CHRISTIAN AND FAITHFUL.
NOW as Christian went on his way he came to a small height, which was
cast up so that those who came that way might see in front of them. Up
there, then, Christian went: and, with a glance, saw Faithful some way
on the road.
At this Christian set out with all his strength, and soon got up with
Faithful, and did, in sooth, leave him lag, so that the last was first.
Then did Christian wear a proud smile, for that he had got the start
of his friend: but as he did not take good heed to his feet, he soon
struck some tuft and fell, and could not rise till Faithful came up to
help him.
Then I saw in my dream, they went on with good will side by side, and
had sweet talk of all things that they had met with on their way: and
thus Christian first spoke:
"My most dear friend Faithful, I am glad I have come up with you; and
that God hath so made us of one mind that we can walk as friends in
this so fair a path. Tell me now what you have met with in the way as
you came: for I know you have met with some things, or else it may be
writ for a strange pass."
[Illustration: FAITHFUL COMES TO THE HELP OF CHRISTIAN]
_Fai._--"I got clear of the slough that I see you fell in, and came
up to the gate free from that risk. When I came to the foot of the
hill known as Difficulty, I met with an old man, who would know what I
was, and to what place I was bound? Then said the old man, 'Thou dost
look like a frank soul: wilt thou stay and dwell with me for the pay
that I shall give thee?' Then I did ask his name, and where he dwelt?
He said, 'His name was Adam the First, and he dwelt in the Town of
Deceit.' He told me, 'That his work was fraught with joys, and his pay,
that I should be his heir at last.' I then would know what kin he had?
He said, 'He had but three maids, "the Lust of the flesh, the Lust of
the eyes, and the Pride of life," and that I should wive with one of
them, if I would.'"
_Chr._--"Well, and what close came the old man and you to at last?"
_Fai._--"Why, at first I would lief go with the man, for I thought he
spake full fair; but when I gave a look in his brow, as I spoke with
him, I saw there writ, 'Put off the old man with his deeds.' Then it
came red hot to my mind, that spite of all he said, and his smooth
ways, when he got me home to his house he would sell me for a slave.
So I went off from him: but just as I set round to go thence, I felt
him take hold of my flesh, and give me such a dread twitch back, that
I thought he did pull part of me with him. So I went on my way up the
hill.
"Now, when I had got nigh half way up, I gave a look back, and saw one
move on in my steps, swift as the wind; so he came up with me just by
the place where the bench stands. So soon as the man came up with me,
it was but a word and a blow, for down he flung me, and laid me for
dead. But, when I got free from the shock, I would know why it was he
dealt with me so? He said, 'For that I did in my heart cleave to Adam
the First': and with that he struck me one more fierce blow on the
breast, and beat me down on the back. He had, no doubt, made an end of
me, but that one came by and bid him stay his hand."
[Illustration: This is Discontent, who would fain have Christian go
back with him once more.--Page 47.
_Pilgrim's Progress._]
_Chr._--"Who was that that bid him stay his hand?"
_Fai._--"I did not know him at first, but as he went by I saw the holes
in his hands and in his side: then I felt sure that he was our Lord. So
I went up the hill."
_Chr._--"That man that came up with you was Moses. He spares not, nor
knows he how to show grace to those that break his law. But did you not
see the house that stood there on the top of the hill, on the side of
which Moses met you?"
_Fai._--"Yes, and the wild beasts, too, ere I came at it: but, as I had
so much of the day to spend, I came by the man at the lodge, and then
down the hill."
_Chr._--"But, pray tell me, did you meet with no one in the Vale of
Humility?"
_Fai._--"Yes, I met with one Discontent, who would fain have me to go
back once more with him: his cause was, for that the vale did not bear
a good name."
_Chr._--"Met you with naught else in that vale?"
_Fai._--"Yes, I met with Shame: but of all men that I met with in my
way, he, I think, bears the wrong name."
_Chr._--"Why, what did he say to you?"
_Fai._--"What! Why, he did flout at faith. He said it was a poor, low,
mean thing for a man to mind faith; he said that a soul that shrinks
from sin is not fit for a man. He said, too, that but few of the great,
rich, or wise held my views; nor did those till they were led to be
fools, and to be of a free mind to run the loss of all for none else
knows what. More than this, he said such were of a base and low caste,
and knew naught of those things which are the boast of the wise. Yea,
he did hold me to it that it was a shame to ask grace of folk for
slight faults, or to give back that which I did take. He said, too,
that faith made a man grow strange to the great, and made him own and
prize the base: 'and is not this,' said he, 'a shame?'"
_Chr._--"And what did you say to him?"
[Illustration: FAITHFUL RESISTS SHAME.]
_Fai._--"Say! I could not tell what to say at first. Yea, he put me so
to it that my blood came up in my face; aye, this Shame did fetch it
up, and had, too, beat me quite off. But at last I thought that that
which men prize was base in the sight of God. Hence, thought I, what
God says is best, _is_ best, though all the men in the world are foes
to it. As, then, God likes his faith; as God likes a soul that shrinks
from sin; and as they are most wise who wear the guise of fools to gain
a crown: and that the poor man that loves Christ more rich than the
man that sways a world, that hates him; Shame, go thy way, thou art a
foe to my soul's weal. But, in sooth, this Shame was a bold knave; I
could scarce shake him out of my way: but at last I told him it was but
in vain to strive with me from that time forth. And when I shook him
off, then I sang--
"The tests that those men meet, with all men else
That bow their wills to the high call of God,
Are great; and well, I wist, do suit the flesh,
And come, and come, and come e'en yet once more;
That now, or some time else, we by them may
Be held in thrall, flung down, and cast sheer off:
O, let those in the way, let all such, then,
Be sharp, and quick, and quit them like true men."
_Chr._--"I am glad, my friend, that thou didst strive with this knave
in so brave a way; for he is so bold as to trace our steps in the
streets, and to try to put us to shame in the sight of all men; that
is, to make us feel shame in that which is good."
_Fai._--"I think we must cry to Him for help in our frays with Shame,
that would have us 'Stand up for truth on the earth.'"
_Chr._--"You say true: but did you meet none else in that vale?"
_Fai._--"No, not I; for I had the sun with me all the rest of the way
through that, as well as through the Vale of the Shade of Death."
_Chr._--"It was well for you; I am sure it did fare far worse with me.
I thought I should have lost my life there more than once: but at last
day broke, and the sun rose, and I went through that which was to the
front of me with far more ease and peace."