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]