Produced by Bruce W. Miller
THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE
by Mary Godolphin
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
In offering to the public another volume on my plan of reducing popular
tales into words of One Syllable exclusively, I wish it to be clearly
understood that it is intended for Adult Beginners, no less than for
Children. There is a large class of persons who do not begin to acquire
the art of reading till somewhat late in life, and it is for such that I
think a book of this Character is peculiarly applicable.
It may be objected that my system involves the use of words which,
though short, are difficult to understand and might be made more
intelligible in polysyllabic language. But I have endeavored as far as
possible to avoid hard and technical expressions, and I cannot but
think that the mere fact of the brevity of the words must be a great
attraction to beginners of all ages. By this method the labor of
dividing and accentuating words is avoided: a difficulty which pupils
who have only attained to the knowledge of monosyllables cannot conquer
by independent effort.
I take this opportunity of acknowledging the great favor with which my
previous books of the same character have been received, and I am glad
to hear that they have been found useful as Prizes in Schools.
I have thought it necessary to retain all the names of Persons and
Places in their original form, but this is the only exception to my
general rule.
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
PART I.
As I went through the wild waste of this world, I came to a place where
there was a den, and I lay down in it to sleep. While I slept I had a
dream, and lo! I saw a man whose clothes were in rags and he stood with
his face from his own house, with a book in his hand, and a great load
on his back. I saw him read from the leaves of a book, and as he read,
he wept and shook with fear; and at length he broke out with a loud cry,
and said, What shall I do to save my soul?
So in this plight he went home, and as long as he could he held his
peace, that his wife and babes should not see his grief. But at length
he told them his mind, and thus he spoke, O my dear wife, and you my
babes, I, your dear friend, am full of woe, for a load lies hard on me;
and more than this, I have been told that our town will be burnt with
fire, in which I, you my wife, and you my sweet babes, shall be lost, if
means be not found to save us.
This sad tale struck all who heard him with awe, not that they thought
what he said to them was true, but that they had fears that some weight
must be on his mind; so, as night now drew near, they were in hopes that
sleep might soothe his brain, and with all haste they got him to bed.
When the morn broke, they sought to know how he did? He told them, Worse
and worse; and he set to talk once more in the same strain as he had
done; but they took no heed of it. By and by, to drive off his fit, they
spoke harsh words to him; at times they would laugh, at times they would
chide, and then set him at nought. So he went to his room to pray for
them, as well as to nurse his own grief. He would go, too, into the
woods to read and muse, and thus for some weeks he spent his time.
Now I saw, in my dream, that one day as he took his walk in the fields
with his book in his hand, he gave a groan,--for he felt as if a cloud
were on his soul,--and he burst out as he was wont to do, and said, Who
will save me? I saw, too, that he gave wild looks this way and that, as
if he would rush off; yet he stood still, for he could not tell which
way to go. At last, a man, whose name was Evangelist, came up to him and
said, Why dost thou weep?
He said, Sir, I see by this book in my hand that I am to die, and that
then God will judge me. Now I dread to die.
Evangelist.--Why do you fear to die, since this life is fraught with
woe?
The man said, I fear lest a hard doom should wait me, and that this load
on my back will make me sink down, till at last, I shall find I am in
Tophet.
If this be your case, said Evangelist, why do you stand still?
But the man said, I know not where to go.
Then he gave him a scroll with these words on it, Fly from the wrath to
come.
When the man read it he said, Which way must I fly?
Evangelist held out his hand to point to a gate in the wide field, and
said, Do you see the Wicket Gate?
The man said, No.
Do you see that light?
He then said, I think I do.
Keep that light in your eye, quoth Evangelist, and go straight up to it;
so shall you see the gate, at which, when you knock, it shall be told
you what you are to do.
Then I saw in my dream that Christian--for that was his name--set off to
run.
Now he had not gone far from his own door, when his wife and young ones,
who saw him, gave a loud wail to beg of him to come back; but the man
put his hands to his ears, and ran on with a cry of Life! Life! The
friends of his wife, too, came out to see him run, and as he went, some
were heard to mock him, some to use threats, and there were two who set
off to fetch him back by force, the names of whom were Obstinate and
Pliable. Now, by this time, the man had gone a good way off, but at last
they came up to him.
Then said Christian, Friends, why are you come?
To bid you go back with us, said they.
But, quoth he, that can by no means be; you dwell in the City of
Destruction, the place where I, too, was born. I know it to be so, and
there you will die and sink down to a place which burns with fire; be
wise, good friends, and come with me.
What! and leave our good, and all out kith and kin?
Yes, said Christian, for that all which you might leave is but a grain
to that which I seek, and if you will go with me and hold it firm, you
shall fare as well as I; for there, where I go, you will find all you
want and to spare. Come with me, and prove my words.
Obstinate.--What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world
to find them?
Christian.--I seek those joys that fade not, which are laid up in a
place of bliss--safe there for those who go in search of them. Read it
so, if you will, in my book.
Obstinate.--Tush! Off with your book. Will you go back with us or no?
Christian.--No, not I, for I have laid my hand to the plough.
Obstinate.--Come, friend Pliable, let us turn back and leave him; there
is a troop of such fools who, when they take up with a whim by the end,
are more wise in their own eyes than ten men who know how to think.
Pliable.--Nay, do not scorn him; if what the good Christian says is
true, the things he looks to are of more worth than ours: my heart leans
to what he says.
