yield, Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field.
Now on the left hand of the road was By-path Meadow, a fair green field
with a path through it, and a stile. Come, good Hopeful, said Christian,
let us walk on the grass.
Hopeful.--But what if this path should lead us wrong?
Christian.--How can it? Look, doth it not go by the way side?
So they set off through the field. But they had not gone far when they
saw in front of them a man, Vain-confidence by name, who told them that
the path led to The Celestial Gate. So the man went first; but lo, the
night came on, and it grew so dark that they lost sight of their guide,
who, as he did not see the path in front of him, fell in a deep pit, and
was heard of no more.
Where are we now? said Hopeful.
Then was Christian mute, as he thought he had led his friend out of the
way. And now light was seen to flash from the sky, and rain came down in
streams.
Hopeful (with a groan) Oh, that I had kept on my way!
Christian.--Who could have thought that this path should lead us wrong?
Hopeful.--I had my fears from the first, and so gave you a hint.
Christian.--Good friend, I grieve that I have brought you out of the
right path.
Hopeful.--Say no more, no doubt it is for our good.
Christian.--We must not stand thus; let us try to go back.
Hopeful.--But, good Christian, let me go first.
Then they heard a voice say: Set thine heart to the high way, the way
thou hast been: turn once more. But by this time the stream was deep
from the rain that fell, and to go back did not seem safe; yet they
went back, though it was so dark and the stream ran so high that once or
twice it was like to drown them. Nor could they, with all their skill,
get back that night. So they found a screen from the rain, and there
they slept till break of day.
Now, not far from the place where they lay was Doubting Castle, the
lord of which was Giant Despair; and it was on his ground that they now
slept. There Giant Despair found them, and with a gruff voice he bade
them wake. Whence are you? said he; and what brought you here? They told
him that they had lost the path. Then said Giant Despair: You have no
right to force your way in here; the ground on which you lie is mine.
They had not much to say, as they knew that they were in fault. So Giant
Despair drove them on, and put them in a dark and foul cell in a strong
hold. Here they were kept for three days, and they had no light nor food
nor a drop to drink all that time, and no one to ask them how they did.
Now Giant Despair had a wife, whose name was Diffidence, and he told her
what he had done. Then said he, What will be the best way to treat them?
Beat them well, said Diffidence. So when he rose he took a stout stick
from a crab tree, and went down to the cell where poor Christian and
Hopeful lay, and beat them as if they had been dogs, so that they could
not turn on the floor; and they spent all that day in sighs and tears.
The next day he came once more, and found them sore from the stripes,
and said that since there was no chance for them to be let out of the
cell, their best way would be to put an end to their own lives: For why
should you wish to live, said he, with all this woe? But they told him
they did hope he would let them go. With that he sprang up with a fierce
look, and no doubt would have made an end of them, but that he fell in a
fit for a time, and lost the use of his hand; so he drew back, and left
them to think of what he had said.
Christian.--Friend, what shall we do? The life that we now lead is worse
than death. For my part I know not which is best, to live thus, or to
die at our own hand, as I feel that the grave would be less sad to me
than this cell. Shall we let Giant Despair rule us?
Hopeful.--In good truth our case is a sad one, and to die would be more
sweet to me than to live here; yet let us bear in mind that the Lord of
that land to which we go hath said: 'Thou shalt not kill.' And by this
act we kill our souls as well. My friend Christian, you talk of ease in
the grave, but can a man go to bliss who takes his own life? All the law
is not in the hands of Giant Despair. Who knows but that God, who made
the world, may cause him to die, or lose the use of his limbs as he did
at first. I have made up my mind to pluck up the heart of a man, and to
try to get out of this strait. Fool that I was not to do so when first
he came to the cell. But let us not put an end to our own lives, for a
good time may come yet.
By these words did Hopeful change the tone of Christian's mind.
