THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND.
NOW Christian and Pliable spoke as they did walk on the plain; and this
was what they said:
_Chr._--"Come, friend Pliable. I am glad you have been led to go with
me. Had but Obstinate felt what I have felt, he would not have set his
back on us."
_Pli._--"And do you think that your book is true?"
_Chr._--"Yes: there is a realm where we shall not taste of death, that
we may dwell in it for aye."
_Pli._--"This is right good; and what else?"
_Chr._--"There we shall not weep or grieve more; for he that owns the
place will wipe all tears from our eyes."
_Pli._--"To hear this doth fill one's heart with joy. But are these
things to form our bliss? How shall we get to share in them?"
_Chr._--"The Lord hath set down _that_ in this book, the pith of which
is, if we in truth seek to have it, he will, of his free grace, grant
it to us."
_Pli._--"Well, my good friend, glad am I to hear of these things. Come
on, let us mend our pace."
Now I saw in my dream that just as they had put an end to this talk
they drew up nigh to a deep slough that was in the midst of the plain;
and as they did not heed it, both fell swap in the bog. The name of the
slough was Despond.
Then said Pliable, "Ah, friend Christian, where are you now?"
"In sooth," said Christian, "I do not know."
At this Pliable said in sharp tones, "Is this the bliss you have told
me all this while of? If we have such ill speed as we first set out,
what may we not look for ere the time we get to the end of our road?
May I once get out with my life, you shall hold the brave land for me."
And with that he gave a bold stride or two, and got out of the mire on
that side of the slough which was next his own house. So off he went,
and Christian saw him no more.
Hence Christian was left to sprawl in the Slough of Despond. But I saw
in my dream that a man came to him whose name was Help, and did ask him
what he did there.
"Sir," said Christian, "I was bade go this way by a man known as
Evangelist, who sent me in like way to yon gate, that I might scape the
wrath to come."
So he gave him his hand, and drew him out, and set him on sound ground,
and let him go on his way.
Then I went to him that did pluck him out, and said, "Sir, whence is it
that this plat is not made whole, that those who pass this way may run
no risk?"
And he said to me, "This slough is such a place that none can mend it.
It goes by the name of the Slough of Despond; for still, as he who
sins is wrought up to a sense of his lost state, there spring forth in
his soul fears, and doubts, and dark thoughts that scare, which all of
them form in a heap and fix in this place; and this is the cause why
the road is so bad. True, there are, by the help of him who frames the
laws, some stout and firm steps found through the midst of this slough;
these steps are all but hid, or if they be seen, men step on one side,
and then they get all grime with mire, though the steps be there; but
the ground is good when they are once got in at the gate."