Obstinate.--What! more fools still! Go back, go back, and be wise.
Christian.--Nay, but do you come with your friend Pliable; there are
such things to be had as those I just spoke of, and more too. If you
give no heed to me, read here in this book which comes to us from God,
who could not lie.
Pliable.--Well, friend Obstinate, I think now I have come to a point;
and I mean to go with this good man, and to cast my lot in with his.
Then said he to Christian, Do you know the way to the place you speak
of?
Christian.--I am told by a man whose name is Evangelist, to do my best
to reach a gate that is in front of us, where I shall be told how to
find the way.
So they went on side by side.
Obstinate.--And I will go back to my place; I will not be one of such
vain folk.
Now I saw in my dream, that when Obstinate was gone back, Christian and
Pliable set off to cross the plain, and they spoke thus as they went:--
Christian.--Well, Pliable, how do you do now? I am glad you have a mind
to go with me.
Pliable.--Come, friend Christian, since there are none but we two here,
tell me more of the things of which we go in search.
Christian.--I can find them in my heart, though I know not how to speak
of them with my tongue; but yet, since you wish to know, this book tells
us of a world that hast no bounds, and a life that has no end.
Pliable.--Well said, and what else?
Christian.--That there are crowns of light in store for us, and robes
that will make us shine like the sun.
Pliable.--This, too, is good; and what else?
Christian.--That there shall be no more care nor grief for he that owns
the place will wipe all tears from our eyes.
Pliable.--And what friends shall we find there?
Christian.--There we shall be with all the saints, in robes so bright
that our eyes will grow dim to look on them. There shall we meet those
who in this world have stood out for the faith, and have been burnt
on the stake, and thrown to wild beasts, for the love they bore to the
Lord. They will not harm us, but will greet us with love, for they all
walk in the sight of God.
Pliable.--But how shall we get to share all this?
Christian.--The Lord of that land saith, if we wish to gain that world
we shall be free to have it.
Pliable.--Well, my good friend, glad am I to hear of these thing: come
on, let us mend our pace.
Christian.--I can not go so fast as I would, for this load on my back.
Then I saw in my dream that just as they had come to an end of this
talk, they drew near to a slough that was in the midst of the plain,
and as they took no heed, they both fell in. The name of the slough
was Despond. Here they lay for a time in the mud; and the load that
Christian had on his back made him sink all the more in the mire.
Pliable.--Ah! friend Christian, where are you now?
Christian.--In truth, I do no know.
Then Pliable said to his friend, Is this the bliss of which you have
told me all this while? If we have such ill speed when we first set out,
what may we look for twixt this and the end of our way? And with that he
got out of the mire on that side of the slough which was next to his own
house; then off he went, and Christian saw him no more.
So Christian was left to strive in the Slough of Despond as well as he
could; yet his aim was to reach that side of the slough that was next
The Wicket Gate, which at last he did, but he could not get out for the
load that was on his back; till I saw in my dream that a man came to him
whose name was Help.
What do you do here? said Help.
Christian.--I was bid to go this way by Evangelist, who told me to pass
up to yon gate, that I might flee from the wrath to come, and on my way
to it I fell in here.
Help.--But why did you not look for the steps?
Christian.--Fear came so hard on me that I fled the next way and fell
in.
Help.--Give me your hand.
So he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, and set him on firm
ground, and bade him go on his way.
Then in my dream I went up to Help and said to him, Sir, since this
place is on the way from The City of Destruction to The Wicket Gate, how
is it that no one mends this patch of ground, so that those who come by
may not fall in the slough?
Help.--This slough is such a place as no one can mend. It is the spot to
which doth run the scum and filth that wait on sin, and that is why men
call it the Slough of Despond. When the man of sin wakes up to a sense
of his own lost state, doubts and fears rise up in his soul, and all of
them drain down and sink in this place: and it is this that makes the
ground so bad. True there are good and sound steps in the midst of the
slough, but at times it is hard to see them; or if they be seen, men's
heads are so dull that they step on one side, and fall in the mire. But
the ground is good when they have once got in at the gate.
Now I saw in my dream that by this time Pliable had gone back to his
house once more, and that his friends came to see him: some said how
wise it was to come home, and some that he was a fool to have gone.
Some, too, were found to mock him, who said--Well, had I set out, I
would not have been so base as to come back for a slough in the road. So
Pliable was left to sneak off; but at last he got more heart, and then
all were heard to turn their taunts, and laugh at poor Christian. Thus
much for Pliable.
Now as Christian went on his way he saw a man come through the field to
meet him, whose name was Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and he dwelt in the town
of Carnal Policy, which was near that whence Christian came. He
had heard some news of Christian; for his flight from The City of
Destruction had made much noise, and was now the talk far and near. So
he said, How now, good Sir, where do you go with such a load on your
back?
Christian.--In truth, it is a load; and if you ask me where I go, I must
tell you, Sir, I must go the The Wicket Gate in front of me, for there I
shall be put in a way to get quit of my load.
Worldly Wiseman.--Have you not a wife and babes?
Christian.--Yes, but with this load I do not seem to care for them as I
did; and, in truth, I feel as if I had none.
Worldly Wiseman.--Will you hear me if I speak my mind to you?
Christian.--If what you say be good, I will, for I stand much in need of
help.