Well, at night the Giant went down to the cell to see if life was still
in them, and in good truth that life was in them was all that could be
said, for from their wounds and want of food they did no more than just
breathe. When Giant Despair found they were not dead, he fell in a great
rage, and said that it should be worse with them if they had not been
born. At this they shook with fear, and Christian fell down in a swoon;
but when he came to, Hopeful said: My friend, call to mind how strong in
faith you have been till now. Say, could Apollyon hurt you, or all that
you heard, or saw, or felt in the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Look at
the fears, the griefs, the woes that you have gone through. And now to
be cast down! I, too, am in this cell, far more weak a man than you, and
Giant Despair dealt his blows at me as well as you, and keeps me from
food and light. Let us both (if but to shun the shame) bear up as well
as we can.
When night came on, the wife of Giant Despair said to him: Well, will
the two men yield?
To which he said: No; they choose to stand firm, and will not put an end
to their lives.
Then said Mrs. Diffidence: At dawn of day take them to the yard, and
show them the graves where all those whom you have put to death have
been thrown, and make use of threats this time.
So Giant Despair took them to this place, and said: In ten days time you
shall be thrown in here if you do not yield. Go; get you down to your
den once more. With that he beat them all the way back, and there they
lay the whole day in a sad plight.
Now, when night was come, Mrs. Diffidence said to Giant Despair: I fear
much that these men live on in hopes to pick the lock of the cell and
get free.
Dost thou say so, my dear? quoth Giant Despair to his wife; then at sun
rise I will search them.
Now, on that night, as Christian and Hopeful lay in the den, they fell
on their knees to pray, and knelt till the day broke; when Christian
gave a start, and said: Fool that I am thus to lie in this dark den when
I might walk at large! I have a key in my pouch, the name of which
is Promise, that, I feel sure, will turn the lock of all the doors in
Doubting Castle.
Then said Hopeful: That is good news; pluck it from thy breast, and let
us try it.
So Christian put it in the lock, when the bolt sprang back, the door
flew wide, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. When they got to the
yard door the key did just as well; but the lock of the last strong gate
of Doubting Castle went hard, yet it did turn at last, though the hinge
gave so loud a creak that it woke up Giant Despair, who rose to seek
for the two men. But just then he felt his limbs fail, for a fit came
on him, so that he could by no means reach their cell. Christian and
Hopeful now fled back to the high way, and were safe out of his grounds.
When they sat down to rest on a stile, they said they would warn those
who might chance to come on this road. So they cut these words on
a post: This is the way to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant
Despair, who loves not the King of the Celestial Country, and seeks to
kill all who would go there.
Then they came to The Delectable Mountains, which the Lord of the Hill
owns. Here they saw fruit trees, vines, shrubs, woods, and streams, and
drank and ate of the grapes. Now there were men at the tops of these
hills who kept watch on their flocks, and as they stood by the high way,
Christian and Hopeful leant on their staves to rest, while thus they
spoke to the men: Who owns these Delectable Mountains, and whose are the
sheep that feed on them?
Men.--These hills are Immanuel's, and the sheep are His too, and He laid
down his life for them.
Christian.--Is this the way to The Celestial City?
Men.--You are in the right road.
Christian.--How far is it?
Men.--Too far for all but those that shall get there, in good truth.
Christian.--Is the way safe?
Men.--Safe for those for whom it is to be safe; but the men of sin shall
fall there.
Christian.--Is there a place of rest here for those that faint on the
road?
Men.--The Lord of these Hills gave us a charge to help those that came
here, should they be known to us or not; so all the good things of the
place are yours.
I then saw in my dream that the men said: Whence come you, and by what
means have you got so far? For but few of those that set out come here
to show their face on these hills.
So when Christian and Hopeful told their tale, the men cast a kind
glance at them, and said: With joy we greet you on The Delectable
Mountains!
Their names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, and they
led Christian and Hopeful by the hand to their tents, and bade them eat
of that which was there, and they soon went to their rest for the night.
When the morn broke, the men woke up Christian and Hopeful, and took
them to a spot whence they saw a bright view on all sides. Then they
went with them to the top of a high hill, the name of which was Error;
it was steep on the far off side, and they bade them look down to the
foot of it. So Christian and Hopeful cast their eyes down, and saw there
some men who had lost their lives by a fall from the top; men who had
been made to err, for they had put their trust in false guides.
Have you not heard of them? said the men.
Christian.--Yes, I have.
Men.--These are they, and to this day they have not been put in a tomb,
but are left here to warn men to take good heed how they come too near
the brink of this hill.
