had done wonderful things. They showed him Moses' rod; the hammer and
nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps,
too, with which Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian. Then they
showed him the ox's goad wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men. They
showed him also the jaw-bone with which Samson did such mighty feats.
They showed him, moreover, the sling and stone with which David slew
Goliath of Gath, and the sword also with which their Lord will kill the
Man of Sin, in the day that he shall rise up to the prey. They showed
him besides many excellent things, with which Christian was much
delighted. This done, they went to their rest again.
Then I saw in my dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forward, but
they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then, said they, we
will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable Mountains; which,
they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they were
nearer the desired haven than the place where at present he was; so he
consented and stayed. When the morning was up, they had him to the top
of the house, and bid him look south. So he did, and behold, at a great
distance, he saw a most pleasant, mountainous country, beautified with
woods, vineyards, fruit of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and
fountains, very delectable to behold. Then he asked the name of the
country. They said it was Immanuel's Land; and it is as common, said
they, as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest
there, from thence, said they, thou mayest see to the gate of the
Celestial City, as the shepherds that live there will make appear.
Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he
should. But first, said they, let us go again into the armory. So they
did, and when he came there they harnessed him from head to foot with
what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way.
He being therefore thus accoutred, walked out with his friends to the
gate; and there he asked the Porter if he saw any pilgrim pass by. Then
the Porter answered, Yes.
_Chr._ Pray, did you know him? said he.
_Port._ I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithful.
_Chr._ Oh, said Christian, I know him; he is my townsman, my dear
neighbor; he comes from the place where I was born. How far do you think
he may be before?
_Port._ He is got by this time below the hill.
_Chr._ Well, said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add
to thy blessings much increase for the kindness thou hast shown to me.
Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, Chanty, and
Prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So they went
on together, reiterating their former discourses, till they came to go
down the hill. Then said Christian, As it was difficult coming up, so,
so far as I can see, it is dangerous going down. Yes, said Prudence, so
it is; for it is a hard matter for a man to go down into the Valley of
Humiliation, as thou art now, and to catch no slip by the way;
therefore, said they, are we come out to accompany thee down the hill.
So he began to go down, but very warily; yet he caught a slip or two.
Then I saw in my dream, that these good companions, when Christian was
got down to the bottom of the hill, gave him a loaf of bread, a bottle
of wine, and a cluster of raisins; and then he went his way.
But now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to
it; for he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend
coming over the field to meet him: his name is Apollyon. Then did
Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether to go
back, or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no
armor for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him
might give him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts;
therefore he resolved to venture, and stand his ground; for, thought he,
had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the
best way to stand.
So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now the monster was hideous to
behold; he was clothed with scales like a fish, and they are his pride;
he had wings like a dragon, and feet like a bear, and out of his belly
came fire and smoke; and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion. When he
came up to Christian he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and
thus began to question with him.
_Apollyon._ Whence come you, and whither are you bound?
_Chr._ I am come from the City of Destruction, which is the place of all
evil, and I am going to the city of Zion.
_Apol._ By this I perceive that thou art one of my subjects; for all
that country is mine, and I am the prince and god of it. How is it,
then, that thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I hope
thou mayst do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to
the ground.
_Chr._ I was, indeed, born in your dominions, but your service was hard,
and your wages such as a man could not live on: for the wages of sin is
death; therefore when I was come to years, I did, as other considerate
persons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend myself.
_Apol._ There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects,
neither will I as yet lose thee; but since thou complainest of thy
service and wages, be content to go back, and what our country will
afford I do here promise to give thee.
_Chr._ But I have let myself to another, even to the King of princes;
and how can I with fairness go back with thee?
_Apol._ Thou hast done in this according to the proverb, "changed a bad
for worse"; but it is ordinary for those that have professed themselves
his servants, after awhile to give him the slip, and return again to me.
Do thou so too, and all shall be well.
_Chr._ I have given him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to him; how
then can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor?
_Apol._ Thou didst the same to me, and yet I am willing to pass by all,
if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back.
_Chr._ What I promised thee was in my nonage; and besides, I count that
the Prince, under whose banner now I stand, is able to absolve me, yea,
and to pardon also what I did as to my compliance with thee. And
besides, O thou destroying Apollyon, to speak truth, I like his service,
his wages, his servants, his government, his company, and country,
better than thine; therefore leave off to persuade me further; I am his
servant, and I will follow him.
_Apol._ Consider again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou art like
to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that for the most
part his servants come to an ill end, because they are transgressors
against me and my ways. How many of them have been put to shameful
deaths! And besides, thou countest est his service better than mine;
whereas he never came yet from the place where he is, to deliver any
that serve him out of my hands; but as for me, how many times, as all
the world very well knows, have I delivered, either by power or fraud,
those that have faithfully served me, from him and his, though taken by
them. And so I will deliver thee.
