WORLDLY-WISEMAN.
AS Christian took his lone walk he saw one cross the field to meet him,
and their hap was to meet just as they did cross the same way. The
man's name was Mr. Worldly-wiseman. Hence Mr. Worldly-wiseman thus held
some talk with Christian.
_Wor._--"How now, good friend; where dost thou go bent down with such a
weight?"
[Illustration: CHRISTIAN AND WORLDLY-WISEMAN]
_Chr._--"As big a load, in sooth, as I think a poor wight had in his
life! I am bound for yon small gate in front of me; for there, as I am
told, I shall be put in a way to be rid of my huge load."
_Wor._--"Wilt thou give heed to me, if I tell thee what course to take?"
_Chr._--"If what you say be good, I will; for I stand in need of a wise
guide."
_Wor._--"Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy load?"
_Chr._--"A man that I thought was high and great; his name, as my mind
serves me, is Evangelist."
_Wor._--"There is not a more rough way to be found in the world than is
that he hath bade thee take; and that thou shalt find if thou wilt be
led by him. Hear me: I have seen more years than thou. Thou art like to
meet with, on the way which thou dost go, great griefs, pain, lack of
food and clothes, sword, fierce beasts, gloom, and, in a word, death,
and what not! And why should a man run such risks, just on the word of
a strange guide?"
_Chr._--"Why, sir, I think I care not what things I meet with in the
way, if so be I can get ease from my pack."
_Wor._--"But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, as such dire ills go
with it? the more so, hadst thou but borne with me, I could aid thee to
get what thou dost wish, free from the risks that thou in this way wilt
run."
_Chr._--"Pray, sir, make known this boon to me."
_Wor._--"Why, in yon town (the town is known as Morality) there dwells
a squire whose name is Legality, a man of good name, that has skill to
help men off with such loads as thine from their backs. To him, as I
said, thou canst go and get help in a trice; and if he should not be
at home, he hath a fair young son, whose name is Civility, that can do
it as well as his sage sire."
Now was Christian at a stand what to do; but soon he thought, "If this
be true which this squire hath said, my best course is to be led by
him"; and with that he thus spake more.
_Chr._--"Sir, which is the way to this good man's house?"
_Wor._--"By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at is
his."
So Christian went out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's house for
help. But lo, when he was got now hard by the hill, that side of it
that was next the path did hang so much, that Christian durst not move
on, lest the hill should fall on his head: for which cause there he
stood still, and he wot not what to do. But soon there came fierce
flames of fire out of the hill, each flash of which made Christian
dread he should be burnt. And now he was wroth for the heed he gave to
Mr. Worldly-wiseman's words. And with that he saw Evangelist come forth
to meet him; and thus did he speak with Christian:
"What dost thou here?" said he. At which words Christian knew not what
to say. Then said Evangelist to him, "Art not thou the man that I found
in tears back of the walls of the City of Destruction?"
_Chr._--"Yes, dear sir, I am the man. I met with a squire, so soon as I
had got clear of the Slough of Despond, who made me think that I might,
in the town which did face me, find a man that could take off my load."
_Evan._--"What said that squire to you?"
_Chr._--"He bid me with speed get rid of my load; and said I, 'I am
hence bound for yon gate to gain more news how I may get to the place
where my load may be cast off.' So he said that he would show me the
best way: 'which way,' said he, 'will take you to a squire's house that
hath skill to take off these loads.' So I put faith in him, and set out
of that way till I came to this, if so be I might soon get ease from my
load."
Then said Evangelist, "Stand still a short time, that I may show thee
the words of God."
Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, and did cry, "Woe is me,
for I am lost!" At the sight of which Evangelist caught him by the
right hand, and said, "Be not frail, but have faith."
Then Evangelist went on, and said, "Give heed to the things that I
shall tell thee of. The man that met thee is one Worldly-wiseman, and
he bears a fit name; in part, for that his creed is what the world
holds; and in part, for that he loves such faith best, for it saves him
from the cross. Now, there are three things in this man's words that
thou must be sure and shun--his scheme to turn thee out of the way; his
wish to make the cross a shame to thee; and his guile, which did tempt
thee to set thy feet in that way that leads to death.
"And for this thou must bear in mind to whom he sent thee, no less than
his lack of skill to rid thee of thy load. He to whom thou wast sent
for ease, by name Legality, has not the gift to set thee free from thy
load. No man, as yet, got rid of his load by him: no, nor till the end
of time is like to be. 'By the works of the law none can be made just,'
for by the deeds of the law no man that lives can be rid of his load;
and as for his son, Civility, though he wears soft looks, he is but a
knave, and must fail to help thee. Trust me, there is naught else in
all this noise that thou hast heard of this spot but a scheme to lure
thee of thy soul's bliss."
Now Christian felt sure fear of death, and burst out in a shrill
cry, full of woe, as he did curse the time in which he met with Mr.
Worldly-wiseman. Still did he say he was the chief of fools for the
heed he gave to him. This done, he spoke to Evangelist in words and
sense thus:
_Chr._--"Sir, what think you? Is there hope? May I now go back and go
up to the small gate? Shall I not be sent back from thence in shame?"
Then said Evangelist to him, "Thy sin is most great, for by it thou
hast done two bad deeds: thou hast left the way that is good to tread
in wrong paths, yet will the man at the gate let thee pass, for he has
_good-will_ for men."
Then did Christian make up his mind to go back, and Evangelist, when he
did kiss his cheek, gave him a smile, and bid him God speed.