Then I saw that they had led them to the top of Mount Caution, and bade
them look far off. From that stile, said they, there goes a path to
Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair, and the men whom you
see there came as you do now, till they got up to that stile; and, as
the right way was rough to walk in, they chose to go through a field,
and there Giant Despair took them, and shut them up in Doubting Castle,
where they were kept in a den for a while, till he at last sent them out
quite blind, and there they are still. At this Christian gave a look at
Hopeful, and they both burst out with sobs and tears, but yet said not a
word.
Then the four men took them up a high hill, the name of which was Clear,
that they might see the gates of The Celestial City, with the aid of
a glass to look through, but their hands shook, so they could not see
well.
When Christian and Hopeful thought they would move on, one of the men
gave them a note of the way, and the next (Experience by name) bade them
take heed that they slept not on The Enchanted Ground, and the fourth
bade them God Speed. Now it was that I woke from my dream.
Then I slept, and dreamt once more, and saw Christian and Hopeful go
down near the foot of these hills, where lies the land of Conceit, which
joins the way to Mount Zion, by a small lane. Here they met a brisk lad,
whose name was Ignorance, to whom Christian said: Whence come you, and
to what place do you go?
Ignorance.--Sir, I was born in the land that lies off there on the left,
and I wish to go to The Celestial City.
Christian.--How do you think to get in at the gate?
Ignorance.--Just as the rest of the world do.
Christian.--But what have you to show at that gate to pass you through
it?
Ignorance.--I know my Lord's will, and I have led a good life; I pay for
all that I have, I give tithes, and give alms, and have left my own land
for that to which I now go.
Christian.--But you came not in at the gate that is at the head of this
way, you came in through a small lane; so that I fear, though you may
think well of all you have done, that when the time shall come, you will
have this laid to your charge, that you are a thief and so you will not
get in.
Ignorance.--Well, since I know you not; you keep to your own creed, and
I will keep to mine, and I hope all will be well. And as for the gate
that you talk of, all the world knows that it is far from our land, and
I do not think that there is a man in all our parts who does so much
as know the way to it, and I see not what need there is that he should,
since we have, as you see, a fine green lane at the next turn that comes
down from our part of the world.
Christian said in a low tone of voice to Hopeful: There is more hope of
a fool than of him.
Hopeful.--Let us pass on if you will, and talk to him by and by, when,
may be, he can bear it.
So they went on, and Ignorance trod in their steps a short way from
them, till they saw a road branch off from the one they were in, and
they knew not which of the two to take.
As they stood to think of it, a man whose skin was black, but who was
clad in a white robe, came to them and said: Why do you stand here? They
told him that they were on their way to The Celestial City, but knew not
which of the two roads to take.
Come with me, then, said the man, for it is there that I mean to go.
So they went with him, though it was clear that the road must have made
a bend, for they found they would soon turn their backs on The Celestial
City.
Ere long, Christian and Hopeful were both caught in a net, and knew not
what to do; and with that the white robe fell off the black man's back.
Then they saw where they were. So there they sat down and wept.
Christian.--Did not one of the four men who kept guard on their sheep
tell us to take heed lest Flatterer should spread a net for out feet?
Hopeful.--Those men, too, gave us a note of the way, but we have not
read it, and so have not kept in the right path. Thus they lay in the
net to weep and wail.
At last they saw a Bright One come up to them with a whip of fine cord
in his hand, who said: What do you here? Whence come you?
They told him that their wish was to go to Zion, but that they had been
led out of the way by a black man with a white cloak on, who, as he was
bound for the same place, said he would show them the road.
Then said he: It is Flatterer, a false man, who has put on the garb of a
Bright One for a time.
So he rent the net and let the men out. Then he bade them come with him,
that he might set them on the right way once more. He said: Where were
you last night?
Quoth they: With the men who kept watch of their sheep on The Delectable
Mountains.
Then he said: But when you were at a stand why did you not read your
note?
They told him they had not thought of it.
Now I saw in my dream that he bade them lie down, and whipt them sore,
to teach them the good way in which they should walk; and he said: Those
whom I love I serve thus.
So they gave him thanks for what he had taught them, and went on the
right way up the hill with a song of joy.