_Chr._ His forbearing at present to deliver them, is on purpose to try
their love, whether they will cleave to him to the end; and as for the
ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious in their
account. For, for the present deliverance, they do not much expect it;
for they stay for their glory; and then they shall have it, when their
Prince comes in his, and the glory of the angels.
_Apol._ Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him; and how
dost thou think to receive wages of him.
_Chr._ Wherein, O Apollyon, have I been unfaithful to him?
_Apol._ Thou didst faint at the first setting out, when thou wast almost
choked in the Gulf of Despond. Thou didst attempt wrong ways to be rid
of thy burden, whereas thou shouldst have stayed till thy Prince had
taken it off. Thou didst sinfully sleep, and lose thy choice things.
Thou wast almost persuaded to go back at the sight of the lions. And
when thou talkest of thy journey, and of what thou hast seen and heard,
thou art inwardly desirous of vain-glory in all that thou sayest or
doest.
_Chr._ All this is true, and much more which thou hast left out; but
the Prince whom I serve and honor is merciful and ready to forgive. But
besides, these infirmities possessed me in thy country; for there I
sucked them in, and I have groaned under them, been sorry for them, and
have obtained pardon of my Prince.
_Apol._ Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, saying, I am an
enemy to this Prince; I hate his person, his laws, and people; I am come
out on purpose to withstand thee.
_Chr._ Apollyon, beware what you do, for I am in the king's highway, the
way of holiness; therefore take heed to yourself.
Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and
said, I am void of fear in this matter. Prepare thyself to die; for I
swear by my infernal den, that thou shalt go no further; here will I
spill thy soul. And with that he threw a naming dart at his breast: but
Christian had a shield in his hand, with which he caught it, and so
prevented the danger of that.
Then did Christian draw, for he saw it was time to bestir him; and
Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail; by the
which, notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it, Apollyon
wounded him in his head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give a
little back: Apollyon, therefore, followed his work amain, and Christian
again took courage, and resisted as manfully as he could. This sore
combat lasted for about half a day, even till Christian was almost quite
spent. For you must know, that Christian, by reason of his wounds, must
needs grow weaker and weaker.
Then, Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to
Christian, wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall; and with that
Christian's sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, I am sure of
thee now. And with that he had almost pressed him to death; so that
Christian began to despair of life. But, as God would have it, while
Apollyon was fetching his last blow, thereby to make a full end of this
good man, Christian nimbly reached out his hand for his sword, and
caught it, saying, Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall I
shall arise; and with that gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give
back, as one that had received his mortal wound. Christian perceiving
that, made at him again, saying, Nay, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him that loved us. And with that Apollyon spread
forth his dragon's wings, and sped him away, that Christian saw him no
more.
In this combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen and heard as I
did, what yelling and hideous roaring Apollyon made all the time of the
fight; he spake like a dragon: and on the other side, what sighs and
groans burst from Christian's heart. I never saw him all the while give
so much as one pleasant look, till he perceived he had wounded Apollyon
with his two-edged sword; then, indeed, he did smile, and look upward;
but it was the dreadfulest fight that I ever saw.
So when the battle was over, Christian said, I will here give thanks to
him that hath delivered me out of the mouth of the lion; to him that did
help me against Apollyon. And so he did, saying:
Great Beelzebub, the captain of this fiend,
Design'd my ruin; therefore to this end
He sent him harness'd out, and he with rage,
That hellish was, did fiercely me engage:
But blessed Michael helped me, and I,
By dint of sword, did quickly make him fly.
Therefore to him let me give lasting praise,
And thank and bless his holy name always.
Then there came to him a hand, with some of the leaves of the tree of
life, the which Christian took and applied to the wounds that he had
received in the battle, and was healed immediately. He also sat down in
that place to eat bread, and to drink of the bottle that was given to
him a little before; so being refreshed, he addressed himself to his
journey, with his sword drawn in his hand; for, he said, I know not but
some other enemy may be at hand. But he met with no other affront from
Apollyon quite through the valley.
Now at the end of this valley was another, called the Valley of the
Shadow of Death; and Christian must needs go through it, because the way
to the Celestial City lay through the midst of it. Now this valley is a
very solitary place; the prophet Jeremiah thus describes it: "A
wilderness, a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought, and of the
shadow of death, a land that no man" (but a Christian) "passeth through,
and where no man dwelt."
Now here Christian was worse put to it than in his fight with Apollyon,
as by the sequel you shall see.
I saw then in my dream, that when Christian was got to the borders of
the Shadow of Death, there met him two men, children of them that
brought up an evil report of the good land--making haste to go back--to
whom Christian spake as follows:
_Chr._ Whither are you going?