Worldly Wiseman.--I would urge you then, with all speed, to get rid of
your load; for you will not be at rest till then.
Christian.--That is just what I seek to do. But there is no man in our
land who can take if off me.
Worldly Wiseman.--Who bade you go this way to be rid of it?
Christian.--One that I took to be a great and true man; his name is
Evangelist.
Worldly Wiseman.--Hark at what I say: there is no worse way in the world
than that which he has sent you, and that you will find if you take him
for your guide. In this short time you have met with bad luck, for I see
the mud of the Slough of Despond is on your coat. Hear me, for I have
seen more of the world than you; in the way you go, you will meet with
pain, woe, thirst, the sword too,--in a word, death! Take no heed of
what Evangelist tells you.
Christian.--Why, Sir, this load on my back is worse to me than all those
things which you speak of; nay, I care not what I meet with in the way,
if I can but get rid of my load.
Worldly Wiseman.--How did you come by it at first?
Christian.--Why, I read this book.
Worldly Wiseman.--Like more weak men I know, who aim at things too high
for them you have lost heart, and run in the dark at great risk, to gain
you know not what.
Christian.--I know what I would gain, it is ease for my load.
Worldly Wiseman.--But why will you seek for ease thus, when I could put
you in the way to aid it where there would be no risk; and the cure is
at hand.
Christian.--Pray, Sir, tell me what that way is.
Worldly Wiseman.--Well, in yon town, which you can see from hence--the
name of which is Morality--there dwells a man whose name is Legality,
a wise man, and a man of some rank, who has skill to help men off with
such loads as yours from their backs; I know he has done a great deal
for good in that way; aye, and he has the skill to cure those who, from
the loads they bear, are not quite sound in their wits. To him as I
said, you may go and get help. His house in but a mile from this place,
and should he not be at home, he has a son whose name is Civility, who
can do it just as well as his sire. There, I say, you may go to get rid
of your load. I would not have you go back to your old home, but you can
send for your wife and babes, and you will find that food there is cheap
and good.
Now was Christian brought to a stand; but by and by he said, Sir, which
is my way to this good man's house?
Worldly Wiseman.--Do you see that hill?
Christian.--Yes, I do.
Worldly Wiseman.--By that hill you must go, and the first house you come
to is his.
So Christian went out of his way to find Mr. Legality's house to seek
for help.
But, lo, when he had got close up to the hill, it was so steep and high
that he had fear lest it should fall on his head; so he stood still, for
he knew not what to do. His load, too, was of more weight to him than
when he was on the right road. Then came flames of fire out of the hill,
that made him quake for fear lest he should be burnt. And now it was a
great grief to him that he had lent his ear to Worldly Wiseman; and it
was well that he just then saw Evangelist come to meet him; though
at the sight of him he felt a deep blush on his face for shame. So
Evangelist drew near, and when he came up to him, he said, with a sad
look; What dost thou here, Christian?
To these words Christian knew not what to say, so he stood quite mute.
Then Evangelist went on thus: Art not thou the man that I heard cry in
The City of Destruction?
Christian.--Yes, dear Sir, I am the man.
Evangelist.--Did not I point out to thee the way to the Wicket Gate?
Christian.--Yes, you did, Sir.
Evangelist.--How is it, then, that thou hast so soon gone out of the
way?
Christian.--When I had got out of the Slough of Despond I met a man
who told me that in a town near, I might find one who could take off my
load.
Evangelist.--What was he?
Christian.--He had fair looks, and said much to me, and got me at last
to yield; so I came here. But when I saw this hill, and how steep it
was, I made a stand, lest it should fall on my head.
Evangelist.--What said the man to thee?
When Evangelist had heard from Christian all that took place, he said:
Stand still a while, that I may show thee the words of God.
So Evangelist went on to read, 'Now the just shall live by faith, but if
a man draw back, my soul shall have no joy in him.' Is not this the case
with thee? said he: Hast not thou drawn back thy feet from the way of
peace, to thine own cost; and dost thou not spurn the most high God?
Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, and said: Woe is me! Woe
is me!
At the sight of which, Evangelist caught him by the right hand, and
said: Faith hopes all things.
Then did Christian find some peace, and stood up.
Evangelist.--I pray thee give more heed to the things that I shall tell
thee of. The Lord says, 'Strive to go in at the strait gate, the gate
to which I send thee, for strait is the gate that leads to life, and few
there be that find it.' Why didst thou set at nought the words of God,
for the sake of Mr. Worldly Wiseman? That is, in truth, the right name
for such as he. The Lord hath told thee that he who will save his life
shall lose it.' He to whom thou wast sent for ease, Legality by name,
could not set thee free; no man yet has got rid of his load through him;
he could but show thee the way to woe, for by the deeds of the law no
man can be rid of his load. So that Mr. Worldly Wiseman and his friend
Mr. Legality are false guides; and as for his son Civility, he could not
help thee.
Now Christian, in great dread, could think of nought but death, and sent
forth a sad cry in grief that he had gone from the right way. Then he
spoke once more to Evangelist in these words:--Sir, what think you? Is
there hope? May I now go back, and strive to reach The Wicket Gate? I
grieve that I gave ear to this man's voice; but may my sin find grace?
Evangelist.--Thy sin is great, for thou hast gone from the way that is
good, to tread in false paths, yet will the man at the gate let thee
through, for he has love and good will for all men; but take heed that
thou turn not to the right hand or to the left.
