian and +Hopeful asleep in his grounds. Then, with a grim and surly voice, he bid +them awake, and asked them whence they were, and what they did in his +grounds. They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their +way. Then said the giant, "You have this night trespassed on me by +trampling in and lying on my grounds, and therefore you must go along +with me." So they were forced to go, because he was stronger than they. +They had also but little to say, for they knew themselves in fault. The +giant, therefore, drove them before him, and put them into his castle, +into a very dark dungeon, nasty and smelling vilely to the spirits of +these two men. Here, then, they lay from Wednesday morning till Saturday +night, without one bit of bread or drop of drink, or light, or any to +ask how they did; they were, therefore, here in evil case, and were far +from friends and people whom they knew. Now, in this place Christian had +double sorrow, because it was through his thoughtless haste that they +were brought into this distress. + +[Sidenote: THE PILGRIMS IN A DUNGEON] + +Now, Giant Despair had a wife, and her name was Diffidence. So, when he +was gone to bed, he told his wife what he had done; to wit, that he had +taken a couple of prisoners and cast them into his dungeon for +trespassing on his grounds. Then he asked her also what he had best to +do further to them. So she asked him what they were, whence they came, +and whither they were bound; and he told her. Then she advised him, that +when he arose in the morning, he should beat them without any mercy. So, +when he arose, he getteth him a grievous crab-tree cudgel, and goes down +into the dungeon to them, and there first fell to abusing them as if +they were dogs, although they never gave him a word of distaste. Then he +falls upon them, and beats them fearfully, in such sort that they were +not able to help themselves, or to turn them upon the floor. This done, +he withdraws and leaves them there to sorrow over their misery and to +mourn under their distress. So all that day they spent their time in +nothing but sighs and bitter grief. The next night she, talking with her +husband about them further, and understanding that they were yet alive, +did advise him to tell them to make away with themselves. So, when +morning was come, he goes to them in a surly manner, as before and, +perceiving them to be very sore with the stripes that he had given them +the day before, he told them that, since they were never like to come +out of that place, their only way would be forthwith to make an end of +themselves, either with knife, halter, or poison: "For why," said he, +"should you choose life, seeing it is attended with so much bitterness?" +But they desired him to let them go. With that, he looked ugly upon +them, and rushing to them, had doubtless made an end of them himself, +but that he fell into one of his fits (for he sometimes, in sunshiny +weather, fell into fits), and lost for a time the use of his hands, +wherefore he withdrew, and left them as before to consider what to do. +Then did the prisoners consult between themselves, whether it was best +to take his advice or no; and thus they began to discourse: + +CHRIS. "Brother," said Christian, "what shall we do? The life we now +live is miserable. For my part, I know not whether is best, to live +thus, or to die out of hand. My soul chooseth strangling rather than +life, and the grave is more easy for me than this dungeon. Shall we be +ruled by the giant?" + +[Sidenote: HOPEFUL CHEERS CHRISTIAN] + +HOPE. Indeed, our present condition is dreadful; and death would be far +more welcome to me than thus for ever to abide. But yet, let us think: +the Lord of the country to which we are going hath said, "Thou shalt do +no murder," no, not to another man's person; much more, then, are we +forbidden to take his advice to kill ourselves. Besides, he that kills +another can but commit murder upon his body; but for one to kill himself +is to kill body and soul at once. And, moreover, my brother, thou +talkest of ease in the grave; but hast thou forgotten the hell, whither, +for certain, the murderers go? for "no murderer hath eternal life." And +let us consider again, that all the law is not in the hand of Giant +Despair: others, so far as I can understand, have been taken by him as +well as we, and yet have escaped out of his hand. Who knows but that +God, who made the world, may cause that Giant Despair may die? or that, +at some time or other, he may forget to lock us in? or that he may, in a +short time, have another of his fits before us, and he may lose the use +of his limbs? and if ever that should come to pass again, for my part, I +am resolved to pluck up the heart of a man, and try to my utmost to get +from under his hand. I was a fool that I did not try to do it before. +But however, my brother, let us be patient, and endure awhile: the time +may come that may give us a happy release; but let us not be our own +murderers. + +With these words, Hopeful at present did calm the mind of his brother; +so they continued together in the dark that day, in their sad and +doleful condition. + +Well, towards evening, the giant goes down into the dungeon again, to +see if his prisoners had taken his counsel. But, when he came there, he +found them alive; and truly, alive was all; for now, what for want of +bread and water, and by reason of the wounds they received when he beat +them, they could do little but breathe. But, I say, he found them alive; +at which he fell into a grievous rage, and told them that, seeing they +had disobeyed his counsel, it should be worse with them than if they had +never been born. + +At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian fell into a +swoon; but, coming a little to himself again, they renewed their +discourse about the giant's advice and whether yet they had best to take +it or no. Now, Christian again seemed for doing it; but Hopeful made his +second reply as followeth: + +HOPE. "My brother," said he, "rememberest thou not how valiant thou hast +been heretofore? Apollyon could not crush thee, nor could all that thou +didst hear, or see, or feel in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. What +hardship, terror, and amazement hast thou already gone through! and art +thou now nothing but fear? Thou seest that I am in the dungeon with +thee, a far weaker man by nature than thou art; also this giant has +wounded me as well as thee, and hath also cut off the bread and water +from my mouth; and, with thee, I mourn without the light. But let us +have a little more patience. Remember how thou showedst thyself the man +at Vanity Fair, and wast neither afraid of the chain, nor cage, nor yet +of bloody death. Wherefore, let us (at least to avoid the shame that it +becomes not a Christian to be found in) bear up with patience as well as +we can." + +Now, night being come again, and the giant and his wife being in bed, +she asked him concerning the prisoners, and if they had taken his +advice: to which he replied, "They are sturdy rogues; they choose rather +to bear all hardship than to make away with themselves." Then said she, +"Take them unto the castle-yard to-morrow, and show them the bones and +skulls of those that thou hast already killed; and make them believe, +ere a week comes to an end, thou wilt tear them also in pieces, as thou +hast done their fellows before them." + +So when the morning was come, the giant goes to them again, and takes +them into the castle-yard and shows them as his wife had bidden him. +"These," said he, "were pilgrims, as you are, once, and they trespassed +in my grounds as you have done; and when I thought fit, I tore them in +pieces; and so within ten days I will do you. Go, get you down to your +den again." And, with that, he beat them all the way thither. They lay, +therefore, all day on Saturday in a lamentable case, as before. Now, +when night was come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her husband, the giant +were got to bed, they began to renew their talking of their prisoners; +and withal, the old giant wondered that he could neither by his blows +nor counsel bring them to an end. And, with that, his wife replied, "I +fear," said she, "that they live in hope that some will come to relieve +them; or that they have picklocks about them, by the means of which they +hope to escape." "And sayest thou so, my dear?" said the giant: "I will +therefore search them in the morning." + +[Sidenote: THE PILGRIMS ESCAPE] + +Well, on Saturday about midnight, they began to pray, and continued in +prayer till almost break of day. + +Now, a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, +brake out into this earnest speech: "What a fool," quoth he, "am I to +lie in a foul-smelling dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I +have a key in my bosom called Promise, that will, I am sure, open any +lock in Doubting Castle." Then said Hopeful, "That is good news, good +brother: pluck it out of thy bosom, and try." + +Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the +dungeon door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave back, and the door +flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he +went to the outward door that leads into the castle-yard, and with his +key opened that door also. After, he went to the iron gate, for that +must be opened too; but that lock went exceedingly hard, yet the key did +open it. Then they thrust open the gate to make their escape with speed; +but that gate, as it opened, made such a creaking, that it waked Giant +Despair who, hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to +fail; for his fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after +them. Then they went on, and came to the King's highway again, and so +were safe because they were out of Giant Despair's rule. + +Now, when they were gone over the stile, they began to contrive with +themselves what they should do at that stile to prevent those that +should come after from falling into the hands of Giant Despair. So they +agreed to build there a pillar, and to engrave upon the side thereof +this sentence: "Over this stile is the way to Doubting Castle, which is +kept by Giant Despair, who despiseth the King of the Celestial Country, +and seeks to destroy His holy pilgrims." Many, therefore, that followed +after, read what was written, and escaped the danger. This done, they +sang as follows: + + "Out of the way we went, and then we found + What 'twas to tread upon forbidden ground: + And let them that come after have a care, + Lest heedlessness make them as we to fare; + Lest they for trespassing his prisoners are + Whose Castle's Doubting, and whose name's Despair." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +[Sidenote: THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS] + + +They went then till they came to the Delectable[5] Mountains, which +mountains belong to the Lord of that hill of which we have spoken +before. So they went up to the mountains to behold the gardens and +orchards, the vineyards and fountains of water, where also they drank +and washed themselves, and did freely eat of the vineyards. Now there +were on the tops of these mountains shepherds feeding their flocks, and +they stood by the highway-side. The pilgrims, therefore, went to them, +and leaning upon their staves (as is common with weary pilgrims when +they stand to talk with any by the way), they asked, "Whose delightful +mountains are these, and whose be the sheep that feed upon them?" + + [5] This word means "pleasant," or "delightful." + +SHEP. These mountains are Immanuel's Land, and they are within sight of +His city; and the sheep also are His, and He laid down His life for +them. + +CHRIS. Is this the way to the Celestial City? + +SHEP. You are just in your way. + +CHRIS. How far is it thither? + +SHEP. Too far for any but those who shall get thither indeed. + +CHRIS. Is the way safe or dangerous? + +SHEP. Safe for those for whom it is to be safe; but sinners shall fall +therein. + +CHRIS. Is there in this place any relief for pilgrims that are weary and +faint in the way? + +SHEP. The Lord of these mountains hath given us a charge not to be +forgetful to care for strangers; therefore the good of the place is +before you. + +I saw also in my dream that when the shepherds perceived that they were +wayfaring men, they also put questions to them (to which they made +answer as in other places), as, "Whence came you?" and "How got you into +the way?" and, "By what means have you so persevered therein? for but +few of them that begin to come hither do show their faces on these +mountains." But when the shepherds heard their answers, being pleased +therewith they looked very lovingly upon them, and said, "Welcome to the +Delectable Mountains!" + +The shepherds, I say, whose names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, +and Sincere, took them by the hand and took them to their tents, and +made them partake of what was ready at present. They said moreover, "We +would that you should stay here awhile, to be acquainted with us, and +yet more to cheer yourselves with the good of these Delectable +Mountains." They then told them that they were content to stay. So they +went to rest that night, because it was very late. + +[Sidenote: THE SHEPHERDS CONDUCT THEM] + +Then I saw in my dream that in the morning the shepherds called up +Christian and Hopeful to walk with them upon the mountains. So they +went forth with them and walked a while, having a pleasant prospect on +every side. Then said the shepherds one to another, "Shall we show these +pilgrims some wonders?" So, when they had concluded to do it, they had +them first to the top of the hill called Error, which was very steep on +the farthest side, and bid them look down to the bottom. So Christian +and Hopeful looked down, and saw at the bottom several men dashed all to +pieces by a fall they had had from the top. Then said Christian, "What +meaneth this?" Then the shepherds answered, "Have you not heard of them +that were made to err, by hearkening to Hymeneus and Philetus, as +concerning the faith of the rising from the dead?" They answered, "Yes." +Then said the shepherds, "Those you see lie dashed to pieces at the +bottom of this mountain are they; and they have continued to this day +unburied, as you see, for an example to others to take heed how they +clamber too high, or how they come too near the brink of this mountain." + +Then I saw that they had them to the top of another mountain, and the +name of that is Caution and bid them look afar off; and when they did, +they perceived, as they thought, several men walking up and down among +the tombs that were there; and they perceived that the men were blind, +because they stumbled sometimes upon the tombs, and because they could +not get out from among them. Then said Christian, "What means this?" + +The shepherds then answered, "Did you not see a little below these +mountains a stile that led into a meadow on the left hand side of this +way?" They answered, "Yes." Then said the shepherds, "From that stile +there goes a path that leads directly to Doubting Castle, which is kept +by Giant Despair; and these men" (pointing to them among the tombs) +"came once on pilgrimage, as you do now, even until they came to that +same stile. And because the right way was rough in that place, they +chose to go out of it into that meadow, and there were taken by Giant +Despair, and cast into Doubting Castle, where, after they had been kept +a while in the dungeon, he at last did put out their eyes, and led them +among those tombs, where he has left them to wander to this very day, +that the saying of the Wise Man might be fulfilled, 'He that wandereth +out of the way of knowledge, shall remain in the congregation of the +dead.'" Then Christian and Hopeful looked upon one another with tears +gushing out, but yet said nothing to the shepherds. + +Then I saw in my dream, that the shepherds had them to another place in +a bottom, where was a door on the side of a hill; and they opened the +door, and bid them look in. They looked in, therefore, and saw that +within it was very dark and smoky; they also thought that they heard +there a rumbling noise, as of fire, and a cry of some tormented, and +that they smelt the scent of brimstone. Then said Christian, "What means +this?" The shepherds told them, "This is a by-way to hell, a way that +hypocrites go in at: namely, such as sell their birthright, with Esau; +such as sell their master, with Judas; such as blaspheme the Gospel, +with Alexander; and that lie and deceive with Ananias and Sapphira his +wife." + +HOPE. Then said Hopeful to the shepherds, "I perceive that these had on +them, even every one, a show of pilgrimage, as we have now; had they +not?" + +SHEP. Yes, and held it a long time too. + +HOPE. How far might they go on in pilgrimage in their day, since they +notwithstanding were thus miserably cast away? + +SHEP. Some farther, and some not so far as these mountains. + +Then said the pilgrims one to another, "We have need to cry to the +Strong for strength." + +SHEP. Ay, and you will have need to use it when you have it, too. + +[Sidenote: GATE OF THE CELESTIAL CITY] + +By this time the pilgrims had a desire to go forward, and the shepherds +a desire they should; so they walked together towards the end of the +mountains. Then said the shepherds one to another, "Let us here show to +the pilgrims the gate of the Celestial City, if they have skill to look +through our perspective glass."[6] The pilgrims then lovingly accepted +the motion; so they had them to the top of a high hill called Clear, and +gave them their glass to look. + + [6] "Perspective glass" is an old name for a telescope or spy-glass. + +Then they tried to look; but the remembrance of that last thing, that +the shepherds had showed them, made their hands shake, by means of which +hindrance they could not look steadily through the glass; yet they +thought they saw something like the gate, and also some of the glory of +the place. Thus they went away, and sang this song: + + "Thus by the shepherds secrets are revealed, + Which from all other men are kept concealed. + Come to the shepherds, then, if you would see + Things deep, things hid, and that mysterious be." + +When they were about to depart, one of the shepherds gave them a note of +the way. Another of them bid them beware of the Flatterer. The third bid +them take heed that they slept not upon the Enchanted Ground. And the +fourth bid them God speed. + +So I awoke from my dream. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +[Sidenote: THEY OVERTAKE IGNORANCE] + + +And I slept, and dreamed again, and saw the same two pilgrims going down +the mountains along the highway towards the city. Now, a little below +these mountains, on the left hand, lieth the country of Conceit; from +which country there comes into the way in which the pilgrims walked a +little crooked lane. Here, therefore, they met with a very brisk lad, +that came out of that country, and his name was Ignorance. So Christian +asked him from what parts he came, and whither he was going. + +IGNOR. Sir, I was born in the country that lieth off there a little on +the left hand, and I am going to the Celestial City. + +CHRIS. But how do you think to get in at the gate? for you may find some +difficulty there. + +IGNOR. As other people do. + +CHRIS. But what have you to show at the gate, that may cause that the +gate should be opened to you? + +IGNOR. I know my Lord's will, and have been a good liver; I pay every +man his own; I pray, fast, pay money to the church and give to the poor, +and have left my country for whither I am going. + +CHRIS. But thou camest not in at the wicket-gate that is at the head of +this way: thou camest in hither through that same crooked lane; and +therefore I fear, however thou mayest think of thyself, when the +reckoning day shall come, thou wilt have laid to thy charge that thou +art a thief and a robber, instead of getting admittance into the city. + +IGNOR. Gentlemen, ye be utter strangers to me: I know you not: be +content to follow the custom of your country, and I will follow the +custom of mine. I hope all will be well. And, as for the gate that you +talk of, all the world knows that that is a great way off of our +country. I cannot think that any man in all our parts doth so much as +know the way to it; nor need they matter whether they do or no, since we +have, as you see, a fine, pleasant green lane, that comes down from our +country, the next way into the way. + +When Christian saw that the man was wise in his own opinion, he said to +Hopeful, whisperingly, "There is more hope of a fool than of him." And +said, moreover "When he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom +faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. What! shall we +talk further with him, or outgo him at present, and so leave him to +think of what he hath heard already, and then stop again for him +afterwards, and see if by degrees we can do any good to him?" + +Then said Hopeful: + + "Let Ignorance a little while now muse + On what is said, and let him not refuse + Good counsel to embrace, lest he remain + Still ignorant of what's the chiefest gain. + God saith, those that no understanding have + (Although He made them), them He will not save." + +HOPE. He further added, "It is not good, I think, to say all to him at +once: let us pass him by, if you will, and talk to him by and by, even +as he is able to bear it." + +So they both went on, and Ignorance he came after. Now, when they had +passed him a little way, they entered into a very dark lane, where they +met a man whom seven devils had bound with seven strong cords, and were +carrying of him back to the door that they saw on the side of the hill. +Now good Christian began to tremble, and so did Hopeful his companion; +yet, as the devils led away the man, Christian looked to see if he knew +him; and he thought it might be one Turn-away, that dwelt in the town of +Apostasy. But he did not perfectly see his face, for he did hang his +head like a thief that is found; but being gone past, Hopeful looked +after him, and espied on his back a paper with this inscription, "One +who was wicked while claiming to be good, and turned away from God." + +[Sidenote: THREE STURDY ROGUES] + +Then said Christian to his fellow, "Now I call to remembrance that which +was told of a thing that happened to a good man hereabout. The name of +that man was Little-Faith, but a good man, and dwelt in the town of +Sincere. The thing was this: At the entering in at this passage, there +comes down from Broad-way Gate a lane called Dead Man's Lane; so-called +because of the murders that are commonly done there; and this +Little-Faith, going on pilgrimage as we do now, chanced to sit down +there, and slept. Now, there happened at that time to come down that +lane, from Broad-way Gate, three sturdy rogues, and their names were +Faint-heart, Mistrust, and Guilt, three brothers; and they espying +Little-Faith, where he was, came galloping up with speed. Now, the good +man was just awaked from his sleep, and was getting up to go on his +journey. So they came up all to him, and with threatening language bid +him stand. At this, Little-Faith looked as white as a sheet and had +neither power to fight nor fly. Then said Faint-heart, 'Deliver thy +purse;' but, he making no haste to do it (for he was loth to lose his +money) Mistrust ran up to him, and, thrusting his hand into his pocket, +pulled out thence a bag of silver. Then he cried out, 'Thieves! +thieves!' With that, Guilt, with a great club that was in his hand, +struck Little-Faith on the head, and with that blow felled him flat to +the ground, where he lay bleeding as one that would bleed to death. All +this while the thieves stood by. But, at last, they hearing that some +were upon the road, and fearing lest it should be one Great-Grace, that +dwells in the city of Good-Confidence, they betook themselves to their +heels, and left this good man to shift for himself. Now, after a while, +Little-Faith came to himself, and, getting up, made shift to scramble on +his way. This was the story." + +HOPE. But did they take from him all that ever he had? + +CHRIS. No; the place where his jewels were they never ransacked; so +those he kept still. But as I was told, the good man was much afflicted +for his loss, for the thieves got most of his spending money. That which +they got not, as I said, were jewels; also he had a little odd money +left, but scarce enough to bring him to his journey's end. Nay, if I was +not misinformed, he was forced to beg as he went, to keep himself alive, +for his jewels he might not sell; but, beg and do what he could, he +went, as we say, often with a hungry stomach the most part of the rest +of the way. + +HOPE. But is it not a wonder they got not from him his certificate, by +which he was to receive admission at the Celestial Gate? + +CHRIS. It is a wonder; but they got not that, though they missed it not +through any cunning of his; for he, being dismayed by their coming upon +him, had neither power nor skill to hide anything; so it was more by +good providence than by his endeavor, that they missed of that good +thing. + +HOPE. But it must needs be a comfort to him that they got not his jewels +from him. + +CHRIS. It might have been great comfort to him, had he used it as he +should; but they that told me the story said, that he made but little +use of it all the rest of the way, and that because of the alarm that he +had in their taking away his money. Indeed, he forgot it a great part of +the rest of his journey; and besides, when at any time it came into his +mind, and he began to be comforted therewith, then would fresh thoughts +of his loss come again upon him, and those thoughts would swallow up +all. + +[Sidenote: HOPEFUL REBUKED] + +HOPE. Alas, poor man! this could not but be a great grief unto him. + +CHRIS. Grief! ay, a grief indeed. Would it not have been so to any of +us, had we been used as he, to be robbed and wounded too, and that in a +strange place, as he was? It is a wonder he did not die with grief, poor +heart! I was told that he scattered almost all the rest of the way with +nothing but doleful and bitter complaints; telling also to all that +overtook him, or that he overtook in the way as he went, where he was +robbed, and how; who they were that did it, and what he had lost; how he +was wounded, and that he hardly escaped with life. + +HOPE. But it is a wonder that his necessities did not put him upon +selling or pawning some of his jewels, that he might have wherewith to +relieve himself in his journey. + +CHRIS. Thou talkest like one whose head is thick to this very day. For +what should he pawn them, or to whom should he sell them? In all that +country where he was robbed, his jewels were not accounted of; nor did +he want that relief which could from thence be administered to him. +Besides, had his jewels been missing at the gate of the Celestial City, +he had (and that he knew well enough) been shut out from an inheritance +there; and that would have been worse to him than the coming and villany +of ten thousand thieves. + +HOPE. But, Christian, these three fellows, I am persuaded in my heart, +are but a company of cowards: would they have run else, think you, as +they did at the noise of one that was coming on the road? Why did not +Little-Faith pluck up a greater heart? He might, methinks, have stood +one brush with them, and have yielded when there had been no remedy. + +CHRIS. That they are cowards many have said, but few have found it so in +the time of trial. As for a great heart, Little-Faith had none; and I +perceive by thee, my brother, hadst thou been the man concerned, thou +art but for a brush, and then to yield. And, verily, since this is the +height of thy courage now they are at a distance from us, should they +appear to thee as they did to him, they might put thee to second +thoughts. But consider again, they are but journeymen-thieves; they +serve under the king of the bottomless pit, who, if need be, will come +in to their aid himself, and his voice is as the roaring of a lion. I +myself have been engaged as this Little-Faith was, and I found it a +terrible thing. These three villains set upon me: and I beginning like a +Christian to resist, they gave but a call, and in came their master. I +would, as the saying is, have given my life for a penny, but that, as +God would have it, I was clothed with armor of proof. Ay, and yet, +though I was so protected, I found it hard work to quit myself like a +man. No man can tell what in that combat attends us, but he that hath +been in the battle himself. + +[Sidenote: LITTLE-FAITH AND GREAT-GRACE] + +HOPE. Well, but they ran, you see, when they did but suppose that one +Great-Grace was in the way. + +CHRIS. True, they have often fled, both they and their master, when +Great-Grace hath but appeared; and no marvel, for he is the King's +champion. But I trow you will put some difference between Little-Faith +and the King's champion? All the King's subjects are not His champions, +nor can they when tried do such feats of war as he. Is it meet to think +that a little child should handle Goliath as David did? or that there +should be the strength of an ox in a wren? Some are strong, some are +weak; some have great faith, some have little: this man was one of the +weak, and therefore he went to the wall. + +HOPE. I would it had been Great-Grace for their sakes. + +CHRIS. If it had been he, he might have had his hands full; for I must +tell you that though Great-Grace is excellent good at his weapons, and +has, and can, so long as he keeps them at sword's point, do well enough +with them; yet, if they get within him, even Faint-heart, Mistrust, or +the other, it shall go hard but they will throw up his heels. And when a +man is down, you know, what can he do? + +Whoso looks well upon Great-Grace's face will see those scars and cuts +there, that shall easily give proof of what I say. Yea, once I heard +that he should say (and that when he was in the combat), "We despaired +even of life." How did these sturdy rogues and their fellows make David +groan, mourn, and roar! Yea, Heman, and Hezekiah too, though champions +in their days, were forced to bestir when by these attacked; and yet, +notwithstanding, they had their coats soundly brushed by them. Peter, +upon a time, would go try what he could do; but though some do say of +him that he is the prince of the apostles, they handled him so that they +made him at last afraid of a sorry girl. + +[Sidenote: LITTLE-FAITH AMONG THIEVES] + +Besides, their king is at their whistle--he is never out of hearing; and +if at any time they be put to the worst, he, if possible, comes in to +help them; and of him it is said, "The sword of him that layeth at him +cannot hold; the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. He esteemeth iron +as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee; +sling-stones are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as +stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear." What can a man do in +this case? It is true, if a man could at every turn have Job's horse, +and had skill and courage to ride him, he might do notable things. For +his neck is clothed with thunder. He will not be afraid as the +grasshopper: "the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the +valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed +men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted, neither turneth he his +back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering +spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; +neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among +the trumpets, Ha! ha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder +of the captains, and the shouting." + +But for such footmen as thee and I are, let us never desire to meet with +an enemy, nor vaunt as if we could do better, when we hear of others +that have been foiled, nor be tickled at the thoughts of our manhood; +for such commonly come by the worst when tried. Witness Peter, of whom I +made mention before: he would swagger, ay, he would; he would, as his +vain mind prompted him to say, do better and stand more for his Master +than all men; but who so foiled and run down by those villains as he? + +Then Christian sang: + + "Poor Little-Faith! hast been among the thieves? + Wast robbed? Remember this: whoso believes + And gets more faith, shall then a victor be + Over ten thousand; else, scarce over three." + +So they went on, and Ignorance followed. They went then till they came +to a place where they saw a way put itself into their way, and seemed +withal to lie as straight as the way which they should go; and here they +knew not which of the two to take, for both seemed straight before them; +therefore here they stood still to consider. And, as they were thinking +about the way, behold, a man, black of flesh, but covered with a very +light robe, came to them, and asked them why they stood there. They +answered they were going to the Celestial City, but knew not which of +these ways to take. "Follow me," said the man; "it is thither that I am +going." So they followed him to the way that but now came into the road, +which by degrees turned and turned them so from the city that they +desired to go to, that, in a little time, their faces were turned away +from it; yet they followed him. But by-and-by, before they were aware, +he led them both within the folds of a net, in which they were both so +entangled that they knew not what to do; and with that, the white robe +fell off the black man's back. Then they saw where they were. Wherefore, +there they lay crying some time, for they could not get themselves out. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian to his fellow, "Now do I see myself in an +error. Did not the shepherds bid us beware of flatterers? As is the +saying of the Wise Man, so we have found it this day: 'A man that +flattereth his neighbor, spreadeth a net at his feet.'" + +[Sidenote: A SHINING ONE APPEARS] + +HOPE. They also gave us a note of directions about the way, for our more +sure finding thereof; but therein we have also forgotten to read, and +have not kept ourselves from the paths of the destroyer. Thus they lay +bewailing themselves in the net. At last they espied a Shining One +coming towards them with a whip of small cord in his hand. When he was +come to the place where they were, he asked them whence they came, and +what they did there. They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to +Zion, but were led out of their way by a black man clothed in white, +"Who bid us," said they, "follow him, for he was going thither too." +Then said he with the whip, "It is Flatterer, a false prophet, that hath +changed himself into an angel of light." So he rent the net, and let the +men out. Then said he to them, "Follow me, that I may set you in your +way again." So he led them back to the way which they had left to follow +the Flatterer. Then he asked them, saying, "Where did you lie the last +night?" They said, "With the shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains." +He asked them then if they had not of those shepherds a note of +direction for the way. They answered, "Yes." "But did you not," said he, +"when you were at a stand, pluck out and read your note?" They answered, +"No." He asked them, "Why?" They said they forgot. He asked them, +moreover, if the shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer. +They answered, "Yes; but we did not imagine," said they, "that this +fine-spoken man had been he." + +Then I saw in my dream, that he commanded them to lie down; which when +they did, he whipped them sore, to teach them the good way wherein they +should walk; and, as he whipped them, he said, "As many as I love, I +rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent." This done, he +bid them go on their way, and take good heed to the other directions of +the shepherds. So they thanked him for all his kindness, and went softly +along the right way, singing: + + "Come hither, you that walk along the way, + See how the pilgrims fare that go astray; + They catched are in an entangling net, + 'Cause they good counsel lightly did forget; + 'Tis true, they rescued were; but yet, you see, + They're scourged to boot: let this your caution be." + +Now, after awhile they perceived afar off, one coming softly and alone, +all along the highway, to meet them. Then said Christian to his fellow, +"Yonder is a man with his back towards Zion, and he is coming to meet +us." + +HOPE. I see him: let us take heed to ourselves lest he should prove a +flatterer also. + +[Sidenote: THEY MEET ATHEIST] + +So he drew nearer and nearer, and at last came up to them. His name was +Atheist,[7] and he asked them whither they were going. + + [7] An atheist is one who does not believe that there is a God. + +CHRIS. We are going to Mount Zion. + +Then Atheist fell into a very great laughter. + +CHRIS. What is the meaning of your laughter? + +ATHEIST. I laugh to see what ignorant persons you are, to take upon +yourselves so tedious a journey, and yet are like to have nothing but +your travel for your pains. + +[Illustration: Atheist Laughing at Christian and Hopeful. + Page 170] + +CHRIS. Why, man, do you think we shall not be received? + +ATHEIST. Received! There is no such a place as you dream of in all this +world. + +CHRIS. But there is in the world to come. + +ATHEIST. When I was at home in mine own country, I heard as you now +affirm, and, from that hearing, went out to see, and have been seeking +this city these twenty years, but find no more of it than I did the +first day I set out. + +CHRIS. We have both heard and believe that there is such a place to be +found. + +ATHEIST. Had not I, when at home, believed I had not come thus far to +seek; but, finding none (and yet I should had there been such a place to +be found, for I have gone to seek it farther than you), I am going back +again, and will seek to refresh myself with the things that I then cast +away for hopes of that which I now see is not. + +CHRIS. Then said Christian to Hopeful his fellow, "Is it true which this +man hath said?" + +HOPE. Take heed; he is one of the flatterers. Remember what it hath cost +us once already for hearkening to such kind of fellows. What! no Mount +Zion? Did we not see from the Delectable Mountains the gate of the city? +Also, are we not now to walk by faith? Let us go on, lest the man with +the whip overtake us again. I say, my brother, cease to hear him, and +let us believe to the saving of the soul. + +CHRIS. My brother, I did not put the question to thee for that I +doubted of the truth of our belief myself, but to prove thee, and to +fetch from thee a fruit of the honesty of thy heart. As for this man, I +know that he is blinded. Let thee and me go on, knowing that we have +belief of the truth, and no lie is of the truth. + +HOPE. Now do I rejoice in hope of the glory of God. + +So they turned away from the man, and he, laughing at them, went his +way. + +I then saw in my dream that they went till they came into a certain +country, whose air naturally tended to make one drowsy if he came a +stranger into it. And here Hopeful began to be very dull and heavy of +sleep; wherefore he said unto Christian, "I do now begin to grow so +drowsy, that I can scarcely hold up mine eyes; let us lie down here, and +take one nap." + +CHRIS. "By no means," said the other, "lest sleeping, we never awake +more." + +HOPE. Why, my brother? sleep is sweet to the laboring man: we may be +refreshed if we take a nap. + +CHRIS. Do not you remember that one of the shepherds bid us beware of +the Enchanted Ground? He meant by that that we should beware of +sleeping; wherefore let us not sleep as others, but let us watch and be +sober. + +HOPE. I acknowledge myself in fault; and had I been here alone, I had, +by sleeping, run the danger of death. I see it is true that the Wise +Man saith, "Two are better than one." Hitherto hath thy company been my +help; and thou shalt have a good reward for thy labor. + +CHRIS. "Now, then," said Christian, "to prevent drowsiness in this +place, let us talk about something profitable." + +HOPE. With all my heart. + +[Sidenote: HOPEFUL NARRATES CONVERSION] + +CHRIS. Where shall we begin? + +HOPE. Where God began with us. But do you begin, if you please. + +CHRIS. I will sing you first this song: + + "When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither, + And hear how these two pilgrims talk together; + Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise, + Thus to keep ope their drowsy, slumbering eyes. + Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well, + Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell." + +CHRIS. Then Christian began, and said, "I will ask you a question. How +came you to think at first of doing as you do now?" + +HOPE. Do you mean, how came I at first to look after the good of my +soul? + +CHRIS. Yes, that is my meaning. + +HOPE. I continued a great while in the delight of those things which +were seen and sold at our fair; things which I believe now would have, +had I continued in them still, drowned me in ruin and destruction. + +CHRIS. What things were they? + +HOPE. All the treasures and riches of the world. Also I delighted much +in rioting, revelling, drinking, swearing, lying, uncleanness, +Sabbath-breaking, and what not, that tended to destroy the soul. But I +found at last, by hearing and considering of things that are holy, which +indeed I heard of you, as also of beloved Faithful, that was put to +death for his faith, and good living in Vanity Fair, that the end of +these things is death; and that, for these things' sake, the wrath of +God cometh upon those who disobey him. + +CHRIS. And did you presently fall under the power of this feeling? + +HOPE. No; I was not willing presently to know the evil of sin, nor the +destruction that follows upon the doing of it; but tried, when my mind +at first began to be shaken with the Word, to shut mine eyes against the +light thereof. + +CHRIS. But what was the cause of your waiting so long? + +HOPE. The causes were,--Firstly, I was ignorant that this was the work +of God upon me. Secondly, Sin was yet very sweet to my flesh, and I was +loth to leave it. Thirdly, I could not tell how to part with mine old +companions, their presence and actions were so desirable unto me. +Fourthly, The hours in which these feelings were upon me, were such +troublesome and such heart-affrighting hours, that I could not bear, no, +not so much as the remembrance of them upon my heart. + +CHRIS. Then, as it seems, sometimes you got rid of your trouble? + +HOPE. Yes, verily, but it would come into my mind again, and then I +should be as bad, nay, worse than I was before. + +CHRIS. Why, what was it that brought your sins to mind again? + +HOPE. Many things; as, + + 1. If I did but meet a