At length they came to a land the air of which made men sleep, and here
the lids of Hopeful's eyes dropped, and he said: Let us lie down here
and take a nap.
Christian.--By no means, lest if we sleep we wake no more.
Hopeful.--Nay, friend Christian, sleep is sweet to the man who has spent
the day in toil.
Christian.--Do you not call to mind that one of the men who kept watch
of the sheep bade us take care of The Enchanted Ground? He meant by that
that we should take heed not to sleep; so let us not sleep, but watch.
Hopeful.--I see I am in fault.
Christian.--Now then, to keep sleep from our eyes I will ask you, as we
go, to tell me how you came at first to do as you do now?
Hopeful.--Do you mean how came I first to look to the good of my soul?
Christian.--Yes.
Hopeful.--For a long time the things that were seen and sold at Vanity
Fair were a great joy to me.
Christian.--What things do you speak of?
Hopeful.--All the good of this life; such as lies, oaths, drink; in a
word, love of self and all that tend to kill the soul. But I heard from
you and Faithful that the end of these things is death.
Thus did they talk as they went on their way.
But I saw in my dream that by this time Christian and Hopeful had got
through The Enchanted Ground and had come to the land of Beulah, where
the air is sweet; and as their way lay through this land, they made no
haste to quit it, for here they heard the birds sing all day long, and
the sun shone day and night; the Valley of Death was on the left, and it
was out of the reach of Giant Despair; nor could they from this place so
much as see Doubting Castle.
Now were they in sight of Zion, and here some of the Bright Ones came to
meet them. Here, too, they heard the voice of those who dwelt in Zion,
and had a good view of this land of bliss, which was built of rare gems
of all hues, and the streets were laid with gold. So that the rays of
light which shone on Christian were too bright for him to bear, and he
fell sick, and Hopeful had a fit of the same kind. So they lay by for a
time, and wept, for their joy was too much for them.
At length, step by step, they drew near to Zion, and saw that the gates
were flung back.
A man stood in the way, to whom Christian and Hopeful said: Whose vines
and crops are these?
He told them they were the king's and were put there to give joy to
those who should go on the road. So he bade them eat what fruit they
chose, and took them to see the king's walks; where they slept.
Now I saw in my dream that they spoke more in their sleep than they had
done all the rest of the way, and I could but muse at this, but the man
said: Why do you muse at it? The juice from the grapes of this vine is
so sweet as to cause the lips of them that sleep to speak.
I then saw that when they woke, they would fain go up to Zion; but as I
said, the sun threw off such bright rays from The Celestial City, which
was built of pure gold, that they could not, as yet, look on it, save
through a glass made for that end.
Now as they went, they met with two men in white robes, and the face of
each shone bright as the light.
These men said: Whence come you? And when they had been told they said:
You have but one thing more to do, which is a hard one, and then you are
in Zion.
Christian and Hopeful did then beg of the two men to go with them; which
they did. But, said they, It is by your own faith that you must gain it.
Now 'twixt them and the gate was a fierce stream which was broad and
deep; it had no bridge, and the mere sight of it did so stun Christian
and Hopeful that they could not move.
But the men who went with them said: You can not come to the gate but
through this stream.
Is there no way but this one to the gate? said poor Christian.
Yes, quoth they, but there have been but two men, to wit, Enoch and
Elijah who have trod that path since the world was made.
When Christian and Hopeful cast their eyes on the stream once more, they
felt their hearts sink with fear, and gave a look this way and that
in much dread of the waves. Yet through it lay the way to Zion. Is the
stream all of one depth? said Christian. He was told that it was not,
yet that in that there was no help, for he would find the stream more or
less deep, as he had faith in the King of the place. So they set foot
on the stream, but Christian gave a loud cry to his good friend Hopeful,
and said: The waves close round my head, and I sink. Then said Hopeful:
Be of good cheer; my feet feel the bed of the stream, and it is good.
But Christian said: Ah, Hopeful, the pains of death have got hold of me;
I shall not reach the land that I long for. And with that a cloud came
on his sight, so that he could not see.
Hopeful had much to do to keep Christian's head out of the stream; nay,
at times he had quite sunk, and then in a while he would rise up half
dead.
Then said Hopeful: My friend, all this is sent to try if you will call
to mind all that God has done for you, and live on Him in your heart.
At these words Hopeful saw that Christian was in deep thought; so he
said to him: Be of good cheer, Christ will make thee whole.
Then Christian broke out with a loud voice: Oh, I see Him, and He speaks
to me and says, When you pass through the deep streams, I will be with
you.
And now they both got strength, and the stream was as still as a stone,
so that Christian felt the bed of it with his feet, and he could walk
through it. Thus they got to the right bank, where the two men in bright
robes stood to wait for them, and their clothes were left in the stream.
Now you must bear in mind that Zion was on a steep hill, yet did
Christian and Hopeful go up with ease and great speed, for they had
these two men to lead them by the arms.
The hill stood in the sky, for the base of it was there. So in sweet
talk they went up through the air. The Bright Ones told them of the
bliss of the place, which they said was such as no tongues could tell,
and that there they would see the Tree of Life, and eat of the fruit of
it.
When you come there, said they, white robes will be put on you, and
your talk from day to day shall be with the King for all time. There you
shall not see such things as you saw on earth, to wit, care and want,
and woe and death. You now go to be with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Christian and Hopeful.--What must we do there?
They said: You will have rest for all your toil, and joy for all your
grief. You will reap what you have sown--the fruit of all the tears
you shed for the King by the way. In that place you will wear crowns of
gold, and have at all times a sight of Him who sits on the throne. There
you shall serve Him with love, with shouts of joy and with songs of
praise.
Now, while they thus drew up to the gate, lo, a host of saints came to
meet them, to whom the two Bright Ones said: These are men who felt love
for our Lord when they were in the world, and left all for His name;
and He sent us to bring them far on their way, that they might go in and
look on their Lord with joy.
Then the whole host with great shouts came round on all sides (as it
were to guard them); so that is would seem to Christian and Hopeful as
if all Zion had come down to meet them.
Now, when Christian and Hopeful went in at the gate a great change took
place in them, and they were clad in robes that shone like gold. There
were bright hosts that came with harps and crowns, and they said to
them: Come, ye, in the joy of the Lord. And then I heard all the bells
in Zion ring.
Now, just as the gates were flung back for the men to pass in, I had
a sight of Zion, which shone like the sun; the ground was of gold, and
those who dwelt there had love in their looks, crowns on their heads,
and palms in their hands, and with one voice they sent forth shouts of
praise.
But the gates were now once more shut, and I could but wish that I, too,
had gone in to share this bliss. Then I woke, and, lo, it was a dream.
END OF FIRST PART.
PART II.
Once more I had a dream, and it was this:--Christiana, the wife of
Christian, had been on her knees to pray, and as she rose, she heard a
loud knock at the door. If you come in God's name, said she, come in.
Then I thought in my dream that a form, clad in robes as white as snow,
threw back the door, and said, Peace be to this house. At a sight so
new to her, Christiana at first grew pale with fear, but in a short time
took heart and told him she would fain know whence he came, and why. So
he said his name was Secret, and that he dwelt with those that are on
high. Then said her guest: Christiana, here is a note for thee, which
I have brought from Christian. So she took it, broke the seal, and read
these words, which were in gold:--"To her who was my dear wife. The King
would have you do as I have done, for that was the way to come to this
land, and to dwell with Him in joy." When Christiana read this, she shed
tears, and said to him who brought the note, Sir, will you take me and
my sons with you, that we, too, may bow down to this king? But he said,
Christiana, joy is born of grief: care must come first, then bliss. To
reach the land where I dwell, thou must go through toils, as well as
scorn and taunts. But take the road that leads up to the field gate
which stands in the head of the way; and I wish you all good speed. I
would have thee wear this note in thy breast, that it may be read
by thee till thou must give it up at the last gate that leads to The
Celestial City.
Then Christiana spoke to her boys, and said: My sons, I have of late
been sad at the death of Christian, your dear sire. But I feel sure now
that it is well with him, and that he dwells in the land of life and
peace. I have, too, felt deep grief at the thoughts of my own state and
yours; for we were wrong to let our hearts grow cold, and turn a deaf
ear to him in the time of his woe, and hold back from him when he fled
from this City of Destruction.