Then did Christian make a move to go back, and Evangelist gave him a
kiss and one smile, and bade him God speed.
So he went on with haste, nor did he speak on the road; and could by no
means feel safe till he was in the path which he had left. In time, he
got up to the gate. And as he saw by the words which he read on it,
that those who would knock could go in, he gave two or three knocks, and
said: May I go in here?
At last there came a great man to the gate, whose name was Good-will,
and he said: Who is there; whence come you, and what would you have?
Christian.--I come from The City of Destruction with a load of Sins on
my back; but I am on my way to Mount Zion, that I may be free from the
wrath to come; and as I have been told that my way is through this gate,
I would know, Sir, if you will let me in?
Good-will.--With all my heart.
So he flung back the gate. But just as Christian went in, he gave him a
pull.
Then said Christian: What means that? Good-will told him that a short
way from this gate there was a strong fort, of which Beelzebub was the
chief, and that from thence he and the rest that dwelt there shot darts
at those that came up to the gate to try if they could kill them ere
they got in.
Then said Christian: I come in with joy and with fear. So when he had
gone in, the man at the gate said: Who sent you here?
Christian.--Evangelist bade me come and knock (as I did); and he said
that you, Sir, would tell me what I must do.
Good-will.--The door is thrown back wide for you to come in, and no man
can shut it.
Christian.--Now I seem to reap the good of all the risks I have met with
on the way.
Good-will.--But how is it that no one comes with you?
Christian.--None of my friends saw that there was cause of fear, as I
did.
Good-will.--Did they know of your flight?
Christian.--Yes, my wife and young ones saw me go, and I heard their
cries as they ran out to try and stop me. Some of my friends, too, would
have had me come home, but I put my hands to my ears, and so came on my
way.
Good-will.--But did none of them come out to beg of you to go back?
Christian.--Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable came, but when they found
that I would not yield, Obstinate went home, but Pliable came with me as
far as the Slough of Despond.
Good-will.--Why did he not come through it?
When Christian told him the rest, he said: Ah, poor man! Is a world of
bliss such a small thing to him, that he did not think it worth while to
run a few risks to gain it?
Sir, said Christian, there is not much to choose twixt him and me. Then
he told Good-will how he had been led from the straight path by Mr.
Worldly Wiseman.
Good-will.--Oh, did he light on you? What! He would have had you seek
for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality. They are, in truth, both of them
cheats. And did you take heed of what he said?
Christian then told him all. But now that I am come, said he, I am more
fit for death, than to stand and talk to my Lord. But oh, the joy it is
to me to be here!
Good-will.--We keep none out that knock at this gate, let them have done
what they may ere they came here; for they are 'in no wise cast out.'
So, good Christian, come with me, and I will teach you the way you must
go. Look in front. That is the way which was laid down by Christ and the
wise men of old, and it is as straight as a rule can make it.
Christian.--But is there no turn or bend by which one who knows not the
road might lose his way?
Good-will.--My friend, there are not a few that lead down to it, and
these paths are wide: yet by this you may judge the right from the
wrong--the right are straight and are by no means wide.
Then I saw in my dream that Christian said: Could you not help me off
with this load on my back?--for as yet he had not got rid of it. He was
told: As to your load, you must bear it till you come to the place of
Deliverance, for there it will fall from your back.
Then Christian would have set off on the road; but Good-will said: Stop
a while and let me tell you that when you have gone through the gate you
will see the house of Mr. Interpreter, at whose door you must knock, and
he will show you good things. Then Christian took leave of his friend,
who bade him God speed.
He now went on till he came to the house at the door of which he was to
knock; this he did two or three times. At last one came to the door and
said: Who is there?
Christian.--I have come to see the good man of the house.
So in a short time Mr. Interpreter came to him and said: What would you
have?
Christian.--Sir, I am come from The City of Destruction, and am on my
way to Mount Zion. I was told by the man that stands at the gate, that
if I came here you would show me good things that would help me.
Then Interpreter took Christian to a room, and bade his man bring a
light, and there he saw on the wall the print of one who had a grave
face, whose eyes were cast up to the sky, and the best of books was in
His hand, the law of truth was on His lips, and the world was at His
back. He stood as if He would plead for men, and a crown of gold hung
near his head.
Christian.--What does this mean?
Interpreter.--I have shown you this print first, for this is He who
is to be your sole guide when you can not find your way to the land to
which you go; so take good heed to what I have shown you, lest you meet
with some who would feign to lead you right; but their way goes down to
death.
Then he took him to a large room that was full of dust, for it had not
been swept; and Interpreter told his man to sweep it. Now when he did
so, such clouds of dust flew up, that it made Christian choke.
Then said Interpreter to a maid that stood by; Make the floor moist that
the dust may not rise; and when she had done this, it was swept with
ease.
Christian.--What means this?
Interpreter.--This room is the heart of that man who knows not the grace
of God. The dust is his first sin and the vice that is in him. He that
swept first is the Law, but she who made the floor moist is The Book
which tells Good News to Man. Now as soon as you saw the first of these
sweep, the dust did so fly that the room could not be made clean by him;
this is to show you that the law as it works does not cleanse the heart
from sin, but gives strength to sin, so as to rouse it up in the soul.
Then you next saw the maid come in to lay the dust; so is sin made clean
and laid low by faith in The Book.
