[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.