_Men._ They said, Back, back, and we would have you do so too, if either
life or peace is prized by you.
Why, what's the matter? said Christian.
_Men._ Matter? said they; we were going that way as you are going, and
went as far as we durst: and indeed we were almost past coming back; for
had we gone a little further, we had not been here to bring the news to
thee.
But what have you met with? said Christian.
_Men._ Why, we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but
that by good hap we looked before us, and saw the danger before we came
to it.
But what have you seen? said Christian.
_Men._ Seen! why the valley itself, which is as dark as pitch: we also
saw there the hobgoblins, satyrs, and dragons of the pit; we heard also
in that valley a continual howling and yelling, as of a people under
unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and irons; and
over that valley hangs the discouraging clouds of confusion: death also
doth always spread his wings over it. In a word, it is every whit
dreadful, being utterly without order.
Then, said Christian, I perceive not yet, by what you have said, but
that this is my way to the desired haven.
_Men._ Be it thy way, we will not choose it for ours.
So they parted, and Christian went on his way, but still with his sword
drawn in his hand, for fear lest he should be assaulted.
I saw then in my dream, so far as this valley reached, there was on the
right hand a very deep ditch; that ditch is it, into which the blind
have led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished.
Again, behold, on the left hand there was a very dangerous quag, into
which, if even a good man falls, he finds no bottom for his foot to
stand on: into that quag King David once did fall, and had no doubt
therein been smothered, had not he that is able plucked him out.
The pathway was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore good Christian
was the more put to it; for when he sought, in the dark, to shun the
ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over into the mire on the
other: also, when he sought to escape the mire, without great
carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on,
and I heard him here sigh bitterly; for beside the danger mentioned
above, the pathway was here so dark, that ofttimes, when he lifted up
his foot to go forward, he knew not where or upon what he should set it
next.
About the midst of this valley I perceived the mouth of hell to be, and
it stood also hard by the wayside. Now, thought Christian, what shall I
do? And ever and anon the flame and smoke would come out in such
abundance, with sparks and hideous noises (things that cared not for
Christian's sword, as did Apollyon before), that he was forced to put up
his sword, and betake himself to another weapon, called All-prayer; so
he cried, in my hearing, O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Thus
he went on a great while, yet still the flames would be reaching toward
him; also he heard doleful voices, and rushings to and fro, so that
sometimes he thought he should be torn in pieces, or trodden down like
mire in the streets. This frightful sight was seen, and these dreadful
noises were heard by him for several miles together: and coming to a
place where he thought he heard a company of fiends coming forward to
meet him, he stopped, and began to muse what he had best to do.
Sometimes he had half a thought to go back; then, again, he thought he
might be half way through the valley. He remembered, also, how he had
already vanquished many a danger; and that the danger of going back
might be much more than for to go forward. So he resolved to go on: yet
the fiends seemed to come nearer and nearer. But when they were come
even almost at him, he cried out with a most vehement voice, I will walk
in the strength of the Lord God. So they gave back, and came no further.
One thing I would not let slip. I took notice that now poor Christian
was so confounded that he did not know his own voice; and thus I
perceived it. Just when he was come over against the mouth of the
burning pit, one of the wicked ones got behind him, and stepped up
softly to him, and whisperingly suggested many grievous blasphemies to
him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put
Christian more to it than anything that he met with before, even to
think that he should now blaspheme him that he loved so much before. Yet
if he could have helped it, he would not have done it; but he had not
the discretion either to stop his ears, or to know from whence these
blasphemies came.
When Christian had travelled in this disconsolate condition some
considerable time, he thought he heard the voice of a man, as going
before him, saying, Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of
Death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Then was he glad, and that for these reasons:
First, Because he gathered from thence, that some who feared God were in
this valley as well as himself.
Secondly, For that he perceived God was with them, though in that dark
and dismal state. And why not, thought he, with me? though by reason of
the impediment that attends this place, I cannot perceive it.
Thirdly, For that he hoped, could he overtake them, to have company by
and by. So he went on, and called to him that was before; but he knew
not what to answer, for that he also thought himself to be alone. And by
and by the day broke: then said Christian, "He hath turned the shadow of
death into the morning."
Now morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire to return,
but to see, by the light of the day, what hazards he had gone through in
the dark. So he saw more perfectly the ditch that was on the one hand,
and the quag that was on the other; also how narrow the way was which
led between them both. Also now he saw the hobgoblins, and satyrs, and
dragons of the pit, but all afar off; for after break of day they came
not nigh, yet they were discovered to him according to that which is
written, "He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out
to light the shadow of death."