Now, said Christian, let me go hence.
Well, said Interpreter, keep all things so in thy mind that they may be
a goad in thy sides; and may faith guide thee!
Then I saw in my dream that the high way which Christian was to tread,
had a wall on each side, and the name of that wall was Salvation. Up
this high way did Christian run, but with great toil for the load on his
back. He ran thus till he drew near to a place on which stood a cross,
and at the foot of it a tomb. Just as Christian came up to the cross,
his load slid from his back, close to the mouth of the tomb, where it
fell in, and I saw it no more.
Then was Christian glad, and said with a gay heart: He gives me rest by
his grief, and life by his death.
Yet he stood still for a while, for he was struck with awe to think that
the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his load. Three or four
times did he look on the cross and the tomb, and the tears rose to his
eyes. As he stood thus and wept, lo, three Bright Ones came to him, and
one of them said: Peace be to thee! thou hast grace from thy sins. And
one came up to him to strip him of his rags and put a new robe on him,
while the third set a mark on his face, and gave him a roll with a
seal on it, which he bade him look on as he went, and give it at The
Celestial Gate; and then they left him.
Christian gave three leaps for joy, and sang as he went: Ah, what a
place is this! Blest cross! Blest tomb! Nay, blest is the Lord that was
put to shame for me!
He went on thus till he came to a vale where he saw three men who were
in a sound sleep, with chains on their feet. The name of one was Simple,
one Sloth, and the third Presumption. As Christian saw them lie in this
case, he went to wake them, and said: You are like those that sleep on
the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea is at your feet. Wake, rise, and
come with me. Trust me, and I will help you off with your chains. With
that they cast their eyes up to look at him, and Simple said: I would
fain take more sleep. Presumption said: Let each man look to his own.
And so they lay down to sleep once more.
Then I saw in my dream that two men leapt from the top of the wall
and made great haste to come up to him. Their names were Formalist and
Hypocrisy.
Christian.--Sirs, whence come you, and where do you go?
Formalist and Hypocrisy.--We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and
are on our way to Mount Zion for praise.
Christian.--Why came you not in at the Gate? Know you not that he that
comes not in at the door, but climbs up to get in, the same is a thief?
They told him that to go through the gate was too far round; that the
best way was to make a short cut of it, and climb the wall, as they had
done.
Christian.--But what will the Lord of the town to which we are bound
think of it, if we go not in the way of his will?
They told Christian that he had no need for care on that score, for long
use had made it law, and they could prove that it had been so for years.
Christian.--But are you quite sure that your mode will stand a suit at
law?
Yes, said they, no doubt of it. And if we get in the road at all, pray
what are the odds? If we are in, we are in; you are but in the way, who
come in at the gate, and we too are in the way that choose to climb the
wall. Is not our case as good as yours?
Christian.--I walk by the rule of my Lord, but you walk by the rule of
your own lusts. The Lord of the way will count you as thieves, and you
will not be found true men in the end.
I saw then that they all went on till they came to the foot of the Hill
of Difficulty, where there was a spring. There were in the same place
two more ways, one on the left hand and one on the right; but the path
that Christian was told to take went straight up the hill, and its name
is Difficulty, and he saw that the way of life lay there.
Now when Christian got as far as the Spring of Life he drank of it, and
then went up the hill. But when the two men saw that it was steep and
high, and that there were three ways to choose from, one of them took
the path the name of which is Danger, and lost his way in a great wood,
and one of them went by the road of Destruction, which led him to a wide
field full of dark rocks, where he fell, and rose no more. I then saw
Christian go up the hill, where at first I could see him run, then walk,
and then go on his hands and knees, so steep was it. Now half way up was
a cave made by the Lord of that hill, that those who came by might rest
there. So here Christian sat down, and took out the scroll and read it,
till at last he fell off in a deep sleep which kept him there till it
was dusk; and while he slept his scroll fell from his hand. At length
a man came up to him and woke him, and said: Go to the ant, thou man of
sloth, and learn of her to be wise.
At this Christian gave a start, and sped on his way, and went at a quick
pace.
When he had got near to the top of the hill, two men ran up to meet him,
whose names were Timorous and Mistrust, to whom Christian said, Sirs,
what ails you? You run the wrong way.
Timorous said that Zion was the hill they meant to climb, but that when
they had got half way they found that they met with more and more risk,
so that great fear came on them, and all they could do was to turn back.
Yes, said Mistrust, for just in front of us there lay two beasts of prey
in our path; we knew not if they slept or not, but we thought that they
would fall on us and tear our limbs.
Christian.--You rouse my fears. Where must I fly to be safe? If I go
back to my on town (Destruction) I am sure to lose my life, but if I can
get to The Celestial City, there shall I be safe. To turn back is death;
to go on is fear of death, but when I come there, a life of bliss that
knows no end. I will go on yet.
So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill and Christian went on his
way. Yet he thought once more of what he had heard from the men, and
then he felt in his cloak for his scroll, that he might read it and find
some peace. He felt for it but found it not. Then was Christian in great
grief, and knew not what to do for the want of that which was to be his
pass to The Celestial City. At last, thought he: I slept in the cave
by the side of the hill. So he fell down on his knees to pray that God
would give him grace for this act; and then went back to look for his
scroll. But as he went, what tongue can tell the grief of Christian's
heart? Oh, fool that I am! said he, to sleep in the day time; so to give
way to the flesh as to use for ease that rest which the Lord of the hill
had made but for the help of the soul!