good man in the streets; or, + + 2. If I have heard any read in the Bible; or, + + 3. If mine head did begin to ache; or, + + 4. If I were told that some of my neighbors + were sick; or, + + 5. If I heard the bell toll for some that were + dead; or, + + 6. If I thought of dying myself; or, + + 7. If I heard that sudden death happened to + others; + + 8. But especially when I thought of myself that + I must quickly come to judgment. + +CHRIS. And could you at any time with ease get off the guilt of sin, +when by any of these ways it came upon you? + +HOPE. No, not I; for then they got faster hold of my conscience; and +then, if I did but think of going back to sin (though my mind was turned +against it,) it would be double torment to me. + +CHRIS. And how did you do then? + +HOPE. I thought I must endeavor to mend my life; for else, thought I, I +am sure to be lost forever. + +CHRIS. And did you endeavor to mend? + +HOPE. Yes, and fled from not only my sins, but sinful company too, and +betook me to religious duties, as praying, reading, weeping for sin, +speaking truth to my neighbors, etc. These things did I, with many +others, too much here to tell. + +CHRIS. And did you think yourself well then? + +HOPE. Yes, for a while; but, at the last, my trouble came tumbling upon +me again, and that over the neck of all my trying to do right. + +CHRIS. How came that about, since you were now doing right, as far as +you knew? + +HOPE. There were several things brought it upon me; especially such +sayings as these: "All our righteousness are as filthy rags;" "By the +works of the law shall no flesh be made righteous;" "When ye shall have +done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are +unprofitable;" with many more such like. From whence I began to reason +with myself thus: If all my righteousness are filthy rags, if by the +deeds of the law no man can be made righteous, and if, when we have done +_all_, we are yet unprofitable, then it is but a folly to think of +heaven by the law. I further thought thus; If a man runs a hundred +pounds into the shopkeeper's debt, and after that shall pay for all that +he shall buy; yet his old debt stands still in the book uncrossed; for +the which the shopkeeper may sue him, and cast him into prison till he +shall pay the debt. + +CHRIS. Well, and how did you apply this to yourself? + +HOPE. Why, I thought thus with myself: I have by my sins run a great +way into God's book, and my now reforming will not pay off that score. +Therefore I should think still, under all my present trying. But how +shall I be freed from that punishment that I have brought myself in +danger of by my former sins. + +CHRIS. A very good application; but pray go on. + +HOPE. Another thing that hath troubled me ever since my late turning +from sin is, that if I look narrowly into the best of what I do now, I +still see sin, new sin, mixing itself with the best of that I do; so +that now I am forced to conclude that, notwithstanding my former fond +opinion of myself and duties, I have committed sin enough in one duty to +send me to hell, though my former life had been faultless. + +CHRIS. And what did you do then? + +HOPE. Do! I could not tell what to do, till I brake my mind to Faithful; +for he and I were well acquainted. And he told me, that unless I could +obtain the righteousness of a Man that never had sinned, neither mine +own nor all the righteousness of the world could save me. + +CHRIS. And did you think he spake true? + +HOPE. Had he told me so when I was pleased and satisfied with mine own +trying, I had called him fool for his pains; but now, since I see mine +own weakness and the sin which cleaves to my best performance, I have +been forced to be of his opinion. + +CHRIS. But did you think, when at first he suggested it to you, that +there was such a Man to be found, of whom it might justly be said that +He never committed sin? + +HOPE. I must confess the words at first sounded strangely; but after a +little more talk and company with him I had full certainty about it. + +CHRIS. And did you ask him what Man this was, and how you must be made +righteous by Him? + +HOPE. Yes, and he told me it was the Lord Jesus, that dwelleth on the +right hand of the Most High. And thus, said he, you must be made right +by Him, even by trusting what He hath done by Himself in the days of His +flesh, and suffered when He did hang on the tree. I asked him further, +How that Man's righteousness could be of that power to help another +before God? And he told me He was the mighty God, and did what He did, +and died the death also, not for Himself, but for me; to whom His +doings, and the worthiness of them, should be given if I believed on +Him. + +CHRIS. And what did you do then? + +HOPE. I made my objections against my believing, for that I thought He +was not willing to save me. + +CHRIS. And what said Faithful to you then? + +HOPE. He bid me go to Him and see. Then I said it was too much for me to +ask for. But he said No, for I was invited to come. Then he gave me a +book of Jesus' own writing to encourage me the more freely to come; and +he said concerning that book, that every word and letter thereof stood +firmer than heaven and earth. Then I asked him what I must do when I +came; and he told me I must entreat on my knees, with all my heart and +soul, the Father to reveal Him to me. Then I asked him further how I +must make my prayer to Him; and he said, Go, and thou shalt find Him +upon a mercy-seat, where He sits all the year long to give pardon and +forgiveness to them that come. I told him that I knew not what to say +when I came; and he bid me say to this effect: God be merciful to me a +sinner, and make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ; for I see that +if His righteousness had not been, or I have not faith in that +righteousness, I am utterly cast away. Lord, I have heard that Thou art +a merciful God, and hast given that Thy Son Jesus Christ should be the +Saviour of the world; and, moreover, that Thou art willing to bestow Him +upon such a poor sinner as I am. And I am a sinner indeed. Lord, take +therefore this opportunity, and show Thy grace in the salvation of my +soul, through Thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen. + +CHRIS. And did you do as you were bidden? + +HOPE. Yes, over, and over, and over. + +CHRIS. And did the Father show His son to you? + +HOPE. Not at the first, nor second, nor third, nor fourth, nor fifth; +no, nor at the sixth time neither. + +CHRIS. What did you do then? + +HOPE. What! why, I could not tell what to do. + +CHRIS. Had you no thoughts of leaving off praying? + +HOPE. Yes; a hundred times twice told. + +CHRIS. And what was the reason you did not? + +HOPE. I believed that that was true which had been told me; to wit, that +without the righteousness of this Christ, all the world could not save +me; and therefore, thought I with myself, if I leave off I die, and I +can but die at the throne of grace. And withal, this came into my mind: +"Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not +tarry." So I continued praying until the Father showed me His Son. + +CHRIS. And how was He shown unto you? + +HOPE. I did not see Him with my bodily eyes, but with the eyes of my +heart, and thus it was: One day I was very sad, I think sadder than at +any one time in my life; and this sadness was through a fresh sight of +the greatness and vileness of my sins. And, as I was then looking for +nothing but hell and the everlasting loss of my soul, suddenly, as I +thought, I saw the Lord Jesus look down from heaven upon me, and saying, +"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." + +But I replied, "Lord, I am a great, a very great sinner." And He +answered, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Then I said, "But, Lord, +what is believing?" And then I saw from that saying, "He that cometh to +me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst," +that believing and coming was all one; and that he that came, that is, +ran out in his heart and desire after salvation by Christ, he indeed +believed in Christ. Then the water stood in mine eyes, and I asked +further, "But, Lord, may such a great sinner as I am be indeed accepted +of Thee, and be saved by thee?" and I heard Him say, "And him that +cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Then said I, "But how Lord, +must I consider of Thee in my coming to Thee, that my faith may be +placed aright upon Thee?" Then he said, "Christ Jesus came into the +world to save sinners. He is the end of the law for righteousness to +every one that believes. He died for our sins, and rose again for our +righteousness. He loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own +blood. He is Mediator between God and us. He ever liveth to plead for +us." From all which I gathered that I must look for righteousness in His +person, and for satisfaction for my sins by His blood; that what He did +in obedience to His Father's law, and in submitting to the penalty +thereof, was not for Himself, but for him that will accept it for his +salvation, and be thankful. And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes +full of tears, and mine affections running over with love to the name, +people, and ways of Jesus Christ. + +CHRIS. This was a revelation of Christ to your soul indeed. But tell me +particularly what effect this had upon your spirit. + +HOPE. It made me see that all the world, notwithstanding all the +righteousness thereof, is in a state of condemnation. It made me see +that God the Father, though He be just, can justly forgive the coming +sinner. It made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my former life, +and confounded me with the sense of my own ignorance; for there never +came thought into my heart before now, that showed me so the beauty of +Jesus Christ. It made me love a holy life, and long to do something for +the honor and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus. Yea, I thought that +had I now a thousand gallons of blood in my body, I could spill it all +for the sake of the Lord Jesus. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +I saw then in my dream that Hopeful looked back, and saw Ignorance, whom +they had left behind, coming after. "Look," said he to Christian, "how +far yonder youngster loitereth behind." + +CHRIS. Ay, ay, I see him: he careth not for our company. + +HOPE. But I think it would not have hurt him, had he kept pace with us +hitherto. + +CHRIS. That is true; but I warrant you he thinks otherwise. + +HOPE. That I think he doth; but, however, let us tarry for him. So they +did. + +CHRIS. Then Christian said to him, "Come away, man; why do you stay so +behind?" + +IGNOR. I take my pleasure in walking alone, even more a great deal than +in company, unless I like it the better. + +Then said Christian to Hopeful (but softly), "Did I not tell you he +cared not for our company? But, however," said he, "come up, and let us +talk away the time in this solitary place." Then, directing his speech +to Ignorance, he said, "Come how do you? How stands it between God and +your soul now?" + +IGNOR. I hope well; for I am always full of good thoughts, that come +into my mind to comfort me as I walk. + +CHRIS. What good motions? pray tell us. + +IGNOR. Why, I think of God and heaven. + +CHRIS. So do the devils and lost souls. + +IGNOR. But I think of them and desire them. + +CHRIS. So do many that are never like to come there. "The soul of the +sluggard desireth and hath nothing." + +IGNOR. But I think of them, and leave all for them. + +CHRIS. That I doubt, for leaving of all is a very hard matter; yea, a +harder matter than many are aware of. But why, or by what, art thou +persuaded that thou hast left all for God and heaven? + +IGNOR. My heart tells me so. + +CHRIS. The Wise Man says, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool." + +IGNOR. This is spoken of an evil heart; but mine is a good one. + +CHRIS. But how dost thou prove that? + +IGNOR. It comforts me in the hopes of heaven. + +CHRIS. That may be through its deceitfulness; for a man's heart may +minister comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he has yet +no ground to hope. + +IGNOR. But my heart and life agree together; and therefore my hope is +well grounded. + +CHRIS. Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together? + +IGNOR. My heart tells me so. + +CHRIS. Ask my fellow if I be a thief! Thy heart tells thee so! Except +the Word of God telleth thee in this matter, other testimony is of no +value. + +IGNOR. But is it not a good heart that hath good thoughts? and is not +that a good life that is according to God's commandments? + +CHRIS. Yes, that is a good heart that hath good thoughts, and that is a +good life that is according to God's commandments; but it is one thing, +indeed, to have these, and another thing only to think so. + +IGNOR. Pray, what count you good thoughts, and a life according to God's +commandments? + +CHRIS. There are good thoughts of many kinds: some respecting ourselves, +some God, some Christ, and some other things. + +IGNOR. You go so fast, I cannot keep pace with you. Do you go on before: +I must stay awhile behind. + +Then they said: + + "Well, Ignorance, wilt thou yet foolish be, + To slight good counsel, ten times given thee? + And if thou yet refuse it, thou shalt know, + Ere long, the evil of thy doing so. + Remember, man, in time; stoop, do not fear; + Good counsel, taken well, saves; therefore hear: + But, if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be + The loser, Ignorance, I'll warrant thee." + +Then Christian addressed himself thus to his fellow: + +CHRIS. Well, come, my good Hopeful; I perceive that thou and I must +walk by ourselves again. + +[Sidenote: THE TWO PILGRIMS PROCEED] + +So I saw in my dream that they went on apace before, and Ignorance he +came hobbling after. Then said Christian to his companion, "It pities me +much for this poor man: it will certainly go ill with him at last." + +HOPE. Alas! there are abundance in our town in his condition, whole +families, yea, whole streets, and that of pilgrims, too; and if there be +so many in our parts, how many, think you, must there be in the place +where he was born? + +CHRIS. Indeed, the Word saith, "He hath blinded their eyes, lest they +should see." + +HOPE. Well said; I believe you have said the truth. Are we now almost +got past the Enchanted Ground? + +CHRIS. Why, art thou weary of our talking? + +HOPE. No, verily; but that I would know where we are. + +CHRIS. We have not now above two miles farther to go thereon. Well, we +will leave at this time our neighbor Ignorance by himself, and fall upon +another subject. + +HOPE. With all my heart; but you shall still begin. + +CHRIS. Well, then, did you not know, about ten years ago, one Temporary +in your parts, who was a forward man in religion then? + +HOPE. Know him! yes; he dwelt in Graceless, a town about two miles off +of Honesty, and he dwelt next door to one Turnback. + +CHRIS. Right, he dwelt under the same roof with him. Well, that man was +much awakened once: I believe that then he had some sight of his sins, +and of the punishment that was due thereto. + +HOPE. I am of your mind; for (my house not being above three miles from +him) he would ofttimes come to me, and that with many tears. Truly, I +pitied the man, and was not altogether without hope of him; but one may +see, it is not every one that cries "Lord! Lord!" + +CHRIS. He told me once that he was resolved to go on pilgrimage as we do +now; but all of a sudden he grew acquainted with one Save-self, and then +he became a stranger to me, for at that time he gave up going on +pilgrimage. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +[Sidenote: BEULAH LAND] + + +Now I saw in my dream, that by this time the pilgrims were got over the +Enchanted Ground, and entering into the country of Beulah, whose air was +very sweet and pleasant: the way lying directly through it, they enjoyed +themselves there for a season. Yea, here they heard continually the +singing of birds and saw every day the flowers appear on the earth, and +heard the voice of the turtle in the land. In this country the sun +shineth night and day; wherefore this was beyond the Valley of the +Shadow of Death, and also out of the reach of Giant Despair; neither +could they from this place so much as see Doubting Castle. Here they +were within sight of the City they were going to; also here met them +some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the Shining Ones +commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of heaven. Here they +had no want of corn and wine; for in this place they met with abundance +of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage. Here they heard +voices from out of the City, loud voices, saying, "Say ye to the +daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh! Behold, His reward is +with Him!" Here all the inhabitants of the country called them "The holy +people, and redeemed of the Lord, sought out," etc. + +Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts +more remote from the kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing near +to the City, they had yet a more perfect view thereof. It was builded of +pearls and precious stones, also the streets thereof were paved with +gold; so that by reason of the natural glory of the City, and the +reflection of the sunbeams upon it, Christian with desire fell sick; +Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease, wherefore here they +lay by it awhile, crying out because of their pangs, "If you see my +Beloved tell Him that I am sick of love." + +But being a little strengthened, and better able to bear their sickness, +they walked on their way, and came yet nearer and nearer, where were +orchards, vineyards, and gardens, and their gates opened into the +highway. Now, as they came up to these places, behold, the gardener, +stood in the way; to whom the pilgrims said, "Whose goodly vineyards and +gardens are these?" He answered, "They are the King's, and are planted +here for His own delight, and also for the solace of pilgrims." So the +gardener had them into the vineyards, and bid them refresh themselves +with the dainties. He also showed them there the King's walks, and the +arbors where He delighted to be; and here they tarried and slept. + +Now I beheld in my dream, that they talked more in their sleep at this +time than ever they did in all their journey; and being in thought +thereabout, the gardener said even to me, "Wherefore dost thou meditate +at the matter? It is the nature of the fruit of the grapes of these +vineyards to go down so sweetly as to cause the lips of them that are +asleep to speak." + +So I saw, when they awoke they undertook to go up to the City. But, as I +said, the reflection of the sun upon the City (for the City was pure +gold) was so extremely glorious, that they could not, as yet, with open +face behold it, but through a glass made for that purpose. So I saw +that, as they went on, there met them two men in raiment that shone like +gold, also their faces shone as the light. + +These men asked the pilgrims whence they came; and they told them. They +also asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties and dangers, +what comforts and pleasures, they had met in the way; and they told +them. Then said the men that met them, "You have but two difficulties +more to meet with, and then you are in the City." + +Christian, then, and his companion, asked the men to go along with them; +so they told them that they would. "But," said they, "you must obtain it +by your own faith." So I saw in my dream that they went on together till +they came in sight of the gate. + +[Sidenote: A RIVER INTERVENES] + +Now I further saw, that betwixt them and the gate was a river; but there +was no bridge to go over, and the river was very deep. At the sight, +therefore, of this river, the pilgrims were much stunned; but the men +that went with them said, "You must go through, or you cannot come at +the gate." + +The pilgrims then began to inquire if there was no other way to the +gate; to which they answered, "Yes; but there hath not any save two, to +wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path since the +foundation of the world, nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound." +The pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to be anxious in his +mind, and looked this way and that; but no way could be found by them by +which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters +were all of a depth. They said, "No," yet they could not help them in +that case; "for," said they, "you shall find it deeper or shallower as +you believe in the King of the place." + +They then addressed themselves to the water; and, entering, Christian +began to sink, and crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, "I +sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head; all His waves go over +me." + +Then said the other, "Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, +and it is good." Then said Christian, "Ah! my friend, the sorrows of +death have compassed me about; I shall not see the land that flows with +milk and honey." And with that, a great darkness and horror fell upon +Christian, so that he could not see before him. Also here he in a great +measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly +talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way +of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spake still tended to show +that he had horror of mind, and heart-fears that he should die in that +river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as they that +stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins +that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. +It was also observed that he was troubled with the sight of demons and +evil spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words. + +Hopeful, therefore, here had much ado to keep his brother's head above +water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere a while +he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful would also endeavor to comfort +him, saying, "Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by to receive +us;" but Christian would answer, "It is you, it is you they wait for: +you have been hopeful ever since I knew you." "And so have you," said he +to Christian. "Ah, brother," said he, "surely, if I were right, He would +now arise to help me; but for my sins He hath brought me into this +snare, and hath left me." Then said Hopeful, "My brother, these troubles +and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God +hath forsaken you; but are sent to try you, whether you will call to +mind that which hitherto you have received of His goodness, and live +upon Him in your distresses." + +Then I saw in my dream that Christian was in thought awhile. To whom +also Hopeful added these words, "Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh +thee whole." And, with that, Christian brake out with a loud voice, "Oh, +I see Him again; and He tells me, 'When thou passest through the waters, +I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow +thee.'" Then they both took courage; and the enemy was, after that, as +still as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian, therefore, +presently found ground to stand upon; and so it followed that the rest +of the river was but shallow. Thus they got over. + +[Sidenote: TWO SHINING MEN] + +Now, upon the bank of the river, on the other side, they saw the two +Shining Men again, who there waited for them. Wherefore, being come out +of the river, they saluted them, saying, "We are heavenly spirits, sent +forth to help those that shall be heirs of salvation." Thus they went +along towards the gate. Now, you must note that the City stood upon a +mighty hill; but the pilgrims went up that hill with ease, because they +had these two men to lead them up by the arms; also they had left their +mortal garments behind them in the river; for though they went in with +them, they came out without them. They therefore went up here with much +activity and speed, though the foundation upon which the City was framed +was higher than the clouds. They therefore went up through the regions +of the air, sweetly talking as they went, being comforted because they +had safely got over the river, and had such glorious companions to +attend them. + +[Sidenote: MOUNT ZION] + +The talk they had with the Shining Ones, was about the glory of the +place; who told them that the beauty and glory of it were such as could +not be put into words. "There," said they, "is the Mount Zion, the +heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits +of good men made perfect. You are going now," said they, "to the +Paradise of God, wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the +never-fading fruits thereof; and when you come there, you shall have +white robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with +the King, even all the days of an eternal life. There you shall not see +again such things as you saw when you were in the lower region upon the +earth; to wit, sorrow, sickness, affliction, and death; 'for the former +things are passed away.' You are going now to Abraham, to Isaac, and to +Jacob, and to the prophets, men that God hath taken away from the evil +to come, and that are now resting upon their beds, each one walking in +his righteousness." The men then asked, "What must we do in the holy +place?" To whom it was answered, "You must there receive the comfort of +all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you +have sown, even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings +for the King by the way. In that place you must wear crowns of gold, +and enjoy the perpetual sight and visions of the Holy One; for there you +shall see Him as He is. There also you shall serve Him continually with +praise, with shouting and thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the +world, though with much difficulty, because of the weakness of your +bodies. There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing and your ears +with hearing the pleasant voice of the Mighty One. There you shall enjoy +your friends again that are gone thither before you; and there you shall +with joy receive even every one that follows into the holy place after +you. There also you shall be clothed with glory and majesty, and put +into a state fit to ride out with the King of Glory. When He shall come +with sound of trumpet in the clouds, as upon the wings of the wind, you +shall come with Him; and when He shall sit upon the throne of judgment, +you shall sit by Him; yea, and when He shall pass sentence upon all the +workers of evil, let them be angels or men, you also shall have a voice +in that judgment because they were His and your enemies. Also, when He +shall again return to the City, you shall go too, with sound of trumpet, +and be ever with Him." + +Now, while they were thus drawing towards the gate, behold, a company of +the heavenly host came out to meet them; to whom it was said by the +other two Shining Ones, "These are the men that have loved our Lord when +in the world, and that have left all for His holy name; and He hath +sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far on their +desired journey, that they may go in and look their Redeemer in the face +with joy." Then the heavenly host gave a great shout, saying, "Blessed +are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." There +came out also at this time to meet them several of the King's +trumpeters, clothed in white and shining raiment who, with melodious +noises and loud, made even the heavens to echo with their sound. These +trumpeters saluted Christian and his fellow with ten thousand welcomes +from the world; and this they did with shouting and sound of trumpet. + +[Sidenote: THE CELESTIAL CITY] + +This done, they compassed them round on every side; some went before, +some behind, and some on the right hand, some on the left (as it were to +guard them through the upper regions), continually sounding as they +went, with melodious noise, in notes on high: so that the very sight was +to them that could behold it as if heaven itself was come down to meet +them. Thus, therefore, they walked on together; and, as they walked, +ever and anon these trumpeters, even with joyful sound, would, by mixing +their music, with looks and gestures, still signify to Christian and his +brother how welcome they were into their company, and with what gladness +they came to meet them. And now were these two men as it were in heaven +before they came at it, being swallowed up with the sight of angels, and +with hearing of their melodious notes. Here also they had the City +itself in view, and thought they heard all the bells therein to ring, +and welcome them thereto. But, above all, the warm and joyful thoughts +that they had about their own dwelling there with such company, and that +for ever and ever, oh! by what tongue or pen can their glorious joy be +expressed? + +And thus they came up to the gate. Now, when they were come up to the +gate, there was written over it in letters of gold, "BLESSED ARE THEY +THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE, +AND MAY ENTER IN THROUGH THE GATES INTO THE CITY." + +Then I saw in my dream, that the Shining Men bid them call at the gate: +the which when they did, some from above looked over the gate: such as +Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, and others, to whom it was said, "These +pilgrims are come from the City of Destruction, for the love that they +bear to the King of this place." And then the pilgrims gave in unto them +each man his certificate, which they had received in the beginning; +those therefore were carried in to the King, who, when He had read them, +said, "Where are the men?" To whom it was answered, "They are standing +without the gate." The King then commanded to open the gate, "that the +righteous nation," said He, "which keepeth the truth, may enter in." + +Now, I saw in my dream, that these two men went in at the gate; and lo! +as they entered, their looks were changed so that their faces became +bright; and they had garments put on that shone like gold. There were +also that met them with harps and crowns, and gave them to them--the +harps to praise withal, and the crowns in token of honor. Then I heard +in my dream that all the bells in the City rang again for joy, and that +it was said unto them, "Enter ye into the joy of your Lord." I also +heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying, +"Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth +upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever!" + +Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after +them, and behold, the City shone like the sun; the streets also were +paved with gold; and in them walked many men with crowns on their heads, +palms in their hands, and golden harps to sing praises withal. + +There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another +without ceasing, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!" And, after +that, they shut up the gates; which when I had seen, I wished myself +among them. + +[Sidenote: IGNORANCE FAILS TO ENTER] + +Now while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to look +back, and saw Ignorance come up to the river-side; but he soon got over, +and that without half the difficulty which the other two men met with. +For it happened that there was then in the place one Vain-Hope, a +ferryman, that with his boat helped him over; so he, as the others I +saw, did ascend the hill, to come up to the gate; only he came alone, +neither did any man meet him with the least encouragement. When he was +come up to the gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and +then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have been quickly +given to him; but he was asked by the men that looked over the top of +the gate, "Whence came you? and what would you have?" He answered, "I +have eaten and drunk in the presence of the King, and He has taught in +our streets." Then they asked him for his certificate, that they might +go in and show it to the King: so he fumbled in his bosom for one, and +found none. Then said they, "Have you none?" But the man answered never +a word. So they told the King; but He would not come down to see him, +but commanded the two Shining Ones that conducted Christian and Hopeful +to the City, to go out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, +and have him away. Then they took him up, and carried him through the +air to the door that I saw in the side of the hill, and put him in +there. Then I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of +heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction! + + * * * * * + +So I awoke, and behold, it was a dream. + + + + +CONCLUSION. + + + Now, reader, I have told my dream to thee, + See if thou canst interpret it to me, + Or to thyself or neighbor; but take heed + Of misinterpreting; for that, instead + Of doing good, will but thyself abuse: + By misinterpreting, evil ensues. + Take heed also that thou be not extreme + In playing with the outside of my dream; + Nor let my figure or similitude + Put thee into a laughter or a feud. + Leave this for boys and fools; but as for thee, + Do thou the substance of my matter see. + Put by the curtains, look within my veil; + Turn up my metaphors, and do not fail, + There, if thou seekest them, such things to find + As will be helpful to an honest mind. + What of my dross thou findest there, be bold + To throw away; but yet preserve the gold. + What if my gold be wrapped up in ore?-- + None throws away the apple for the core. + But if thou shalt cast all away as vain, + I know not but t'will make me dream again. + + + + +THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. + +PART II. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +COURTEOUS COMPANIONS,-- + + +Some time since, to tell you my dream that I had of Christian the +Pilgrim, and of his dangerous journey towards the Celestial Country, was +pleasant to me and profitable to you. I told you then, also, what I saw +concerning his wife and children, and how unwilling they were to go with +him on pilgrimage, insomuch that he was forced to go on his progress +without them; for he durst not run the danger of that destruction which +he feared would come by staying with them in the City of Destruction; +wherefore, as I then showed you, he left them and departed. + +Now, it hath so happened, through the abundance of business, that I have +been much hindered and kept back from my wonted travels into those parts +whence he went, and so could not, till now, obtain an opportunity to +make further inquiry after those whom he left behind, that I might give +you an account of them. But, having had some concerns that way of late, +I went down again thitherward. Now, having taken up my lodgings in a +wood about a mile off the place, as I slept I dreamed again. + +[Sidenote: THE AUTHOR AND MR. SAGACITY] + +And as I was in my dream, behold, an aged gentleman came by where I lay; +and, because he was to go some part of the way that I was travelling, +methought I got up and went with him. So, as we walked, and as travelers +usually do, I was as if we fell into discourse; and our talk happened to +be about Christian and his travels; for thus I began with the old man: + +"Sir," said I, "what town is that there below, that lieth on the left +hand of our way?" + +Then said Mr. Sagacity (for that was his name), "It is the City of +Destruction; a populous place, but possessed with a very ill-conditioned +and idle sort of people." + +"I thought that was that city," quoth I: "I went once myself through +that town, and therefore know that this report you give of it is true." + +SAG. Too true! I wish I could speak truth in speaking better of them +that dwell therein. + +"Well, sir," quoth I, "then I perceive you to be a well-meaning man, and +so one that takes pleasure to hear and tell of that which is good. Pray, +did you never hear what happened to a man some time ago of this town +(whose name was Christian), that went on pilgrimage up towards the +higher regions?" + +SAG. Hear of him! Ay, and I also heard of the difficulties, troubles, +wars, captivities, cries, groans, frights and fears that he met with and +had in his journey. Besides, I must tell you all our country rings of +him: there are but few houses that have heard of him and his doings but +have sought after and got the record of his pilgrimage. Yea, I think I +may say that his hazardous journey has got many wellwishers to his ways; +for though, when he was here, he was a fool in every man's mouth, yet +now he is gone he is highly commended of all. For 'tis said he lives +bravely where he is: yea, many of them that are resolved never to run +his risks yet have their mouths water at his gains. + +"They may," quoth I, "well think, if they think anything that is true, +that he liveth well where he is; for he now lives at and in the Fountain +of Life, and has what he has without labor and sorrow; for there is no +grief mixed therewith. But, pray, what talk have the people about him?" + +SAG. Talk! the people talk strangely about him: some say that he now +walks in white; that he has a chain of gold about his neck; that he has +a crown of gold beset with pearls upon his head. Others say that the +Shining Ones, that sometimes showed themselves unto him in his journey, +are become his companions, and that he is as familiar with them in the +place where he is, as here one neighbor is with another. Besides, it is +confidently spoken concerning him, that the King of the place where he +is has bestowed upon him already a very rich and pleasant dwelling at +court, and that he every day eateth and drinketh and walketh with Him, +and receiveth of the smiles and favors of Him that is judge of all +there. Moreover, it is expected of some, that his Prince, the Lord of +that country, will shortly come into these parts, and will know the +reason, if they can give any, why his neighbors set so little by him, +and had him so much in derision, when they perceived that he would be a +Pilgrim. For they say, now he is so in the affections of his Prince, and +that his Sovereign is so much concerned with the wrongs that were cast +upon Christian when he became a Pilgrim, that He will look upon all as +if done unto Himself; and no marvel, for it was for the love that he had +to his Prince that he ventured as he did. + +[Sidenote: SAGACITY TELLS OF CHRISTIANA] + +"I daresay," quoth I; "I am glad on't; I am glad for the poor man's +sake, for that he now has rest from his labor, and for that he reapeth +the benefit of his tears with joy, and for that he has got beyond +gunshot of his enemies, and is out of the reach of them that hate him. I +also am glad for that a rumor of these things is noised abroad in this +country: who can tell but that it may work some good effect on some that +are left behind? But pray, sir, while it is fresh in my mind, do you +hear anything of his wife and children? Poor hearts! I wonder in my mind +what they do." + +SAG. Who? Christiana and her sons? They are like to do as well as did +Christian himself; for, though they all played the fool at first, and +would by no means be persuaded by either the tears or entreaties of +Christian, yet, second thoughts have wrought wonderfully with them, so +they have packed up, and are also gone after him. + +"Better and better," quoth I: "but, what! wife and children and all?" + +SAG. It is true: I can give you an account of the matter, for I was upon +the spot at the instant, and was thoroughly acquainted with the whole +affair. + +"Then," said I, "a man, it seems, may report it for a truth?" + +SAG. You need not fear to declare it. I mean, that they are all gone on +pilgrimage, both the good woman and her four boys. And, since (we are, +as I perceive) going some considerable way together, I will give you an +account of the whole matter. + +This Christiana (for that was her name from the day that she, with her +children betook themselves to a pilgrim's life) after her husband had +gone over the river, and she could hear of him no more, her thoughts +began to work in her mind. First, for that she had lost her husband, and +of that the loving bond of that relation was utterly broken betwixt +them. For you know (said he to me) it is only natural that the living +should have many sad thoughts, in the remembrance of the loss of loving +relations. This, therefore, of her husband, did cost her many a tear. +But this was not all; for Christiana did also begin to consider with +herself, whether unbecoming behavior towards her husband was not one +cause that she saw him no more, and that in such sort he was taken away +from her. And, upon this, came into her mind, by swarms, all her unkind, +unnatural, and ungodly treatment of her dear friend; which also troubled +her conscience, and did load her with guilt. She was, moreover, much +broken with recalling to remembrance the restless groans, brinish tears, +and self-bemoanings of her husband, and how she did harden her heart +against all his entreaties and loving persuasions of her and her sons to +go with him; yea, there was not anything that Christian either said to +her or did before her, all the while that his burden did hang on his +back, but it returned upon her like a flash of lightning, and rent her +heart in sunder. Specially that bitter outcry of his, "What shall I do +to be saved?" did ring in her ears most dolefully. + +Then said she to her children, "Sons, we are all undone. I have sinned +away your father, and he is gone; he would have had us with him, but I +would not go myself; I also have hindered you of life." + +With that, the boys fell all into tears, and cried out to go after their +father. + +"Oh," said Christiana, "that it had been but our lot to go with him! +then had it fared well with us, beyond what it is like to do now. For +though I formerly foolishly imagined, concerning the troubles of your +father, that they came from a foolish fancy that he had, or for that he +was overrun with melancholy humors; yet now it will not out of my mind +but that they sprang from another cause; and it was this, that the light +of life was given him, by the help of which, as I perceive, he has +escaped the snares of death." + +[Sidenote: OF CHRISTIANA'S DREAM] + +Then they all wept again, and cried out, "Oh, woe worth the day!" + +The next night Christiana had a dream; and, behold, she saw as if a +broad parchment were opened before her, in which were recorded the sum +of her ways; and the times, as she thought, looked very black upon her. +Then she cried out aloud in her sleep, "Lord, have mercy upon me a +sinner!" and the little children heard her. + +After this, she thought she saw two very ill-favored ones standing by +her bed-side, and saying, "What shall we do with