Now was Christian much affected with this deliverance from all the
dangers of his solitary way; which dangers, though he feared them much
before, yet he saw them more clearly now, because the light of the day
made them conspicuous to him. And about this time the sun was rising,
and this was another mercy to Christian; for you must note, that though
the first part of the Valley of the Shadow of Death was dangerous, yet
this second part, which he was yet to go, was, if possible, far more
dangerous; for, from the place where he now stood, even to the end of
the valley, the way was all along set so full of snares, traps, gins,
and nets here, and so full of pits, pitfalls, deep holes, and shelvings
down there, that had it now been dark, as it was when he came the first
part of the way, had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been
cast away; but, as I said, just now the sun was rising. Then said he,
"His candle shineth on my head, and by his light I go through darkness."
In this light, therefore, he came to the end of the valley. Now I saw
in my dream, that at the end of the valley lay blood, bones, ashes, and
mangled bodies of men, even of pilgrims that had gone this way formerly;
and while I was musing what should be the reason, I espied a little
before me a cave, where two giants, Pope and Pagan, dwelt in old time;
by whose power and tyranny the men, whose bones, blood, ashes, etc., lay
there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Christian went
without much danger, whereat I somewhat wondered; but I have learned
since, that Pagan has been dead many a day; and as for the other, though
he be yet alive, he is, by reason of age, and also of the many shrewd
brushes that he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff
in his joints, that he can now do little more than sit in his cave's
mouth, grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails because
he cannot come at them.
So I saw that Christian went on his way; yet, at the sight of the old
man that sat at the mouth of the cave, he could not tell what to think,
especially because he spoke to him, though he could not go after him,
saying, You will never mend till more of you be burned. But he held his
peace, and set a good face on it, and so went by, and catched no hurt.
Then sang Christian:
Oh, world of wonders (I can say no less),
That I should be preserved in that distress
That I have met with here! Oh, blessed be
That hand that from it hath deliver'd me!
Dangers in darkness, heaven, hell, and sin,
Did compass me, while I this vale was in;
Yea, snares, and pits, and traps, and nets did lie
My path about, that worthless, silly I
Might have been catch'd, entangled, and cast down,
But since I live, let Jesus wear the crown.
Now as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent, which was
cast up on purpose that pilgrims might see before them; up there,
therefore, Christian went; and looking forward, he saw Faithful before
him upon his journey. Then said Christian aloud, Ho, ho; so-ho; stay,
and I will be your companion. At that Faithful looked behind him; to
whom Christian cried again, Stay, stay, till I come up to you. But
Faithful answered, No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is
behind me.
At this Christian was somewhat moved, and putting to all his strength,
he quickly got up with Faithful, and did also overrun him; so the last
was first. Then did Christian vain-gloriously smile, because he had
gotten the start of his brother; but not taking good heed to his feet,
he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise again until Faithful
came up to help him.
Then I saw in my dream, they went very lovingly on together, and had
sweet discourse of all things that had happened to them in their
pilgrimage.
Then I saw in my dream, that when they were got out of the wilderness,
they presently saw a town before them, and the name of that town is
Vanity; and at the town there is a fair kept, called Vanity Fair. It is
kept all the year long. It beareth the name of Vanity Fair because the
town where it is kept is lighter than vanity, and also, because all that
is there sold, or that cometh thither, is vanity; as is the saying of
the wise, "All that cometh is vanity."
This fair is no new erected business, but a thing of ancient standing. I
will show you the original of it.
Almost five thousand years ago there were pilgrims walking to the
Celestial City, as these two honest persons are; and Beelzebub,
Apollyon, and Legion, with their companions, perceiving by the path that
the pilgrims made, that their way to the city lay through this town of
Vanity, they contrived here to set up a fair; a fair wherein should be
sold all sorts of vanity, and that it should last all the year long.
Therefore at this fair are all such merchandise sold as houses, lands,
trades, places, honors, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts,
pleasures; and delights of all sorts, such as harlots, wives, husbands,
children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold,
pearls, precious stones, and what not.
And moreover, at this fair there are at all times to be seen jugglings,
cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of every
kind.
Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders,
adulteries, false-swearers, and that of a blood-red color.
And as, in other fairs of less moment, there are the several rows and
streets under their proper names, where such and such wares are vended:
so here likewise you have the proper places, rows, streets, namely,
countries and kingdoms, where the wares of this fair are soonest to be
found. Here is the Britain Row, the French Row, the Italian Row, the
Spanish Row, the German Row, where several sorts of vanities are to be
sold. But as in other fairs some one commodity is as the chief of all
the fair, so the ware of Rome and her merchandise is greatly promoted in
this fair; only our English nation, with some others, have taken a
dislike thereat.