Thus, then, with tears and sighs, he went back, and with much care did
he look on this side and on that for his scroll. At length he came near
to the cave where he had sat and slept. How far, thought Christian, have
I gone in vain! Such was the lot of the Jews for their sin; they were
sent back by the way of the Red Sea; and I am made to tread those steps
with grief which I might have trod with joy, had it not been for this
sleep. How far might I have been on my way by this time! I am made to
tread those steps thrice which I need not to have trod but once; yea,
now too I am like to be lost in the night, for the day is well nigh
spent. O that I had not slept!
Now by this time he had come to the vale once more, where for a spell he
sat down and wept; but at last, as he cast a sad glance at the foot of
the bench, he saw his scroll, which he caught up with haste, and put in
his cloak. Words are too weak to tell the joy of Christian when he had
got back his scroll. He laid it up in the breast of his coat and gave
thanks to God. With what a light step did he now climb the hill! But,
ere he got to the top, the sun went down on Christian, and he soon saw
that two wild beast stood in his way. Ah, thought he, these beasts range
in the night for their prey; and if they should meet with me in the
dark, how should I fly from them? I see now the cause of all those fears
that drove Mistrust and Timorous back.
Still Christian went on, and while he thought thus on this sad lot he
cast up his eyes and saw a great house in front of him, the name of
which was Beautiful, and it stood just by the side of the high road. So
he made haste and went on in the hope that he could rest there a while.
The name of the man who kept the lodge of that house was Watchful, and
when he saw that Christian made a halt as if he would go back, he came
out to him and said: Is thy strength so small? Fear not the two wild
beasts, for they are bound by chains, and are put here to try the faith
of those that have it, and to find out those that have none. Keep in the
midst of the path and no harm shall come to thee.
Then I saw, in my dream, that still he went on in great dread of the
wild beasts; he heard them roar, yet they did him no harm; but when he
had gone by them he went on with joy, till he came and stood in front of
the lodge where Watchful dwelt.
Christian.--Sir, what house is this? May I rest here to night?
Watchful.--This house was built by the Lord of the Hill to give aid to
those who climb up it for the good cause. Tell me, whence come you?
Christian.--I am come from the Town of Destruction, and am on my way to
Mount Zion; but the day is far spent, and I would, with your leave, pass
the night here.
Watchful.--What is your name?
Christian.--My name is now Christian, but at first it was Graceless.
Watchful.--How is it you came so late? The sun is set.
Christian then told him why it was.
Watchful.--Well, I will call one that lives here, who, if she like your
talk, will let you come in, for these are the rules of the house.
So he rang a bell, at the sound of which there came out at the door a
grave and fair maid, whose name was Discretion. When Watchful told her
why Christian had come there, she said: What is your name?
It is Christian, said he, and I much wish to rest here to night, and
the more so for I see this place was build by the Lord of the Hill, to
screen those from harm who come to it.
So she gave a smile, but the tears stood in her eyes; and in a short
time she said: I will call forth two or three more of our house, and
then she ran to the door and brought in Prudence, Piety, and Charity,
who met him and said: Come in, thou blest of the Lord; this house was
built by the King of the Hill for such as you. Then Christian bent down
his head, and went with them to the house.
Piety.--Come, good Christian, since our love prompts us to take you in
to rest, let us talk with you of all that you have seen on your way.
Christian.--With a right good will, and I am glad that you should ask it
of me.
Prudence.--And, first, say what is it that makes you wish so much to go
to Mount Zion?
Christian.--Why there I hope to see Him that did die on the Cross; and
there I hope to be rid of all those thing that to this day grieve and
vex me. There, they say, is no death; and there I shall dwell with such
as love the Lord.
Charity.--Have you a wife and babes?
Christian.--Yes, I have.
Charity.--And why did you not bring them with you?
Christian then wept, and said: Oh, how glad should I have been to do so!
but they would not come with me, nor have me leave them.
Charity.--And did you pray to God to put it in their hearts to go with
you?
Christian.--Yes, and that with much warmth, for you may think how dear
they were to me.
Thus did Christian talk with these friends till it grew dark, and then
he took his rest in a large room, the name of which was Peace; there he
slept till break of day, and then he sang a hymn.
They told him that he should not leave till they had shown him all the
rare things that were in that place. There were to be seen the rod of
Moses, the nail with which Jail slew Sisera, the lamps with which Gideon
put to flight the host of Midian, and the ox goad with which Shamgar
slew his foes. And they brought out the jaw bone of an ass with which
Samson did such great feats, and the sling and stone with which David
slew Goliath of Gath.
Then I saw in my dream that Christian rose to take his leave of
Discretion, and of Prudence, Piety, and Charity, but they said that he
must stay till the next day, that they might show him The Delectable
Mountains; so they took him to the top of the house, and bade him look
to the South, which he did, and lo, a great way off, he saw a rich land,
full of hills, woods, vines, shrubs, and streams.
What is the name of this land? said Christian.
Then they told him it was Immanuel's Land. And, said they, It is as much
meant for you, and the like of you, as this hill is; and when you reach
the place, there you may see the gate of The Celestial City. Then they
gave him a sword, and put on him a coat of mail, which was proof from
head to foot, lest he should meet some foe in the way; and they went
with him down the hill.