this woman? for she +cries out for mercy waking and sleeping: if she be suffered to go on as +she begins, we shall lose her as we have lost her husband. Wherefore we +must, by one way or other, seek to take her off from the thoughts of +what shall be hereafter; else, all the world cannot help but she will +become a pilgrim." + +Now she awoke in a great sweat; also a trembling was upon her; but after +a while, she fell to sleeping again. And then she thought she saw +Christian her husband in a place of bliss, among many immortals, with a +harp in his hand, standing and playing upon it before One that sat upon +a throne, with a rainbow about His head. + +She saw, also, as if he bowed his head with his face to the paved work +that was under the Prince's feet, saying, "I heartily thank my Lord and +King for bringing of me into this place." Then shouted a company of them +that stood round about, and harped with their harps; but no man living +could tell what they said, but Christian and his companions. + +Next morning, when she was up, and had prayed to God and talked with her +children a while, one knocked hard at the door; to whom she spake out, +saying, "If thou comest in God's name, come in." So he said, "Amen," and +opened the door, and saluted her with "Peace be to this house!" The +which, when he had done, he said, "Christiana, knowest thou wherefore I +am come?" Then she blushed and trembled, also her heart began to wax +warm with desires to know from whence he came, and what was his errand +to her. So he said unto her, "My name is Secret: I dwell with those that +are on high. It is talked of where I dwell, as if thou hadst a desire to +go thither; also there is a report that thou art aware of the evil thou +hast formerly done to thy husband, in hardening thy heart against his +way, and in keeping of these thy babes in their ignorance. Christiana, +the Merciful One hath sent me to tell thee, that He is a God ready to +forgive, and that He taketh delight to pardon offences. He also would +have thee know that He inviteth thee to come into His presence, to His +table, and that He will feed thee with the fat of His house, and with +the heritage of Jacob thy father. + +"There is Christian, thy husband that was, with legions more, his +companions, ever behold that face that doth minister life to beholders; +and they will be glad when they shall hear the sound of thy feet step +over thy Father's threshold." + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIANA IS SENT FOR] + +Christiana at this was greatly abashed in herself, and bowed her head to +the ground. + +This visitor proceeded, and said, "Christiana, here is also a letter for +thee, which I have brought from thy husband's King." So she took it, and +opened it; but it smelt after the manner of the best perfume; also it +was written in letters of gold. The contents of the letter were these: +"That the King would have her to do as Christian her husband; for that +was the way to come to His City, and to dwell in His presence with joy +for ever." + +At this the good woman was quite overcome; so she cried out to her +visitor, "Sir, will you carry me and my children with you, that we also +may worship this King?" + +Then said the visitor, "Christiana, the bitter is before the sweet. Thou +must through troubles, as did he that went before thee, enter the +Celestial City. Wherefore I advise thee to do as did Christian thy +husband: go to the wicket-gate yonder over the plain, for that stands in +the head of the way up which you must go; and I wish thee all good +speed. Also I advise that thou put this letter in thy bosom, that thou +read therein to thyself, and to thy children, until you have got it by +rote of heart: for it is one of the songs that thou must sing while thou +art in this house of thy pilgrimage. Also this thou must deliver in at +the farther gate." + +Now, I saw in my dream, that this old gentleman, as he told me the +story, did himself seem to be greatly affected therewith. He moreover +went on, and said: + +So Christiana called her sons together, and began thus to address +herself unto them: "My sons, I have, as you may perceive, been of late +under much trouble in my soul about the death of your father: not for +that I doubt at all of his happiness, for I am satisfied now that he is +well. I have also been much affected with the thoughts of mine own state +and yours, which I verily believe is by nature miserable. My treatment +also of your father in his distress is a great load to my conscience, +for I hardened both mine own heart and yours against him, and refused to +go with him on pilgrimage. + +"The thoughts of these things would now kill me outright, but for a +dream which I had last night, and but for the encouragement that this +stranger has given me this morning. Come, my children, let us pack up, +and be gone to the gate that leads to the Celestial Country, that we may +see your father, and be with him and his companions in peace, according +to the laws of that land." + +Then did her children burst out into tears, for joy that the heart of +their mother was so inclined. So their visitor bade them farewell; and +they began to prepare to set out for their journey. + +[Sidenote: MRS. TIMOROUS AND CHRISTIANA] + +But while they were thus about to be gone, two of the women that were +Christiana's neighbors came up to the house, and knocked at the door. +To whom she said as before, "if you come in God's name, come in." At +this the women were stunned; for this kind of language they used not to +hear, or to perceive to drop from the lips of Christiana. Yet they came +in; but, behold they found the good woman preparing to be gone from her +house. + +So they began, and said, "Neighbor, pray what is your meaning by this?" + +Christiana answered and said to the eldest of them, whose name was Mrs. +Timorous, "I am preparing for a journey." + +This Timorous was daughter to him that met Christian upon the Hill +Difficulty, and would have had him go back for fear of the lions. + +TIM. For what journey, I pray you? + +CHR. Even to go after my good husband. And with that she fell a weeping. + +TIM. I hope not so, good neighbor. Pray, for your poor children's sake, +do not so unwomanly cast away yourself. + +CHR. Nay, my children shall go with me; not one of them is willing to +stay behind. + +TIM. I wonder in my very heart what or who has brought you into this +mind! + +CHR. Oh, neighbor, knew you but as much as I do, I doubt not but that +you would go with me. + +TIM. Prithee, what new knowledge hast thou got that so worketh off thy +mind from thy friends, and that tempteth thee to go nobody knows where? + +CHR. Then Christiana replied, "I have been sorely afflicted since my +husband's departure from me, but especially since he went over the +river. But that which troubleth me most is my unkind treatment of him +when he was under his distress. Besides, I am now as he was then: +nothing will serve me but going on pilgrimage. I was a-dreaming last +night that I saw him. Oh that my soul was with him! He dwelleth in the +presence of the King of the country; he sits and eats with Him at His +table; he has become a companion of immortals, and has a house now given +him to dwell in, to which the best palaces on earth, if compared, seem +to me but as a dunghill. The Prince of the place has also sent for me, +with promises of entertainment if I shall come to Him; His messenger was +here even now, and has brought me a letter which invites me to come." +And with that she plucked out the letter, and read it, and said to them, +"What now will you say to this?" + +[Sidenote: MERCY ALSO DESIRES TO GO] + +TIM. Oh, the madness that hath possessed thee and thy husband, to run +yourselves upon such difficulties! You have heard, I am sure, what your +husband did meet with, even in a manner at the first step that he took +on his way, as our neighbor Obstinate can yet testify, for he went along +with them, yea, and Pliable too; until they, like wise men, were afraid +to go any farther. We also heard, over and above, how he met with the +lions, Apollyon, the Shadow of Death, and many other things. Nor is the +danger he met with at Vanity Fair to be forgotten by thee. For if he, +though a man, was so hard put to it, what canst thou, being but a poor +woman, do? Consider also that these four sweet babes are thy children, +thy flesh and thy bones. Wherefore, though thou shouldest be so rash as +to cast away thyself, yet, for the sake of thy children, keep thou at +home. + +But Christiana said unto her, "Tempt me not, my neighbor. I have now a +price put into my hands to get gain, and I should be a fool of the +greatest size if I should have no heart to strike in with the +opportunity. And for that you tell me of all these troubles which I am +like to meet with in the way, they are so far off from being to me a +discouragement, that they show I am in the right. The bitter must come +before the sweet, and that also will make the sweet the sweeter. +Wherefore, since you came not to my house in God's name, as I said, I +pray you to be gone, and not to disquiet me further." + +Then Timorous reviled her, and said to her fellow, "Come, neighbor +Mercy, let us leave her in her own hands, since she scorns our counsel +and company." But Mercy was at a stand, and could not so readily comply +with her neighbor, and that for a twofold reason. 1. Her heart yearned +over Christiana; so she said within herself, "If my neighbor will needs +be gone, I will go a little way with her, and help her." 2. Her heart +yearned over her own soul; for what Christiana had said had taken hold +upon her mind. Wherefore she said within herself again, "I will yet have +more talk with this Christiana, and if I find truth and life in what she +shall say, myself, with my heart, shall also go with her." Wherefore +Mercy began thus to reply to her neighbor Timorous: + +MER. Neighbor, I did indeed come with you to see Christiana this +morning; and since she is, as you see, taking her last farewell of her +country, I think to walk this sunshiny morning a little with her, to +help her on her way. + +But she told her not of the second reason, but kept that to herself. + +TIM. Well, I see you have a mind to go a-fooling too; but take heed in +time, and be wise. While we are out of danger, we are out; but when we +are in, we are in. + +So Mrs. Timorous returned to her house, and Christiana betook herself to +her journey. But when Timorous was got home to her house, she sends for +some of her neighbors; to wit, Mrs. Bat's-eyes, Mrs. Inconsiderate, Mrs. +Light-mind, and Mrs. Know-nothing. So, when they were come to her house, +she falls to telling of the story of Christiana and of her intended +journey. And thus she began her tale: + +[Sidenote: MRS. TIMOROUS' NEIGHBORS] + +TIM. Neighbors, having had little to do this morning, I went to give +Christiana a visit; and when I came at the door, I knocked, as you know +it is our custom; and she answered, "If you come in God's name come in." +So in I went, thinking all was well; but when I came in I found her +preparing herself to depart the town, she and also her children. So I +asked her what was her meaning by that. And she told me, in short, that +she was now of a mind to go on pilgrimage, as did her husband. She told +me also a dream that she had, and how the King of the country where her +husband was had sent her an inviting letter to come thither. + +Then said Mrs. Know-nothing, "And, what! do you think she will go?" + +TIM. Ay, go she will, whatever comes on't; and methinks I know it by +this: for that which was my great reason in persuading her to stay at +home (that is, the troubles she was like to meet with in the way) is one +great reason with her to put her forward on her journey. For she told +me, in so many words, "The bitter goes before the sweet; yea, and +forasmuch as it so doth, it makes the sweet the sweeter." + +MRS. BAT'S-EYES. "Oh, this blind and foolish woman!" said she; "will she +not take warning by her husband's trials? For my part, I see, if he were +here again, he would rest him content in a whole skin, and never run so +many dangers for nothing." + +Mrs. Inconsiderate also replied, saying, "Away with such fantastical +fools from the town! a good riddance, for my part, I say, of her! Should +she stay where she dwells, and retain this her mind, who could live +quietly by her? for she will either be dumpish, or unneighborly, or +talk of such matters as no wise body can abide. Wherefore, for my part, +I shall never be sorry for her departure: let her go, and let better +come in her room. It was never a good world since these whimsical fools +dwelt in it." + +Then Mrs. Light-mind added as followeth: "Come, put this kind of talk +away. I was yesterday at Madam Wanton's, where we were as merry as the +maids. For who do you think should be there, but I and Mrs. +Love-the-Flesh, and three or four more, with Mr. Lechery, Mrs. Filth, +and some others. So there we had music and dancing, and what else was +meet to fill up the pleasure. And, I dare say, my lady herself is an +admirable well-bred gentlewoman, and Mr. Lechery is as pretty a +fellow." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE WICKET-GATE. + + +By this time Christiana was got on her way, and Mercy went along with +her. So as they went, her children being there also, Christiana began to +discourse. "And, Mercy," said Christiana, "I take this as an unexpected +favor, that thou shouldest set forth out of doors with me, to accompany +me a little in my way." + +MER. Then said young Mercy (for she was but young), "If I thought it +would be a good purpose to go with you, I would never go near the town +any more." + +CHR. "Well, Mercy," said Christiana, "cast in thy lot with me: I well +know what will be the end of our pilgrimage: my husband is where he +would not but be for all the gold in the Spanish mines. Nor shalt thou +be turned away, though thou goest but upon my invitation. The King who +hath sent for me and my children is One that delighteth in mercy. +Besides, if thou wilt, I will hire thee, and thou shalt go along with me +as my servant; yet we will have all things in common betwixt thee and +me, only go along with me." + +MER. But how shall I be sure that I also shall be welcomed? Had I this +hope but from one that can tell, I would have no hesitation at all, but +would go, being helped by Him that can help, though the way be never so +tedious. + +CHR. Well, loving Mercy, I will tell thee what thou shalt do: go with me +to the wicket-gate, and there I will further inquire for thee; and if +there thou dost not meet with encouragement, I will be content that thou +shalt return to thy place: I also will pay thee for thy kindness which +thou showest to me and my children, in the accompanying of us in our way +as thou dost. + +[Sidenote: MERCY GOES WITH CHRISTIANA] + +MER. Then will I go thither, and will take what shall follow; and the +Lord grant that my lot may there fall, even as the King of heaven shall +have His heart upon me! + +Christiana was then glad at her heart, not only that she had a +companion, but also for that she had prevailed with this poor maid to +fall in love with her own salvation. So they went on together and Mercy +began to weep. + +Then said Christiana, "Wherefore weepeth my sister so?" + +MER. "Alas!" said she, "who can but lament, that shall but rightly +consider what a state and condition my poor relations are in, that yet +remain in our sinful town? And that which makes my grief the more heavy +is, because they have no one to teach them nor to tell them what is to +come." + +CHR. Tenderness becometh pilgrims; and thou dost for thy friends as my +good Christian did for me when he left me: he mourned for that I would +not heed nor regard him; but his Lord and ours did gather up his tears, +and put them into His bottle; and now both I and thou, and these my +sweet babes, are reaping the fruit and benefit of them I hope, Mercy, +that these tears of thine will not be lost; for the Truth hath said that +"they that sow in tears shall reap in joy," in singing; and "he that +goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come +again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." + +Then said Mercy: + + "Let the Most Blessed be my guide, + If 't be His blessed will, + Unto His gate, into His fold, + Up to His holy hill. + + "And never let Him suffer me + To swerve or turn aside + From His free grace and holy ways, + Whate'er shall me betide. + + "And let Him gather them of mine + That I have left behind: + Lord, make them pray they may be Thine, + With all their heart and mind." + +Now my old friend proceeded, and said, "But when Christiana came to the +Slough of Despond, she began to be at a stand; 'For,' said she, 'this is +the place in which my dear husband had like to have been smothered with +mud.' She perceived also that, notwithstanding the command of the King +to make this place for pilgrims good, yet it was rather worse than +formerly." So I asked if that was true. + +"Yes," said the old gentleman, "too true, for many there be that pretend +to be the King's laborers, and say they are for mending the King's +highway, that bring dirt and dung instead of stones, and so mar instead +of mending. Here Christiana, therefore, with her boys, did make a stand. +But said Mercy, 'Come, let us venture, only let us be wary.' Then they +looked well to their steps, and made shift to get staggeringly over. Yet +Christiana had to have been in, and that not once nor twice. + +"Now, they had no sooner got over, but they thought they heard words +that said unto them, 'Blessed is she that believeth, for there shall be +a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.' + +"Then they went on again; and said Mercy to Christiana, 'Had I as good +ground to hope for a loving reception at the wicket-gate as you, I think +no Slough of Despond would discourage me.' + +"'Well,' said the other, 'You know your trouble, and I know mine; and, +good friend, we shall have enough evil before we come at our journey's +end. For can it be imagined that the people that design to attain such +excellent glories as we do, and that are so envied that happiness as we +are, but that we shall meet with what fears, with what troubles and +afflictions they can possibly assault us with, that hate us?'" + +[Sidenote: AT THE WICKET GATE] + +And now Mr. Sagacity left me to dream out my dream by myself. Wherefore, +methought I saw Christiana, and Mercy, and the boys, go all of them up +to the gate; to which when they were come they betook themselves to a +short debate about how they must manage their calling at the gate, and +what should be said unto him that did open unto them: so it was +concluded, since Christiana was the eldest, that she should knock for +entrance, and that she should speak to him that did open, for the rest. +So Christiana began to knock, and, as her poor husband did, she knocked +and knocked again. But instead of any that answered, they all thought +that they heard as if a dog came barking upon them; a dog, and a great +one too: and this made the women and children afraid, nor durst they for +a while to knock any more, for fear the mastiff should fly upon them. +Now, therefore, they were greatly tumbled up and down in their minds, +and knew not what to do. Knock they durst not, for fear of the dog; go +back they durst not, for fear the keeper of the gate should espy them as +they so went, and should be offended with them. At last they thought of +knocking again, and knocked more loudly than they did at first. Then +said the Keeper of the gate, "Who is there?" So the dog left off to +bark, and He opened unto them. + +Then Christiana made low obeisance, and said, "Let not our Lord be +offended with His handmaidens, for that we have knocked at His princely +gate." + +Then said the Keeper, "Whence come ye? and what is it that you would +have?" + +Christiana answered, "We are come from whence Christian did come, and +upon the same errand as he; to wit, to be, if it shall please you, +graciously admitted by this gate into the way that leads to the +Celestial City. And I answer, my Lord, in the next place, that I am +Christiana, once the wife of Christian, that now is gotten above." + +With that the Keeper of the gate did marvel, saying, "What! is she now +become a pilgrim, that, but a while ago hated that life?" + +Then she bowed her head, and said, "Yes; and so are these my sweet babes +also." + +Then He took her by the hand, and let her in, and said also, "Suffer the +little children to come unto me;" and with that He shut up the gate. +This done, He called to a trumpeter that was above, over the gate, to +entertain Christiana with shouting and sound of trumpet for joy. So he +obeyed, and sounded, and filled the air with his melodious notes. + +Now, all this while poor Mercy did stand without trembling and crying, +for fear that she was rejected. But when Christiana had got admittance +for herself and her boys, then she began to make intercession for Mercy. + +[Sidenote: MERCY FALLS IN A SWOON] + +CHR. And she said, "My Lord, I have a companion of mine that stands yet +without, that is come hither upon the same account as myself, one that +is much troubled in her mind, for that she comes, as she thinks, without +sending for; whereas I was sent to by my husband's King to come." + +Now Mercy began to be very impatient, for each minute was as long to her +as an hour; wherefore she prevented Christiana from asking for her more +fully by knocking at the gate herself. And she knocked then so loud that +she made Christiana to start. Then said the Keeper of the gate, "Who is +there?" And said Christiana, "It is my friend." + +So He opened the gate and looked out; but Mercy was fallen down without +in a swoon, for she fainted, and was afraid that no gate would be opened +to her. + +Then he took her by the hand, and said, "Maiden, I bid thee arise." + +"Oh, sir," said she, "I am faint: there is scarce life left in me." + +But He answered that "One once said, 'When my soul fainted within me, I +remembered the Lord; and my prayer came in unto Thee, into Thy holy +temple.' Fear not, but stand upon thy feet, and tell me wherefore thou +art come." + +MER. I am come for that unto which I was never invited, as my friend +Christiana was. Hers was from the King, and mine was but from her. +Wherefore I fear I presume. + +KEEP. Did she desire thee to come with her to this place? + +MER. Yes; and, as my Lord sees, I am come. And if there is any grace and +forgiveness of sins to spare, I beseech that I, Thy poor handmaiden, may +be partaker thereof. + +[Sidenote: MERCY PERMITTED TO ENTER] + +Then He took her again by the hand, and led her gently in, and said, "I +pray for all them that believe on me, by what means soever they come +unto me." Then said He to those that stood by, "Fetch something, and +give it to Mercy to smell on, thereby to stay her fainting." So they +fetched her a bundle of myrrh, and a while after she was revived. + +And now was Christiana and her boys and Mercy received of the Lord at +the head of the way, and spoke kindly unto by Him. Then said they yet +further unto Him, "We are sorry for our sins, and beg of our Lord His +pardon and further information what we must do." + +"I grant pardon," said He, "by word and deed: by word, in the promise of +forgiveness; by deed, in the way I obtained it. Take the first from my +lips with a kiss, and the other as it shall be revealed." + +Now, I saw in my dream, that He spake many good words unto them, whereby +they were greatly gladded. He also had them up to the top of the gate, +and showed them by what deed they were saved; and told them withal that +that sight they would have again as they went along the way, to their +comfort. + +So He left them a while in a summer parlor below, where they entered +into a talk by themselves; and thus Christiana began: + +"O Lord, how glad am I that we are got in hither!" + +MER. So you well may; but I of all have cause to leap for joy. + +CHR. I thought one time as I stood at the gate, because I knocked, and +none did answer, that all our labor had been lost, specially when that +ugly cur made such a heavy barking against us. + +MER. But my worst fear was after I saw that you were taken into His +favor, and that I was left behind. Now, thought I, it is fulfilled which +is written, "Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be +taken, and the other left." I had much ado to forbear crying out, +"Undone! undone!" And afraid I was to knock any more: but when I looked +up to what was written over the gate, I took courage. I also thought +that I must either knock again or die; so I knocked, but I cannot tell +how, for my spirit now struggled betwixt life and death. + +_Chr._ Can you not tell how you knocked? I am sure your knocks were so +earnest, that the very sound of them made me start. I thought I never +heard such knocking in all my life; I thought you would come in by +violent hands, or take the kingdom by storm. + +_Mer._ Alas! to be in my case, who that so was could but have done so? +You saw that the door was shut upon me, and that there was a most cruel +dog thereabout. Who, I say, that was so faint-hearted as I, would not +have knocked with all their might? But, pray, what said my Lord to my +rudeness? Was He not angry with me? + +CHR. When He heard your lumbering noise, He gave a wonderful innocent +smile; I believe what you did pleased Him well enough, for He showed no +sign to the contrary. But I marvel in my heart why he keeps such a dog; +had I known that afore, I should not have had heart enough to have +ventured myself in this manner. But now we are in, we are in, and I am +glad with all my heart. + +_Mer._ I will ask, if you please, next time He comes down, why He keeps +such a filthy cur in His yard. I hope He will not take it amiss. + +"Ay, do," said the children, "and persuade Him to hang him, for we are +afraid he will bite us when we go hence." + +So at last He came down to them again, and Mercy fell to the ground on +her face before Him, and worshiped, and said, "Let my Lord accept the +offering of praise which I now offer unto Him with my lips." + +[Sidenote: MERCY EXPRESSES HER FEARS] + +So He said unto her, "Peace be to thee; stand up." But she continued +upon her face, and said, "Righteous art Thou, O Lord, when I plead with +Thee; yet let me talk with Thee of Thy judgments. Wherefore dost Thou +keep so cruel a dog in Thy yard, at the sight of which such women and +children as we are ready to fly from the gate with fear?" He answered +and said, "That dog has another owner; he also is kept close in another +man's ground, only my pilgrims hear his barking: he belongs to the +castle which you see there at a distance, but can come up to the walls +of this place. He has frighted many an honest pilgrim from worse to +better, by the great voice of his roaring. Indeed, he that owneth him +doth not keep him out of any good-will to me or mine, but with intent to +keep the pilgrims from coming to me, and that they may be afraid to come +and knock at this gate for entrance. Sometimes also he has broken out, +and has worried some that I love; but I take all at present patiently. I +also give my pilgrims timely help, so that they are not delivered up to +his power, to do with them what his doggish nature would prompt him to. +But, what! my beloved one, I should suppose, hadst thou known even so +much beforehand, thou wouldst not have been afraid of a dog. The beggars +that go from door to door will, rather than lose a supposed alms, run +the danger of the bawling, barking, and biting too, of a dog; and shall +a dog in another man's yard, a dog whose barking I turn to the profit of +pilgrims, keep any one from coming to me? I deliver them from the lions, +their darling from the power of the dog." + +MER. Then said Mercy, "I confess my ignorance, I spake what I understood +not: I acknowledge that Thou doest all things well." + +CHR. Then Christiana began to talk of their journey, and to inquire +after the way. + +So He fed them, and washed their feet, and set them in the way of His +steps, according as He had dealt with her husband before. + +So I saw in my dream that they walked on in their way, and had the +weather very comfortable to them. + +Then Christiana began to sing: + + "Blessed be the day that I began + A pilgrim for to be; + And blessed also be the man + That thereto moved me. + + "'Tis true 'twas long ere I began + To seek to live for ever; + But now I run fast as I can: + 'Tis better late than never. + + "Our tears to joy, our fears to faith, + Are turned, as we see; + Thus our beginning (as one saith) + Shows what our end will be." + +Now, there was, on the other side of the wall that fenced in the way up +which Christiana and her companions were to go, a garden, and that +garden belonged to him whose was that barking dog, of whom mention was +made before. And some of the fruit-trees that grew in that garden shot +their branches over the wall; and, being mellow, they that found them +did gather them up and oft eat of them to their hurt. So Christiana's +boys, as boys are apt to do, being pleased with the trees, and the fruit +that did hang thereon, did bend the branches down, and pluck the fruit, +and begin to eat. Their mother did also chide them for so doing; but +still the boys went on. + +[Illustration: Christiana's Boys Began to Eat. + Page 231] + +"Well," said she, "my sons, you do wrong, for that fruit is none of +ours;" but she did not know that it did belong to the enemy: I'll +warrant you, if she had, she would have been ready to die for fear. But +that passed, and they went on their way. + +[Sidenote: THE ILL-FAVORED ONES] + +Now, by that they were gone about two bow-shots from the place that led +them unto the way, they espied two very ill-favored ones coming down +apace to meet them. With that, Christiana, and Mercy her friend, covered +themselves with their veils, and so kept on their journey; the children +also went on before; so that, at last, they met together. Then they that +came down to meet them came just up to the women, as if they would +embrace them; but Christiana said, "Stand back, or go peaceably by, as +you should." + +Yet these two, as men that are deaf, regarded not Christiana's words, +but began to lay hands upon them. At that, Christiana, waxing very +wroth, spurned at them with her feet. Mercy also, as well as she could, +did what she could to shift them. Christiana again said to them, "Stand +back, and be gone; for we have no money to lose, being pilgrims, as you +see, and such, too, as live upon the charity of our friends." + +ILL-FAVORED ONE. Then said one of the two men, "We make no assault upon +you for money, but are come out to tell you that, if you will grant one +small request which we shall ask, we will make women of you for ever." + +CHR. Now Christiana, imagining what they should mean, made answer again, +"We will neither hear nor regard, nor yield to what you shall ask. We +are in haste, and cannot stay; our business is a business of life or +death." + +So again she and her companions made a fresh attempt to go past them; +but they letted them in their way. + +ILL-FAV. And they said, "We intend no hurt to your lives; it is another +thing we would have." + +CHR. "Ay," quoth Christiana, "you would have us body and soul, for I +know it is for that you are come; but we will die rather upon the spot, +than to suffer ourselves to be brought into such snares as shall risk +the loss of our well-being hereafter." And, with that, they both +shrieked out, and cried, "Murder! murder!" and so put themselves under +those laws that are provided for the protection of women. But the men +still made their approach upon them, with design to prevail against +them. They therefore cried out again. + +[Sidenote: A RELIEVER APPEARS] + +Now, they being, as I said, far from the gate in at which they came, +their voices were heard from where they were, thither; wherefore some of +the house came out, and, knowing it was Christiana's tongue, they made +haste to her relief. But by the time that they were got within sight of +them, the women were in a very great terror; the children also stood +crying by. Then did he that came in for their relief call out to the +ruffians, saying, "What is that thing you do? Would you make my Lord's +people to do wrong?" He also attempted to take them, but they did make +their escape over the wall into the garden of the man to whom the great +dog belonged; so the dog became their protector. This Reliever then came +up to the women and asked them how they did. + +So they answered, "We thank thy Prince, pretty well, only we have been +somewhat affrighted: we thank thee also for that thou camest in to our +help, otherwise we had been overcome." + +RELIEVER. So, after a few more words, this Reliever said as followeth: +"I marvelled much when you were entertained at the gate above, being ye +knew that ye were but weak women, that you asked not the Lord for a +conductor. Then might you have avoided these troubles and dangers; for +He would have granted you one." + +CHR. "Alas!" said Christiana, "we were taken so with our present +blessing, that dangers to come were forgotten by us. Besides, who could +have thought that, so near the King's palace, there could have lurked +such naughty ones? Indeed, it had been well for us had we asked our Lord +for one; but, since our Lord knew it would be for our profit, I wonder +He sent not one along with us." + +REL. It is not always necessary to grant things not asked for, lest, by +so doing, they become of little value; but when the want of a thing is +felt, then he who needs it feels its preciousness; and so when it is +given it will be used. Had my Lord granted you a conductor, you would +not either have so bewailed that oversight of yours, in not asking for +one, as now you have occasion to do. So all things work for good, and +tend to make you more wary. + +CHR. Shall we go back again to my Lord, and confess our folly, and ask +one? + +REL. Your confession of your folly I will present Him with. To go back +again you need not; for, in all places where you shall come, you will +find no want at all; for, in every one of my Lord's lodgings, which He +has prepared for the care of His pilgrims, there is sufficient to +furnish them against all attempts whatsoever. But, as I said, He will be +asked of by them, to do it for them. And 'tis a poor thing that is not +worth asking for. + +[Sidenote: THE PILGRIMS PROCEED] + +When he had thus said, he went back to his place, and the pilgrims went +on their way. + +MER. Then said Mercy, "What a sudden blank is here! I made account we +had been past all danger, and that we should never see sorrow more." + +CHR. "Thy innocence, my sister," said Christiana to Mercy, "may excuse +thee much; but as for me, fault is so much the greater, for that I saw +the danger before I came out of the doors, and yet did not provide for +it when provision might have been had. I am, therefore, much to be +blamed." + +MER. Then said Mercy, "How knew you this before you came from home? +Pray, open to me this riddle." + +CHR. Why, I will tell you. Before I set foot out of doors, one night, as +I lay in my bed, I had a dream about this; for methought I saw two men, +as like these as ever any in the world could look, stand at my bed's +feet, plotting how they might prevent my salvation. I will tell you +their very words. They said (it was when I was in my troubles), "What +shall we do with this woman? for she cries out waking and sleeping for +forgiveness: if she be suffered to go on as she begins, we shall lose +her as we have lost her husband." This, you know, might have made me +take heed, and have provided when provision might have been had. + +MER. "Well," said Mercy, "as by this neglect we have been made to behold +our own imperfections, so our Lord has taken occasion thereby to make +manifest the riches of His grace; for He, as we see, has followed us +with unasked kindness, and has delivered us from their hands that were +stronger than we, of His mere good pleasure." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE. + + +Thus, now, when they had talked away a little more time, they drew near +to a house which stood in the way, which house was built for the relief +of pilgrims, as you will find more fully related in the first part of +these records of the Pilgrim's Progress. So they drew on towards the +house (the house of the Interpreter); and, when they came to the door, +they heard a great talk in the house. Then they gave ear, and heard, as +they thought, Christiana mentioned by name; for you must know that there +went along, even before her, a talk of her and her children's going on +pilgrimage. And this was the more pleasing to them, because they had +heard she was Christian's wife, that woman who was some time ago so +unwilling to hear of going on pilgrimage. Thus, therefore, they stood +still, and heard the good people within commending her, who, they little +thought, stood at the door. At last Christiana knocked, as she had done +at the gate before. Now, when she had knocked, there came to the door a +young maiden, and opened the door and looked; and, behold, two women +were there. + +[Sidenote: THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE] + +MAID. Then said the maid to them, "With whom would you speak in this +place?" + +CHR. Christiana answered, "We understand that this is a place prepared +for those that are become pilgrims, and we now at this door are such; +wherefore we pray that we may be partakers of that for which we at this +time are come; for the day, as thou seest, is very far spent, and we are +loth to-night to go any farther." + +DAM. Pray, what may I call your name, that I may tell it to my lord +within? + +CHR. My name is Christiana: I was the wife of that pilgrim that some +years ago did travel this way; and these be his four children. This +young woman is my companion, and is going on pilgrimage too. + +INNOCENT. Then Innocent ran in (for that was her name,) and said to +those within, "Can you think who is at the door? There are Christiana +and her children, and her companion, all waiting for entertainment +here." + +Then they leaped for joy, and went and told their master. So he came to +the door, and looking upon her, he said, "Art thou that Christiana whom +Christian the good man left behind him, when he betook himself to a +pilgrim's life?" + +CHR. I am that woman that was so hard-hearted as to slight my husband's +troubles, and then left him to go on his journey alone; and these are +his four children. But now also I am come, for I am convinced that no +way is right but this. + +INTER. Then is fulfilled that which also is written of the man that +said to his son, "Go, work to-day in my vineyard;" and he said to his +father, "I will not;" but afterwards he repented, and went. + +CHR. Then said Christiana, "So be it: Amen. God make it a true saying +upon me, and grant that I may be found at the last of Him in peace, +without spot and blameless!" + +INTER. But why standest thou thus at the door? Come in, thou blessed +one. We were talking of thee but now; for tidings have come to us before +how thou art become a pilgrim. Come, children, come in; come, maiden, +come in. + +So he had them all into the house. + +[Sidenote: PILGRIMS ENTERTAINED] + +So when they were within, they were bidden to sit down and rest them; +the which when they had done, those that attended upon the pilgrims in +the house came into the room to see them. And one smiled, and another +smiled, and they all smiled for joy that Christiana was become a +pilgrim. They also looked upon the boys; they stroked them over the +faces with the hand, in token of their kind reception of them; they also +carried it lovingly to Mercy, and bid them all welcome into their +master's house. + +After a while, because supper was not ready, the Interpreter took them +into his significant rooms, and showed them what Christian, Christiana's +husband, had seen some time before. Here, therefore, they saw the man in +the cage, the man and his dream, the man that cut his way through his +enemies, and the picture of the biggest of them all, together with the +rest of those things that were then so profitable to Christian. + +This done, and after those things had been seen and thought of by +Christiana and her company, the Interpreter takes them apart again, and +has them first into a room where was a man that could look no way but +downwards, with a muck-rake in his hand. There stood also one over his +head, with a celestial crown in his hand, and proffered to give him that +crown for his muck-rake; but the man did neither look up nor regard, but +raked to himself the straws, the small sticks, and the dust of the +floor. + +Then said Christiana, "I persuade myself that I know somewhat the +meaning of this; for this is a figure of a man of this world. Is it not, +good sir?" + +INTER. "Thou hast said the right," said he; "and his muck-rake doth show +his worldly mind. And whereas thou seest him rather give heed to rake up +straws and sticks, and the dust of the floor, than to do what he says +that calls to him from above with the celestial crown in his hand; it is +to show that heaven is but a fable to some, and that things here are +counted the only things substantial. Now, whereas it was also showed +thee that the man could look no way but downwards; it is to let thee +know that earthly things, when they are with power upon men's minds, +quite carry their hearts away from God." + +CHR. Then said Christiana, "Oh, deliver me from this muck-rake!" + +INTER. "That prayer," said the Interpreter, "has lain by till it is +almost rusty. 'Give me not riches' is scarce the prayer of one of ten +thousand. Straws, and sticks, and dust, with most, are the great things +now looked after." + +With that, Mercy and Christiana wept, and said, "It is, alas! too true." + +[Sidenote: INTERPRETER'S ALLEGORIES] + +When the Interpreter had showed them this, he had them into the very +best room in the house; a very brave room it was. So he bid them look +round about, and see if they could find anything there. Then they looked +round and round; for there was nothing to be seen but a very great +spider on the wall, and that they overlooked. + +MER. Then said Mercy, "Sir, I see nothing." + +But Christiana held her peace. + +INTER. "But," said the Interpreter, "look again." + +She therefore looked again, and said, "Here is not anything but an ugly +spider, who hangs by her hands upon the wall." + +Then said he, "Is there but one spider in all this spacious room?" + +Then the water stood in Christiana's eyes, for she was a woman quick of +mind; and she said, "Yes, my lord; there is here more than one; yea, and +spiders whose venom is far more destructive than that which is in her." + +The Interpreter then looked pleasantly upon her, and said, "Thou hast +said the truth." + +This made Mercy blush and the boys to cover their faces; for they all +began now to understand the riddle. + +Then said the Interpreter again, "The spider taketh hold with her hands +(as you see), and is in kings' palaces. And wherefore is this recorded, +but to show you that, how full of the venom of sin soever you be, yet +you may, by the hand of faith, lay hold of and dwell in the best room +that belongs to the king's house above." + +CHR. "I thought," said Christiana, "of something of this; but I could +not imagine it all. I thought that we were like spiders, and that we +looked like ugly creatures, in what fine rooms soever we were: but that +by this spider, this venomous and ill-favored creature, we were to learn +how to act faith, that came not into my mind; and yet she has taken hold +with her hands, and, as I see, dwelleth in the best room in the house. +God has made nothing in vain." + +Then they seemed all to be glad, but the water stood in their eyes; yet +they looked one upon another, and also bowed before the Interpreter. + +He had them then into another room, where were a hen and chickens, and +bid them observe a while. So one of the chickens went to the trough to +drink; and every time she drank, she lifted up her head and her eyes +toward heaven. "See," said he, "what this little chick doth; and learn +of her to acknowledge whence your mercies come, by receiving them with +looking up. Yet again," said he, "observe and look." + +So they gave heed, and perceived that the hen did walk in a fourfold +method towards her chickens. First, she had a common call, and that she +hath all day long. Secondly, she had a special call, and that she had +but sometimes. Thirdly, she had a brooding note. And, fourthly she had +an outcry. + +INTER. "Now," said he, "compare this hen to your King, and these +chickens to His obedient ones: for, answerable to her, He Himself hath +His methods which He walketh in toward His people. By His common call, +He gives nothing; by His special call, He always has something to give; +He also has a brooding voice for them that are under His wing; and He +hath an outcry, to give the alarm when He seeth the enemy come. I chose, +my darlings, to lead you into the room where such things are, because +you are women, and they are easy for you." + +CHR. "And, sir," said Christiana, "pray let us see some more." + +So he had them into the slaughter-house, where the butcher was killing a +sheep; and, behold, the sheep was quiet, and took her death patiently. +Then said the Interpreter, "You must learn of this sheep to suffer, and +to put up with wrongs without murmurings and complaints. Behold how +quietly she takes her death; and, without objecting, she suffereth her +skin to be pulled over her ears. Your King doth call you His sheep." + +After this, he led them into his garden, where was great variety of +flowers; and he said, "Do you see all these?" So Christiana said, "Yes." +Then said he again, "Behold, the flowers are diverse in stature, in +quality, and color, and smell, and virtue, and some are better than +others; also, where the gardener has set them, there they stand, and +quarrel not one with another." + +Again, he had them into his field, which he had sowed with wheat and +corn; but when they beheld, the tops of all were cut off, and only the +straw remained. He said again, "This ground was made rich, and was +ploughed, and sowed; but what shall we do with the crop?" Then said +Christiana, "Burn some, and make muck of the rest." Then said the +Interpreter again, "Fruit, you see, is that thing you look for; and, for +want of that, you send it to the fire, and to be trodden under foot of +men. Beware that in this you condemn not yourselves." + +Then, as they were coming in from abroad, they espied a little robin +with a great spider in his mouth. So the Interpreter said, "Look here." +So they looked, and Mercy wondered; but Christiana said, "What a +disparagement is it to such a pretty little bird as the robin-redbreast +is; he being also a bird above many, that loveth to maintain a kind of +sociableness with man! I had thought they had lived upon crumbs of +bread, or upon other such harmless matter. I like him worse than I +did." + +The Interpreter then replied, "This robin is an emblem very apt, to set +forth some people by; for to sight they are as this robin, pretty of +note, color, and conduct. They seem also to have a very great love for +those that are sincere followers of Christ; and above all other to +desire to associate with them, and to be in their company, as if they +could live upon the good man's crumbs. They pretend, also, that +therefore it is that they frequent the house of the godly and the +appointments of the Lord; but, when they are by themselves, as the +robin, they can catch and gobble up spiders, they can change their diet, +drink wickedness, and swallow down sin like water." + +So, when they were come again into the house, because supper as yet was +not ready, Christiana again desired that the Interpreter would either +show, or tell of, some other things that were profitable. + +Then the Interpreter began, and said, "The fatter the sow is the more +she desires the mire; the fatter the ox is, the more thoughtlessly he +goes to the slaughter; and the more healthy the lusty man is, the more +prone he is unto evil. There is a desire in women to go neat and fine; +and it is a comely thing to be adorned with that which in God's sight is +of great price. 'Tis easier watching a night or two than to sit up a +whole year together; so 'tis easier for one to begin to profess well +than to hold out as he should to the end. Every ship-master, when in a +storm, will willingly cast that overboard which is of the smallest value +in the vessel; but who will throw the best out first? None but he that +feareth not God. One leak will sink a ship, and one sin will destroy a +sinner. He that forgets his friends is ungrateful unto him but he that +forgets his Saviour is unmerciful to himself. He that lives in sin, and +looks for happiness hereafter, is like him that soweth weeds, and thinks +to fill his barn with wheat or barley. If a man would live well, let him +bring before him his last day, and make it always his company-keeper. +Whispering, and change of thoughts, prove that sin is in the world. If +the world, which God sets light by, is counted a thing of that worth +with men, what is heaven, that God commendeth! If the life that is +attended with so many troubles is so loth to be let go by us, what is +the life above! Everybody will cry up the goodness of men; but who is +there that is, as he should be, affected with the goodness of God?" + +When the Interpreter had done, he takes them out into his garden again, +and had them to a tree, whose inside was all rotten and gone, and yet it +grew and had leaves. + +Then said Mercy, "What means this?" + +"This tree," said he, "whose outside is fair, and whose inside is +rotten, is that to which many may be compared that are in the garden of +God, who with their mouths speak high in behalf of God, but indeed will +do nothing for Him; whose leaves are fair, but their heart good for +nothing but to be tinder for the devil's tinder-box." + +Now supper was ready, the table spread, and all things set on the board; +so they sat down, and did eat when one had given thanks. And the +Interpreter did usually entertain those that lodged with him with music +at meals; so the minstrels played. There was also one that did sing, and +a very fine voice he had. His song was this: + + "The Lord is only my support, + And He that doth me feed; + How can I then want anything + Whereof I stand in need?" + +[Sidenote: DISCOURSE AT SUPPER] + +When the song and music were ended, the Interpreter asked Christiana +what it was that first did move her to betake herself to a pilgrim's +life. Christiana answered, "First, the loss of my husband came into my +mind, at which I was heartily grieved; but all that was but natural +affection. Then, after that, came the troubles and pilgrimages of my +husband into my mind, and also how unkindly I had behaved to him as to +that. So guilt took hold of my mind, and would have drawn me into the +pond, to drown myself, but that, just at the right time, I had a dream +of the well-being of my husband, and a letter sent by the King of that +country where my husband dwells, to come to him. The dream and the +letter together so wrought upon my mind, that they forced me to this +way." + +INTER. But met you with no opposition afore you set out of doors? + +CHR. Yes, a neighbor of mine, one Mrs. Timorous: she was akin to him +that would have persuaded my husband to go back for fear of the lions. +She all-to-be-fooled me for, as she called it, my intended desperate +adventure; she also urged what she could to dishearten me from it--the +hardship and troubles that my husband met with in the way; but all this +I got over pretty well. But a dream that I had of two ill-looked ones, +that I thought did plot how to make me fail in my journey, that hath +troubled me much: yea, it still runs in my mind, and makes me afraid of +every one that I meet, lest they should meet me to do me a mischief, and +to turn me out of my way. Yea, I may tell my Lord, though I would not +have everybody know it, that, between this and the gate by which we got +into the way, we were both so sorely attacked that we were made to cry +out "murder;" and the two that made this attack upon us were like the +two that I saw in my dream. + +Then said the Interpreter, "Thy beginning is good; thy latter end shall +greatly increase." So he addressed himself to Mercy, and said unto her, +"And what moved thee to come hither, sweetheart?" + +Then Mercy blushed and trembled, and for a while continued silent. + +INTER. Then said he, "Be not afraid; only believe, and speak thy mind." + +MER. So she began, and said, "Truly, sir, my lack of knowledge is that +which makes me wish to be in silence, and that also that fills me with +fears of coming short at last. I cannot tell of visions and dreams, as +my friend Christiana can nor know I what it is to mourn for my refusing +the advice of those that were good relations." + +INTER. What was it, then, dear heart, that hath prevailed with thee to +do as thou hast done? + +MER. Why, when our friend here was packing up to be gone from our town, +I and another went accidentally to see her. So we knocked at the door +and went in. When we were within, and seeing what she was doing, we +asked her what was her meaning. She said she was sent for to go to her +husband; and then she up and told us how she had seen him in a dream, +dwelling in a wonderful place, among immortals, wearing a crown, playing +upon a harp, eating and drinking at his Prince's table, and singing +praises to Him for bringing him thither, and so on. Now, methought while +she was telling these things unto us, my heart burned within me. And I +said in my heart, If this be true, I will leave my father and my mother, +and the land of my birth, and will, if I may, go along with Christiana. +So I asked her further of the truth of these things, and if she would +let me go with her; for I saw now that there was no dwelling but with +the danger of ruin any longer in our town. But yet I came away with a +heavy heart; not for that I was unwilling to come away, but for that so +many of my relations were left behind. And I am come with all the desire +of my heart, and will go, if I may, with Christiana, unto her husband +and his King. + +INTER. Thy setting out is good, for thou hast given credit to the truth: +thou art a Ruth, who did, for the love she bare to Naomi and to the Lord +her God, leave father and mother, and the land of her birth, to come out +and go with a people that she knew not heretofore. The Lord bless thy +work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under +whose wings thou art come to trust. + +Now supper was ended, and preparation was made for bed: the women were +laid singly alone, and the boys by themselves. Now, when Mercy was in +bed, she could not sleep for joy, for that now her doubts of missing at +last were removed farther from her than ever they were before. So she +lay blessing and praising God, who had had such favor for her. + +In the morning they arose with the sun, and prepared themselves for +their departure; but the Interpreter would have them tarry a while: +"For," said he, "you must orderly go from hence." Then said he to the +maid that first opened to them, "Take them and have them into the +garden, to the bath, and there wash them, and make them clean from the +soil which they have gathered by traveling." + +Then Innocent the maid took them and had them into the garden, and +brought them to the bath; so she told them they must wash and be clean, +for so her master would have the women to do that called at his house as +they were going on pilgrimage. Then they went in and washed, yea, they +and the boys and all; and they came out of that bath, not only sweet and +clean, but also much enlivened, and strengthened in their joints. So, +when they came in, they looked fairer a deal than when they went out to +the washing. + +When they were returned out of the garden from the bath, the Interpreter +took them, and looked upon them, and said unto them, "Fair as the moon." +Then he called for the seal wherewith they used to be sealed that were +washed in this bath. So the seal was brought, and he set his mark upon +them, that they might be known in the places whither they were yet to +go; and the mark was set between their eyes. This seal added greatly to +their beauty, for it was an ornament to their faces. It also added to +their glory, and made their countenances more like those of angels. + +[Sidenote: CLOTHED IN WHITE RAIMENT] + +Then said the Interpreter again to the maid that waited upon these +women, "Go into the vestry, and fetch out garments for these people." So +she went and fetched out white raiment and laid it down before him; so +he commanded them to put it on; it was fine linen, white and clean. When +the women were thus adorned, they seemed to be afraid one of the other, +for that they could not see that glory each one had in herself, which +they could see in each other. Now, therefore, they began to esteem each +other better than themselves. For "You are fairer than I am," said one; +and "You are more beautiful than I am," said another. The children also +stood amazed, to see into what fashion they were brought. + +The Interpreter then called for a man-servant of his, one Great-heart, +and bid him take sword, and helmet, and shield, and "Take these my +daughters," said he, "and conduct them to the house called Beautiful, at +which place they will rest next." So he took his weapons, and went +before them; and the Interpreter said, "God speed!" Those also that +belonged to the family sent them away with many a good wish. So they +went on their way and sang: + + "This place hath been our second stage: + Here we have heard and seen + Those good things that from age to age + To others hid have been. + The Dunghill-raker, Spider, Hen, + The Chicken, too, to me + Have taught a lesson: let me then + Conformed to it be. + + "The Butcher, Garden, and the Field, + The Robin and his bait, + Also the Rotten Tree, doth yield + Me argument of weight: + To move me for to watch and pray, + To strive to be sincere, + To take my cross up day by day, + And serve the Lord with fear." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CROSS AND THE CONSEQUENCES. + + +Now, I saw in my dream that they went on, and Great-heart before them. +So they went, and came to the place where Christian's burden fell off +his back and tumbled into a sepulchre. Here, then, they made a pause, +and here also they blessed God. "Now," said Christiana, "comes to my +mind what was said to us at the gate, to wit, that we should have pardon +by word and deed: by word, that is, by the promise; by deed, that is, in +the way it was obtained. What the promise is, of that I know something; +but what it is to have pardon by deed, or in the way that it was +obtained, Mr. Great-heart, I suppose you know; wherefore, if you please, +let us hear you speak thereof." + +[Sidenote: GREAT-HEART DISCOURSES] + +GREAT. Pardon by the deed done, is pardon obtained by some one for +another that hath need thereof; not by the person pardoned, but in the +way, saith another, in which I have obtained it. So then, to speak to +the question at large, the pardon that you, and Mercy, and these boys +have obtained, was obtained by another; to wit, by Him that let you in +at the gate. And He hath obtained it in this double way: He has shown +righteousness to cover you, and spilt His blood to wash you in. + +CHR. This is brave! Now I see that there was something to be learnt by +our being pardoned by word and deed. Good Mercy, let us labor to keep +this in mind; and, my children, do you remember it also. But, sir, was +not this it that made my good Christian's burden fall from off his +shoulders, and that made him give three leaps for joy? + +GREAT. Yes, it was the belief of this that cut off those strings that +could not be cut by other means; and it was to give him proof of the +virtue of this that he was suffered to carry his burden to the Cross. + +CHR. I thought so; for though my heart was lightsome and joyous before, +yet it is ten times more lightsome and joyous now. And I am persuaded by +what I have felt, though I have felt but little as yet, that, if the +most burdened man in the World was here, and did see and believe as I +now do, it would make his heart merry and blithe. + +GREAT. There is not only comfort and the ease of a burden brought to us +by the sight and consideration of these, but an endeared love born in us +by it; for who can, if he doth but once think that pardon comes, not +only by promise, but thus, but be affected with the way and means of his +redemption, and so love the Man that hath wrought it for him? + +CHR. True: methinks it makes my heart bleed, to think that He should +bleed for me. Oh, Thou loving One! Oh, Thou blessed One! Thou deservest +to have me: Thou hast bought me. Thou deservest to have me all: Thou +hast paid for me ten thousand times more than I am worth. No marvel that +this made the water stand in my husband's eyes, and that it made him +trudge so nimbly on. I am persuaded he wished me with him; but, vile +wretch that I was! I let him come all alone. Oh, Mercy, that thy father +and mother were here! yea, and Mrs. Timorous also! Nay, I wish now with +all my heart that here was Madam Wanton too. Surely, surely, their +hearts would be affected; nor could the fear of the one, nor the +powerful passions of the other, prevail with them to go home again, and +refuse to become good pilgrims. + +GREAT. You speak now in the warmth of your affections: will it, think +you, be always thus with you? Besides, this is not given to every one, +nor to every one that did see your Jesus bleed. There were that stood +by, and that saw the blood run from His heart to the ground, and yet +were so far off this, that instead of lamenting, they laughed at Him, +and instead of becoming His disciples, did harden their hearts against +him. So that all that you have, my daughters, you have by a peculiar +feeling made by a thinking upon what I have spoken to you. This you +have, therefore, by a special grace. + +[Sidenote: SIMPLE, SLOTH, PRESUMPTION] + +Now, I saw still in my dream, that they went on till they were come to +the place that Simple, and Sloth, and Presumption lay and slept in, when +Christian went by on pilgrimage; and, behold, they were hanged up in +irons a little way off on the other side. + +MER. Then said Mercy to him that was their guide and conductor, "What +are those three men? and for what are they hanged there?" + +GREAT. These three men were men of very bad qualities: they had no mind +to be pilgrims themselves, and whomsoever they could they hindered. They +were for sloth and folly themselves, and whomsoever they could persuade +with, they made so too, and withal taught them to presume that they +should do well at last. They were asleep when Christian went by; and, +now you go by, they are hanged. + +MER. But could they persuade any to be of their opinion? + +GREAT. Yes, they turned several out of the way. There was Slow-pace that +they persuaded to do as they. They also prevailed with one Short-wind, +with one No-heart, with one Linger-after-lust, and with one Sleepy-head, +and with a young woman--her name was Dull--to turn out of the way and +become as they. Besides, they brought up an ill report of your Lord, +persuading others that He was a hard task-master. They also brought up +an evil report of the good land, saying it was not half so good as some +pretended it was. They also began to speak falsely about His servants, +and to count the very best of them meddlesome, troublesome busy-bodies. +Further, they would call the bread of God, husks; the comforts of His +children, fancies; the travel labor of pilgrims, things to no purpose. + +CHR. "Nay," said Christiana, "if they were such, they never shall be +bewailed by me: they have but what they deserve; and I think it is well +that they hang so near the highway, that others may see and take +warning. But had it not been well if their crimes had been engraven on +some plate of iron or brass, and left here where they did their +mischiefs, for a caution to other bad men?" + +GREAT. So it is, as you well may perceive, if you will go a little to +the wall. + +MER. No, no: let them hang, and their names rot, and their crimes live +for ever against them. I think it a high favor that they were hanged +afore we came hither who knows, else, what they might have done to such +poor women as we are? + +Then she turned it into a song, saying: + + "Now, then, you three, hang there, and be a sign + To all that shall against the truth combine; + And let him that comes after fear this end, + If unto pilgrims he is not a friend. + And thou, my soul, of all such men beware + That unto holiness opposers are." + +Thus they went on till they came at the foot of the Hill Difficulty, +where again their good friend Mr. Great-heart took an occasion to tell +them of what happened there when Christian himself went by. So he had +them first to the spring. "Lo," saith he, "this is the spring that +Christian drank of before he went up this hill: and then it was clear +and good; but now it is dirty with the feet of some that are not +desirous that pilgrims here should quench their thirst." Thereat Mercy +said, "And why are they so envious, I wonder?" But said their guide, "It +will do if taken up and put into a vessel that is sweet and good; for +then the dirt will sink to the bottom, and the water come out by itself +more clear." Thus, therefore, Christiana and her companions were +compelled to do. They took it up, and put it into an earthen pot, and so +let it stand till the dirt was gone to the bottom, and then they drank +thereof. + +[Sidenote: TWO DANGEROUS PATHS] + +Next he showed them the two by-ways that were at the foot of the hill, +where Formality and Hypocrisy lost themselves. And said he, "These are +dangerous paths. Two were here cast away when Christian came by; and +although, as you see, these ways are since stopped up with chains, +posts, and a ditch, yet there are that will choose to adventure here, +rather than take the pains to go up this hill." + +CHR. The way of transgressors is hard. It is a wonder that they can get +into those ways without danger of breaking their necks. + +GREAT. They will venture: yea, if at any time any of the King's servants +doth happen to see them, and doth call unto them, and tell them that +they are in the wrong ways, and do bid them beware the danger, then they +will railingly return them answer, and say, "As for the word that thou +hast spoken unto us in the name of the King, we will not hearken unto +thee; but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our +own mouth." Nay, if you look a little farther, you shall see that these +ways are warned against enough, not only by these posts, and ditch, and +chain, but also by being hedged up; yet they will choose to go there. + +CHR. They are idle: they love not to take pains: up-hill way is +unpleasant to them. So it is fulfilled unto them as it is written, "The +way of the slothful man is a hedge of thorns." Yea, they will rather +choose to walk upon a snare than go up this hill, and the rest of this +way to the City. + +Then they set forward, and began to go up the hill; and up the hill they +went. But, before they got to the top, Christiana began to pant, and +said, "I dare say this is a breathing hill: no marvel if they that love +their ease more than their souls choose to themselves a smoother way." +Then said Mercy, "I must sit down;" also the least of the children began +to cry. "Come, come," said Great-heart, "sit not down here, for a little +above is the Prince's arbor." Then took he the little boy by the hand, +and led him up thereto. + +[Sidenote: THE ARBOR ON THE HILL] + +When they were come to the arbor, they were very willing to sit down, +for they were all in a pelting heat. Then said Mercy, "How sweet is rest +to them that labor, and how good is the Prince of pilgrims to provide +such resting-places for them! Of this arbor I have heard much, but I +never saw it before. But here let us beware of sleeping; for, as I have +heared, for that it cost poor Christian dear." + +Then said Mr. Great-heart to the little ones, "Come, my pretty boys, how +do you do? what think you now of going on pilgrimage?" + +"Sir," said the least, "I was almost beat out of heart; but I thank you +for lending me a hand at my need. And I remember now what my mother has +told me, namely, 'That the way to heaven is as up a ladder, and the way +to hell is as down a hill.' But I rather go up the ladder to life, than +the hill to death." + +Then said Mercy, "But the proverb, is, 'To go down the hill is easy.'" + +But James said (for that was his name), "The day is coming when, in my +opinion, going down-hill will be the hardest of all." + +"That's a good boy," said his master; "thou hast given her a right +answer." + +Then Mercy smiled, but the little boy did blush. + +CHR. "Come," said Christiana, "will you eat a bit, a little to sweeten +your mouths, while you sit here to rest your legs? for I have here a +piece of pomegranate, which Mr. Interpreter put in my hand just when I +came out of his doors: he gave me also a piece of a honeycomb, and a +little bottle of spirits." + +"I thought he gave you something," said Mercy, "because he called you +aside." + +"Yes, so he did," said the other; "but, Mercy, it shall still be as I +said it should, when at first we came from home; thou shalt be a sharer +in all the good that I have, because thou so willingly didst become my +companion." + +Then she gave to them, and they did eat, both Mercy and the boys. And +said Christiana to Mr. Great-heart, "Sir, will you do as we and take +some refreshment?" + +But he answered, "You are going on pilgrimage, and presently I shall +return; much good may have do to you: at home I eat the same every day." + +Now, when they had eaten and drunk, and had chatted a little longer, +their guide said to them, "The day wears away; if you think good, let us +prepare to be going." So they got up to go, and the little boys went +before; but Christiana forgot to take her bottle of spirits with her, so +she sent her little boy back to fetch it. + +Then said Mercy, "I think this is a losing place: here Christian lost +his roll, and here Christiana left her bottle behind her. Sir, what is +the cause of this?" + +So their guide made answer, and said, "The cause is sleep or +forgetfulness: some sleep when they should keep awake, and some forget +when they should remember. And this is the very cause why often at the +resting-places some pilgrims, in some things, come off losers. Pilgrims +should watch, and remember what they have already received, under their +greatest enjoyments; but, for want of doing so, ofttimes their rejoicing +ends in tears, and their sunshine in a cloud: witness the story of +Christian at this place." + +[Sidenote: MISTRUST AND TIMOROUS] + +When they were come to the place where Mistrust and Timorous met +Christian, to persuade him to go back for fear of the lions, they +perceived as it were a stage, and before it, towards the road, a broad +plate, with a copy of verses written thereon, and underneath the reason +of the raising up of that stage in that place rendered. The verses were +these: + + "Let him that sees this stage take heed + Unto his heart and tongue; + Lest, if he do not, here he speed + As some have, long agone." + +The words underneath the verses were, "This stage was built to punish +such upon, who, through timorousness or mistrust, shall be afraid to go +farther on pilgrimage. Also on this stage both Mistrust and Timorous +were burned through the tongue with a hot iron, for endeavoring to +hinder Christian in his journey." + +Then said Mercy, "This is much like to the saying of the Beloved, 'What +shall be given unto thee, or what shall be done unto thee, thou false +tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.'" + +So they went on till they came within sight of the lions. Now, Mr. +Great-heart was a strong man, so he was not afraid of a lion. But yet, +when they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys, that +went before, were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the +lions so they stepped back, and went behind. + +At this their guide smiled, and said, "How now, my boys! do you love to +go before when no danger doth approach, and love to come behind so soon +as the lions appear?" + +Now, as they went up, Mr. Great-heart drew his sword, with intent to +make a way for the pilgrims in spite of the lions. Then there appeared +one that, it seems, had taken upon him to back the lions; and he said to +the pilgrims' guide, "What is the cause of your coming hither?" Now, the +name of that man was Grim, or Bloody-man, because of his slaying of +pilgrims; and he was of the race of the giants. + +GREAT. Then said the pilgrims' guide, "These women and children are +going on pilgrimage, and this is the way they must go; and go it they +shall, in spite of thee and the lions." + +GRIM. This is not their way, neither shall they go therein. I am come +forth to withstand them, and to that end will back the lions. + +[Sidenote: GREAT-HEART OVERCOMES GRIM] + +Now, to say truth, by reason of the fierceness of the lions, and of the +grim carriage of him that did back them, this way had of late lain much +unoccupied, and was almost all grown over with grass. + +CHR. Then said Christiana, "Though the highways have been unoccupied +heretofore, and though the travellers have been made in times past to +walk through by-paths, it must not be so now I am risen. 'Now I am risen +a mother in Israel.'" + +GRIM. Then he swore by the lions, "But it should," and therefore bid +them turn aside, for they should not passage there. + +But Great-heart their guide made first his approach unto Grim, and laid +so heavily at him with his sword, that he forced him to a retreat. + +GRIM. Then said he that attempted to back the lions, "Will you slay me +upon mine own ground?" + +GREAT. It is the King's highway that we are in, and in His way it is +that thou hast placed thy lions; but these women, and these children, +though weak, shall hold on their way in spite of thy lions. + +And, with that, he gave him again a downright blow, and brought him upon +his knees. With this blow he also broke his helmet, and with the next he +cut off an arm. Then did the giant roar so hideously, that his voice +frighted the women, and yet they were glad to see him lie sprawling upon +the ground. Now, the lions were chained, and so of themselves could do +nothing. + +Wherefore, when old Grim, that intended to back them, was dead, Mr. +Great-heart said to the pilgrims, "Come now, and follow me, and no hurt +shall happen to you from the lions." They therefore went on; but the +women trembled as they passed by them: the boys also looked as if they +would die; but they all got by without further hurt. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE PALACE BEAUTIFUL. + + +Now, then, they were within sight of the Porter's lodge, and they soon +came up unto it; but they made the more haste after this to go thither, +because it is dangerous travelling there in the night. So, when they +were come to the gate, the guide knocked, and the Porter cried, "Who is +there?" But as soon as the guide had said "It is I," he knew his voice, +and came down, for the guide had oft before that come thither as a +conductor of pilgrims. When he was come down he opened the gate; and, +seeing the guide stand just before it (for he saw not the women, for +they were behind him), he said unto him, "How now, Mr. Great-heart! what +is your business here so late to-night?" + +"I have brought," said he, "some pilgrims hither, where, by my Lord's +commandment, they must lodge. I had been here some time ago, had I not +been opposed by the giant that did use to back the lions; but I, after a +long and tedious combat with him, have cut him off, and have brought the +pilgrims hither in safety." + +PORT. Will you not go in, and stay till morning? + +GREAT. No, I will return to my Lord to-night. + +CHR. Oh, sir, I know not how to be willing you should leave us in our +pilgrimage: you have been so faithful and so loving to us, you have +fought so stoutly for us, you have been so hearty in counselling of us, +that I shall never forget your favor towards us. + +MER. Then said Mercy, "Oh that we might have thy company to our +journey's end! How can such poor women as we hold out in a way so full +of troubles as this way is, without a friend and defender?" + +JAMES. Then said James, the youngest of the boys, "Pray, sir, be +persuaded to go with us, and help us, because we are so weak, and the +way so dangerous as it is." + +GREAT. I am at my Lord's commandment. If he shall allot me to be your +guide quite through, I will willingly wait upon you. But here you failed +at first; for when he bid me come thus far with you, then you should +have begged me of him to have gone quite through with you, and he would +have granted your request. However, at present I must withdraw; and so, +good Christiana, Mercy, and my brave children, adieu. + +Then the Porter, Mr. Watchful, asked Christiana of her country and of +her kindred. And she said, "I come from the City of Destruction. I am a +widow woman, and my husband is dead: his name was Christian, the +pilgrim." + +"How!" said the Porter, "was he your husband?" + +[Sidenote: A JOYFUL RECEPTION] + +"Yes," said she, "and these are his children, and this" (pointing to +Mercy) "is one of my townswomen." + +Then the Porter rang his bell, as at such times he is wont, and there +came to the door one of the maids, whose name was Humble-mind; and to +her the Porter said, "Go, tell it within that Christiana, the wife of +Christian, and her children, are come hither on pilgrimage." + +She went in, therefore, and told it. But oh, what a noise for gladness +was there within when the maid did but drop that word out of her mouth! + +So they came with haste to the Porter, for Christiana stood still at the +door. Then some of those within said unto her, "Come in, Christiana, +come in, thou wife of that good man; come in, thou blessed woman; come +in, with all that are with thee." + +So she went in, and they followed her that were her children and her +companions. Now, when they were gone in, they were had into a very large +room, where they were bidden to sit down. So they sat down, and the +chief of the house were called to see and welcome the guests. Then they +came in and understanding who they were did salute each other with a +kiss, and said, "Welcome, ye that bear the grace of God; welcome to us, +your friends!" + +Now, because it was somewhat late, and because the pilgrims were weary +with their journey, and also made faint with the sight of the fight, and +of the terrible lions, therefore they desired, as soon as might be, to +prepare to go to rest. "Nay," said those of the family, "refresh +yourselves first with a morsel of meat;" for they had prepared for them +a lamb, with the accustomed sauce belonging thereto, for the Porter had +heard before of their coming, and had told it to them within. So, when +they had supped, and ended their prayer with a psalm, they desired they +might go to rest. + +"But let us," said Christiana, "if we may be so bold as to choose, be in +that chamber that was my husband's when he was here." + +So they had them up thither, and they lay all in a room. When they were +at rest, Christiana and Mercy entered into discourse about things that +were convenient. + +CHR. Little did I think once, when my husband went on pilgrimage, that I +should ever have followed. + +MER. And you as little thought of lying in his bed, and in his chamber +to rest, as you do now. + +CHR. And much less did I ever think of seeing his face with comfort, and +of worshipping the Lord the King with him; and yet now I believe I +shall. + +MER. Hark! don't you hear a noise? + +CHR. Yes, it is, as I believe, a noise of music, for joy that we are +here. + +MER. Wonderful! Music in the house, music in the heart, and music also +in heaven, for joy that we are here! + +[Sidenote: MERCY'S DREAM] + +Thus they talked a while, and then betook themselves to sleep. So in the +morning, when they were awake, Christiana said to Mercy, "What was the +matter, that you did laugh in your sleep to-night? I suppose you were in +a dream." + +MER. So I was, and a sweet dream it was; but are you sure I laughed? + +CHR. Yes, you laughed heartily; but, prithee, Mercy, tell me thy dream. + +MER. I was dreaming that I sat all alone in a solitary place, and was +bemoaning of the hardness of my heart. Now, I had not sat there long, +but methought many were gathered about me to see me, and to hear what it +was that I said. So they hearkened, and I went on bemoaning the hardness +of my heart. At this, some of them laughed at me, some called me fool, +and some thrust me about. With that, methought I looked up, and saw one +coming with wings towards me. So he came directly to me, and said, +"Mercy, what aileth thee?" Now, when he had heard me make my complaint, +he said, "Peace be to thee;" he also wiped mine eyes with his +handkerchief, and clad me in silver and gold. He put a chain about my +neck, and ear-rings in mine ears, and a beautiful crown upon my head. +Then he took me by the hand, and said, "Mercy, come after me." So he +went up, and I followed, till we came to a golden gate. Then he knocked; +and when they within opened, the man went in, and I followed him up to a +throne upon which One sat; and He said to me, "Welcome, daughter!" The +place looked bright and twinkling, like the stars, or rather like the +sun; and I thought that I saw your husband there. So I awoke from my +dream. But did I laugh? + +CHR. Laugh! ay, and well you might, to see yourself so well. For you +must give me leave to tell you, that I believe it was a good dream; and +that, as you have begun to find the first part true, so you shall find +the second at last. "God speaks once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it +not; in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon +men, in slumberings upon the bed." We need not, when abed, to lie awake +to talk with God: He can visit us while we sleep, and cause us then to +hear His voice. Our heart oftentimes wakes when we sleep; and God can +speak to that, either by words, by proverbs, or by signs and +similitudes, as well as if one was awake. + +MER. Well, I am glad of my dream; for I hope ere long to see it +fulfilled, to the making of me laugh again. + +CHR. I think it is now high time to rise, and to know what we must do. + +MER. Pray, if they invite us to stay, a while, let us willingly accept +of the proffer. I am the willinger to stay a while here, to grow better +acquainted with these maids. Methinks Prudence, Piety, and Charity have +very lovely and sober countenances. + +CHR. We shall see what they will do. + +So, when they were up and ready, they came down; and they asked one +another of their rest, and if it was comfortable or not. + +MER. "Very good," said Mercy; "it was one of the best nights' lodging +that ever I had in my life." + +Then said Prudence and Piety, "If you will be persuaded to stay here a +while, you shall have what the house will afford." + +CHAR. "Ay, and that with a very good will," said Charity. + +So they consented, and stayed there about a month, or above, and became +very profitable one to another. + +[Sidenote: MR. BRISK VISITS MERCY] + +Now, by that these pilgrims had been at this place a week, Mercy had a +visitor that pretended some good-will unto her; and his name was Mr. +Brisk; a man of some breeding, and that pretended to religion, but a man +that stuck very close to the world. So he came once or twice, or more, +to Mercy, and offered love unto her. Now, Mercy was a fair countenance, +and therefore the more alluring. + +Her mind also was, to be always busying of herself in doing; for, when +she had nothing to do for herself, she would be making of hose and +garments for others, and would bestow them upon them that had need. And +Mr. Brisk, not knowing where or how she disposed of what she made, +seemed to be greatly taken, for that he found her never idle. "I will +warrant her a good housewife," quoth he to himself. + +Mercy then told the matter to the maidens that were of the house, and +inquired of them concerning him; for they did know him better than she. +So they told her that he was a very busy young man, and one who +pretended to serve the Lord, but was, as they feared, a stranger to the +power of that which is good. + +"Nay, then," said Mercy, "I will look no more on him; for I purpose +never to have a clog to my soul." + +Prudence then replied that "There needed no great matter of +discouragement to be given to him; her continuing so as she had begun to +do for the poor would quickly cool his courage." + +So, the next time he comes, he finds her at her old work, a-making of +things for the poor. Then said he, "What! always at it?" + +"Yes," said she, "either for myself or for others." + +"And what canst thou earn a day?" quoth he. + +"I do these things," said she, "that I may be rich in good works, laying +up in store for myself a good foundation against the time to come, that +I may lay hold on eternal life." + +"Why, prithee, what doest thou with them?" said he. + +"Clothe the naked," said she. + +With that, his countenance fell. So he forbore to come at her again. And +when he was asked the reason why, he said that "Mercy was a pretty lass, +but troubled with too much working for others." + +[Sidenote: MERCY REJECTS THE SUITOR] + +When he had left her, Prudence said, "Did I not tell thee that Mr. Brisk +would soon forsake thee? yea, he will raise up an ill report of thee; +for, notwithstanding his pretence to serve bad and his seeming love to +Mercy, yet Mercy and he are of tempers so different, that I believe they +will never come together." + +MER. I might have had husbands afore now, though I spake not of it to +any; but they were such as did not like my ways, though never did any of +them find fault with my person. So they and I could not agree. + +PRUD. Mercy in our days is little set by, any further than as to its +name: the practice, which is set forth by thy works, there are but few +that can abide. + +MER. "Well," said Mercy, "if nobody will have me, I will die a maid, or +my works shall be to me as a husband; for I cannot change my nature; and +to have one that lies cross to me in this, that I purpose never to admit +of as long as I live. I had a sister, named Bountiful, that was married +to one of these selfish people; but he and she could never agree; but, +because my sister was resolved to do as she had begun, that is, to show +kindness to the poor, therefore her husband first cried her down in +public, and then turned her out of his doors." + +PRUD. And yet he was a church-member, I warrant you? + +MER. Yes, such a one as he was; and of such as he the world is now +full; but I am for none of them at all. + +[Sidenote: MATTHEW FALLS SICK] + +Now Matthew, the eldest son of Christiana, fell sick, and his sickness +was sore upon him for he was much pained in his bowels; so that he was +with it, at times, pulled as it were both ends together. + +There dwelt also not far from thence one Mr. Skill, an ancient and +well-approved physician. So Christiana desired it and they sent for him, +and he came. When he was entered the room, and had a little observed the +boy, he concluded that he was sick of the gripes. Then he said to his +mother, "What diet has Matthew of late fed upon?" + +"Diet!" said Christiana, "nothing but that which is wholesome." + +The physician answered, "This boy has been tampering with something that +lies in his stomach undigested, and that will not away without means. +And I tell you he must be purged, or else he will die." + +SAM. Then said Samuel, "Mother, what was that which my brother did +gather up and eat, so soon as we were come from the gate that is at the +head of this way? You know that there was an orchard on the left hand, +on the other side of the wall, and some of the trees hung over the wall, +and my brother did pull down the branches and did eat." + +CHR. "True, my child," said Christiana, "he did take thereof and did +eat; naughty boy as he was, I did chide him, and yet he would eat +thereof." + +SKILL. I knew he had eaten something that was not wholesome food; and +that food, to wit, that fruit, is even the most hurtful of all. It is +the fruit of Beelzebub's orchard. I do marvel that none did warn you of +it: many have died thereof. + +CHR. Then Christiana began to cry, and she said, "Oh, naughty boy! and +oh, careless mother! What shall I do for my son?" + +SKILL. Come, do not be too much dejected; the boy may do well again, but +he must purge and vomit. + +CHR. Pray, sir, try the utmost of your skill with him, whatever it +costs. + +SKILL. Nay, I hope I shall be reasonable. + +[Sidenote: DOCTOR SKILL PRESCRIBES] + +So he made him a purge, but it was too weak; it was said, it was made of +the blood of a goat, the ashes of an heifer, and with some of the juice +of hyssop, etc. When Mr. Skill had seen that that purge was too weak, he +made him one to the purpose. It was made [the name was written in Latin] +_ex carne et sanguine Christi_;[8] (you know physicians give strange +medicines to their patients)--and it was made up into pills, with a +promise or two, and a proportionable quantity of salt. Now, he was to +take them three at a time, fasting, in half a quarter of a pint of the +tears of sorrow. + + [8] That is, "of the body and blood of Christ." + +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 the College of Physicians, +according to the rules made in that case and provided." + +CHR. "But, sir," said she, "what is this pill good for else?" + +SKILL. It is an universal pill: it is good against all the diseases that +pilgrims are troubled with; and when it is well prepared, it will keep +good time out of mind. + +CHR. Pray, sir, make me up twelve boxes of them; for if I can get these, +I will never take other physic. + +SKILL. These pills are good to prevent diseases, as well as to cure when +one is sick. Yea, I dare say it, and stand to it, that if a man will but +use this physic as he should, it will make him live for ever. But, good +Christiana, thou must give these pills no other way than as I have +prescribed; for if you do, they will do no good. So he gave unto +Christiana physic for herself and her boys, and for Mercy; and bid +Matthew take heed how he ate any more green plums; and kissed them and +went his way. + +It was told you before, that Prudence bid the boys, if at any time they +would, they should ask her some questions that might be profitable, and +she would say something to them. + +MATT. Then Matthew, who had been sick, asked her, "Why, for the most +part, physic should be bitter to our palates?" + +PRUD. To show how unwelcome the Word of God, and the effects thereof, +are to a sinful heart. + +MATT. Why does physic, if it does good, purge and cause that we vomit? + +PRUD. To show that the Word, when it works effectually, cleanseth the +heart and mind. For look, what the one doth to the body, the other doth +to the soul. + +MATT. What should we learn by seeing the flame of our fire go upwards, +and by seeing the beams and sweet influences of the sun strike +downwards? + +PRUD. By the going up of the fire, we are taught to ascend to heaven by +fervent and hot desires. And by the sun's sending his heat, beams, and +sweet influences downwards, we are taught that the Saviour of the world, +though high reaches down with His grace and love to us below. + +MATT. Where have the clouds their water? + +PRUD. Out of the sea. + +MATT. What may we learn from that? + +PRUD. That ministers should fetch their teaching from God. + +MATT. Why do they empty themselves upon the earth? + +PRUD. To show that ministers should give out what they know of God to +the world. + +MATT. Why is the rainbow caused by the sun? + +PRUD. To show that the promise of God's grace is made sure to us in +Christ. + +MATT. Why do the springs come from the sea to us through the earth? + +PRUD. To show that the grace of God comes to us through the body of +Christ. + +MATT. Why do some of the springs rise out of the tops of high hills? + +PRUD. To show that the spirit of grace shall spring up in some that are +great and mighty, as well as in many that are poor and low. + +MATT. Why doth the fire fasten upon the candle-wick? + +PRUD. To show that, unless grace doth kindle upon the heart, there will +be no true light of life in us. + +MATT. Why is the wick, and tallow, and all, spent to maintain the light +of the candle? + +PRUD. To show that body, and soul, and all, should be at the service of, +and spend themselves to maintain in good condition, that grace of God +that is in us. + +MATT. Why doth the pelican pierce her own breast with her bill? + +PRUD. To nourish her young ones with her blood, and thereby to show that +Christ the Blessed so loveth His young (His people), as to save them +from death by His blood. + +MATT. What may one learn by hearing the cock to crow? + +PRUD. Learn to remember Peter's sin and Peter's sorrow. The cock's +crowing shows also that day is coming on: let, then, the crowing of the +cock put thee in mind of that last and terrible day of judgment. + +Now, about this time, their month was out; wherefore they signified to +those of the house that it was convenient for them to be up and going. +Then said Joseph to his mother, "It is convenient that you forget not to +send to the house of Mr. Interpreter, to pray him to grant that Mr. +Great-heart should be sent unto us, that he may be our conductor the +rest of our way." + +"Good boy," said she, "I had almost forgot." So she drew up a petition, +and prayed Mr. Watchful the Porter to send it by some fit man to her +good friend Mr. Interpreter, who, when it was come, and he had seen the +contents of the petition, said to the messenger, "Go, tell them that I +will send him." + +When the family where Christiana was saw that they had a purpose to go +forward, they called the whole house together, to give thanks to their +King for sending of them such profitable guests as these. Which done, +they said unto Christiana, "And shall we not show thee something, +according, as our custom is to do to pilgrims, on which thou mayest +meditate when thou art upon the way?" + +[Sidenote: THE PILGRIMS VIEW CURIOSITIES] + +So they took Christiana, her children, and Mercy, into the closet, and +showed them one of the apples that Eve did eat of, and that which she +also did give to her husband, and that for the eating of which they were +both turned out of Paradise, and asked her what she thought that was. + +Then Christiana said, "It is food or poison, I know not which." + +So they opened the matter to her, and she held up her hands and +wondered. + +Then they had her to a place, and showed her Jacob's ladder. Now, at +that time there were some angels ascending upon it. So Christiana looked +and looked, to see the angels go up, and so did the rest of the company. +Then they were going into another place, to show them something else; +but James said to his mother, "Pray bid them stay here a little longer, +for this is a curious sight." So they turned again, and stood feeding +their eyes with this so pleasing a prospect. + +After this they had them into a place where did hang up a golden anchor. +So they bid Christiana take it down; "For," said they, "you shall have +it with you, for it is of absolute necessity that you should, that you +may lay hold of that within the veil, and stand steadfast, in case you +should meet with turbulent weather." So they were glad thereof. + +Then they took them, and had them to the mount upon which Abraham our +father had offered up Isaac his son, and showed them the altar, the +wood, the fire, and the knife; for they remain to be seen to this very +day. When they had seen it, they held up their hands, and blessed +themselves, and said, "Oh! what a man for love to his Master, and for +denial to himself, was Abraham!" + +After they had showed them all these things, Prudence took them into the +dining-room, where stood a pair of excellent virginals;[9] so she +played upon them, and turned what she had showed them into this +excellent song, saying: + + "Eve's apple we have showed you-- + Of that be you aware; + You have seen Jacob's ladder too, + Upon which angels are. + An anchor you received have: + But let not these suffice, + Until with Abra'm, you have gave + Your best a sacrifice." + + [9] An instrument of music, used in the time of John Bunyan, somewhat + like a very small piano. + +[Sidenote: GREAT-HEART CONDUCTS THEM] + +Now, about this time, one knocked at the door. So the Porter opened, and +behold, Mr. Great-heart was there; but when he was come in, what joy was +there! For it came now fresh again into their minds, how, but a while +ago, he had slain old Grim Bloody-man, the giant, and had delivered them +from the lions. + +Then said Mr. Great-heart to Christiana and to Mercy, "My lord has sent +each of you a bottle of wine, and also some parched corn, together with +a couple of pomegranates; he has also sent the boys some figs and +raisins, to refresh you in your way." + +Then they addressed themselves to their journey; and Prudence and Piety +went along with them. When they came at the gate, Christiana asked the +Porter if any one of late went by. + +He said, "No; only one some time since, who also told me that, of late, +there had been a great robbery committed on the King's highway as you +go. But he saith the thieves are taken, and will shortly be tried for +their lives." + +Then Christiana and Mercy were afraid; but Matthew said, "Mother, fear +nothing as long as Mr. Great-heart is to go with us, and to be our +conductor." + +Then said Christiana to the Porter, "Sir, I am much obliged to you for +all the kindnesses that you have shown me since I came hither, and also +for that you have been so loving and kind to my children. I know not how +to gratify your kindness; wherefore, pray, as a token of my respects to +you, accept of this small mite." + +So she put a gold angel[10] in his hand; and he made her a low +obeisance, and said, "Let thy garments be always white, and let thy head +want no ointment. Let Mercy live and not die, and let not her works be +few." And to the boys he said, "Do you flee youthful passions, and +follow after godliness with them that are grave and wise, so shall you +put gladness into your mother's heart, and obtain praise of all that are +sober-minded." + + [10] An old English coin, bearing the figure of an angel. + +So they thanked the Porter, and departed. + +Now I saw in my dream that they went forward until they were come to the +brow of the hill; where Piety, bethinking herself, cried out, "Alas! I +have forgot what I intended to bestow upon Christiana and her +companions: I will go back and fetch it." So she ran and fetched it. +While she was gone, Christiana thought she heard, in a grove a little +way off on the right hand, a most curious melodious note, with words +much like these: + + "Through all my life Thy favor is + So frankly showed to me, + That in Thy house for evermore + My dwelling-place shall be." + +And listening still, she thought she heard another answer it, saying: + + "For why? the Lord our God is good; + His mercy is for ever sure; + His truth at all times firmly stood, + And shall from age to age endure." + +So Christiana asked Prudence what it was that made those curious notes. +"They are," said she, "our country birds: they sing these notes but +seldom, except it be at the spring, when the flowers appear and the sun +shines warm, and then you may hear them all day long. I often," said +she, "go out to hear them; we also ofttimes keep them tame in our house. +They are very fine company for us when we are melancholy; also they make +the woods, and groves, and solitary places, places desirable to be in." + +By this time Piety was come again. So she said to Christiana, "Look +here: I have brought thee a plan of all those things that thou hast seen +at our house, upon which thou mayest look when thou findest thyself +forgetful, and call those things again to remembrance for thy teaching +and comfort." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION. + + +Now they began to go down the hill into the Valley of Humiliation. It +was a steep hill, and the way was slippery; but they were very careful, +so they got down pretty well. When they were down in the valley, Piety +said to Christiana, "This is the place where Christian, your husband, +met with the foul fiend Apollyon, and where they had that dreadful fight +that they had: I know you cannot but have heard thereof. But be of good +courage: as long as you have here Mr. Great-heart to be your guide and +conductor, we hope you will fare the better." + +So when these two had given the pilgrims unto the care of their guide, +he went forward, and they went after. + +GREAT. Then said Mr. Great-heart, "We need not to be so afraid of this +valley, for here is nothing to hurt us, unless we procure it to +ourselves. It is true that Christian did here meet with Apollyon, with +whom he had also a sore combat; but that fray was the fruit of those +slips that he got in his going down the hill; for they that get slips +there, must look for combats here. And hence it is that this valley has +got so hard a name. For the common people, when they hear that some +frightful thing has befallen such a one in such a place, are of an +opinion that that place is haunted with some foul fiend or evil spirit; +when, alas! it is for the fruit of their doing that such things do +befall them there. This Valley of Humiliation is of itself as fruitful a +place as any the crow flies over; and I am persuaded, if we could hit +upon it, we might find, somewhere hereabouts, something that might give +us an account why Christian was so hardly beset in this place." + +Then James said to his mother, "Lo, yonder stands a pillar, and it looks +as if something was written thereon: let us go and see what it is." So +they went, and found there written, "Let Christian's slips before he +came hither, and the battles that he met with in this place, be a +warning to those that come after." + +"Lo!" said their guide, "did not I tell you that there was something +hereabouts that would give intimation of the reason why Christian was so +hard beset in this place?" Then turning himself to Christiana, he said, +"No disgrace to Christian, more than to many others whose hap and loss +his was; for it is easier going up than down this hill; and that can be +said but of few hills in all these parts of the world. But we will leave +the good man: he is at rest; he also had a brave victory over his enemy. +Let Him that dwelleth above grant that we fare no worse, when we come to +be tried, than he. + +"But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is the best +and most fruitful piece of ground in all these parts. It is fat ground, +and, as you see, consisteth much in meadows; and if a man was to come +here in the summer-time, as we do now, if he knew not anything before +thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he +might see that that would be delightful to him. Behold how green this +valley is, also how beautified with lilies! I have also known many +laboring men that have got good estates in this valley of Humiliation; +for 'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.' Indeed, +it is a very fruitful soil, and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some also +have wished that the next way to their Father's house were here, that +they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains to go +over; but the way is the way, and there's an end." + +Now, as they were going along and talking, they espied a boy feeding his +father's sheep. The boy was in very mean clothes, but of a very fresh +and well-favored countenance; and as he sat by himself he sang. "Hark," +said Mr. Great-heart, "to what the shepherd's boy saith." So they +hearkened, and he said: + + "He that is down needs fear no fall + He that is low, no pride; + He that is humble ever shall + Have God to be his guide. + + "I am content with what I have + Little be it or much: + And, Lord, contentment still I crave + Because Thou savest much. + + "Fulness to such a burden is, + That go on pilgrimage; + Here little, and hereafter bliss, + Is best from age to age." + +Then said their guide, "Do you hear him? I will dare to say that this +boy lives a merrier life, and wears more of that herb called +heart's-ease in his bosom, than he that is clad in silk and velvet. But +we will proceed in our account of this valley. + +"In this valley our Lord formerly had His country house: He loved much +to be here. He loved also to walk these meadows, for He found the air +was pleasant. Besides, here a man shall be free from the noise and from +the hurryings of this life. All states are full of noise and confusion, +only the Valley of Humiliation is that empty and solitary place. Here a +man shall not be so let and hindered in his thoughts as in other places +he is apt to be. This is a valley that nobody walks in but those that +love a pilgrim's life. And though Christian had the hard hap to meet +here with Apollyon, and to enter with him into a brisk encounter, yet I +must tell you that in former times men have met with angels here, have +found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of life. + +"Did I say, our Lord had here in former days His country house, and +that He loved here to walk? I will add, in this place, and to the people +that love to tread these grounds, He has left a yearly sum of money, to +be faithfully paid them at certain seasons, for their support by the +way, and for their further encouragement to go on their pilgrimage." + +SAM. Now, as they went on, Samuel said to Mr. Great-heart, "Sir, I +perceive that in this valley my father and Apollyon had their battle; +but whereabout was the fight? for I perceive this valley is large." + +[Sidenote: FORGETFUL GREEN] + +GREAT. Your father had that battle with Apollyon at a place yonder +before us, in a narrow passage just beyond Forgetful Green. And, indeed, +that place is the most dangerous place in all these parts. For, if at +any time the pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what +favors they have received, and how unworthy they are of them. This is +the place also where others have been hard put to it. But more of the +place when we are come to it; for I persuade myself, that to this day +there remains either some sign of the battle, or some monument to +testify that such a battle there was fought. + +MER. Then said Mercy, "I think that I am as well in this valley as I +have been anywhere else in all our journey: the place, methinks, suits +with my spirit. I love to be in such places, where there is no rattling +with coaches nor rumbling with wheels. Methinks here one may, without +much trouble, be thinking what he is, whence he came, what he has done, +and to what the King has called him. Here one may think and break at +heart, and melt in one's spirit, until one's eyes become like the +fish-pools in Heshbon. They that go rightly through this Valley of Baca, +make it a well; the rain that God sends down from heaven upon them that +are here also filleth the pools. This valley is that from whence also +the King will give to His their vineyards; and they that go through it +shall sing, as Christian did, for all he met with Apollyon." + +GREAT. "'Tis true," said their guide; "I have gone through this valley +many a time, and never was better than when here. I have also been a +conductor to several pilgrims, and they have confessed the same. 'To +this man will I look,' saith the King, 'even to him that is poor and of +a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word.'" + +Now they were come to the place where the afore-mentioned battle was +fought. Then said the guide to Christiana, her children, and Mercy, +"This is the place; on this ground Christian stood, and up there came +Apollyon against him. And look--did not I tell you?--here is some of +your husband's blood upon these stones to this day. Behold, also, how +here and there are yet to be seen upon the place some of the shivers of +Apollyon's broken darts. See also how they did beat the ground with +their feet as they fought, to make good their places against each other; +how also, with their by-blows, they did split the very stones in +pieces. Verily, Christian did here play the man, and showed himself as +stout as could, had he been there, even Hercules himself. When Apollyon +was beat, he made his retreat to the next valley, that is called the +Valley of the Shadow of Death, unto which we shall come soon. Lo, yonder +also stands a monument, on which is engraven this battle, and +Christian's victory, to his fame throughout all ages." + +[Sidenote: VALLEY OF SHADOW OF DEATH] + +So, because it stood just on the way-side before them, they stepped to +it, and read the writing, which word for word was this: + + "Hard by here was a battle fought, + Most strange, and yet most true; + Christian and Apollyon sought + Each other to subdue. + + "The man so bravely played the man, + He made the fiend to fly; + Of which a monument I stand, + The same to testify." + +When they had passed by this place, they came upon the borders of the +Shadow of Death. This valley was longer than the other; a place also +most strangely haunted with evil things, as many are able to testify; +but these women and children went the better through it, because they +had daylight, and because Mr. Great-heart was their conductor. + +When they were entered upon this valley, they thought that they heard a +groaning, as of dead men--a very great groaning. They thought also that +they did hear words of moaning spoken, as of some in extreme torment. +These things made the boys to quake; the women also looked pale and wan; +but their guide bid them be of good comfort. + +So they went on a little farther, and they thought that they felt the +ground begin to shake under them, as if some hollow place was there; +they heard also a kind of hissing, as of serpents; but nothing as yet +appeared. Then said the boys, "Are we not yet at the end of this doleful +place?" But the guide also bid them be of good courage, and look well to +their feet; "lest haply," said he, "you be taken in some snare." + +Now James began to be sick; but I think the cause thereof was fear; so +his mother gave him some of that glass of spirits that had been given +her at the Interpreter's house, and three of the pills that Mr. Skill +had prepared; and the boy began to revive. Thus they went on till they +came to about the middle of the valley; and then Christiana said, +"Methinks I see something yonder upon the road before us, a thing of +such a shape as I have not seen." Then said Joseph, "Mother, what is +it?" "An ugly thing, child, an ugly thing," said she. "But, mother, what +is it like?" said he. "'Tis like I cannot tell what," said she, "and now +it is but a little way off." Then said she, "It is nigh!" + +[Sidenote: RESIST THE DEVIL] + +"Well, well," said Mr. Great-heart, "let them that are most afraid keep +close to me." So the fiend came on, and the conductor met it; but, when +it was just come to him, it vanished to all their sights. Then +remembered they what had been said some time ago, "Resist the devil, and +he will flee from you." + +They went therefore on, as being a little refreshed. But they had not +gone far before Mercy, looking behind her, saw, as she thought, +something most like a lion, and it came a great padding pace after; and +it had a hollow voice of roaring, and at every roar that it gave it made +all the valley echo, and all their hearts to ache, save the heart of him +that was their guide. So it came up, and Mr. Great-heart went behind, +and put the pilgrims all before him. The lion also came on apace, and +Mr. Great-heart addressed himself to give him battle. But, when he saw +that it was determined that resistance should be made, he also drew +back, and came no farther. + +They then went on again, and their conductor did go before them, till +they came to a place where was cast up a pit the whole breadth of the +way; and before they could be prepared to go over that, a great mist and +darkness fell upon them, so that they could not see. Then said the +pilgrims, "Alas! what now shall we do?" But their guide made answer, +"Fear not, stand still, and see what an end will be put to this also." +So they stayed there, because their path was marred. They then also +thought that they did hear more apparently the noise and rushing of the +enemies; the fire also, and the smoke of the pit, were much easier to be +discerned. Then said Christiana to Mercy, "Now I see what my poor +husband went through. I have heard much of this place, but I never was +here before now. Poor man! he went here all alone in the night; he had +night almost quite through the way; also these fiends were busy about +him, as if they would have torn him in pieces. Many have spoken of it, +but none can tell what the Valley of the Shadow of Death should mean, +until they come in it themselves. 'The heart knoweth its own bitterness, +and a stranger intermeddleth not with its joy.' To be here is a fearful +thing." + +GREAT. This is like doing business in great waters, or like going down +into the deep. This is like being in the heart of the sea, and like +going down to the bottoms of the mountains. Now it seems as if the +earth, with its bars, were about us for ever. But let them that walk in +darkness and have no light, trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon +their God. For my part, as I have told you already, I have gone often +through this valley, and have been much harder put to it than now I am; +and yet, you see, I am alive. I would not boast, for that I am not mine +own saviour; but I trust we shall have a good deliverance. Come, let us +pray for light to Him that can lighten our darkness, and that can +rebuke not only these, but all the Satans in hell. + +So they cried and prayed, and God sent light and deliverance; for there +was now no hindrance in their way, no, not there where but now they were +stopped with a pit. Yet they were not got through the valley; so they +went on still; and behold, great stinks and loathsome smells, to the +great annoyance of them. Then said Mercy to Christiana, "It is not so +pleasant being here as at the gate, or at the Interpreter's, or at the +house where we lay last." + +"Oh, but," said one of the boys, "it is not so bad to go through here as +it is to abide here always; and, for aught I know, one reason why we +must go this way to the house prepared for us is, that our home might be +made the sweeter to us." + +"Well said, Samuel," quoth the guide; "thou hast now spoke like a man." + +"Why, if ever I get out here again," said the boy, "I think I shall +prize light and good way better than ever I did in all my life." + +Then said the guide, "We shall be out by-and-by." + +So on they went, and Joseph said, "Cannot we see to the end of this +valley as yet?" + +[Sidenote: AMONG THE SNARES] + +Then said the guide, "Look to your feet, for we shall presently be among +the snares." + +So they looked to their feet, and went on; but they were troubled much +with the snares. Now, when they were come among the snares, they espied +a man cast into the ditch on the left hand, with his flesh all rent and +torn. + +Then said the guide, "That is one Heedless, that was going this way; he +has lain there a great while. There was one Take-heed with him when he +was taken and slain, but he escaped their hands. You cannot imagine how +many are killed hereabouts; and yet men are so foolishly venturous as to +set out lightly on pilgrimage, and to come without a guide. Poor +Christian! it is a wonder that he here escaped; but he was beloved of +his God, also he had a good heart of his own, or else he could never +have done it." + +[Sidenote: GREAT-HEART ENCOUNTERS MAUL] + +Now they drew towards the end of the way; and just where Christian had +seen the cave when he went by, out thence came forth Maul, a giant. This +Maul did use to spoil young pilgrims by deceiving them; and he called +Great-heart by his name, and said unto him, "How many times have you +been forbidden to do these things?" + +Then said Mr. Great-heart, "What things?" + +"What things!" quoth the giant; "you know what things; but I will put an +end to your trade." + +"But pray," said Mr. Great-heart, "before we fall to it, let us +understand wherefore we must fight." + +Now the women and children stood trembling, and knew not what to do. + +Quoth the giant, "You rob the country, and rob it with the worst of +thefts." + +"These are but random words," said Mr. Great-heart; "tell what robberies +I have done, man." + +Then said the giant, "Thou practicest the craft of a kidnapper: thou +gatherest up women and children, and carriest them into a strange +country, to the weakening of my master's kingdom." + +But now Great-heart replied, "I am a servant of the God of heaven; my +business is to persuade sinners to turn to God. I am commanded to do my +best to turn men, women, and children from darkness to light, and from +the power of Satan unto God; and if this be indeed the ground of thy +quarrel, let us fall to it as soon as thou wilt." + +[Sidenote: THE GIANT IS SLAIN] + +Then the giant came up, and Mr. Great-heart went to meet him; and as he +went, he drew his sword, but the giant had a club. So without more ado +they fell to it; and, at the first blow, the giant struck Mr. +Great-heart down upon one of his knees. With that, the women and +children cried out. So Mr. Great-heart, recovering himself, laid about +him in full lusty manner, and gave the giant a wound in his arm. Thus he +fought for the space of an hour, to that height of heat, that the breath +came out of the giant's nostrils as the heat doth out of a boiling +cauldron. + +Then they sat down to rest them; but Mr. Great-heart betook himself to +prayer. Also the women and children did nothing but sigh and cry all the +time that the battle did last. + +When they had rested them, and taken breath, they both fell to it again; +and Mr. Great-heart with a blow fetched the giant down to the ground. +"Nay, hold, and let me recover," quoth he. So Mr. Great-heart fairly let +him get up: so to it they went again; and the giant missed but little of +breaking Mr. Great-heart's skull with his club. + +Mr. Great-heart seeing that, runs to him in the full heat of his spirit, +and pierceth him under the fifth rib. With that the giant began to +faint, and could hold up his club no longer. Then Mr. Great-heart +seconded his blow, and smote the head of the giant from his shoulders. +Then the women and the children rejoiced, and Mr. Great-heart also +praised God for the deliverance He had wrought. + +When this was done, they amongst them erected a pillar, and fastened the +giant's head thereon, and wrote under it in letters that passengers +might read: + + "He that did wear this head, was one + That pilgrims did misuse; + He stopped their way, he spared none, + But did them all abuse; + Until that I, Great-heart, arose, + The pilgrims' guide to be; + Until that I did him oppose + That was their enemy." + +Now, I saw that they went to the high ground that was a little way off, +cast up to be a prospect for pilgrims. That was the place from whence +Christiana had the first sight of Faithful his brother. Wherefore here +they sat down and rested. They also here did eat and drink and make +merry, for that they had gotten deliverance from this so dangerous an +enemy. As they sat thus and did eat, Christiana asked the guide if he +had caught no hurt in the battle. Then said Mr. Great-heart, "No, save a +little on my flesh; yet that also shall be so far from being to my harm +that it is at present a proof of my love to my Master and you, and shall +be a means, by grace, to increase my reward at last." + +CHR. But were you not afraid, good sir, when you saw him come out with +his club? + +GREAT. "It is my duty," said he, "to mistrust my own ability, that I may +have trust in Him who is stronger than all." + +CHR. But what did you think when he fetched you down to the ground at +the first blow? + +GREAT. "Why, I thought," replied he, "that so my Master Himself was +served; and yet He it was that conquered at the last." + +MATT. When you all have thought what you please, I think God has been +wonderful good unto us, both in bringing us out of this valley, and in +delivering us out of the hand of this enemy. For my part, I see no +reason why we should distrust our God any more, since He has now, and in +such a place as this, given us such proof of His love as this. + +[Sidenote: OLD HONEST] + +Then they got up and went forward. Now, a little before them stood an +oak; and under it, when they came to it, they found an old pilgrim fast +asleep. They knew that he was a pilgrim by his clothes, and his staff, +and his girdle. + +So the guide, Mr. Great-heart, awaked him; and the old gentleman, as he +lifted up his eyes, cried out, "What's the matter? what are you, and +what is your business here?" + +GREAT. Come, man, be not so hot; here are none but friends. + +Yet the old man gets up, and stands upon his guard, and will know of +them what they are. Then said the guide, "My name is Great-heart; I am +the guide of these pilgrims, that are going to the Celestial Country." + +HONEST. Then said Mr. Honest, "I cry you mercy: I feared that you had +been of the company of those that some time ago did rob Little-Faith of +his money; but now I look better about me I perceive you are honester +people." + +GREAT. Why, what would or could you have done to have helped yourself, +if we indeed had been of that company? + +HON. Done! why, I would have fought as long as breath had been in me; +and, had I so done, I am sure you could never have given me the worst +on't, for a Christian can never be overcome unless he shall yield of +himself. + +GREAT. "Well said, Father Honest," quoth the guide; "for by this I know +thou art a cock of the right kind, for thou hast said the truth." + +HON. And by this also I know that thou knowest what true pilgrimage is; +for all others do think that we are the soonest overcome of any. + +[Sidenote: CONVERSES WITH HONEST] + +GREAT. Well, now we are so happily met, pray let me crave your name, and +the name of the place you came from. + +HON. My name I cannot; but I came from the town of Stupidity; it lieth +about four degrees beyond the City of Destruction. + +GREAT. Oh! are you that countryman? then I deem I have half a guess of +you: your name is old Honesty, is it not? + +HON. So the old gentleman blushed, and said, "Not Honesty, but Honest is +my name; and I wish that my nature may agree to what I am called. But, +sir," said the old gentleman, "how could you guess that I am such a man, +since I came from such a place?" + +GREAT. I had heard of you before by my Master; for He knows all things +that are done on the earth. But I have often wondered that any should +come from your place, for your town is worse than is the City of +Destruction itself. + +HON. Yes, we lie more off from the sun, and so are more cold and +senseless. But were a man in a mountain of ice, yet if the Sun of +Righteousness should rise upon him, his frozen heart shall feel a thaw; +and thus it hath been with me. + +GREAT. I believe it, Father Honest, I believe it; for I know the thing +is true. + +Then the old gentleman saluted all the pilgrims with a holy kiss of +love, and asked them their names, and how they had fared since they had +set out on their pilgrimage. + +CHR. Then said Christiana, "My name I suppose you have heard of: good +Christian was my husband, and these are his children." + +But can you think how the old gentleman was taken when she told him who +she was? He skipped, he smiled, he blessed them with a thousand good +wishes, saying: + +HON. I have heard much of your husband, and of his travels and wars +which he underwent in his days. Be it spoken to your comfort, the name +of your husband rings all over these parts of the world: his faith, his +courage, his enduring, and his sincerity under all, have made his name +famous. Then he turned him to the boys, and asked of them their names, +which they told him. Then he said unto them, "Matthew, be thou like +Matthew the publican, not in vice, but in virtue. Samuel," said he, "be +thou like Samuel the prophet, a man of faith and prayer. Joseph," said +he, "be thou like Joseph in Potiphar's house, pure, and one that flees +from temptation. And James, be thou like James the Just, and like James +the brother of our Lord." Then they told him of Mercy, and how she had +left her town and her kindred to come along with Christiana and with her +sons. At that, the old honest man said, "Mercy is thy name? by Mercy +shalt thou be sustained and carried through all those difficulties that +shall attack thee in thy way, till thou shalt come thither where thou +shalt look the Fountain of Mercy in the face with comfort." + +All this while the guide, Mr. Great-heart, was very well pleased and +smiled upon his companion. + +[Sidenote: THEY DISCUSS MR. FEARING] + +Now, as they walked along together, the guide asked the old gentleman if +he did not know one Mr. Fearing, that came on pilgrimage out of his +parts. + +HON. "Yes, very well," said he. "He was a man that had the root of the +matter in him; but he was one of the most troublesome pilgrims that ever +I met with in all my days." + +GREAT. I perceive you knew him, for you have given a very right +character of him. + +HON. Knew him! I was a great companion of his; I was with him most an +end: when he first began to think upon what would come upon us +hereafter, I was with him. + +GREAT. I was his guide from my master's house to the gates of the +Celestial City. + +HON. Then you knew him to be a troublesome one? + +GREAT. I did so; but I could very well bear it, for men of my calling +are oftentimes entrusted with the conduct of such as he was. + +HON. Well, then, pray let us hear a little of him, and how he managed +himself under your conduct. + +GREAT. Why, he was always afraid that he should come short of whither he +had a desire to go. Everything frightened him that he heard anybody +speak of, if it had but the least appearance of opposition in it. I hear +that he lay roaring at the Slough of Despond for above a month together; +nor durst he, for all he saw several go over before him, venture, though +they, many of them, offered to lend him their hand. He would not go back +again neither. The Celestial City, he said, he should die if he came not +to it; and yet was discouraged at every difficulty, and stumbled at +every straw that anybody cast in his way. Well, after he had lain at the +Slough of Despond a great while, as I have told you, one sunshine +morning, I don't know how, he ventured, and so got over; but, when he +was over, he would scarce believe it. He had, I think, a Slough of +Despond in his mind, a slough that he carried everywhere with him, or +else he could never have been as he was. So he came up to the gate (you +know what I mean) that stands at the head of this way, and here also he +stood a good while before he would venture to knock. When the gate was +opened, he would give back, and give place to others, and say that he +was not worthy. For, for all he got before some to the gate, yet many of +them went in before him. There the poor man would stand shaking and +shrinking: I dare say it would have pitied one's heart to have seen him. +Nor would he go back again. At last, he took the hammer that hanged on +the gate in his hand, and gave a small rap or two; then One opened to +him, but he shrank back as before. He that opened stepped out after +him, and said, "Thou trembling one, what wantest thou?" With that, he +fell down to the ground. He that spoke to him wondered to see him so +faint; so He said to him, "Peace be to thee: up, for I have set open the +door to thee; come in, for thou are blessed." With that, he got up, and +went in trembling; and when he was in, he was ashamed to show his face. +Well, after he had been entertained there a while, as you know how the +manner is, he was bid go on his way, and also told the way he should +take. So he came till he came to our house; but as he behaved himself at +the gate, so he did at my master the Interpreter's door. He lay +thereabout in the cold a good while before he would venture to call: yet +he would not go back; and the nights were long and cold then. Nay, he +had a note of need in his bosom to my master, to receive him and grant +him the comfort of his house, and also to allow him a stout and valiant +conductor, because he was himself so chicken-hearted a man; and yet, for +all that, he was afraid to call at the door. So he lay up and down +thereabouts, till, poor man, he was almost starved; yea, so great was +his fear, though he had seen several others for knocking get in, yet he +was afraid to venture. At last, I think I looked out of the window, and +perceiving a man to be up and down about the door, I went out to him, +and asked what he was; but, poor man, the water stood in his eyes; so I +perceived what he wanted. I went therefore in, and told it in the +house, and we showed the things to our Lord: so he sent me out again, to +entreat him to come in; but I dare say I had hard work to do it. At last +he came in; and I will say that for my Lord, he carried it wonderful +lovingly to him. There were but few good bits at the table, but some of +it was laid upon his trencher. Then he presented the note; and my Lord +looked thereon, and said his desire should be granted. So, when he had +been there a good while, he seemed to get some heart, and to be a little +more comfortable. For my master, you must know, is one of very tender +heart, specially to them that are afraid; wherefore he carried it so +towards him as might tend most to his encouragement. Well, when he had a +sight of the things of the place, and was ready to take his journey to +go to the City, my Lord, as he did to Christian before, gave him a +bottle of spirits, and some comfortable things to eat. Thus we set +forward, and I went before him; but the man was but of few words, only +he would sigh aloud. + +[Sidenote: GREAT-HEART'S REMINISCENCES] + +When we were come to the place where the three fellows were hanged, he +said that he doubted that that would be his end also. Only he seemed +glad when he saw the Cross and the sepulchre. There, I confess, he +desired to stay a little to look; and he seemed, for a little while +after, to be a little cheery. When we came at the Hill Difficulty, he +made no stick at that, nor did he much fear the lions, for you must know +that his trouble was not about such things as those; his fear was about +his acceptance at last. + +I got him in at the House Beautiful, I think, before he was willing. +Also, when he was in, I brought him acquainted with the damsels that +were of the place; but he was ashamed to make himself much for company. +He desired much to be alone; yet he always loved good talk, and often +would get behind the screen to hear it. He also loved much to see +ancient things, and to be pondering them in his mind. He told me, +afterwards, that he loved to be in those two houses from which he came +last; to wit, at the gate, and that of the Interpreter; but that he +durst not be so bold as to ask. + +When we went also from the House Beautiful, down the hill into the +Valley of Humiliation, he went down as well as ever I saw a man in my +life: for he cared not how mean he was, so he might be happy at last. +Yea, I think there was a kind of sympathy betwixt that valley and him; +for I never saw him better in all his pilgrimage than when he was in +that valley. + +Here he would lie down, embrace the ground, and kiss the very flowers +that grew in this valley. He would now be up every morning by break of +day, tracing and walking to and fro in this valley. + +But when he was come to the entrance of the Valley of the Shadow of +Death, I thought I should have lost my man: not for that he had any +inclination to go back--that he always abhorred; but he was ready to +die for fear. "Oh, the hobgoblins will have me! the hobgoblins will have +me!" cried he, and I could not beat him out of it. He made such a noise +and such an outcry here, that, had they but heard him, it was enough to +encourage them to come and fall upon us. + +But this I took very great notice of, that this valley was as quiet +while we went through it as ever I knew it before or since. I suppose +those enemies here had now a special check from our Lord, and a command +not to meddle until Mr. Fearing had passed over it. + +[Sidenote: FEARING AT VANITY FAIR] + +It would be too tedious to tell you of all, I will therefore only +mention a passage or two more. When he was come at Vanity Fair, I +thought he would have fought with all the men in the fair. I feared +there we should both have been knocked on the head, so hot was he +against their fooleries. Upon the Enchanted Ground he was also very +wakeful. But, when he was come at the river where was no bridge, there +again he was in a heavy case. Now, now, he said, he should be drowned +for ever, and so never see that face with comfort that he had come so +many miles to behold. + +And here also I took notice of what was very remarkable: the water of +that river was lower at this time than ever I saw it in all my life: so +he went over at last, not much above wetshod. When he was going up to +the gate, I began to take leave of him, and to wish him a good +reception above. So he said, "I shall, I shall." Then parted we +asunder, and I saw him no more. + +HON. Then it seems he was well at last? + +GREAT. Yes, yes; I never had a doubt about him. He was a man of choice +spirit; only he was always kept very low, and that made his life so +burthensome to himself and so troublesome to others. He was, above many, +tender of sin: he was so afraid of doing injuries to others, that he +often would deny himself of that which was lawful because he would not +offend. + +HON. But what should be the reason that such a good man should be all +his days so much in the dark? + +GREAT. There are two sorts of reasons for it. One is, the wise God will +have it so; some must pipe, and some must weep. Now Mr. Fearing was one +that played upon this bass. He and his fellows sound the sackbut, whose +notes are more doleful than the notes of other music are; though, +indeed, some say the bass is the ground of music. And, for my part, I +care not at all for that profession which begins, not in heaviness of +mind. The first string that the musician usually touches is the bass, +when he intends to put all in tune. God also plays upon this string +first, when He sets the soul in tune for Himself. Only here was the +imperfection of Mr. Fearing: he could play upon no other music but this +till toward his latter end. + +I make bold to talk thus in figures, for the ripening of the wits of +young readers, and because, in the book of the Revelation, the saved +are compared to a company of musicians, that play upon their trumpets +and harps, and sing their songs before the throne. + +HON. He was a very zealous man, as one may see by the relation which you +have given of him. Difficulties, lions, or Vanity Fair he feared not at +all; it was only sin, death, and hell that were to him a terror, because +he had some doubts about his interest in that Celestial Country. + +GREAT. You say right: those were the things that were his troublers, and +they, as you have well observed, arose from the weakness of his mind +thereabout, not from weakness of spirit as to the practical part of a +pilgrim's life. I dare believe that, as the proverb is, he would have +bit a firebrand, had it stood in his way; but the things with which he +was oppressed no man ever yet could shake off with ease. + +CHR. Then said Christiana, "This relation of Mr. Fearing has done me +good. I thought nobody had been like me; but I see there was some +semblance betwixt this good man and I: only we differed in two things. +His troubles were so great that they broke out; but mine I kept within. +His also lay so hard upon him, they made him that he could not knock at +the houses provided for entertainment; but my trouble was always such as +made me knock the louder." + +MER. If I might also speak my heart, I must say that something of him +has also dwelt in me; for I have ever been more afraid of the lake, and +the loss of a place in Paradise, than I have been of the loss of other +things. Oh, thought I, may I have the happiness to have a habitation +there, it is enough, though I part with all the world to win it! + +MATT. Then said Matthew, "Fear was one thing that made me think that I +was far from having that within me which makes me sure of being saved. +But if it were so with such a good man as he, why may it not also go +well with me?" + +JAMES. "No fears, no grace," said James, "Though there is not always +grace where there is the fear of hell, yet, to be sure, there is no +grace where there is no fear of God." + +GREAT. Well said, James; thou hast hit the mark. For the fear of God is +the beginning of wisdom; and, to be sure, they that want the beginning +have neither middle nor end. But we will here conclude our discourse of +Mr. Fearing, after we have sent after him this farewell: + + "Well, Master Fearing, thou didst fear + Thy God, and wast afraid + Of doing anything while here + That would have thee betrayed. + + "And didst thou fear the lake and pit? + Would others did so too! + For, as for them that want thy wit, + They do themselves undo." + +[Sidenote: HONEST TELLS OF MR. SELF-WILL] + +Now I saw that they still went on in their talk; for, after Mr. +Great-heart had made an end with Mr. Fearing, Mr. Honest began to tell +them of another, but his name was Mr. Self-will. "He pretended himself +to be a pilgrim," said Mr. Honest, "but I persuade myself he never came +in at the gate that stands at the head of the way." + +GREAT. Had you ever any talk with him about it? + +HON. Yes, more than once or twice; but he would always be like himself, +self-willed. He neither cared for man, nor argument, nor yet example; +what his mind prompted him to, that he would do, and nothing else could +he be got to do. + +GREAT. Pray, what principles did he hold? for I suppose you can tell. + +HON. He held that a man might follow the sins as well as the virtues of +pilgrims; and that, if he did both, he should be certainly saved. + +GREAT. How! If he had said it is possible for the best to be guilty of +the vices, as well as to partake of the virtues, of pilgrims, he could +not much have been blamed; for, indeed, we are free from no sin +absolutely, but on condition that we watch and strive. But this, I +perceive, is not the thing; but, if I understood you right, your meaning +is that he was of opinion that it was allowable so to be. + +HON. Ay, ay, so I mean, and so he believed and acted. + +GREAT. But what grounds had he for his so saying? + +HON. Why, he said he had the Scripture for his warrant. + +[Sidenote: HONEST QUOTES SELF-WILL] + +GREAT. Prithee, Mr. Honest, present us with a few particulars. + +HON. So I will. He said, To have to do with other men's wives had been +practiced by David, God's beloved; and therefore he could do it. He +said, To have more women than one was a thing that Solomon practiced; +and therefore he could do it. He said that Sarah lied, and so did Rahab; +and therefore he could do it. He said that the disciples went at the +bidding of their Master, and took away the owner's ass; and therefore he +could do so too. He said that Jacob got the inheritance of his father in +a way of guile and cheating; and therefore he could do so too. + +GREAT. Highly base, indeed! And you are sure he was of this opinion? + +HON. I have heard him plead for it, bring Scripture for it, bring +argument for it, and so on. + +GREAT. An opinion that is not fit to be with any allowance in the world! + +HON. You must understand me rightly: he did not say that _any_ man might +do this; but that they who had the virtues of those that did such +things, might also do the same. + +GREAT. But what more false than such a conclusion? For this is as much +as to say that, because good men heretofore have sinned through weakness +or forgetfulness, therefore he had an allowance to do it of a purpose; +or if, because a child, by the blast of the wind, or for that it +stumbled at a stone, fell down and defiled itself in the mire, +therefore he might wilfully lie down and wallow like a boar therein. Who +could have thought that any one could so far have been blinded by the +power of sin. But what is written must be true: they "stumble at the +Word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed." His +supposing that such may have the godly man's virtues, who accustom +themselves to their vices, is also a delusion as strong as the other. To +eat up the sin of God's people as a dog licks up filth, is no sign of +one that is possessed with their virtues. Nor can I believe that one who +is of this opinion can have faith or love in him. But I know you have +made strong objections against him: prithee, what can he say for +himself? + +HON. Why, he says, "To do this openly and by way of opinion, seems +abundantly more honest than to do it and yet hold contrary to it in +opinion." + +GREAT. A very wicked answer. For, though to let loose the bridle to +lusts while our opinions are against such things is bad; yet to sin, and +plead a toleration so to do, is worse. The one stumbles beholders +accidentally, the other _pleads_ them into the snare. + +HON. There are many of this man's mind, that have not this man's mouth; +and that makes going on pilgrimage of so little esteem as it is. + +GREAT. You have said the truth, and it is to be lamented; but he that +feareth the King of Paradise shall come out of them all. + +CHR. There are strange opinions in the world. I know one that said it +was time enough to turn from sin when they come to die. + +GREAT. Such are not overwise. That man would have been loth, might he +have had a week to run twenty miles in for his life, to have deferred +that journey to the last hour of that week. + +HON. You say right; and yet the most of them who count themselves +pilgrims do indeed do thus. I am, as you see, an old man, and have been +a traveller in this road many a day, and I have taken notice of many +things. I have seen some that have set out as if they would drive all +the world afore them, who yet have, in a few days, died as they in the +wilderness, and so never got sight of the promised land. I have seen +some that have promised nothing at first, setting out to be pilgrims, +and that one would have thought could not have lived a day, that have +yet proved very good pilgrims. I have seen some that have run hastily +forward, that again have, after a little time, run just as fast back +again. I have seen some who have spoken very well of a pilgrim's life at +first, that, after a while, have spoken as much against it. I have heard +some, when they first set out for Paradise, say positively there is such +a place, who, when they have been almost there, have come back again, +and said there is none. I have heard some boast what they would do in +case they should be opposed, that have, even at a false alarm, fled +faith, the pilgrim's way, and all. + +Now, as they were thus in their way, there came one running to meet +them, and said, "Gentlemen, and you of the weaker sort, if you love +life, shift for yourselves, for the robbers are before you." + +GREAT. "They be the three that set upon Little-Faith heretofore. Well," +said he, "we are ready for them." + +[Sidenote: THE PILGRIMS PROCEED] + +So they went on their way. Now they looked at every turning when they +should have met with the villains; but whether they heard of Mr. +Great-heart, or whether they had some other game, they came not up to +the pilgrims. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ENTERTAINED BY GAIUS. + + +Christiana then wished for an inn for herself and her children, because +they were weary. + +Then said Mr. Honest, "There is one a little before us, where a very +honorable disciple, one Gaius, dwells." So they all concluded to turn in +thither, and the rather because the old gentleman gave him so good a +report. When they came to the door, they went in, not knocking, for +folks use not to knock at the door of an inn. Then they called for the +master of the house, and he came to them; so they asked if they might +lie there that night. + +GAIUS. Yes, gentlemen, if you be true men, for my house is for none but +pilgrims. + +Then were Christiana, Mercy, and the boys the more glad, for that the +Innkeeper was a lover of pilgrims. So they called for rooms, and he +showed them one for Christiana, and her children, and Mercy, and another +for Mr. Great-heart and the old gentleman. + +GREAT. "Good Gaius, what hast thou for supper? for these pilgrims have +come far to-day, and are weary." + +GAIUS. "It is late, so we cannot conveniently go out to seek food; but +such as we have you shall be welcome to, if that will content." + +GREAT. We will be content with what thou hast in the house; forasmuch as +I have proved thee, thou art never without that which is suitable. + +Then he went down and spake to the cook, whose name was +Taste-that-which-is-good, to get ready supper for so many pilgrims. This +done, he came up again, saying, "Come, my good friends, you are welcome +to me, and I am glad that I have a house to entertain you in; and, while +supper is making ready, if you please, let us entertain one another with +some good talking together." + +So they all said, "Content." + +GAIUS. "Whose wife is this aged matron? and whose daughter is this young +damsel?" + +GREAT. The woman is the wife of one Christian, a pilgrim of former +times; and these are his four children. The maid is one of her +acquaintance, one that she hath persuaded to come with her on +pilgrimage. The boys take all after their father, and wish to tread in +his steps; yea, if they do but see any place where the old pilgrim hath +lain, or any print of his foot, it bringeth joy to their hearts, and +they are eager to lie or tread in the same. + +[Sidenote: FAMILY OF THE CHRISTIANS] + +GAIUS. "Is this Christian's wife, and are these Christian's children? I +knew your husband's father; yea, also his father's father. Many have +been good of this stock; their ancestors dwelt first at Antioch. +Christian's ancestors, the early fathers from whom he came (I suppose +you have heard your husband talk of them) were very worthy men. They +have, above any that I know, showed themselves men of great virtue and +courage, for the Lord of pilgrims, His ways, and them that loved Him. I +have heard of many of your husband's relations that have stood all +trials for the sake of the truth. Stephen, who was one of the first of +the family from whence your husband sprang, was knocked on the head with +stones. James, another of this generation, was slain with the edge of +the sword. To say nothing of Paul and Peter, men anciently of the family +from whence your husband came; there was Ignatius, who was cast to the +lions; Romanus, whose flesh was cut by pieces from his bones; and +Polycarp, that played the man in the fire; there was he that was hanged +up in a basket in the sun for the wasps to eat; and he whom they put +into a sack, and cast him into the sea to be drowned. It would be +utterly impossible to count up all of that family who have suffered +injuries and death for the love of a pilgrim's life. Nor can I but be +glad to see that thy husband has left behind him four such boys as +these. I hope they will bear out their father's name, and tread in their +father's steps, and come to their father's end." + +GREAT. Indeed, sir, they are likely lads; they seem to choose heartily +their father's ways. + +GAIUS. That is it that I said; wherefore Christian's family is like +still to spread abroad upon the face of the ground, and yet to be +numerous upon the face of the earth. Wherefore let Christiana look out +some damsels for her sons, to whom they may be married, etc., that the +name of their father and the house of his family may never be forgotten +in the world. + +HON. 'Tis pity this family should fall and die out of the world. + +GAIUS. Fall it cannot, but be diminished it may; but let Christiana take +my advice, and that is the way to uphold it. "And Christiana," said this +Innkeeper, "I am glad to see thee and thy friend Mercy together here, a +lovely couple. And may I advise, take Mercy into a nearer relation to +thee; if she will, let her be given to Matthew, thy eldest son. It is +the way to give you a family in the earth." + +So this match was arranged, and in process of time they were married; +but more of that hereafter. + +Gaius also proceeded, and said, "I will now speak on the behalf of +women, to take away their reproach. For as death and the curse came into +the world by a woman, so also did life and health: 'God sent forth His +Son, born of a woman.' I will say again, that when the Saviour was come, +women rejoiced in Him before either man or angel. I read not that man +ever gave unto Christ so much as one penny; but the women followed Him, +and ministered to Him of their substance. 'Twas a woman that washed His +feet with tears, and a woman that anointed His body to the burial. They +were women that wept when He was going to the cross, and women that +followed Him from the cross; and that sat over against the sepulchre +when He was buried. They were women that were first with Him at His +resurrection-morn, and women that brought tidings first to His disciples +that He was risen from the dead. Women, therefore, are highly favored, +and show by these things that they are sharers with us in the grace of +life." + +[Sidenote: THE SUPPER AT GAIUS'S HOUSE] + +Now the cook sent up to signify that supper was almost ready, and sent +one to lay the cloth, the dishes, and to set the salt and bread in +order. + +Then said Matthew, "The sight of this cloth, and of this forerunner of +the supper, awaketh in me a greater appetite to my food than I had +before." + +GAIUS. So let all teaching truth to thee in this life awaken in thee a +greater desire to sit at the supper of the great King in His kingdom; +for all preaching, books, and services here, are but as the laying of +the dishes, and as setting of salt upon the board, when compared with +the feast which our Lord will make for us when we come to His house. + +So supper came up. And first a heave-shoulder and a wave-breast were set +on the table before them, to show that they must begin their meal with +prayer and praise to God. The heave-shoulder David lifted up his heart +to God with; and with the wave-breast, where his heart lay, he used to +lean upon his harp when he played. These two dishes were very fresh and +good, and they all ate heartily well thereof. + +The next they brought up was a bottle of wine, red as blood. So Gaius +said to them, "Drink freely: this is the true juice of the vine, that +makes glad the heart of God and man." So they drank and were merry. The +next was a dish of milk, well crumbed; but Gaius said, "Let the boys +have that, that they may grow thereby." + +Then they brought up in course of dish of butter and honey. Then said +Gaius, "Eat freely of this, for this is good to cheer up and strengthen +your judgments and understandings. This was our Lord's dish when He was +a child: 'Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the +evil and choose the good.'" + +Then they brought them up a dish of apples, and they were very good +tasted fruit. Then said Matthew, "May we eat apples, since they were +such by and with which the serpent deceived our first mother Eve?" + +Then said Gaius: + + "Apples were they with which we were beguiled; + Yet sin, not apples, hath our souls defiled. + Apples forbid, if ate, corrupt the blood; + To eat such, when commanded, does us good. + Drink of His flagons, then, thou Church, His dove, + And eat His apples who are sick of love." + +Then said Matthew, "I made the objection, because I, a while since, was +sick with eating of fruit." + +GAIUS. Forbidden fruit will make you sick; but not what our Lord has +allowed. + +While they were thus talking, they were presented with another dish, and +it was a dish of nuts. Then said some at the table, "Nuts spoil tender +teeth, specially the teeth of children;" which, when Gaius heared, he +said; + + "Hard texts are nuts (I will not call them cheaters), + Whose shells do keep their kernels from the eaters; + Ope then the shells, and you shall have the meat: + They here are brought for you to crack and eat." + +Then were they very merry, and sat at the table a long time, talking of +many things. Then said the old gentleman, "My good landlord, while we +are cracking your nuts, if you please, do you open this riddle; + + "A man there was, though some did count him mad, + The more he cast away, the more he had." + +Then they all gave good heed, wondering what good Gaius would say: so he +sat still awhile, and then thus replied: + + "He that bestows his goods upon the poor + Shall have as much again, and ten times more." + +Then said Joseph, "I dare say, sir, I did not think you could have found +it out." + +"Oh!" said Gaius, "I have been trained up in this way a great while: +nothing teaches like experience, I have learned of my Lord to be kind, +and have found by experience that I have gained thereby. 'There is that +scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than +is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.' 'There is that maketh himself rich, +yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great +riches.'" + +[Sidenote: MERCY AND MATTHEW] + +Then Samuel whispered to Christiana, his mother, and said, "Mother, this +is a very good man's house; let us stay here a good while, and let my +brother Matthew be married here to Mercy before we go any farther." The +which Gaius, the host, overhearing, said, "With a very good will, my +child." + +So they stayed there more than a month, and Mercy was given to Matthew +to wife. While they stayed here, Mercy, as her custom was, would be +making coats and garments to give to the poor, by which she brought up a +very good report upon the pilgrims. + +But to return again to our story. After supper, the lads desired a bed, +for that they were weary with travelling. Then Gaius called to show them +their chamber; but said Mercy, "I will have them to bed." So she had +them to bed, and they slept well; but the rest sat up all night, for +Gaius and they were such suitable company, that they could not tell how +to part. + +Then, after much talk of their Lord, themselves, and their journey, old +Mr. Honest, he that put forth the riddle to Gaius, began to nod. + +Then said Great-heart, "What, sir! you begin to be drowsy? Come, rub up. +Now, here's a riddle for you." + +Then said Mr. Honest, "Let us hear it." + +Then said Mr. Great-heart: + + "He that will kill, must first be overcome; + Who live abroad would, first must die at home." + +"Ha!" said Mr. Honest, "it is a hard one; hard to explain, and harder to +do. But come, landlord," said he, "I will, if you please, leave my part +to you: do you expound it, and I will hear what you say." + +"No," said Gaius, "it was put to you, and it is expected you should +answer it." Then said the old gentleman: + + "He first by grace must conquered be, + That sin would mortify; + And who that lives would convince me, + Unto himself must die." + +Thus they sat talking till break of day. Now, when the family were up, +Christiana bade her son James read a chapter; so he read the fifty-third +of Isaiah. + +"Well," said Gaius, "now you are here, and since, as I know Mr. +Great-heart is good at his weapons, if you please, after we have +refreshed ourselves we will walk into the fields, to see if we can do +any good. About a mile from hence there is one Slay-good, a giant, that +doth much annoy the King's highway in these parts; and I know +whereabout his haunt is. He is master of a number of thieves: 'twould be +well if we could clear these parts of him." + +So they consented and went; Mr. Great-heart with his sword, helmet, and +shield, and the rest with spears and staves. + +[Sidenote: SLAY-GOOD DESTROYED] + +When they were come to the place where he was, they found him with one +Feeble-minded in his hands, whom his servants had brought unto him, +having taken him in the way. Now the giant was picking his pockets, with +a purpose after that to pick his bones; for he was of the nature of +flesh-eaters. + +Well, so soon as he saw Mr. Great-heart and his friends at the mouth of +his cave with their weapons, he demanded what they wanted. + +GREAT. We want thee, for we are come to revenge the quarrel of the many +that thou hast slain of the pilgrims, when thou has dragged them out of +the King's highway; wherefore come out of thy cave. + +So he armed himself and came out; and to battle they went, and fought +for above an hour, and then stood still to take wind. + +SLAY. Then said the giant, "Why are you here on my ground?" + +GREAT. To revenge the blood of pilgrims, as I told thee before. + +[Sidenote: FEEBLE-MIND RESCUED] + +So they went to it again, and the giant made Mr. Great-heart give back; +but he came up again, and in the greatness of his mind he let fly with +such stoutness at the giant's head and sides, that he made him let his +weapon fall out of his hand. So he smote him, and slew him, and cut off +his head, and brought it away to the inn. He also took Feeble-mind, the +pilgrim, and brought him with him to his lodgings. When they were come +home, they showed his head to the family, and then set it up as they had +done others before, for a terror to those that should attempt to do as +he hereafter. + +Then they asked Mr. Feeble-mind how he fell into his hands. + +FEEBLE. Then said the poor man, "I am a sickly man, as you see; and +because death did usually once a day knock at my door, I thought I +should never be well at home: so I betook myself to a pilgrim's life, +and have travelled hither from the town of Uncertain, where I and my +father were born. I am a man of no strength at all of body, nor yet of +mind, but would, if I could, though I can but crawl, spend my life in +the pilgrims' way. When I came at the gate that is at the head of the +way, the Lord of that place did entertain me freely; neither objected He +against my weakly looks, nor against my feeble mind, but gave me such +things as were necessary for my journey, and bid me hope to the end. +When I came to the house of the Interpreter, I received much kindness +there; and because the Hill Difficulty was judged too hard for me, I was +carried up that by one of his servants. Indeed, I have found much +relief from pilgrims: though none were willing to go so softly as I am +forced to do, yet still as they came on they bid me be of good cheer, +and said that it was the will of their Lord that comfort should be given +to the feeble-minded, and so went on their own pace. When I was come to +Assault Lane, then this giant met with me, and bid me prepare for an +encounter. But, alas! feeble one that I was, I had more need of a +cordial; so he came up and took me. I believed not that he should kill +me. Also when he got me into his den, since I went not with him +willingly, I believed I should come out alive again; for I have heard +that not any pilgrim that is taken captive by violent hands, if he keeps +heart-whole towards his Master, is, by the laws of Providence, to die by +the hands of the enemy. Robbed I looked to be, and robbed to be sure I +am; but I have, as you see, escaped with life, for the which I thank my +King as author, and you as the means. Other brunts I also look for; but +this I have resolved on--to wit, to run when I can, to go when I cannot +run, and to creep when I cannot go. As to the principal thing, I thank +Him that loves me, I am fixed: my way is before me, my mind is beyond +the river that has no bridge, though I am, as you see, but of a feeble +mind." + +HON. Then said old Mr. Honest, "Have not you some time ago been +acquainted with one Mr. Fearing, a pilgrim?" + +FEEBLE. Acquainted with him! yes; he came from the town of Stupidity, +which lies four degrees northward of the City of Destruction, and as +many off of where I was born; yet we were well acquainted, for indeed he +was my uncle, my father's brother. He and I have been much of a temper: +he was a little shorter than I, but yet we were much of a complexion. + +HON. I perceive you know him, and I am apt to believe also that you are +related one to another; for you have his whitely look, a cast like his +with your eye, and your speech is much alike. + +FEEBLE. Most have said so that have known us both; and besides, what I +have read in him I have for the most part found in myself. + +GAIUS. "Come, sir," said good Gaius, "be of good cheer: you are welcome +to me and to my house. What thou hast a mind to, call for freely; and +what thou wouldst have my servants do for thee, they will do it with a +ready mind." + +Then said Mr. Feeble-mind, "This is an unexpected favor, and as the sun +shining out of a very dark cloud. Did Giant Slay-good intend me this +favor when he stopped me, and resolved to let me go no farther? Did he +intend that, after he had rifled my pockets, I should go to Gaius, mine +host? Yet so it is." + +Now, just as Feeble-mind and Gaius were thus in talk, there came one +running, and called at the door, and said, that "About a mile and a half +off there was one Mr. Not-right, a pilgrim, struck dead upon the place +where he was, with a thunderbolt." + +FEEBLE. "Alas!" said Mr. Feeble-mind, "is he slain? He overtook me some +days before I came so far as hither, and would be my company-keeper. He +also was with me when Slay-good, the giant, took me; but he was nimble +of his heels, and escaped; but it seems he escaped to die, and I was +taken to live. + + "What, one would think, doth seek to slay outright, + Ofttimes delivers from the saddest plight, + That very Providence, whose face is death, + Doth ofttimes to the lowly life bequeath. + I was taken, he did escape and flee; + Hands crossed gives death to him, and life to me." + +[Sidenote: PHOEBE AND JAMES] + +Now, about this time, Matthew and Mercy were married; also Gaius gave +his daughter Phoebe to James, Matthew's brother, to wife; after which +time, they yet stayed about ten days at Gaius's house, spending their +time and the seasons like as pilgrims use to do. + +When they were to depart, Gaius made them a feast, and they did eat and +drink and were merry. Now, the hour was come that they must be gone, +wherefore Mr. Great-heart called for the bill of charges. But Gaius told +him that at his house it was not the custom of pilgrims to pay for their +entertainment. He boarded them by the year, but looked for his pay from +the Good Samaritan, who had promised him, at His return, whatsoever +charge he was at with them, faithfully to repay him. + +Then said Mr. Great-heart to him, + +GREAT. Beloved, thou doest faithfully, whatsoever thou doest to the +brethren and to strangers, which have borne witness of thy liberal +giving before the Church; whom if thou yet bring forward on their +journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well. + +Then Gaius took his leave of them all, and his children, and +particularly of Mr. Feeble-mind. He also gave him something to drink by +the way. + +Now, Mr. Feeble-mind, when they were going out of the door, made as if +he intended to linger. The which when Mr. Great-heart espied, he said, +"Come, Mr. Feeble-mind, pray do you go along with us: I will be your +conductor, and you shall fare as the rest." + +FEEBLE. Alas! I want a suitable companion. You are all lusty and strong, +but I, as you see, am weak; I choose, therefore, rather to come behind, +lest, by reason of my many weaknesses, I should be both a burden to +myself and to you. I am, as I said, a man of a weak and feeble mind, and +shall be injured and made weak at that which others can bear. I shall +like no laughing; I shall like no gay attire; I shall like no +unprofitable questions. Nay, I am so weak a man as to be harmed with +that which others have a liberty to do. I do not yet know all the truth; +I am a very ignorant Christian man. Sometimes, if I hear any rejoice in +the Lord, it troubles me, because I cannot do so too. It is with me as +it is with a weak man among the strong, or as with a sick man among the +healthy, or as a lamp despised. "He that is ready to slip with his feet +is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease;" so that I +know not what to do. + +GREAT. "But, brother," said Mr. Great-heart, "I have it in my work to +comfort the feeble-minded and to support the weak. You must needs go +along with us: we will wait for you; we will lend you our help; we will +deny ourselves of some things, for your sake; we will not enter into +doubtful questions before you! we will be made all things to you, rather +than you shall be left behind." + +Now, all this while they were at Gaius's door, and, behold, as they were +thus in the heat of their discourse, Mr. Ready-to-halt came by, with his +crutches in his hands; and he also was going on pilgrimage. + +FEEBLE. Then said Mr. Feeble-mind to him, "How camest thou hither? I was +but now complaining that I had not a suitable companion, but thou art +according to my wish. Welcome, welcome, good Mr. Ready-to-halt; I hope +thou and I may be some help." + +READY. "I shall be glad of thy company," said the other; "and, good Mr. +Feeble-mind, rather than we will part, since we are thus happily met, I +will lend thee one of my crutches." + +FEEBLE. "Nay," said he, "though I thank thee for thy good-will, I am not +inclined to halt before I am lame. Howbeit, I think, when occasion is, +it may help me against a dog." + +READY. If either myself or my crutches can do thee a pleasure, we are +both at thy command, good Mr. Feeble-mind. + +Thus, therefore, they went on. Mr. Great-heart and Mr. Honest went +before, Christiana and her children went next, and Mr. Feeble-mind came +behind, and Mr. Ready-to-halt with his crutches. Then said Mr. Honest, + +HON. Pray, sir, now that we are upon the road, tell us some profitable +things of some that have gone on pilgrimage before us. + +[Sidenote: REVIEWS OTHER PILGRIMAGES] + +GREAT. With a good will. I suppose you have heard how Christian of old +did meet with Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation, and also what hard +work he had to go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Also I +think you cannot but have heard how Faithful was put to it by Madam +Wanton, with Adam the first, with one Discontent, and Shame; four as +deceitful villains as a man can meet with upon the road. + +HON. Yes, I believe I have heard of all this; but, indeed, good Faithful +was hardest put to it with Shame: he was an unwearied one. + +GREAT. Ay; for, as the pilgrim well said, he of all men had the wrong +name. + +HON. But pray, sir, where was it that Christian and Faithful met +Talkative? That same was also a notable one. + +GREAT. He was a confident fool; yet many follow his ways. + +HON. He had liked to have deceived Faithful. + +GREAT. Ay, but Christian put him into a way quickly to find him out. + +Thus they went on till they came to the place where Evangelist met with +Christian and Faithful, and foretold them what should befall them at +Vanity Fair. Then said their guide, "Hereabouts did Christian and +Faithful meet with Evangelist, who foretold them of their troubles which +they should meet with at Vanity Fair." + +HON. Say you so? I dare say it was a hard chapter, then, that he did +read unto them! + +GREAT. It was; but he gave them encouragement withal. But what do we +talk of them? they were a couple of lion-like men: they had set their +faces like flint. Do not you remember how undaunted they were when they +stood before the judge? + +HON. Well. Faithful bravely suffered. + +GREAT. So he did, and as brave things came on't; for Hopeful and some +others, as the story relates it, were converted by his death. + +HON. Well, but pray go on, for you are well acquainted with things. + +GREAT. Above all that Christian met with after he had passed through +Vanity Fair, one By-ends was the arch one. + +HON. By-ends! what was he? + +GREAT. A very arch fellow--a downright deceiver; one that would be +religious, which way soever the world went; but so cunning that he would +be sure never to lose or suffer for it. He had his mode of religion for +every fresh occasion, and his wife was as good at it as he. And he would +turn and change from opinion to opinion; yea, and plead for so doing, +too. But, as far as I could learn, he came to an ill end with his +by-ends; nor did I ever hear that any of his children were ever of any +esteem with any that truly feared God. + +[Sidenote: THEY ARRIVE AT VANITY FAIR] + +Now, by this time they were come within sight of the town of Vanity, +where Vanity Fair is kept. So, when they saw that they were so near the +town, they consulted with one another how they should pass through the +town; and some said one thing, and some another. At last Mr. Great-heart +said, "I have, as you may understand, often been a conductor of pilgrims +through this town. Now, I am acquainted with one Mr. Mnason, a Cyprusian +by nature, an old disciple, at whose house we may lodge. If you think +good," said he, "we will turn in there." + +[Sidenote: MNASON ENTERTAINS PILGRIMS] + +"Content," said old Honest; "Content," said Christiana; "Content," said +Mr. Feeble-mind; and so they said all. Now, you must think it was +eventide by that they got to the outside of the town; but Mr. +Great-heart knew the way to the old man's house. So thither they came, +and he called at the door; and the old man within knew his tongue so +soon as ever he heard it; so he opened the door, and they all came in. +Then said Mnason, their host, "How far have ye come to-day?" + +So they said, "From the house of Gaius, our friend." + +"I promise you," said he, "you have come a good stitch: you may well be +weary. Sit down." So they sat down. + +GREAT. Then said their guide, "Come, what cheer, sirs? I dare say you +are welcome to my friend." + +MNAS. "I also," said Mr. Mnason, "do bid you welcome; and whatever you +want, do but say, and we will do what we can to get it for you." + +HON. Our great want a while since was a resting-place and good company, +and now I hope we have both. + +MNAS. For resting-place, you see what it is; but for good company, that +will appear in the trial. + +GREAT. "Well," said Great-heart, "will you have the pilgrims up into +their lodging?" + +MNAS. "I will," said Mr. Mnason. So he had them up to their several +places, and also showed them a very fair dining-room, where they might +be, and sup together, until time should come to go to rest. + +Now, when they were set in their places, and were a little cheery after +their journey, Mr. Honest asked his landlord if there were any store of +good people in the town. + +MNAS. We have a few; for, indeed, they are but a few when compared with +them on the other side. + +HON. But how shall we do to see some of them? for the sight of good men +to them that are going on pilgrimage is like the appearing of the moon +and stars to them that are sailing upon the seas. + +[Sidenote: FRIENDS CALL ON THE PILGRIMS] + +MNAS. Then Mr. Mnason stamped with his foot, and his daughter Grace came +up. So he said unto her, "Grace, go you, tell my friends, Mr. Contrite, +Mr. Holy-man, Mr. Love-saint, Mr. Dare-not-lie, and Mr. Penitent, that I +have a friend or two at my house who have a mind this evening to see +them." So Grace went to call them, and they came; and, after salutation +made, they sat down together at the table. + +Then said Mr. Mnason, their landlord, "My neighbors, I have, as you see, +a company of strangers come to my house: they are pilgrims; they come +from afar, and are going to Mount Zion. But who," quoth he, "do you +think this is?" pointing with his finger to Christiana. "It is +Christiana, the wife of Christian, that famous pilgrim who, with +Faithful his brother, was so shamefully handled in our town." + +At that they stood amazed, saying, "We little thought to see Christiana +when Grace came to call us; wherefore this is a very comfortable +surprise." They then asked her of her welfare, and if these young men +were her husband's sons. And when she told them they were, they said, +"The King whom you love and serve, make you as your father, and bring +you where he is in peace!" + +HON. Then Mr. Honest (when they had all sat down) asked Mr. Contrite and +the rest, in what posture their town was at present. + +CONTRITE. You may be sure we are full of hurry in fair-time. 