Of a truth, said Christian, it is as great a toil to come down the hill
as it was to go up.
Prudence.--So it is, for it is a hard thing for a man to go down to The
Vale of Humiliation, as thou dost now, and for this cause have we come
with you to the foot of the hill. So, though he went with great care,
yet he caught a slip or two.
Then in my dream I saw that when they had got to the foot of the hill,
these good friends of Christian's gave him a loaf of bread, a flask of
wine, and a bunch of dry grapes; and then they left him to go on his
way.
But now in this Vale of Humiliation poor Christian was hard put to it,
for he had not gone far, ere he saw a foe come in the field to meet him,
whose name was Apollyon. Then did Christian fear, and he cast in his
mind if he would go back or stand his ground. But Christian thought that
as he had no coat of mail on his back, to turn round might give Apollyon
a chance to pierce it with his darts. So he stood his ground, For,
thought he, if but to save my life were all I had in view, still the
best way would be to stand.
So he went on, and Apollyon met him with looks of scorn.
Apollyon.--Whence come you, and to what place are you bound?
Christian.--I am come from The City of Destruction, which is a place of
all sin, and I am on my way to Zion.
Apollyon.--By this I see you are mine, for of all that land I am the
Prince. How is it, then, that you have left your king? Were it not that
I have a hope that you may do me more good, I would strike you to the
ground with one blow.
Christian.--I was born in your realm, it is true, but you drove us too
hard, and your wage was such as no man could live on.
Apollyon.--No prince likes to lose his men, nor will I as yet lose you;
so if you will come back, what my realm yields I will give you.
Christian.--But I am bound by vows to the King of Kings; and how can I,
to be true, go back with you?
Apollyon.--You have made a change, it seems, from bad to worse; but why
not give Him the slip, and come back with me?
Christian.--I gave Him my faith, and swore to be true to Him: how can I
go back from this?
Apollyon.--You did the same to me, and yet I will pass by all, if you
will but turn and go back.
Then, when Apollyon saw that Christian was stanch to his Prince, he
broke out in a great rage, and said, I hate that Prince, and I hate his
laws, and I am come out to stop you.
Christian.--Take heed what you do. I am on the King's high way to Zion.
Apollyon.--I am void of fear, and to prove that I mean what I say, here
on this spot I will put thee to death. With that he threw a dart of
fire at his breast, but Christian had a shield on his arm, with which he
caught it. Then did Christian draw his sword, for he saw it was time
to stir; and Apollyon as fast made at him, and threw darts as thick as
hail; with which, in spite of all that Christian could do, Apollyon gave
him wounds in his head, hand, and foot.
This made Christian pause in the fight for a time, but Apollyon still
came on, and Christian once more took heart. They fought for half a day,
till Christian, weak from his wounds, was well nigh spent in strength.
When Apollyon saw this, he threw him down with a great force; on which
Christian's sword fell out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, I am sure of
thee now.
But while he strove to make an end of Christian, that good man put out
his hand in haste to feel for his sword, and caught it. Boast not, oh
Apollyon! said he, and with that he struck him a blow which made his
foe reel back as one that had had his last wound. Then he spread out his
wings and fled, so that Christian for a time saw him no more.
Then there came to him a hand which held some of the leaves of the tree
of life; some of them Christian took, and as soon as he had put them to
his wounds, he saw them heal up.
Now near this place was the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and Christian
must needs go through it to get to The Celestial City. It was a land of
drought and full of pits, a land that none but such as Christian could
pass through, and where no man dwelt. So that here he was worst put to
it than in his fight with Apollyon, which by and by we shall see.
As he drew near the Shadow of Death he met with two men, to whom
Christian thus spoke: To what place do you go?
Men.--Back! Back! and we would have you do the same if you prize life
and peace.
Christian.--But why?
Men.--We went on as far as we durst.
Christian.--What then have you seen?
Men.--Seen! Why the Valley of the Shadow of Death; but by dint of good
luck we caught sight of what lay in front of it, ere we came up. Death
doth spread out his wings there. In a word it is a place full of bad
men, where no law dwells.
Christian.--I see not yet, by what you have told me, but that this is my
way to Zion.
Men.--Be it thy way then; we will not choose it for ours.
So they took their leave, and Christian went on, but still with his
drawn sword in his hand, for fear lest he should meet once more with a
foe.
I saw then in my dream that so far as this vale went, there was on the
right hand a deep ditch; that ditch to which the blind have led the
blind as long as the world has been made. And, lo, on the left hand
there was a quag. in which if a man fall, he will find no firm ground
for his foot to stand on. The path way was not broad, and so good
Christian was the more put to it. This went on for miles, and in the
midst of that vale was a deep pit. One thing which I saw in my dream
I must not leave out; it was this:--Just as Christian had come to the
mouth of the pit, one of those who dwelt in it swept up to him, and in
a soft tone spoke bad things to him, and took God's name in vain, which
Christian thought must have come from his own mind. This put him out
more than all the rest had done; to think that he should take that name
in vain for which he felt so deep a love, was a great grief to him. Yet
there was no help for it. Then he thought he heard a voice which said:
Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no
harm for thou art with me.
Now as Christian went on, he found there was a rise in the road, which
had been thrown up that that path might be clear to those who were bound
for Zion. Up this road Christian went, and saw his old friend Faithful a
short way off.