'Tis hard +keeping our hearts and spirits in good order when we are in a cumbered +condition. He that lives in such a place as this, and has to do with +such as we have, has need of a hint to caution him to take heed, every +moment of the day. + +HON. But how are your neighbors for quietness? + +CONTR. They are much more moderate now than formerly. You know how +Christian and Faithful were used at our town; but of late, I say, they +have been far more moderate. I think the blood of Faithful lieth as a +load upon them till now; for since they burned him they have been +ashamed to burn any more. In those days we were afraid to walk the +street; but now we can show our heads. Then the name of a Christian was +hated; now, specially in some parts of our town (for you know our town +is large), religion is counted honorable. + +Then said Mr. Contrite to them, "Pray, how fareth it with you in your +pilgrimage? how stands the country towards you?" + +HON. It happens to us as it happeneth to wayfaring men: sometimes our +way is clean, sometimes up-hill, sometimes down-hill: we are seldom at a +certainty. The wind is not always on our back, nor is every one a friend +that we meet with in the way. We have met with some notable rubs +already, and what are yet behind we know not; but, for the most part we +find it true that has been talked of, of old, "A good man must suffer +trouble." + +CONTR. You talk of rubs; what rubs have you met withal? + +HON. Nay, ask Mr. Great-heart, our guide; for he can give the best +account of that. + +GREAT. We have been beset three or four times already. First, Christiana +and her children were beset by two ruffians, who, they feared, would +take away their lives. We were beset by Giant Bloody-man, Giant Maul, +and Giant Slay-good. Indeed, we did rather beset the last, than were +beset of him. And thus it was: After we had been some time at the house +of Gaius mine host, and of the whole Church, we were minded upon a time +to take our weapons with us, and go and see if we could light upon any +of those that were enemies to pilgrims; for we heard that there was a +notable one thereabouts. Now Gaius knew his haunt better than I, because +he dwelt thereabout. So we looked, and looked, till at last we saw the +mouth of his cave; then we were glad and plucked up our spirits. So we +approached up to his den; and, lo! when we came there, he had dragged, +by mere force, into his net, this poor man, Mr. Feeble-mind, and was +about to bring him to his end. But, when he saw us, supposing, as he +thought, he had had another prey, he left the poor man in his house, and +came out. So we fell to it full sore, and he lustily laid about him; +but, in conclusion, he was brought down to the ground, and his head cut +off, and set up by the wayside, for terror to such as should after +practice such ungodliness. That I tell you the truth, here is the man +himself to affirm it, who was as a lamb taken out of the mouth of the +lion. + +FEEBLE. Then said Mr. Feeble-mind, "I found this true, to my cost and +comfort: to my cost, when he threatened to pick my bones every moment; +and to my comfort, when I saw Mr. Great-heart and his friends with their +weapons approach so near for my deliverance." + +HOLY. Then said Mr. Holy-man, "There are two things that they have need +to possess who go on pilgrimage--courage and an unspotted life. If they +have not courage, they can never hold on their way; and if their lives +be loose, they will make the very name of the pilgrim stink." + +LOVE. Then said Mr. Love-saint, "I hope this caution is not needful +among you. But truly there are many that go upon the road, who rather +declare themselves strangers to pilgrimage than strangers and pilgrims +in the earth." + +DARE. Then said Mr. Dare-not-lie, "'Tis true. They have neither the +pilgrim's weed nor the pilgrim's courage: they go not uprightly, but all +awry with their feet; one shoe goeth inward, another outward, and their +hosen out behind; there is here a rag, and there a rent, to the +disparagement of their Lord." + +PEN. "These things," said Mr. Penitent, "they ought to be troubled for; +nor are the pilgrims like to have that grace upon them and their +pilgrim's progress as they desire, until the way is cleared of such +spots and blemishes." + +Thus they sat talking and spending the time until supper was set upon +the table, unto which they went, and refreshed their weary bodies; so +they went to rest. + +[Sidenote: GRACE AND SAMUEL] + +Now, they stayed in this fair a great while, at the house of Mnason, +who, in process of time, gave his daughter Grace unto Samuel, +Christiana's son, to wife; and his daughter Martha to Joseph. + +The time, as I said, that they stayed here was long; for it was not now +as in former times. Wherefore the pilgrims grew acquainted with many of +the good people of the town, and did them what service they could. +Mercy, as she was wont, labored much for the poor; wherefore their +bodies and backs blessed her, and she was there an ornament to her +profession. And to say the truth for Grace, Phoebe, and Martha, they +were all of a very good nature, and did much good in their places. They +were also all of them very fruitful; so that Christian's name, as was +said before, was like to live in the world. + +While they lay here, there came a monster out of the woods, and slew +many of the people of the town. It would also carry away their children, +and teach them to suck its whelps. Now, no man in the town durst so much +as face this monster, but all fled when they heard the noise of his +coming. + +The monster was like unto no one beast on the earth. Its body was like a +dragon, and it had seven heads and ten horns. It made great havoc of +children, and yet it was governed by a woman. This monster gave +conditions to men, and such men as loved their lives more than their +souls accepted of those conditions; so they came under. + +Now, this Mr. Great-heart, together with those that came to visit the +pilgrims at Mr. Mnason's house, entered into a covenant to go and engage +this beast, if perhaps they might deliver the people of this town from +the paws and mouth of this so devouring a serpent. + +Then did Mr. Great-heart, Mr. Contrite, Mr. Holy-man, Mr. Dare-not-lie, +and Mr. Penitent, with their weapons, go forth to meet him. Now, the +monster was at first very rampant, and looked upon these enemies with +great disdain; but they so belabored him, being sturdy men-at-arms, that +they made him make a retreat. So they came home to Mr. Mnason's house +again. + +[Sidenote: MARTHA AND JOSEPH] + +The monster, you must know, had his certain seasons to come out in, and +to make his attempts upon the children of the people of the town. Also, +these seasons did these valiant worthies watch him in, and did still +continually assault him; insomuch that in process of time he became not +only wounded, but lame. Also he has not made that havoc of the +townsmen's children as formerly he had done; and it is verily believed +by some that this beast will die of his wounds. + +This, therefore, made Mr. Great-heart and his fellows of great fame in +this town; so that many of the people that wanted their taste of things, +yet had a reverent esteem and respect for them. Upon this account, +therefore, it was that these pilgrims got not much hurt here. True, +there were some of the baser sort, that could see no more than a mole, +nor understand any more than a beast; these had no reverence for these +men, and took no notice of their valor or adventures. + +Well, the time grew on that the pilgrims must go on their way; wherefore +they prepared for their journey. They sent for their friends; they +talked with them; they had some time set apart, therein to commit each +other to the protection of their Prince. There were again that brought +them of such things as they had, that were fit for the weak and the +strong, for the women and the men, and so laded them with such things as +were necessary. Then they set forward on their way; and, their friends +accompanying them so far as was convenient, they again committed each +other to the protection of their King, and parted. + +They, therefore, that were of the pilgrims' company, went on, and Mr. +Great-heart went before them. Now, the women and children being weakly, +they were forced to go as they could bear; by which means, Mr. +Ready-to-halt and Mr. Feeble-mind had more to sympathize with their +condition. + +When they were gone from the townsmen, and when their friends had bid +them farewell, they quickly came to the place where Faithful was put to +death. There, therefore, they made a stand, and thanked Him that had +enabled him to bear his cross so well; and the rather, because they now +found that they had a benefit by such manly suffering as his was. + +They went on, therefore, after this a good way farther, talking of +Christian and Faithful, and how Helpful joined himself to Christian +after that Faithful was dead. + +Now they were come up with the Hill Lucre, where the silver mine was +which took Demas off from his pilgrimage, and into which, as some think, +By-ends fell and perished; wherefore they considered that. But, when +they were come to the old monument that stood over against the Hill +Lucre, to wit, the pillar of salt, that stood also within view of Sodom +and its stinking lake, they marvelled, as did Christian before, that men +of that knowledge and ripeness of wit as they were, should be so blind +as to turn aside here. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS AND THE SHEPHERDS. + + +I saw now that they went on till they came at the river that was on this +side of the Delectable Mountains; to the river where the fine trees grow +on both sides, and whose leaves, if taken inwardly, are good against +sickness; where the meadows are green all the year long, and where they +might lie down safely. + +By this river-side, in the meadow, there were cotes and folds for sheep, +a house built for the nourishing and bringing up of those lambs, the +babes of those women that go on pilgrimage. Also there was here One that +was entrusted with them, who could have pity, and that could gather +these lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and that could +gently lead those that were with young. + +Now, to the care of this Man Christiana admonished her four daughters to +commit their little ones, that by these waters they might be housed, +cared for, helped and nourished, and that none of them might be lacking +in time to come. This Man, if any of them go astray or be lost, He will +bring them again; He will also bind up that which was broken, and will +strengthen them that are sick. Here they will never want food and drink +and clothing; here they will be kept from thieves and robbers; for this +Man will die before one of those committed to His trust shall be lost. +Besides, here they shall be sure to have good nurture and training, and +shall be taught to walk in right paths; and that, you know, is a favor +of no small account. Also here, as you see, are delicate waters, +pleasant meadows, dainty flowers, variety of trees, and such as bear +wholesome fruit--fruit not like that that Matthew ate of, that fell over +the wall out of Beelzebub's garden; but fruit that giveth health where +there is none, and that continueth and increaseth it where it is. So +they were content to commit their little ones to Him; and that which was +also an encouragement to them so to do, was, for that all this was to be +at the charge of the King, and so was as an hospital for young children +and orphans. + +[Sidenote: DOUBTING CASTLE] + +Now they went on. And, when they were come to By-path Meadow, to the +stile over which Christian went with his fellow Hopeful, when they were +taken by Giant Despair and put into Doubting Castle, they sat down, and +consulted what was best to be done; to wit, now they were so strong, and +had got such a man as Mr. Great-heart for their conductor, whether they +had not best make an attempt upon the giant, demolish his castle, and if +there were any pilgrims in it, to set them at liberty, before they went +any farther. So one said one thing, and another said the contrary. One +questioned if it were lawful to go upon ground that was not the King's; +another said they might providing their end was good; but Mr. +Great-heart said, "Though that reason given last cannot be always true, +yet I have a commandment to resist sin, to overcome evil, to fight the +good fight of faith; and, I pray, with whom should I fight this good +fight, if not with Giant Despair? I will therefore attempt the taking +away of his life and the demolishing of Doubting Castle." Then said he, +"Who will go with me?" Then said old Honest, "I will." "And so will we, +too," said Christiana's four sons, Matthew, Samuel, Joseph, and James; +for they were young men and strong. So they left the women in the road, +and with them Mr. Feeble-mind and Mr. Ready-to-halt, with his crutches, +to be their guard until they came back; for, in that place, though Giant +Despair dwelt so near, they keeping in the road, "a little child might +lead them." + +So Mr. Great-heart, old Honest, and the four young men went to go up to +Doubting Castle, to look for Giant Despair. When they came at the castle +gate, they knocked for entrance with an unusual noise. At that, the old +giant comes to the gate, and Diffidence his wife follows. Then said he, +"Who and what is he that is so hardy as after this manner to disturb the +Giant Despair?" + +Mr. Great-heart replied, "It is I, Great-heart, one of the King of the +Celestial Country's conductors of pilgrims to their place; and I demand +of thee that thou open thy gates for my entrance; prepare thyself also +to fight, for I am come to take away thy head, and to demolish Doubting +Castle." + +[Sidenote: GIANT DESPAIR IS BEHEADED] + +Now, Giant Despair, because he was a giant, thought no man could +overcome him; and again thought he, "Since heretofore I have made a +conquest of angels, shall Great-heart make me afraid?" So he harnessed +himself with his armor, and went out. He had a cap of steel upon his +head, a breast-plate of fire girded to him, and he came out in iron +shoes, with a great club in his hand. Then these six men made up to him, +and beset him behind and before; also when Diffidence, the giantess, +came up to help him, old Mr. Honest cut her down at one blow. Then they +fought for their lives, and Giant Despair was brought down to the +ground, but was very loath to die. He struggled hard, and had, as they +say, as many lives as a cat; but Great-heart was his death, for he left +him not till he had severed his head from his shoulders. + +Then they fell to demolishing Doubting Castle, and that, you know, might +with ease be done, since Giant Despair was dead. They were seven days in +destroying of that; and in it of pilgrims, they found one Mr. +Despondency, almost starved to death, and one Much-afraid, his daughter: +these two they saved alive. But it would have made you wonder to have +seen the dead bodies that lay here and there in the castle-yard, and how +full of dead men's bones the dungeon was. + +When Mr. Great-heart and his companions had performed this great work +they took Mr. Despondency and his daughter Much-afraid into their care; +for they were honest people, though they were prisoners in Doubting +Castle to that tyrant Giant Despair. + +They therefore, I say, took with them the head of the giant (for his +body they had buried under a heap of stones), and down to the road and +to their companions they came, and showed them what they had done. Now, +when Feeble-mind and Ready-to-halt saw that it was the head of Giant +Despair indeed, they were very jocund and merry. Now, Christiana, if +need was, could play upon the viol, and her daughter Mercy upon the +lute; so, since they were so merry disposed, she played them a lesson, +and Ready-to-halt would dance. So he took Despondency's daughter +Much-afraid by the hand, and to dancing they went in the road. True, he +could not dance without one crutch in his hand; but I promise you he +footed it well; also the girl was to be commended, for she answered the +music handsomely. + +As for Mr. Despondency, the music was not so much to him; he was for +feeding rather than dancing, for that he was almost starved. So +Christiana gave him some of her bottle of spirits for present relief, +and then prepared him something to eat; and in a little time the old +gentleman came to himself, and began to be finely revived. + +Now, I saw in my dream, when all these things were finished, Mr. +Great-heart took the head of Giant Despair, and set it upon a pole by +the highway-side, right over against the pillar that Christian erected +for a caution to pilgrims that came after to take heed of entering into +his grounds. Then he writ under it, upon a marble stone, these verses +following: + + "This is the head of him whose name only + In former times did pilgrims terrify; + His castle's down, and Diffidence his wife + Brave Mr. Great-heart has bereft of life. + Despondency, his daughter Much-afraid, + Great-heart for them also the man has played. + Who hereof doubts, if he'll but cast his eye + Up hither, may his scruples satisfy. + This head also, when doubting cripples dance, + Doth show from fears they have deliverance." + +[Sidenote: THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS] + +When these men had thus bravely showed themselves against Doubting +Castle, and had slain Giant Despair, they went forward, and went on till +they came to the Delectable Mountains, where Christian and Hopeful +refreshed themselves with the varieties of the place. They also +acquainted themselves with the shepherds there, who welcomed them, as +they had done Christian before, unto the Delectable Mountains. + +Now, the shepherds seeing so great a train follow Mr. Great-heart (for +with him they were well acquainted), they said unto him, "Good sir, you +have got a goodly company here; pray, where did you find all these?" + +Then Mr. Great-heart replied: + + "First, here is Christiana and her train, + Her sons, and her sons' wives, who, like the wain, + Keep by the pole, and do by compass steer + From sin to grace; else they had not been here. + Next, here's old Honest come on pilgrimage, + Ready-to-halt too, who I dare engage + True-hearted is, and so is Feeble-mind, + Who willing was not to be left behind. + Despondency, good man, is coming after + And so also is Much-afraid his daughter. + May we have entertainment here, or must + We farther go? Let's know whereon to trust." + +[Sidenote: THE SHEPHERDS ENTERTAIN] + +Then said the shepherds, "This is a comfortable company. You are welcome +to us, for we have care for the feeble, as well as for the strong. Our +Prince has an eye to what is done, to the least of these; therefore +weakness must not be a block to our entertainment." So they had them to +the palace door, and then said unto them, "Come in, Mr. Feeble-mind; +come in, Mr. Ready-to-halt; come in, Mr. Despondency and Mrs. +Much-afraid, his daughter. These, Mr. Great-heart," said the shepherds +to the guide, "we call in by name, for that they are most subject to +draw back; but as for you and the rest that are strong, we leave you to +your wonted liberty." + +Then said Mr. Great-heart, "This day I see that grace doth shine in your +faces, and that you are my Lord's shepherds indeed; for that you have +not pushed these helpless ones neither with side nor shoulder, but have +rather strewed their way into the palace with flowers, as you should." + +So the feeble and weak went in, and Mr. Great-heart and the rest did +follow. When they were also sat down, the shepherds said to those of the +weaker sort, "What is it that you would have? for," said they, "all +things must be managed here for the supporting of the weak, as well as +the warning of the unruly." So they made them a feast of things easy of +digestion, and that were pleasant to the palate, and nourishing; the +which when they had received, they went to their rest, each one +separately unto his proper place. + +When morning was come, because the mountains were nigh and the day +clear, and because it was the custom of the shepherds to show the +pilgrims before their departure some rarities; therefore, after they +were ready and had refreshed themselves, the shepherds took them out +into the fields, and showed them first what they had showed to Christian +before. + +Then they had them to some new places. The first was to Mount Marvel, +where they looked, and beheld a man at a distance that tumbled the hills +about with words. Then they asked the shepherds what that should mean. +So they told them that that man was the son of Mr. Great-grace of whom +you read in the first part of the records of the Pilgrim's Progress; and +he is set down there to teach the pilgrims how to believe, or to tumble +out of their ways what difficulties they should meet with, by faith. +Then said Mr. Great-heart, "I know him; he is a man above many." + +Then they had them to another place, called Mount Innocent; and there +they saw a man clothed all in white, and two men, Prejudice and +Ill-will, continually casting dirt upon them. Now, behold, the dirt, +whatsoever they cast at him, would in a little time fall off again, and +his garment would look as clear as if no dirt had been cast thereat. +Then said the pilgrims, "What means this?" + +The shepherds answered, "This man is named Godly-man, and this garment +is to show the innocency of his life. Now, those that throw dirt at him +are such as hate his well-doing; but, as you see, the dirt will not +stick upon his clothes: so it shall be with him that liveth truly +innocently in the world. Whoever they be that would make such men dirty, +they labor all in vain; for God, by that a little time is spent, will +cause that their innocence shall break forth as the light, and their +righteousness as the noon-day." + +Then they took them, and had them to Mount Charity, where they showed +them a man that had a bundle of cloth lying before him, out of which he +cut coats and garments for the poor that stood about him; yet his bundle +or roll of cloth was never the less. + +Then said they, "What should this be?" + +"This is," said the shepherds, "to show you that he who has a heart to +give of his labor to the poor, shall never want wherewithal. He that +watereth shall be watered himself. And the cake that the widow gave to +the prophet did not cause that she had ever the less in her barrel." + +They had them also to a place where they saw one Fool, and one Want-wit, +washing of an Ethiopian, with intention to make him white; but the more +they washed him the blacker he was. Then they asked the shepherds what +that should mean. So they told them, saying, "Thus shall it be with the +vile person: all means used to get such an one a good name, shall, in +the end tend but to make him more abominable. Thus it was with the +Pharisees, and so shall it be with all pretenders to religion." + +Then said Mercy, the wife of Matthew, to Christiana her mother, "Mother, +I would, if it might be, see the hole in the hill, or that commonly +called the By-way to Hell." So her mother brake her mind to the +shepherds. Then they went to the door: it was in the side of a hill; and +they opened it, and bid Mercy hearken awhile. So she hearkened, and +heard one saying, "Cursed be my father for holding of my feet back from +the way of peace and life." And another said, "Oh that I had been torn +in pieces before I had, to save my life, lost my soul!" And another +said, "If I were to live again, how would I deny myself rather than come +to this place!" Then there was as if the very earth groaned and quaked +under the feet of this young woman for fear; so she looked white, and +came trembling away, saying, "Blessed be he and she that are delivered +from this place." + +[Sidenote: THE GREAT GLASS] + +Now, when the shepherds had shown them all these things, then they had +them back to the palace, and entertained them with what the house would +afford. But Mercy longed for something that she saw there, but was +ashamed to ask. Her mother-in-law then asked her what she ailed, for she +looked as one not well. Then said Mercy, "There is a looking-glass hangs +up in the dining-room, off of which I cannot take my mind; if, +therefore, I have it not, I think I shall be unhappy." Then said her +mother, "I will mention thy wants to the shepherds, and they will not +deny it thee." But she said, "I am ashamed that these men should know +that I longed." "Nay, my daughter," said she, "it is no shame, but a +virtue, to long for such a thing as that." So Mercy said, "Then, mother, +if you please, ask the shepherds if they are willing to sell it." + +Now, the glass was one of a thousand. It would present a man, one way, +with his own features exactly; and, turn it but another way, and it +would show one the very face and likeness of the Prince of pilgrims +Himself. Yea, I have talked with them that can tell, and they have said +that they have seen the very crown of thorns upon His head, by looking +in that glass; they have therein also seen the holes in His hands, in +His feet, and in His side. Yea, such an excellency is there in this +glass, that it will show Him to one where they have a mind to see Him, +whether living or dead, whether in earth or in heaven, whether in a +state of lowliness or in His kingliness, whether coming to suffer or +coming to reign. + +Christiana, therefore went to the shepherds apart--(now, the names of +the shepherds were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere),--and +said unto them, "There is one of my daughters, that I think doth long +for something that she hath seen in this house, and she thinks that she +shall be unhappy if she should by you be denied." + +EXPERIENCE. Call her, call her; she shall assuredly have what we can +help her to. So they called her, and said to her, "Mercy, what is that +thing thou wouldst have?" Then she blushed, and said, "The great glass +that hangs up in the dining-room." So Sincere ran and fetched it; and +with a joyful consent it was given her. Then she bowed her head, and +gave thanks, and said, "By this I know that I have obtained favor in +your eyes." + +They also gave to the other young women such things as they desired, and +to their husbands great praise for that they joined with Great-heart to +the slaying of Giant Despair and the destroying of Doubting Castle. + +About Christiana's neck the shepherds put a necklace, and so they did +about the necks of her four daughters; also they put ear-rings in their +ears, and jewels on their foreheads. + +[Illustration: Turn-away Resisting Evangelist. + Page 357] + +[Sidenote: THEY LEAVE THE SHEPHERDS] + +When they were minded to go hence, they let them go in peace, but gave +not to them those certain cautions which before were given to Christian +and his companion. The reason was, for that these had Great-heart to be +their guide, who was one that was well acquainted with things, and so +could give them their cautions more seasonably; that is, even then when +the danger was nigh the approaching. What cautions Christian and his +companion had received of the shepherds, they had also lost by that the +time was come that they had need to put them in practice. Wherefore, +here was the advantage that this company had over the other. + +From hence they went on singing, and they said: + + "Behold, how fitly are the stages set, + For their relief that pilgrims are become, + And how they us receive without one let[11] + That make the other life our mark and home! + + "What novelties they have, to us they give, + That we, though pilgrims, joyful lives may live; + They do upon us, too, such things bestow, + That show we pilgrims are, where'er we go." + + [11] The word "let" here means "hindrance." + +When they were gone from the shepherds, they quickly came to the place +where Christian met with one Turn-away, that dwelt in the town of +Apostasy. Wherefore of him Mr. Great-heart, their guide, did now put +them in mind, saying, "This is the place where Christian met with one +Turn-away, who carried with him the character of his rebellion at his +back. And this I have to say concerning this man: he would hearken to no +counsel, but, once falling, persuasion could not stop him. When he came +to the place where the Cross and the sepulchre were, he did meet with +one that bid him look there; but he gnashed with his teeth, and stamped, +and said he was resolved to go back to his own town. Before he came to +the gate, he met with Evangelist, who offered to lay hands on him, to +turn him into the way again. But this Turn-away resisted him; and having +done much harm unto him, he got away over the wall, and so escaped his +hand." + +[Sidenote: MEET VALIANT FOR TRUTH] + +Then they went on; and just at the place where Little-Faith formerly was +robbed, there stood a man with his sword drawn, and his face all bloody. +Then said Mr. Great-heart, "Who art thou?" The man made answer, saying, +"I am one whose name is Valiant-for-truth. I am a pilgrim, and am going +to the Celestial City. Now, as I was in my way, there were three men did +beset me, and propounded unto me these three things: 1. Whether I would +become one of them? 2. Or go back to the place from whence I came? 3. Or +die upon the place? To the first I answered, I had been a true man a +long season, and therefore it could not be expected that I should now +cast in my lot with thieves. Then they demanded what I should say to the +second. So I told them that the place from whence I came, had I not +found it unsatisfactory I had not forsaken at all; but, finding it +altogether unsuitable to me, and very unprofitable for me, I forsook it +for this way. Then they asked me what I said to the third. And I told +them my life cost more dear far than that I should lightly give it away. +Besides you have nothing to do thus to put things to my choice, +wherefore at your peril be it if you meddle. Then these three, to wit, +Wild-head, Inconsiderate, and Pragmatic, drew their weapons upon me, and +I also drew upon them. So we fell to it, one against three, for the +space of above three hours. They have left upon me, as you see, some of +the marks of their valor, and have also carried away with them some of +mine. They are but just now gone: I suppose they might, as the saying +is, hear your horse dash, and so they betook them to flight." + +GREAT. But here was great odds, three against one. + +[Sidenote: HOW VALIANT BORE HIMSELF] + +VALIANT. 'Tis true; but little or more are nothing to him that has the +truth on his side. "Though an host should encamp against me," said one, +"my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this +will I be confident. Besides," said he, "I have read in some records +that one man has fought an army; and how many did Samson slay with the +jaw-bone of an ass?" + +GREAT. Then said the guide, "Why did you not cry out, that some might +have come in for your succor?" + +VALIANT. So I did, to my King, who, I knew, could hear me, and afford +invisible help; and that was sufficient for me. + +GREAT. Then said Great-heart to Mr. Valiant-for-truth, "Thou hast +worthily behaved thyself. Let me see thy sword." So he showed it him. +When he had taken it in his hand, and looked thereon a while, he said, +"Ha! it is a right Jerusalem blade." + +VALIANT. It is so. Let a man have one of these blades, with a hand to +wield it and skill to use it, and he may venture upon an angel with it. +He need not fear its holding, if he can but tell how to lay on. Its +edges will never blunt. It will cut flesh and bones, and soul and +spirit, and all. + +GREAT. But you fought a great while. I wonder you were not weary. + +VALIANT. I fought till my sword did cleave to my hand; and when they +were joined together, as if a sword grew out of my arm, and when the +blood ran through my fingers, then I fought with most courage. + +GREAT. Thou hast done well; thou hast resisted unto blood, striving +against sin. Thou shalt abide by us, come in and go out with us, for we +are thy companions. + +Then they took him, washed his wounds, and gave him of what they had, to +refresh him; and so they went on together. + +Now, as they went on, because Mr. Great-heart was delighted in him (for +he loved one greatly that he found to be a man of his own sort), and +because there were in company them that were feeble and weak, therefore +he questioned with him about many things; as, first, what countryman he +was. + +VALIANT. I am of Dark-land; for there I was born, and there my father +and mother are still. + +GREAT. "Dark-land!" said the guide; "doth not that lie upon the same +coast with the City of Destruction?" + +VALIANT. Yes, it doth. Now, that which caused me to come on pilgrimage +was this. We had one Mr. Tell-true come into our parts, and he told it +about what Christian had done, that went from the City of Destruction; +namely, how he had forsaken his wife and children, and had betaken +himself to a pilgrim's life. It was also reported, and believed, how he +had killed a serpent that did come out to resist him in his journey; and +how he got through to whither he intended. It was also told what welcome +he had at all his Lord's lodgings, specially when he came to the gates +of the Celestial City; "For there," said the man, "he was received with +sound of trumpet by a company of Shining Ones." He told also how all the +bells in the City did ring for joy at his entering in, and what golden +garments he was clothed with; with many other things that now I shall +forbear to relate. In a word, that man so told the story of Christian +and his travels, that my heart fell into a burning haste to be gone +after him; nor could father or mother stay me. So I got from them, and +am come thus far on my way. + +GREAT. You came in at the gate, did you not? + +VALIANT. Yes, yes; for the same man also told us, that all would be +nothing if we did not begin to enter this way at the gate. + +GREAT. "Look you," said the guide to Christiana, "the pilgrimage of your +husband, with what he has gotten thereby, is spread abroad far and +near." + +VALIANT. Why, is this Christian's wife? + +GREAT. Yes, that it is, and these also are his four sons. + +VALIANT. What! and going on pilgrimage too? + +GREAT. Yes, verily, they are following after. + +VALIANT. It glads me at heart. Good man, how joyful will he be when he +shall see them that would not go with him, yet to enter after him in at +the gates into the City! + +GREAT. Without doubt it will be a comfort to him; for, next to the joy +of seeing himself there, it will be a joy to meet there his wife and +children. + +VALIANT. But, now you are upon that, pray let me hear your opinion about +it. Some make a question whether we shall know one another when we are +there. + +[Sidenote: VALIANT'S OBSTACLES] + +GREAT. Do they think they shall know themselves, then? or that they +shall rejoice to see themselves in that happiness? And if they think +they shall know and do this, why not know others, and rejoice in their +welfare also? Again, since relations are our second self, though that +state will cease there, yet why may it not be wisely concluded that we +shall be more glad to see them there than to see they are wanting? + +VALIANT. Well, I perceive whereabouts you are as to this. Have you any +more things to ask me about my beginning to come on pilgrimage? + +GREAT. Yes. Were your father and mother willing that you should become a +pilgrim? + +VALIANT. Oh, no; they used all means imaginable to persuade me to stay +at home. + +GREAT. Why, what could they say against it? + +VALIANT. They said it was an idle life; and, if I myself were not +inclined to sloth and laziness, I would never favor a pilgrim's +condition. + +GREAT. And what did they say else? + +VALIANT. Why, they told me that it was a dangerous way: "Yea, the most +dangerous way in the world," said they, "is that which the pilgrims go." + +GREAT. Did they show you wherein this way is so dangerous? + +VALIANT. Yes; and that in many particulars. + +GREAT. Name some of them. + +[Sidenote: VALIANT'S DISCOURAGEMENTS] + +VALIANT. They told me of the Slough of Despond, where Christian was +well-nigh smothered. They told me that there were archers standing ready +in Beelzebub's castle to shoot them who should knock at the wicket-gate +for entrance. They told me also of the wood and dark mountains of the +Hill Difficulty; of the lions; and also of the three giants, Bloody-man, +Maul, and Slay-good. They said moreover that there was a foul fiend +haunted the Valley of Humiliation, and that Christian was by him almost +bereft of life. "Besides," said they, "you must go over the Valley of +the Shadow of Death, where the hobgoblins are, where the light is +darkness, where the way is full of snares, pits, traps, and gins." They +told me also of Giant Despair, of Doubting Castle, and of the ruin that +the pilgrims met with there. Further, they said I must go over the +Enchanted Ground, which was dangerous; and that, after all this, I +should find a river, over which I should find no bridge, and that that +river did lie betwixt me and the Celestial Country. + +GREAT. And was this all? + +VALIANT. No. They also told me that this way was full of deceivers, and +of persons that laid wait there to turn good men out of the path. + +GREAT. But how did they make that out? + +VALIANT. They told me that Mr. Worldly Wiseman did there lie in wait to +deceive. They also said that there were Formality and Hypocrisy +continually on the road. They said also that By-ends, Talkative, or +Demas would go near to gather me up; that the Flatterer would catch me +in his net; or that, with green-headed Ignorance, I would presume to go +on to the gate, from whence he was sent back to the hole that was in the +side of the hill, and made to go the by-way to hell. + +GREAT. I promise you, this was enough to discourage you; but did they +make an end here? + +VALIANT. No stay. They told me also of many that had tried that way of +old, and that had gone a great way therein, to see if they could find +something of the glory there that so many had so much talked of from +time to time; and how they came back again, and befooled themselves for +setting a foot out of doors in that path, to the satisfaction of all the +country. And they named several that did so, as Obstinate and Pliable, +Mistrust and Timorous, Turn-away and old Atheist; with several more, +who, they said, had some of them gone far to see what they could find, +but not one of them found so much advantage by going as amounted to the +weight of a feather. + +GREAT. Said they anything more to discourage you? + +VALIANT. Yes; they told me of one Mr. Fearing, who was a pilgrim, and +how he found this way so solitary, that he never had a comfortable hour +therein; also that Mr. Despondency had like to have been starved +therein; yea, and also (which I had almost forgot) that Christian +himself, about whom there had been such a noise, after all his ventures +for a celestial crown, was certainly drowned in the Black River, and +never went a foot farther, however it was smothered up. + +GREAT. And did none of these things discourage you? + +VALIANT. No; they seemed but as so many nothings to me. + +GREAT. How came that about? + +VALIANT. Why, I still believed what Mr. Tell-true had said; and that +carried me beyond them all. + +GREAT. Then this was your victory, even your faith. + +VALIANT. It was so. I believed, and therefore came out, got into the +way, fought all that set themselves against me, and, by believing, am +come to this place. + + "Who would true valor see, + Let him come hither; + One here will constant be, + Come wind, come weather; + There's no discouragement + Shall make him once relent + His first avowed intent + To be a pilgrim. + + "Whoso beset him round + With dismal stories, + Do but themselves confound-- + His strength the more is. + No lion can him fright; + He'll with a giant fight, + But he will have a right + To be a pilgrim. + + "Hobgoblin nor foul fiend + Can daunt his spirit; + He knows he at the end + Shall life inherit. + Then, fancies fly away, + He'll fear not what men say; + He'll labor night and day + To be a pilgrim." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE ENCHANTED GROUND. + + +By this time they were got to the Enchanted Ground, where the air +naturally tended to make one drowsy. And that place was all grown over +with briers and thorns, excepting here and there, where was an enchanted +arbor, upon which if a man sits, or in which if a man sleeps, it is a +question, say some, whether ever he shall rise or wake again in this +world. Over this forest, therefore, they went, both one and another; and +Mr. Great-heart went before, for that he was the guide, and Mr. +Valiant-for-truth came behind, being rear-guard, for fear lest +peradventure some fiend, or dragon, or giant, or thief, should fall upon +their rear, and so do mischief. They went on here, each man with his +sword drawn in his hand, for they knew it was a dangerous place. Also +they cheered up one another as well as they could. Feeble-mind, Mr. +Great-heart commanded, should come up after him; and Mr. Despondency was +under the eye of Mr. Valiant. + +Now, they had not gone far, but a great mist and darkness fell upon them +all, so that they could scarce, for a great while, see the one the +other; wherefore they were forced, for some time, to feel for one +another by words; for they walked not by sight. But any one must think +that here was but sorry going for the best of them all; but how much +worse for the women and children, who both of feet and heart were but +tender! Yet so it was, that through the encouraging words of him that +led in the front, they made a pretty good shift to wag along. + +The way also was here very wearisome through dirt and slabbiness. Nor +was there on all this ground so much as one inn or victualling-house, +therein to refresh the feebler sort. Here, therefore, was grunting, and +puffing and sighing. While one tumbleth over a brush, another sticks +fast in the dirt; and the children, some of them, lost their shoes in +the mire. While one cries out, "I am down!" and another, "Ho! where are +you?" and a third, "The bushes have got such fast hold on me, I think I +cannot get away from them." + +Then they came at an arbor, warm, and promising much refreshing to the +pilgrims; for it was finely wrought above head, beautified with greens, +furnished with benches and settles. It also had in it a soft couch, +whereon the weary might lean. This, you must think, all things +considered, was tempting; for the pilgrims already began to be foiled +with the badness of the way; but there was not one of them that made so +much as a motion to stop there. Yea, for aught I could perceive, they +continually gave so good heed to the advice of their guide, and he did +so faithfully tell them of dangers, and of the nature of dangers when +they were at them, that usually, when they were nearest to them, they +did most pluck up their spirits, and hearten one another to deny the +flesh. This arbor was called "The Slothful's Friend," on purpose to +allure, if it might be, some of the pilgrims there to take up their rest +when weary. + +I saw then in my dream, that they went on in this their solitary ground, +till they came to a place at which a man is apt to lose his way. Now, +though when it was light their guide could well enough tell how to miss +those ways that led wrong, yet, in the dark, he was put to a stand. But +he had in his pocket a map of all ways leading to or from the Celestial +City; wherefore he struck a light (for he also never goes without his +tinder-box), and takes a view of his book or map, which bids him be +careful in that place to turn to the right-hand way. And had he not here +been careful to look in his map, they had, in all probability been +smothered in the mud; for, just a little before them, and that at the +end of the cleanest way too, was a pit, none knows how deep, full of +nothing but mud, there made on purpose to destroy the pilgrims in. + +Then thought I with myself, "Who that goeth on pilgrimage but would have +one of those maps about him, that he may look, when he is at a stand, +which is the way he must take?" + +They went on then in this Enchanted Ground till they came to where was +another arbor, and it was built by the highway-side. And in that arbor +there lay two men, whose names were Heedless and Too-bold. These two +went thus far on pilgrimage; but here, being wearied with their journey, +they sat down to rest themselves, and so fell fast asleep. When the +pilgrims saw them, they stood still, and shook their heads; for they +knew that the sleepers were in a pitiful case. Then they consulted what +to do,--whether to go on, and leave them in their sleep, or to step to +them, and try to awake them. So they concluded to go to them and wake +them; that is, if they could; but with this caution, namely, to take +heed that themselves did not sit down nor embrace the offered benefit of +that arbor. + +So they went in and spake to the men, and called each one by his name +(for the guide, it seems, did know them); but there was no voice or +answer. Then the guide did shake them, and do what he could to disturb +them. Then said one of them, "I will pay you when I take my money." At +which the guide shook his head. "I will fight so long as I can hold my +sword in my hand," said the other. At that, one of the children laughed. + +[Sidenote: THE LAND OF BEULAH] + +Then said Christiana, "What is the meaning of this?" The guide said, +"They talk in their sleep. If you strike them, beat them, or whatever +else you do to them, they will answer you after this fashion; or, as one +of them said in old time, when the waves of the sea did beat upon him, +and he slept as one upon the mast of a ship, 'When shall I awake? I will +seek it yet again.' You know, when men talk in their sleep, they say +anything, but their words are not governed either by faith or reason. +There is an unsuitableness in their words now, as there was before +betwixt their going on pilgrimage and sitting down there. This, then, is +the mischief of it: when heedless ones go on pilgrimage, 'tis twenty to +one but they are served thus. For this Enchanted Ground is one of the +last refuges that the enemy to pilgrims has; wherefore, it is, as you +see, placed almost at the end of the way, and so it standeth against us +with the more advantage. For when, thinks the enemy, will these fools be +so desirous to sit down as when they are weary? and when so like to be +weary as when almost at their journey's end? Therefore it is, I say, +that the Enchanted Ground is placed so near to the Land of Beulah, and +so near the end of their race. Wherefore, let pilgrims look to +themselves, lest it happen to them as it has done to these, that, as you +see, are fallen asleep, and none can wake them." + +Then the pilgrims desired, with trembling, to go forward; only they +prayed their guide to strike a light, that they might go the rest of +their way by the help of the light of a lantern. So he struck a light, +and they went by the help of that through the rest of this way, though +the darkness was very great. But the children began to be sorely weary; +and they cried out to Him that loveth pilgrims to make their way more +comfortable. So, by that they had gone a little farther, a wind arose +that drove away the fog; so the air became more clear. Yet they were +not off, by much, of the Enchanted Ground; only now they could see one +another better, and the way wherein they should walk. + +Now, when they were almost at the end of this ground, they perceived +that a little before them was a solemn noise, as of one that was much +concerned. So they went on, and looked before them; and behold, they +saw, as they thought, a man upon his knees, with hands and eyes lift up, +and speaking, as they thought, earnestly to One that was above. They +drew nigh, but could not tell what he said; so they went softly till he +had done. When he had done, he got up, and began to run towards the +Celestial City. + +Then Mr. Great-heart called after him, saying, "So-ho, friend! let us +have your company, if you go, as I suppose you do, to the Celestial +City." + +So the man stopped, and they came up to him. But, as soon as Mr. Honest +saw him, he said, "I know this man." + +Then said Mr. Valiant-for-truth, "Prithee, who is it?" + +"It is one," said he, "that comes from whereabout I dwelt. His name is +Stand-fast; he is certainly a right good pilgrim." + +So they came up one to another. And presently Stand-fast said to old +Honest, "Ho, father Honest, are you there?" + +"Ay," said he, "that I am, as sure as you are there." + +[Sidenote: HEEDLESS AND TOO-BOLD] + +"Right glad am I," said Mr. Stand-fast, "that I have found you on this +road." + +"And as glad am I," said the other, "that I espied you upon your knees." + +Then Mr. Stand-fast blushed, and said, "But why? did you see me?" + +"Yes, that I did," quoth the other, "and with my heart was glad at the +sight." + +"Why, what did you think?" said Stand-fast. + +"Think!" said old Honest; "what should I think? I thought we had an +honest man upon the road, and therefore should have his company +by-and-by." + +"If you thought not amiss," said Stand-fast, "how happy am I! But, if I +be not as I should, I alone must bear it." + +"That is true," said the other; "but your fear doth further show me that +things are right betwixt the Prince of pilgrims and your soul; for He +saith, 'Blessed is the man that feareth always.'" + +VALIANT. Well, but, brother, I pray thee, tell us what was it that was +the cause of thy being upon thy knees even now: was it for that some +special mercy laid upon thee, the need of prayer, or how? + +STAND. Why, we are, as you see, upon the Enchanted Ground; and as I was +coming along, I was musing with myself of what a dangerous road the road +in this place was, and how many that had come even thus far on +pilgrimage, had here been stopped and been destroyed. I thought also of +the manner of the death with which this place destroyeth men. Those that +die here die of no violent, painful disease: the death which such die is +not grievous to them. For he that goeth away in such a sleep, begins +that journey with desire and pleasure. Yea, such sink into the will of +that disease. + +HON. Then Mr. Honest, interrupting of him, said, "Did you see the two +men asleep in the arbor?" + +[Sidenote: STAND-FAST REPULSES MADAM] + +STAND. Ay, ay, I saw Heedless and Too-bold there; and, for aught I know, +there they will lie till they rot. But let me go on in my tale. As I was +thus musing, as I said, there was one in very pleasant attire, but old, +who presented herself to me, and offered me three things; to wit, her +body, her purse, and her bed. Now, the truth is, I was both aweary and +sleepy; I am also as poor as an owlet, and that, perhaps, the witch +knew. Well, I repulsed her once or twice; but she put by my repulses, +and smiled. Then I began to be angry; but she mattered that nothing at +all. Then she made offers again, and said, if I would be ruled by her, +she would make me great and happy. "For," said she, "I am the mistress +of the world, and men are made happy by me." Then I asked her name, and +she told me it was Madam Bubble. This set me farther from her; but she +still followed me with enticements. Then I betook me, as you saw, to my +knees; and, with hands lift up, and cries, I prayed to Him that had said +He would help. So, just as you came up, the gentlewoman went her way. +Then I continued to give thanks for this my great deliverance; for I +verily believe she intended no good, but rather sought to make stop of +me in my journey. + +HON. Without doubt her designs were bad. But stay: now you talk of her, +methinks I either have seen her, or have read some story of her. + +STAND. Perhaps you have done both. + +HON. Madam Bubble? Is she not a tall, comely dame, somewhat of a swarthy +complexion? + +STAND. Right, you hit it: she is just such a one. + +HON. Does she not speak very smoothly, and give you a smile at the end +of a sentence? + +STAND. You fall right upon it again, for these are her very actions. + +HON. Doth she not wear a great purse by her side, and is not her hand +often in it, fingering her money, as if that was her heart's delight? + +STAND. 'Tis just so. Had she stood by all this while, you could not more +amply have set her forth before me, nor have better described her +features. + +HON. Then he that drew her picture was a good artist, and he that wrote +of her said true. + +[Sidenote: MADAM BUBBLE'S INFLUENCE] + +GREAT. This woman is a witch, and it is by virtue of her witchcraft that +this ground is enchanted. Whoever doth lay his head down in her lap, had +as good lay it down upon that block over which the axe doth hang; and +whoever lay their eyes upon her beauty, are accounted the enemies of +God. This is she that maintaineth in their splendor all those that are +the enemies of pilgrims. Yea, this is she that hath bought off many a +man from a pilgrim's life. She is a great gossiper: she is always, both +she and her daughters, at one pilgrim's heels or other; now commanding, +and then preferring the excellences of this life. She is a bold and +impudent creature; she will talk with any man. She always laugheth poor +pilgrims to scorn, but highly commends the rich. If there be one cunning +to get money in a place, she will speak well of him from house to house. +She loveth banqueting and feasting mainly well; she is always at one +full table or another. She has given it out in some places that she is a +goddess, and therefore some do worship her. She has her times and open +places of cheating; and she will say and avow it, that none can show a +good comparable to hers. She promiseth to dwell with children's +children, if they will but love her and make much of her. She will cast +out of her purse gold like dust, in some places and to some persons. She +loves to be sought after, spoken well of, and to lie in the bosoms of +men. She is never weary of praising her gifts and she loves them most +that think best of her. She will promise, to some, crowns and kingdoms, +if they will but take her advice; yet many hath she brought to the +halter, and ten thousand times more to hell. + +STAND. "Oh," said Mr. Stand-fast, "what a mercy it is that I did resist +her! for whither might she have drawn me?" + +GREAT. Whither! nay, none but God knows whither; but in general, to be +sure, she would have drawn thee into many foolish and hurtful lusts, +which drown men in destruction and ruin. 'Twas she that set Absalom +against his father, and Jeroboam against his master. 'Twas she that +persuaded Judas to sell his Lord, and that prevailed with Demas to +forsake the godly pilgrim's life. None can tell of the mischief that she +doth. She makes variance betwixt rulers and subjects, betwixt parents +and children, betwixt neighbor and neighbor, betwixt a man and his wife, +betwixt a man and himself, betwixt the flesh and the heart. Wherefore, +good Master Stand-fast, be as your name is, and when you have done all, +stand. + +At this course there was among the pilgrims a mixture of joy and +trembling; but at length they brake out, and sang: + + "What danger is the pilgrim in! + How many are his foes! + How many ways there are to sin + No living mortal knows. + + "Some of the ditch shy are, yet can + Lie tumbling in the mire; + Some, though they shun the frying-pan, + Do leap into the fire." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE PILGRIMS AT HOME. + + +After this, I beheld until they were come unto the Land of Beulah, where +the sun shineth night and day. Here, because they were weary, they +betook themselves awhile to rest. And because this country was common +for pilgrims, and because the orchards and vineyards that were here +belong to the King of the Celestial Country, therefore they were +permitted to make bold with any of His things. But a little while soon +refreshed them here; for the bells did so ring, and the trumpets +continually sound so melodiously, that they could not sleep and yet they +received as much refreshing as if they had slept their sleep never so +soundly. Here also the noise of them that walked in the streets was, +"More pilgrims are come to town!" And another would answer, saying, "And +so many went over the water, and were let in at the golden gates, +to-day!" They would cry again, "There is now a legion of Shining Ones +just come to town, by which we know that there are more pilgrims upon +the road; for here they come to wait for them, and comfort them after +all their sorrow!" Then the pilgrims got up, and walked to and fro. But +how were their ears now filled with heavenly voices, and their eyes +delighted with celestial visions! In this land they heard nothing, saw +nothing, felt nothing, smelt nothing, tasted nothing, that was offensive +to their stomach or mind; only when they tasted of the water of the +river over which they were to go, they thought that it tasted a little +bitterish to the palate, but it proved sweeter when it was down. + +In this place there was a record kept of the names of them that had been +pilgrims of old, and a history of all the famous acts that they had +done. It was here also much spoken of, how the river to some had had its +flowings, and what ebbings it had had while others have gone over. It +has been in a manner dry for some, while it has overflowed its banks for +others. + +In this place, the children of the town would go into the King's +gardens, and gather nosegays for the pilgrims, and bring them to them +with much affection. Here also grew camphire, with spikenard, and +saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, +myrrh, and aloes, with all chief spices. With these the pilgrims' +chambers were perfumed while they stayed here; and with these were their +bodies anointed, to prepare them to go over the river, when the time +appointed was come. + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIANA RECEIVES MESSAGE] + +Now, while they lay here, and waited for the good hour, there was a +noise in the town that there was a messenger come from the Celestial +City with matter of great importance to one Christiana, the wife of +Christian the pilgrim. So inquiry was made for her, and the house was +found out where she was. So the messenger presented her with a letter; +the contents whereof were, "Hail, good woman! I bring thee tidings that +the Master calleth for thee, and expecteth that thou shouldest stand in +His presence, in clothes of everlasting life, within these ten days." + +When he had read this letter to her, he gave her therewith a sure token +that he was a true messenger, and was come to bid her make haste to be +gone. The token was an arrow, with a point sharpened with love, let +easily into her heart, which by degrees wrought so effectually with her, +that at the time appointed she must be gone. + +When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she was the first +of this company that was to go over, she called for Mr. Great-heart, her +guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her he was heartily +glad of the news, and could have been glad had the post come for him. +Then she bid that he should give advice how all things should be +prepared for her journey. So he told her, saying, "Thus and thus it must +be; and we that are left will accompany you to the river-side." + +Then she called for her children, and gave them her blessing, and told +them that she yet read with comfort the mark that was set in their +foreheads, and was glad to see them with her there, and that they had +kept their garments so white. Lastly, she gave to the poor that little +she had, and commanded her sons and her daughters to be ready against +the messenger should come for them. + +When she had spoken these words to her guide and to her children, she +called for Mr. Valiant-for-truth, and said unto him, "Sir, you have in +all places shown yourself true-hearted. Be faithful unto death, and my +King will give you a crown of life. I would also entreat you to have an +eye to my children; and if at any time you see them faint, speak +comfortably to them. For my daughters, my sons' wives, they have been +faithful; and a fulfilling of the promise upon them will be their end." +But she gave Mr. Stand-fast a ring. + +Then she called for old Mr. Honest, and said of him, "Behold an +Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." + +Then said he, "I wish you a fair day when you set out for Mount Zion, +and shall be glad to see that you go over the river dry shod." + +But she answered, "Come wet, come dry, I long to be gone; for, however +the weather is in my journey, I shall have time enough when I come there +to sit down and rest me and dry me." + +Then came in that good man, Mr. Ready-to-halt, to see her. So she said +to him, "Thy travel hitherto has been with difficulty; but that will +make thy rest the sweeter. But watch and be ready; for, at an hour when +you think not, the messenger may come." + +After him came in Mr. Despondency and his daughter Much-afraid; to whom +she said, "You ought with thankfulness for ever to remember your +deliverance from the hands of Giant Despair and out of Doubting Castle. +The effect of that mercy is that you are brought with safety hither. Be +ye watchful, and cast away fear; be sober, and hope to the end." + +Then she said to Mr. Feeble-mind, "Thou wast delivered from the mouth of +Giant Slay-good, that thou mightest live in the light of the living for +ever, and see thy King with comfort. Only I advise thee to turn thee of +thy aptness to fear and doubt of His goodness, before He sends for thee; +lest thou shouldest, when He comes, be forced to stand before Him for +that fault with blushing." + +[Sidenote: CHRISTIANA CROSSES THE RIVER] + +Now, the day drew on that Christiana must be gone. So the road was full +of people to see her take her journey. But, behold, all the banks beyond +the river were full of horses and chariots, which were come down from +above to accompany her to the City gate. So she came forth and entered +the river, with a beckon of farewell to those that followed her to the +river-side. The last words that she was heard to say were, "I come, +Lord, to be with Thee, and bless Thee!" + +So her children and friends returned to their place, for that those that +waited for Christiana had carried her out of their sight. So she went +and called, and entered in at the gate with all the tokens of joy that +her husband Christian had done before her. At her departure her +children wept. But Mr. Great-heart and Mr. Valiant played upon the +well-tuned cymbal and harp for joy. So all departed to their respective +places. + +[Sidenote: PILGRIMS RECEIVE MESSAGES] + +In process of time, there came a messenger to the town again, and his +business was with Mr. Ready-to-halt. So he inquired him out, and said to +him, "I am come to thee from Him whom thou hast loved and followed, +though upon crutches; and my message is to tell thee, that He expects +thee at His table, to sup with Him in His kingdom, the next day after +Easter; wherefore prepare thyself for this journey." Then he also gave +him a token that he was a true messenger, saying, "I have broken thy +golden bowl and loosed thy silver cord." + +After this Mr. Ready-to-halt called for his fellow-pilgrims, and told +them, saying, "I am sent for, and God shall surely visit you also." So +he desired Mr. Valiant to make his will. And because he had nothing to +bequeath to them that should survive him but his crutches and his good +wishes, therefore thus he said: "These crutches I bequeath to my son +that shall tread in my steps, with a hundred warm wishes that he may +prove better than I have done." Then he thanked Mr. Great-heart for his +conduct and kindness, and so addressed himself to his journey. When he +came to the brink of the river, he said, "Now I shall have no more need +of these crutches, since yonder are chariots and horses for me to ride +on." The last words he was heard to say were, "Welcome life!" So he +went his way. + +After this, Mr. Feeble-mind had tidings brought him, that the messenger +sounded his horn at his chamber-door. Then he came in, and told him, +saying, "I am come to tell thee that thy Master has need of thee, and +that in a very little time thou must behold His face in brightness. And +take this as a token of the truth of my message: 'Those that look out at +the windows shall be darkened.'" Then Mr. Feeble-mind called for his +friends, and told them what errand had been brought unto him, and what +token he had received of the truth of the message. Then he said, "Since +I have nothing to bequeath to any, to what purpose should I make a will? +As for my feeble mind, that I will leave behind me, for that I shall +have no need of in the place whither I go, nor is it worth bestowing +upon the poorest pilgrim: wherefore, when I am gone, I desire that you, +Mr. Valiant, would bury it in a dunghill." This done, and the day being +come on which he was to depart, he entered the river as the rest. His +last words were, "Hold out, faith and patience!" So he went over to the +other side. + +When days had many of them passed away, Mr. Despondency was sent for; +for a messenger was come, and brought this message to him: "Trembling +man, these are to summon thee to be ready with thy King by the next +Lord's day, to shout for joy for thy deliverance from all thy +doubtings. And," said the messenger, "that my message is true, take +this for a proof." So he gave him the grasshopper to be a burden unto +him. + +Now, Mr. Despondency's daughter, whose name was Much-afraid, said when +she heard what was done, that she would go with her father. Then Mr. +Despondency said to his friends, "Myself and my daughter, you know what +we have been, and how troublesomely we have behaved ourselves in every +company. My will and my daughter's is, that our discouraged feelings and +slavish fears be by no man received, from the day of our departure for +ever; for I know that after my death they will offer themselves to +others. For, to be plain with you, they are ghosts the which we +entertained when we first began to be pilgrims, and could never shake +them off after; and they will walk about and seek entertainment of the +pilgrims; but, for our sakes, shut ye the doors upon them." When the +time was come for them to depart, they went to the brink of the river. +The last words of Mr. Despondency were, "Farewell, night! welcome, day!" +His daughter went through the river singing, but none could understand +what she said. + +Then it came to pass a while after, that there was a messenger in the +town that inquired for Mr. Honest. So he came to his house where he was, +and delivered to his hand these lines: "Thou art commanded to be ready +against this day seven-night, to present thyself before thy Lord at His +Father's house. And for a token that my message is true, 'All thy +daughters of music shall be brought low.'" Then Mr. Honest called for +his friends, and said unto them, "I die, but shall make no will. As for +my honesty, it shall go with me: let them that come after me be told +this." When the day that he was to be gone was come, he prepared himself +to go over the river. Now, the river at that time overflowed its banks +in some places; but Mr. Honest in his lifetime had spoken to one +Good-conscience to meet him there; the which also he did, and lent him +his hand, and so helped him over. The last words of Mr. Honest were, +"Grace reigns!" So he left the world. + +[Sidenote: THE FINAL SUMMONS] + +After this, it was noised abroad that Mr. Valiant-for-truth was taken +with a summons by the same messenger as the other, and had this for a +token that the summons was true, that his pitcher was broken at the +fountain. When he understood it, he called for his friends, and told +them of it. Then said he, "I am going to my Father's; and though with +great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the +trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that +shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that +can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me +that I have fought His battles who now will be my rewarder." When the +day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the +river-side, into which as he went he said, "Death, where is thy sting?" +And, as he went down deeper, he said, "Grave, where is thy victory?" So +he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side. + +Then there came forth a summons for Mr. Stand-fast (this Mr. Stand-fast +was he whom the pilgrims found upon his knees in the Enchanted Ground), +for the messenger brought it him open in his hands; the contents thereof +were, that he must prepare for a change of life, for his Master was not +willing that he should be so far from Him any longer. At this Mr. +Stand-fast was put into a muse. + +"Nay," said the messenger, "you need not doubt the truth of my message, +for here is a token of the truth thereof: 'Thy wheel is broken at the +cistern.'" + +Then he called to him Mr. Great-heart, who was their guide, and said +unto him, "Sir, although it was not my hap to be much in your good +company in the days of my pilgrimage, yet, since the time I knew you, +you have been profitable to me. When I came from home, I left behind me +a wife and five small children: let me entreat you at your return (for I +know that you will go and return to your master's house, in hopes that +you may yet be a conductor to more of the holy pilgrims), that you send +to my family, and let them be acquainted with all that hath or shall +happen unto me. Tell them moreover of my happy arrival to this place, +and of the present and late blessed condition that I am in. Tell them +also of Christian and Christiana his wife, and how she and her children +came after her husband. Tell them also what a happy end she made, and +whither she is gone. I have little or nothing to send to my family, +unless it be my prayers and tears for them; of which it will suffice +that you acquaint them, if peradventure they may prevail." + +[Sidenote: END OF THE PILGRIMAGE] + +When Mr. Stand-fast had thus set things in order, and the time being +come for him to haste him away, he also went down to the river. Now, +there was a great calm at that time in the river; wherefore Mr. +Stand-fast, when he was about half-way in, stood a while, and talked to +his companions that had waited upon him thither. And he said, "This +river has been a terror to many; yea, the thoughts of it have also +frighted me; but now methinks I stand easy; my foot is fixed upon that +on which the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood +while Israel went over Jordan. The waters, indeed, are to the palate +bitter, and to the stomach cold; yet the thought of what I am going to, +and of the conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth lie as a +glowing coal at my heart. I see myself now at the end of my journey; my +toilsome days are ended. I am going to see that head which was crowned +with thorns, and that face which was spit upon for me. I have formerly +lived by hearsay and faith; but now I go where I shall live by sight, +and shall be with Him in whose company I delight myself. I have loved to +hear my Lord spoken of; and wherever I have seen the print of His shoe +in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too. His name has been +to me as a perfume box; yea, sweeter than all sweet smells. His voice to +me has been most sweet, and His countenance I have more desired than +they that have most desired the light of the sun. His Word I did use to +gather for my food, and for medicine against my faintings. He has held +me, and hath kept me from my sins; yea, my steps hath He strengthened in +His way." + +Now, while he was thus speaking, his countenance changed, his strong man +bowed under him; and, after he had said, "Take me, for I come unto +Thee!" he ceased to be seen of them. + +But glorious it was to see how the open region was filled with horses +and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with singers and players on +stringed instruments to welcome the pilgrims as they went up, and +followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the City. + +As for Christian's children, the four boys that Christiana brought with +her, with their wives and children, I did not stay where I was till they +were gone over. Also, since I came away, I heard one say that they were +yet alive, and so would be for the help of the Church in that place +where they were for a time. + +Shall it be my lot to go that way again, I may give those that desire it +an account of what I here am silent about: meantime I bid my reader + + ADIEU. + + + + +THE LITTLE PILGRIM. + +THE STORY OF A LITTLE GIRL WHO TRIED TO GO ON PILGRIMAGE. + + + In a large old house, with two kind aunts, + The little Marian dwelt; + And a happy child she was, I ween, + For though at times she felt + That playmates would be better far + Than either birds or flowers, + Yet her kind old aunts, and story books, + Soothed many lonely hours. + + Her favorite haunt, in the summer-time, + Was a large old apple-tree; + And oft amid the boughs she sat, + With her pet book on her knee. + The "Pilgrim's Progress" was its name, + And Marian loved it much; + It is, indeed, a glorious book, + There are not many such! + + She read it in her little bed, + Beside the winter fire, + And in summer-time, in the apple-tree, + As though she would never tire. + + But, unexplained, 'tis just the book + To puzzle the young brain; + And the poor child had no kind friend, + Its meaning to explain. + + For though her aunts were very kind, + They were not overwise, + And only said, "Don't read so, child, + I'm sure you'll spoil your eyes." + + But Marian still went reading on, + And visions strange and wild + Began to fill the little head + Of the lonely, dreaming child; + For she thought that Christian and his wife, + And all their children too, + Had left behind their pleasant home, + And done what she must do. + + "I'll take my Bible," said the child, + "And seek the road to heaven; + I'll try to find the Wicket Gate, + And hope to be forgiven. + I wish my aunts would go with me, + But 'tis in vain to ask; + They are so deaf and rather lame, + They'd think it quite a task. + + "No! I must go alone, I see, + So I'll not let them know; + Or, like poor Christian's friends, they'll say, + 'My dear, you must not go.' + + "But I must wait till some grand scheme + Can all their thoughts engage; + And then I'll leave my pleasant home, + And go on pilgrimage." + + She had not waited long, before, + One fine autumnal day, + She saw the large old coach arrive, + To take her aunts away. + "We're going out to spend the day," + The two old ladies said; + "We mean to visit Mrs. Blair-- + Poor soul!--she's ill in bed. + + "But, Marian, you must stay at home, + For the lady's ill, you see; + You can have your dinner, if you like, + In the large old apple-tree, + And play in the garden all the day, + Quite happy and content." + A few more parting words were said, + And off the ladies went. + + The servants, too, were all engaged; + "The day is come at last," + Said Marian, "but oh, I wish, + My pilgrimage was past." + She knelt beside the apple-tree, + And for God's assistance prayed; + Then, with her basket in her hand, + Forth tripped the little maid. + + Behind the house where Marian dwelt, + Far off in the distance, lay + A high steep hill, which the sun at morn + Tinged with its earliest ray. + "Difficulty" was its rightful name, + The child had often thought; + Towards this hill she turned her steps, + With hopeful visions fraught. + + The flowers seemed to welcome her, + 'Twas a lovely autumn morn, + The little lark sang merrily, + Above the waving corn. + "Ah, little lark, you sing," said she, + "On your early pilgrimage; + I, too, will sing, for pleasant thoughts + Should now my mind engage." + + In clear, sweet strains she sang a hymn, + And tripped lightly on her way; + Until a pool of soft, thick mud + Across her pathway lay. + "This is the Slough of Despond," she cried, + But she bravely ventured through; + And safely reached the other side, + But she lost one little shoe. + + On an old gray stone she sat her down, + To eat some fruit and bread; + Then took her little Bible out, + And a cheering psalm she read. + + Then with fresh hope she journeyed on, + For many miles away; + And she reached the bottom of the hill, + Before the close of day. + + She clambered up the steep ascent, + Though faint and weary, too; + But firmly did our Marian keep + Her purpose still in view. + + "I'm glad, at least, the arbor's past," + Said the little tired soul; + "I'm sure I should have sat me down + And lost my little roll!" + On the high hill-top she stands at last, + And our weary Pilgrim sees + A porter's lodge, of ample size, + Half hid by sheltering trees. + + She clapped her hands with joy, and cried, + "Oh, there's the Wicket Gate, + And I must seek admittance there, + Before it is too late." + Gently she knocks--'tis answered soon, + And at the open door + Stands a tall, stout man--poor Marian felt + As she ne'er had felt before. + + With tearful eyes, and trembling hand, + Flushed cheek, and anxious brow, + She said, "I hope you're Watchful, Sir, + I want Discretion now." + + "Oh yes, I'm watchful," said the man, + "As a porter ought to be; + I s'pose you've lost your way, young Miss, + You've lost your shoe, I see. + + "Missus," he cried to his wife within, + "Here's a child here, at the door, + You'll never see such a one again, + If you live to be fourscore. + She wants discretion, so she says, + Indeed I think 'tis true; + But I know some who want it more, + Who will not own they do." + + "Go to the Hall," his wife replies, + "And take the child with you, + The ladies there are all so wise, + They'll soon know what to do." + The man complied, and led the child + Through many a flowery glade; + "Is that the Palace Beautiful?" + The little Pilgrim said. + + "There, to the left, among the trees? + Why, Miss, 'tis mighty grand; + Call it a palace, if you please, + 'Tis the finest in the land. + Now we be come to the fine old porch, + And this is the Marble Hall; + Here, little lady, you must stay, + While I the servants call." + + Tired and sad he left the child, + But he quickly re-appeared, + And with him the lady of the house-- + Poor Marian's heart was cheered. + "Sweet little girl," the lady said, + In accents soft and kind, + "I'm sure you sadly want some rest, + And rest you soon shall find." + + To a room where three young ladies sat, + The child was quickly led; + "Piety, Prudence, and Charity," + To herself she softly said. + "What is your name, my little dear?" + Said the eldest of the three, + Whom Marian, in her secret thought, + Had christened Piety. + + "We'll send a servant to your friends, + How uneasy they must be!" + Admiringly she watched the child, + Who, indeed, was fair to see; + Around her bright and lovely face + Fell waves of auburn hair, + As modestly she told her name, + With whom she lived and where. + + "How did you lose your way, my love?" + She gently raised her head; + "I do not think I've lost my way," + The little Pilgrim said. + + "This is the Palace Beautiful, + May I stay here to-night?" + They smiled and said, "We're glad our house + Finds favor in your sight:-- + + "Yes, gladly will we keep you here, + For many nights to come." + "Thank you," said Marian, "but I soon + Must seek my heavenly home. + The Valley of the Shadow of Death + Is near this house, I know"-- + She stopped, for she saw, with great surprise, + Their tears began to flow. + + She little thought the mourning dress, + Which all the ladies wore, + Was for one whom they had dearly loved, + And should see on earth no more. + Their brother had been called away, + Their brightest and their best; + No wonder, then, that Marian's words + Roused grief in every breast. + + Sobs only for awhile were heard; + At length the ladies said, + "My, love, you have reminded us + Of our loved and early dead; + But this you could not know, my dear, + And it indeed is true; + We are all near to Death's dark door, + Even little girls like you." + + "Yes," said the timid, trembling child, + "I know it must be so; + But, ma'am, I hope that Piety + May be with me when I go. + And will you show me your armory, + When you have time to spare? + I hope you have some small enough + For a little girl to wear." + + No more she said, for Piety, + As Marian called her, cast + Her arms around the Pilgrim's neck, + The secret's out at last. + "You puzzled all," said Piety; + "But now, I see, you've read + A glorious book, which, unexplained, + Has turned your little head. + + "Oh, dearly, when I was a child, + I loved that Pilgrim Tale; + But then mamma explained it well-- + And if we can prevail + On your kind aunts to let you stay + Some time with us, my dear, + You shall read that book with my mamma, + And she will make it clear." + + Now we'll return to Marian's home, + And see what's passing there. + The servants all had company, + And a merry group they were. + + They had not missed our Pilgrim long, + For they knew she oft would play + In that old garden, with a book, + The whole of the livelong day. + + "Betty," at last, said the housekeeper, + "Where can Miss Marian be? + Her dinner was in the basket packed, + But sure, she'll come in to tea!" + They sought her here, they sought her there, + But they could not find the child; + And her poor old aunts, when they came home, + With grief were almost wild. + + The coachman and the footman too, + In different ways were sent; + But none thought of the narrow way + In which the Pilgrim went. + "Perhaps she followed us to town," + Poor Aunt Rebecca said, + "I wish we had not left our home; + I fear the child is dead." + + And to the town the coachman went, + For they knew not what to do; + And night drew on, when a country boy + Brought Marian's little shoe. + With the shoe in her hand, the housekeeper + Into the parlor ran, + "Oh, Mistress, here is all that's left + Of poor Miss Marian. + + "It was found sticking in the mud, + Just above Harlem Chase; + I fear the poor child's perished there, + For 'tis a frightful place." + Then louder grew the ladies' grief; + But soon their hearts were cheered, + When a footman grand, with a note in his hand, + From the distant Hall appeared. + + Aunt Ruth now read the note, and cried, + "Oh, sister, all is well! + The child is safe at Brookland Hall, + With Lady Arundel, + Who wants to keep her for a month; + Why, yes; I think she may-- + Such friends as Lady Arundel + Are not met with every day. + + "Our compliments, and thanks to her, + When you return, young man; + We'll call to-morrow at the Hall, + And see Miss Marian." + Then came a burst of grateful joy, + That could not be suppressed, + And, with thankful hearts and many tears, + The ladies went to rest. + + We'll take a peep at our Marian now, + There in her bed lies she; + How blissful were her dreams that night, + In the arms of Piety. + + Oh, that happy month at Brookland Hall, + How soon it passed away! + Cheerful and good were Marian's friends, + And who so kind as they? + + And, more than all, while there she stayed + They did their best to bring + The little lamb to that blest fold + Where reigns the Shepherd King. + For many a lesson ne'er forgot, + The little Marian learned; + And a thoughtful and a happier child + She to her home returned. + + Years rolled away, the scene has changed, + A wife and mother now, + Marian has found the Wicket Gate, + She and her children too. + And oh! how sweet it is to see + This little Pilgrim band, + As on towards their heavenly home, + They travel hand in hand. + When cloudy days fall to their lot, + They see a light afar, + The light that shone on Bethlehem's plain, + The Pilgrim's guiding star. + + And now, dear children, whosoe'er, + Or whereso'er you be, + Who ponder o'er this strange, true tale + Of Marian's history,-- + + If to the Flowers of your young hearts, + Instructions dews are given, + Oh! be earnest as our Marian was, + To find the road to Heaven. + + + * * * * * + + +Transriber's note: + +Minor typographical errors, punctuation and inconsistencies have been +silently normalized. Archaic spelling has been retained. + +Page 365: 'Tell-truth' has been changed to 'Tell-true'. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, by +John Bunyan + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS *** + +***** This file should be named 39452.txt or 39452.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/4/5/39452/ + +Produced by Julia Neufeld and The Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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