Then said Christian: Ha, my friend, are you here? Stay, and I will join
you.
This ere long he did, and they spoke of all that had come to pass since
they had last met.
In course of time the road they took brought them to a town, the name of
which is Vanity, where there is a fair kept through the whole year, and
all that is bought or sold there is vain and void of worth. There,
too, are to be seen at all times games, plays, fools, apes, knaves,
and rogues. Yet he that will go to The Celestial City must needs pass
through this fair.
As soon as Christian and Faithful came to the town, a crowd drew round
them, and some said they had lost their wits, to dress and speak as they
did, and to set no store by the choice goods for sale in Vanity Fair.
When Christian spoke, his words brought from these folks fierce taunts
and jeers, and soon the noise and stir grew to such a height that the
chief man of the fair sent his friends to take up these two strange men,
and he bade them tell him whence they came, and what they did there in
such a garb. Christian and Faithful told them all; but those who sat to
judge the case thought that they must be mad, or else that they had come
to stir up strife at the fair; so they beat them with sticks, and put
them in a cage, that they might be a sight for all the men at the fair.
Then the worse sort of folks set to pelt them with mud out of spite,
and some threw stones at them for mere sport; but Christian and Faithful
gave good words for bad, and bore all in such a meek way, that not a few
took their part. This led to blows and fights, and the blame was laid on
Christian and Faithful, who were then made to toil up and down the fair
in chains, till, faint with stripes, they were at length set with their
feet in the stocks. But they bore their griefs and woes with joy, for
they saw in them a pledge that all should be well in the end.
By and by a court sat to try them: the name of the judge was Lord
Hate-good; and the crime laid to their charge was that they had come to
Vanity Fair to spoil its trade, and stir up strife in the town; and had
won not a few men to their side, in spite of the prince of the place.
Faithful said to the Judge: I am a man of peace, and did but wage war on
Sin. As for the prince they speak of, since he is Beelzebub, I hold him
in scorn.
Those who took Faithful's part were won by the force of plain truth and
right in his words; but the judge said, Let those speak who know aught
of this man.
So three men, whose names were Envy, Superstition, and Pick-thank, stood
forth and swore to speak the truth, and tell what they knew of Faithful.
Envy said: My lord, this man cares nought for kings or laws, but seeks
to spread his own views, and to teach men what he calls faith. I heard
him say but just now that the ways of our town of Vanity are vile. And
does he not in that speak ill of us?
Then Superstition said: My lord, I know not much of this man, and have
no wish to know more, but of this I am sure, that he is a bad man, for
he says that our creeds are vain.
Pick-thank was then bid to say what he knew, and his speech ran thus:
My lord, I have known this man for a long time, and have heard him
say things that ought not to be said. He rails at our great Prince
Beelzebub, and says that if all men were of his mind, that prince should
no more hold sway here. More than this, he hath been heard to rail on
you, my lord, who are now his judge.
Then said the Judge to Faithful: Thou base man! Hast though heard what
these folk have said of thee?
Faithful.--May I speak a few words in my own cause?
Judge.--Thy just doom would be to die on the spot; still, let us hear
what thou hast to say.
Faithful.--I say, then, to Mr. Envy, that all laws and modes of life in
which men heed not the Word of God are full of sin. As to the charge of
Mr. Superstition, I would urge that nought can save us if we do not
the will of God. To Mr. Pick-thank, I say that men should flee from the
Prince of this town and his friends, as from the wrath to come and so, I
pray the Lord to help me.
Then the Judge, to sum up the case, spoke thus: You see this man who has
made such a stir in our town. You have heard what these good men have
said of him, which he owns to be true. It rests now to you to save his
life or hang him.
The twelve men who had Faithful's life in their hands spoke in a low
tone thus: This man is full of schisms, said Mr. Blind-man. Out of the
world with him, said Mr. No-good. I hate the mere look of him, said Mr.
Malice. From the first I could not bear him, said Mr. Love-ease. Nor I,
for he would be sure to blame my ways, said Mr. Live-loose. Hang him,
hang him! said Mr. Heady. A low wretch! said Mr. High-mind. I long to
crush him, said Mr. Enmity. He is a rogue, said Mr. Liar. Death is too
good for him, said Mr. Cruelty. Let us kill him, that he may be out of
the way, said Mr. Hate-light. Then said Mr. Implacable: Not to gain all
the world would I make peace with him, so let us doom him to death.
And so they did, and in a short time he was led back to the place from
whence he came, there to be put to the worst death that could be thought
of; for the scourge, the sword, and the stake brought Faithful to his
end.
Now I saw that there stood near the crowd a strange car with two bright
steeds, which, as soon as his foes had slain him, took Faithful up
through the clouds straight to The Celestial City, with the sound of the
harp and lute.
As for Christian, for this time he got free; and there came to him one
Hopeful, who did so from what he had heard and seen of Christian and
Faithful. Thus, while one lost his life for the truth, a new man rose
from his death, to tread the same way with Christian. And Hopeful said
there were more men of the fair who would take their time, and then come
too.
By and by their way lay just on the bank of a pure stream, from which
they drank. On each side of it were green trees that bore fruit, and in
a field through which it ran they lay down to sleep. When they woke up
they sat for a while in the shade of the boughs; thus they went on for
three or four days, and to pass the time they sang: