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The Pilgrim's Progress
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Illustrated by three brothers (George Wooliscraft, Frederick
Rhead, & Louis Rhead)
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THE SIXTH STAGE
NOW when they were got almost quite out of this wilderness,
Faithful chanced to cast his eye back, and espied one coming
after them, and he knew him. Oh! said Faithful to his brother,
who comes yonder? Then Christian looked, and said, It is my good
friend Evangelist. Aye, and my good friend too, said Faithful,
for 'twas he that set me on the way to the gate. Now was
Evangelist come up unto them, and thus saluted them.
EVANGELIST: Peace be with you, dearly
beloved, and peace be to your helpers.
CHRISTIAN: Welcome, welcome, my good
Evangelist: the sight of thy countenance brings to my
remembrance thy ancient kindness and unwearied labors for my
eternal good.
FAITHFUL: And a thousand times welcome,
said good Faithful, thy company, O sweet Evangelist; how
desirable is it to us poor pilgrims!
EVANGELIST: Then said Evangelist, How
hath it fared with you, my friends, since the time of our last
parting? What have you met with, and how have you behaved
yourselves?
Then Christian and Faithful told him of
all things that had happened to them in the way; and how, and
with what difficulty, they had arrived to that place.
Right glad am I, said Evangelist, not
that you have met with trials, but that you have been victors,
and for that you have, notwithstanding many weaknesses,
continued in the way to this very day.
I say, right glad am I of this thing,
and that for mine own sake and yours: I have sowed, and you have
reaped; and the day is coming, when "both he that soweth, and
they that reap, shall rejoice together," that is, if you hold
out: "for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not." [94]
The crown is before you, and it is an incorruptible one; "so run
that ye may obtain it." Some there be that set out for this
crown, and after they have gone far for it, another comes in and
takes it from them: "hold fast, therefore, that you have; let no
man take your crown." You are not yet out of the gunshot of the
devil; "you have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin."
Let the kingdom be always before you, and believe steadfastly
concerning the things that are invisible. Let nothing that is on
this side the other world get within you. And, above all, look
well to your own hearts and to the lusts thereof; for they are
"deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Set your
faces like a flint; you have all power in heaven and earth on
your side.
CHRISTIAN: Then Christian thanked him
for his exhortations; but told him withal, that they would have
him speak farther to them for their help the rest of the way;
and the rather, for that they well knew that he was a prophet,
and could tell them of things that might happen unto them, and
also how they might resist and overcome them. To which request
Faithful also consented. So Evangelist began as followeth.
EVANGELIST: My sons, you have heard in
the word of the truth of the Gospel, that you must "through many
tribulations enter into the kingdom of heaven;" and again, that
"in every city, bonds and afflictions abide you;" and therefore
you cannot expect that you should go long on your pilgrimage
without them, in some sort or other. You [95] have found
something of the truth of these testimonies upon you already,
and more will immediately follow: for now, as you see, you are
almost out of this wilderness, and therefore you will soon come
into a town that you will by and by see before you; and in that
town you will be hardly beset with enemies, who will strain hard
but they will kill you; and be you sure that one or both of you
must seal the testimony which you hold, with blood; but "be you
faithful unto death, and the King will give you a crown of
life." He that shall die there, although his death will be
unnatural, and his pain, perhaps, great, he will yet have the
better of his fellow; not only because he will be arrived at the
Celestial City soonest, but because he will escape many miseries
that the other will meet with in the rest of his journey. But
when you are come to the town, and shall find fulfilled what I
have here related, then remember your friend, and quit
yourselves like men, and "commit the keeping of your souls to
God in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."
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."
THE NAME OF THAT
TOWN IS VANITY; AND AT THE TOWN THERE IS A FAIR KEPT, CALLED
VANITY FAIR.
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, as
harlots, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives,
blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and
what not.
[97] And moreover, at this fair there
is 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.
Now, as I said, the way to the
Celestial City lies just through this town, where this lusty
fair is kept; and he that will go to the city, and yet not go
through this town, "must needs go out of the world." The Prince
of princes himself, when here, went through this town to his own
country, and that upon a fair-day too; yea, and, as I think, it
was Beelzebub, the chief lord of this fair, that invited him to
buy of his vanities, yea, would have made him lord of the fair,
would he but have done him reverence as he went through the
town. Yea, because he was such a person of honor, Beelzebub had
him from street to street, and showed him all the kingdoms of
the world in a little time, that he might, if possible, allure
that blessed One to cheapen and buy some of his vanities; but he
had no mind to the merchandise, and therefore left the town,
without laying out so much as one farthing upon these vanities.
This fair, therefore, is an ancient thing, of long standing, and
a very great fair.
Now, these pilgrims, as I said, must
needs go through this fair. Well, so they did; but behold, even
as they entered into the fair, all the people in the fair were
moved; and the town itself, as it were, in a hubbub about them,
and that for several reasons: for,
First, The Pilgrims were clothed with
such kind of raiment as was diverse from the raiment of any that
traded in that fair. The people, therefore, of the fair made a
great gazing upon them: some [98] said they were fools; some,
they were bedlams; and some, they were outlandish men.
Secondly, And as they wondered at their
apparel, so they did likewise at their speech; for few could
understand what they said. They naturally spoke the language of
Canaan; but they that kept the fair were the men of this world:
so that from one end of the fair to the other, they seemed
barbarians each to the other.
Thirdly, But that which did not a
little amuse the merchandisers was, that these pilgrims set very
light by all their wares. They cared not so much as to look upon
them; and if they called upon them to buy, they would put their
fingers in their ears, and cry, "Turn away mine eyes from
beholding vanity," and look upward, signifying that their trade
and traffic was in heaven.
One chanced, mockingly, beholding the
carriage of the men, to say unto them, "What will ye buy?" But
they, looking gravely [99] upon him, said, "We buy the truth."
At that there was an occasion taken to despise the men the more;
some mocking, some taunting, some speaking reproachfully, and
some calling upon others to smite them. At last, things came to
an hubbub and great stir in the fair, insomuch that all order
was confounded. Now was word presently brought to the great one
of the fair, who quickly came down, and deputed some of his most
trusty friends to take those men into examination about whom the
fair was almost overturned. So the men were brought to
examination; and they that sat upon them asked them whence they
came, whither they went, and what they did there in such an
unusual garb. The men told them they were pilgrims and strangers
in the world, and that they were going to their own country,
which was the heavenly Jerusalem, and that they had given no
occasion to the men of the town, nor yet to the merchandisrs,
thus to abuse them, and to let them in their journey, except it
was for that, when one [100] asked them what they would buy,
they said they would buy the truth. But they that were appointed
to examine them did not believe them to be any other than
bedlams and mad, or else such as came to put all things into a
confusion in the fair. Therefore they took them and beat them,
and besmeared them with dirt, and then put them into the cage,
that they might be made a spectacle to all the men of the fair.
There, therefore, they lay for some time, and were made the
objects of any man's sport, or malice, or revenge; the great one
of the fair laughing still at all that befell them. But the men
being patient, and "not rendering railing for railing, but
contrariwise blessing," and giving good words for bad, and
kindness for injuries done, some men in the fair, that were more
observing and less prejudiced than the rest, began to check and
blame the baser sort for their continual abuses done by them to
the men. They, therefore, in an angry manner let fly at them
again, counting them as bad as the men in the cage, and telling
them that they seemed confederates, and should be made partakers
of their misfortunes. The others replied that, for aught they
could see, the men were quiet and sober, and intended nobody any
harm; and that there were many that traded in their fair that
were more worthy to be put into the cage, yea, and pillory too,
than were the men that they had abused. Thus, after divers words
had passed on both sides, (the men behaving themselves all the
while very wisely and soberly before them,) they fell to some
blows among themselves, and did harm one to another. Then were
these two poor men brought before their examiners again, and
were charged as [101] being guilty of the late hubbub that had
been in the fair. So they beat them pitifully, and hanged irons
upon them, and led them in chains up and down the fair, for an
example and terror to others, lest any should speak in their
behalf, or join themselves unto them. But Christian and Faithful
behaved themselves yet more wisely, and received the ignominy
and shame that was cast upon them with so much meekness and
patience, that it won to their side (though but few in
comparison of the rest) several of the men in the fair. This put
the other party yet into a greater rage, insomuch that they
concluded the death of these two men. Wherefore they threatened
that neither cage nor irons should serve their turn, but that
they should die for the abuse they had done, and for deluding
the men of the fair.
Then were they remanded to the cage
again, until further order should be taken with them. So they
put them in, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Here, also, they called again to mind
what they had heard from their faithful friend Evangelist, and
were the more confirmed in their way and sufferings by what he
told them would happen to them. They also now comforted each
other, that whose lot it was to suffer, even he should have the
best of it: therefore each man secretly wished that he might
have that preferment. But committing themselves to the all-wise
disposal of Him that ruleth all things, with much content they
[102] abode in the condition in which they were, until they
should be otherwise disposed of.
Then a convenient time being appointed,
they brought them forth to their trial, in order to their
condemnation. When the time was come, they were brought before
their enemies and arraigned. The judge's name was Lord
Hate-good; their indictment was one and the same in substance,
though somewhat varying in form; the contents whereof was this:
"That they were enemies to, and disturbers of, the trade; that
they had made commotions and divisions in the town, and had won
a party to their own most dangerous opinions, in contempt of the
law of their prince."
Then Faithful began to answer, that he
had only set himself against that which had set itself against
Him that is higher than the highest. And, said he, as for
disturbance, I make none, being myself a man of peace: the
parties that were won to us, were won by beholding our truth and
innocence, and they are only turned from the worse to the
better. And as to the king you talk of, since he is Beelzebub,
the enemy of our Lord, I defy him and all his angels.
Then proclamation was made, that they
that had ought to say for their lord the king against the
prisoner at the bar, should forthwith appear, and give in their
evidence. So there came in three witnesses, to wit, Envy,
Superstition, and Pickthank. They were then asked if they knew
the prisoner at the bar; and what they had to say for their lord
the king against him.
Then stood forth Envy, and said to this
effect: My lord, I have known this man a long time, and will
attest upon my oath before this honorable bench, that he is—
JUDGE: Hold; give him his oath.
So they sware him. Then he said, My
lord, this man, notwithstanding his plausible name, is one of
the vilest men in our country; he neither regardeth prince nor
people, law nor custom, but doeth all that he can to possess all
men with certain of his disloyal notions, which he in the
general calls principles of faith and holiness. And in
particular, I heard him once myself affirm, that Christianity
and the customs of our town of Vanity were diametrically
opposite, and could not be reconciled. By which saying, my lord,
he doth [103] at once not only condemn all our laudable doings,
but us in the doing of them.
Then did the judge say to him, Hast
thou any more to say?
ENVY: My lord, I could say much more,
only I would not be tedious to the court. Yet if need be, when
the other gentlemen have given in their evidence, rather than
any thing shall be wanting that will dispatch him, I will
enlarge my testimony against him. So he was bid to stand by.
Then they called Superstition, and bid
him look upon the prisoner. They also asked, what he could say
for their lord the king against him. Then they sware him; so he
began.
SUPERSTITION: My lord, I have no great
acquaintance with this man, nor do I desire to have further
knowledge of him. However, this I know, that he is a very
pestilent fellow, from some discourse that I had with him the
other day, in this town; for then, talking with him, I heard him
say, that our religion was naught, and such by which a man could
by no means please God. Which saying of his, my lord, your
lordship very well knows what necessarily thence will follow, to
wit, that we still do worship in vain, are yet in our sins, and
finally shall be damned: and this is that which I have to say.
Then was Pickthank sworn, and bid say
what he knew in the behalf of their lord the king against the
prisoner at the bar.
[104] PICKTHANK: My lord, and you
gentlemen all, this fellow I have known of a long time, and have
heard him speak things that ought not to be spoken; for he hath
railed on our noble prince Beelzebub, and hath spoken
contemptibly of his honorable friends, whose names are, the Lord
Old Man, the Lord Carnal Delight, the Lord Luxurious, the Lord
Desire of Vain Glory, my old Lord Lechery, Sir Having Greedy,
with all the rest of our nobility: and he hath said, moreover,
that if all men were of his mind, if possible, there is not one
of these noblemen should have any longer a being in this town.
Besides, he hath not been afraid to rail on you, my lord, who
are now appointed to be his judge, calling you an ungodly
villain, with many other such like vilifying terms, with which
he hath bespattered most of the gentry of our town.
When this Pickthank had told his tale,
the judge directed his speech to the prisoner at the bar,
saying, Thou runagate, heretic, and traitor, hast thou heard
what these honest gentlemen have witnessed against thee?
FAITHFUL: May I speak a few words in my
own defence?
JUDGE: Sirrah, sirrah, thou deservest
to live no longer, but to be slain immediately upon the place;
yet, that all men may see our gentleness towards thee, let us
hear what thou, vile runagate, hast to say.
FAITHFUL: 1. I say, then, in answer to
what Mr. Envy hath spoken, I never said aught but this, that
what rule, or laws, or custom, or people, were flat against the
word of God, are diametrically opposite to Christianity. If I
have said amiss in this, convince me of my error, and I am ready
here before you to make my recantation.
[105] 2. As to the second, to wit, Mr.
Superstition, and his charge against me, I said only this, that
in the worship of God there is required a divine faith; but
there can be no divine faith without a divine revelation of the
will of God. Therefore, whatever is thrust into the worship of
God that is not agreeable to divine revelation, cannot be done
but by a human faith; which faith will not be profitable to
eternal life.
3. As to what Mr. Pickthank hath said,
I say, (avoiding terms, as that I am said to rail, and the
like,) that the prince of this town, with all the rabblement,
his attendants, by this gentleman named, are more fit for a
being in hell than in this town and country. And so the Lord
have mercy upon me.
Then the judge called to the jury, (who
all this while stood by to hear and observe,) Gentlemen of the
jury, you see this man about whom so great an uproar hath been
made in this town; you have also heard what these worthy
gentlemen have witnessed against him; also, you have heard his
reply and confession: it lieth now in your breasts to hang him,
or save his life; but yet I think meet to instruct you in our
law.
There was an act made in the days of
Pharaoh the Great, servant to our prince, that, lest those of a
contrary religion should multiply and grow too strong for him,
their males should be thrown into the river. There was also an
act made in the days of Nebuchadnezzar [106] the Great, another
of his servants, that whoever would not fall down and worship
his golden image, should be thrown into a fiery furnace. There
was also an act made in the days of Darius, that whoso for some
time called upon any god but him, should be cast into the lion's
den. Now, the substance of these laws this rebel has broken, not
only in thought, (which is not to be borne,) but also in word
and deed; which must, therefore, needs be intolerable.
For that of Pharaoh, his law was made
upon a supposition to prevent mischief, no crime being yet
apparent; but here is a crime apparent. For the second and
third, you see he disputeth against our religion; and for the
treason that he hath already confessed, he deserveth to die the
death.
HE DESERVETH TO
DIE THE DEATH.
Then went the jury out, whose names
were Mr. Blindman, Mr. No-good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr.
Live-loose, Mr. Heady, Mr. High-mind, Mr. Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr.
Cruelty, Mr. Hate-light, and Mr. Implacable; who every one gave
in his private verdict against him among themselves, and
afterwards unanimously concluded to bring him in guilty before
the judge. And first among themselves, Mr. Blindman, the
foreman, said, I see clearly that this man is a heretic. Then
said Mr. No-good, Away with such a fellow from the earth. Aye,
said Mr. Malice, for I hate the very looks of him. Then said Mr.
Love-lust, I could never endure him. Nor I, said Mr. Live-loose,
for he would always be condemning my way. Hang him, hang him,
said Mr. Heady. A sorry scrub, said Mr. High-mind. My heart
riseth against him, said Mr. Enmity. He is a rogue, said Mr.
Liar. Hanging is too good for him, said Mr. Cruelty. Let us
dispatch him out of the way, said Mr. Hate-light. Then said Mr.
Implacable, Might I have all the world given me, I could not be
reconciled to him; therefore let us forthwith bring him in
guilty of death.
THE JURY.
And so they did; therefore he was
presently condemned to be had from the place where he was, to
the place from whence he came, and there to be put to the most
cruel death that could be invented.
They therefore brought him out, to do
with him according to their law; and first they scourged him,
then they buffeted him, then they lanced his flesh with knives;
after that, they stoned him with stones, then pricked him with
their swords; and last of all, they burned him to [107] ashes at
the stake. Thus came Faithful to his end.
AND LAST OF ALL,
THEY BURNED HIM TO ASHES AT THE STAKE. THUS CAME FAITHFUL TO HIS
END.
Now I saw, that there stood behind the
multitude a chariot and a couple of horses waiting for Faithful,
who (so soon as his adversaries had dispatched him) was taken up
into it, and straightway was carried up through the clouds with
sound of trumpet, the nearest way to the celestial gate. But as
for Christian, he had some respite, and was remanded back to
prison: so he there remained for a space. But he who overrules
all things, having the power of their rage in his own hand, so
wrought it about, that Christian for that time escaped them, and
went his way.
And as he went, he sang, saying,
"Well, Faithful, thou hast faithfully
profest
Unto thy Lord, with whom thou shalt be
blest,
When faithless ones, with all their
vain delights,
Are crying out under their hellish
plights:
Sing, Faithful, sing, and let thy name
survive;
For though they killed thee, thou art
yet alive."
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THE SEVENTH STAGE
NOW I saw in my dream, that Christian went not forth alone; for
there was one whose name was Hopeful, (being so made by the
beholding of Christian and Faithful in their words and behavior,
in their sufferings at the fair,) who joined himself unto him,
and entering into a brotherly covenant, told him that he would
be his companion. Thus one died to bear testimony to the truth,
and another rises out of his ashes to be a companion with
Christian in his pilgrimage. This Hopeful also told Christian,
that there were many more of the men in the fair that would take
their time, and follow after.
So I saw, that quickly after they were
got out of the fair, they overtook one that was going before
them, whose name was By-ends; so they said to him, What
countryman, sir? and how far go you this way? He told them, that
he came from the town of Fair-speech, and he was going to the
Celestial City; but told them not his name.
From Fair-speech? said Christian; is
there any good that lives there?
BY-ENDS: Yes, said By-ends, I hope so.
CHRISTIAN: Pray, sir, what may I call
you?
[110] BY-ENDS: I am a stranger to you,
and you to me: if you be going this way, I shall be glad of your
company; if not, I must be content.
CHRISTIAN: This town of Fair-speech,
said Christian, I have heard of; and, as I remember, they say
it's a wealthy place.
BY-ENDS: Yes, I will assure you that it
is; and I have very many rich kindred there.
CHRISTIAN: Pray, who are your kindred
there, if a man may be so bold?
BY-ENDS: Almost the whole town; and in
particular my Lord Turn-about, my Lord Time-server, my Lord
Fair-speech, from whose ancestors that town first took its name;
also, Mr. Smooth-man, Mr. Facing-both-ways, Mr. Any-thing; and
the parson of our parish, Mr. Two-tongues, was my mother's own
brother, by father's side; and, to tell you the truth, I am
become a gentleman of good quality; yet my great-grandfather was
but a waterman, looking one way and rowing another, and I got
most of my estate by the same occupation.
CHRISTIAN: Are you a married man.
BY-ENDS: Yes, and my wife is a very
virtuous woman, the daughter of a virtuous woman; she was my
Lady Feigning's daughter; therefore she came of a very honorable
family, and is arrived to such a pitch of breeding, that she
knows how to carry it to all, even to prince and peasant. 'Tis
true, we somewhat differ in religion from those of the stricter
sort, yet but in two small points: First, we never strive
against wind and tide. Secondly, we are always most zealous when
religion goes in his silver slippers; we love much to walk with
him in the street, if the sun shines and the people applaud him.
Then Christian stepped a little aside
to his fellow Hopeful, saying, it runs in my mind that this is
one By-ends, of Fair-speech; and if it be he, we have as very a
knave in our company as dwelleth in all these parts. Then said
Hopeful, Ask him; methinks he should not be ashamed of his name.
So Christian came up with him again, and said, Sir, you talk as
if you knew something more than all the world doth; and, if I
take not my mark amiss, I deem I have half a guess of you. Is
not your name Mr. By-ends of Fair-speech?
BY-ENDS: This is not my name, but
indeed it is a nickname that is given me by some that cannot
abide me, and I must be content to [112] bear it as a reproach,
as other good men have borne theirs before me.
CHRISTIAN: But did you never give an
occasion to men to call you by this name?
BY-ENDS: Never, never! The worst that
ever I did to give them an occasion to give me this name was,
that I had always the luck to jump in my judgment with the
present way of the times, whatever it was, and my chance was to
get thereby: but if things are thus cast upon me, let me count
them a blessing; but let not the malicious load me therefore
with reproach.
CHRISTIAN: I thought, indeed, that you
were the man that I heard of; and to tell you what I think, I
fear this name belongs to you more properly than you are willing
we should think it doth.
BY-ENDS: Well if you will thus imagine,
I cannot help it; you shall find me a fair company-keeper, if
you will still admit me your associate.
CHRISTIAN: If you will go with us, you
must go against wind and tide; the which, I perceive, is against
your opinion: you must also own Religion in his rags, as well as
when in his silver slippers; and stand by him, too, when bound
in irons, as well as when he walketh the streets with applause.
BY-ENDS: You must not impose, nor lord
it over my faith; leave me to my liberty, and let me go with
you.
CHRISTIAN: Not a step farther, unless
you will do, in what I propound, as we.
[113] Then said By-ends, I shall never
desert my old principles, since they are harmless and
profitable. If I may not go with you, I must do as I did before
you overtook me, even go by myself, until some overtake me that
will be glad of my company.
Now I saw in my dream, that Christian
and Hopeful forsook him, and kept their distance before him; but
one of them, looking back, saw three men following Mr. By-ends;
and, behold, as they came up with him, he made them a very low
congee; and they also gave him a compliment. The men's names
were, Mr. Hold-the-world, Mr. Money-love, and Mr. Save-all, men
that Mr. By-ends had formerly been acquainted with; for in their
minority they were schoolfellows, and taught by one Mr.
Gripeman, a schoolmaster in Lovegain, which is a market-town in
the county of Coveting, in the North. This Schoolmaster taught
them the art of getting, either by violence, cozenage,
flattering, lying, or by putting on a guise of religion; and
these four gentlemen had attained much of the art of their
master, so that they could each of them have kept such a school
themselves.
Well, when they had, as I said, thus
saluted each other, Mr. Money-love said to Mr. By-ends, Who are
they upon the road before us? For Christian and Hopeful were yet
within view.
BY-ENDS: They are a couple of far
country-men, that, after their mode, are going on pilgrimage.
MR. MONEY-LOVE: Alas! why did they not
stay, that we might [114] have had their good company? for they,
and we, and you, sir, I hope, are all going on pilgrimage.
BY-ENDS: We are so, indeed; but the men
before us are so rigid, and love so much their own notions, and
do also so lightly esteem the opinions of others, that let a man
be ever so godly, yet if he jumps not with them in all things,
they thrust him quite out of their company.
MR. SAVE-ALL: That is bad; but we read
of some that are righteous overmuch, and such men's rigidness
prevails with them to judge and condemn all but themselves. But
I pray, what, and how many, were the things wherein you
differed?
BY-ENDS: Why, they, after their
headstrong manner, conclude that it is their duty to rush on
their journey all weathers, and I am for waiting for wind and
tide. They are for hazarding all for God at a clap; and I am for
taking all advantages to secure my life and estate. They are for
holding their notions, though all other men be against them; but
I am for religion in what, and so far as the times and my safety
will bear it. They are for religion when in rags and contempt;
but I am for him when he walks in his silver slippers, in the
sunshine, and with applause.
MR. HOLD-THE-WORLD: Aye, and hold you
there still, good Mr. By-ends; for, for my part, I can count him
but a fool, that having the liberty to keep what he has, shall
be so unwise as to lose it. Let us be wise as serpents. It is
best to make hay while the sun shines. You see how the bee lieth
still in winter, and bestirs her only when she can have profit
with pleasure. God sends sometimes rain, and sometimes sunshine:
if they be such fools to go through the first, yet let us be
content to take fair weather along with us. For my part, I like
that religion best that will stand with the security of God's
good blessings unto us; for who can imagine, that is ruled by
his reason, since God has bestowed upon us the good things of
this life, but that he would have us keep them for his sake?
Abraham and Solomon grew rich in religion; and Job says, that a
good man shall lay up gold as dust; but he must not be such as
the men before us, if they be as you have described them.
MR. SAVE-ALL: I think that we are all
agreed in this matter; and there- [115] fore there needs no more
words about it.
MR. MONEY-LOVE: No, there needs no more
words about this matter, indeed; for he that believes neither
Scripture nor reason, (and you see we have both on our side,)
neither knows his own liberty nor seeks his own safety.
BY-ENDS: My brethren, we are, as you
see, going all on pilgrimage; and for our better diversion from
things that are bad, give me leave to propound unto you this
question.
Suppose a man, a minister, or a
tradesman, etc., should have an advantage lie before him to get
the good blessings of this life, yet so as that he can by no
means come by them, except, in appearance at least, he becomes
extraordinary zealous in some points of religion that he meddled
not with before; may he not use this means to attain his end,
and yet be a right honest man?
MR. MONEY-LOVE: I see the bottom of
your question; and with these gentlemen's good leave, I will
endeavor to shape you an answer. And first, to speak to your
question as it concerneth a minister himself: suppose a
minister, a worthy man, possessed but of a very small benefice,
and has in his eye a greater, more fat and plump by far; he has
also now an opportunity of getting it, yet so as by being more
studious, by preaching more frequently and zealously, and,
because the temper of the people requires it, by altering of
some of his principles; [116] for my part, I see no reason why a
man may not do this, provided he has a call, aye, and more a
great deal besides, and yet be an honest man. For why?
1. His desire of a greater benefice is
lawful, (this cannot be contradicted,) since it is set before
him by Providence; so then he may get it if he can, making no
question for conscience' sake.
2. Besides, his desire after that
benefice makes him more studious, a more zealous preacher, etc.,
and so makes him a better man, yea, makes him better improve his
parts, which is according to the mind of God.
3. Now, as for his complying with the
temper of his people, by deserting, to serve them, some of his
principles, this argueth, 1. That he is of a self-denying
temper. 2. Of a sweet and winning deportment. And, 3. So more
fit for the ministerial function.
4. I conclude, then, that a minister
that changes a small for a great, should not, for so doing, be
judged as covetous; but rather, since he is improved in his
parts and industry thereby, be counted as one that pursues his
call, and the opportunity put into his hand to do good.
And now to the second part of the
question, which concerns the tradesman you mentioned. Suppose
such an one to have but a poor employ in the world, but by
becoming religious he may mend his market, perhaps get a rich
wife, or more and far better customers to his shop; for my part,
I see no reason but this may be lawfully done. For why?
1. To become religious is a virtue, by
what means soever a man becomes so.
2. Nor is it unlawful to get a rich
wife, or more custom to my shop.
3. Besides, the man that gets these by
becoming religious, gets that which is good of them that are
good, by becoming good himself; so then here is a good wife, and
good customers, and good gain, and all these by becoming
religious, which is good: therefore, to become religious to get
all these is a good and profitable design.
This answer, thus made by Mr.
Money-love to Mr. By-ends' question, was highly applauded by
them all; wherefore they concluded, upon the whole, that it was
most wholesome and advantageous. And because, as they thought,
no man was able to contradict it; and because [117] Christian
and Hopeful were yet within call, they jointly agreed to assault
them with the question as soon as they overtook them; and the
rather, because they had opposed Mr. By-ends before. So they
called after them, and they stopped and stood still till they
came up to them; but they concluded, as they went, that not Mr.
By-ends, but old Mr. Hold-the-world should propound the question
to them, because, as they supposed, their answer to him would be
without the remainder of that heat that was kindled betwixt Mr.
By-ends and them at their parting a little before.
So they came up to each other, and
after a short salutation, Mr. Hold-the-world propounded the
question to Christian and his fellow, and then bid them to
answer if they could.
Then said Christian, Even a babe in
religion may answer ten thousand such questions. For if it be
unlawful to follow Christ for loaves, as it is, how much more
abominable is it to make of him and religion a stalking-horse to
get and enjoy the world! Nor do we find any other than heathens,
hypocrites, devils, and wizards, that are of this opinion.
1. Heathens: for when Hamor and Shechem
had a mind to the daughter and cattle of Jacob, and saw that
there was no way for them to come at them but by being
circumcised, they said to their companions, If every male of us
be circumcised, as they are circumcised, shall not their cattle,
and their substance, and every beast of theirs be ours? Their
daughters and their cattle were that which they sought to
obtain, and their religion the stalking-horse they made use of
to come at them. Read the whole story,
2. The hypocritical Pharisees [118]
were also of this religion: long prayers were their pretence,
but to get widows' houses was their intent; and greater
damnation was from God their judgment.
3. Judas the devil was also of this
religion: he was religious for the bag, that he might be
possessed of what was put therein; but he was lost, cast away,
and the very son of perdition.
4. Simon the wizard was of this
religion too; for he would have had the Holy Ghost, that he
might have got money therewith: and his sentence from Peter's
mouth was according.
5. Neither will it go out of my mind,
but that that man who takes up religion for the world, will
throw away religion for the world; for so surely as Judas
designed the world in becoming religious, so surely did he also
sell religion and his Master for the same. To answer the
question, therefore, affirmatively, as I perceive you have done,
and to accept of, as authentic, such answer, is heathenish,
hypocritical, and devilish; and your reward will be according to
your works.
Then they stood staring one upon
another, but had not wherewith to answer Christian. Hopeful also
approved of the soundness of Christian's answer; so there was a
great silence among them. Mr. By-ends and his company also
staggered and kept behind, that Christian and Hopeful might
outgo them. Then said Christian to his fellow, If these men
cannot stand before the sentence of men, what will they do with
the sentence of God? And if they are mute when dealt with by
vessels of clay, what will they do when they shall be rebuked by
the flames of a devouring fire?
Then Christian and Hopeful outwent them
again, and went till they came at a delicate plain, called Ease,
where they went with much content; but that plain was but
narrow, so they were quickly got over it. Now at the farther
side of that plain was a little hill, called Lucre, and in that
hill a silver-mine, which some of them that had formerly gone
that way, because of the rarity of it, had turned aside to see;
but going too near the brim of the pit, the ground, being
deceitful under them, broke, and they were slain: some also had
been maimed there, and could not, to their dying day, be their
own men again.
Then I saw in my dream, that a little
off the road, over against the [119] silver-mine, stood Demas
(gentleman-like) to call passengers to come and see; who said to
Christian and his fellow, Ho! turn aside hither, and I will show
you a thing.
CHRISTIAN: What thing so deserving as
to turn us out of the way to see it?
DEMAS: Here is a silver-mine, and some
digging in it for treasure; if you will come, with a little
pains you may richly provide for yourselves.
HOPEFUL: Then said Hopeful, let us go
see.
CHRISTIAN: Not I, said Christian: I
have heard of this place before now, and how many there have
been slain; and besides, that treasure is a snare to those that
seek it, for it hindereth them in their pilgrimage.
Then Christian called to Demas, saying,
Is not the place dangerous? Hath it not hindered many in their
pilgrimage? Hosea 9:6.
DEMAS: Not very dangerous, except to
those that are careless; but withal he blushed as he spake.
CHRISTIAN: Then said Christian to
Hopeful, Let us not stir a step, but still keep on our way.
[120] HOPEFUL: I will warrant you, when
By-ends comes up, if he hath the same invitation as we, he will
turn in thither to see.
CHRISTIAN: No doubt thereof, for his
principles lead him that way, and a hundred to one but he dies
there.
DEMAS: Then Demas called again, saying,
But will you not come over and see?
CHRISTIAN: Then Christian roundly
answered, saying, Demas, thou art an enemy to the right ways of
the Lord of this way, and hast been already condemned for thine
own turning aside, by one of his Majesty's judges, and why
seekest thou to bring us into the like condemnation? Besides, if
we at all turn aside, our Lord the King will certainly hear
thereof, and will there put us to shame, where we would stand
with boldness before him.
Demas cried again, that he also was one
of their fraternity; and that if they would tarry a little, he
also himself would walk with them.
CHRISTIAN: Then said Christian, What is
thy name? Is it not the same by which I have called thee?
DEMAS: Yes, my name is Demas; I am the
son of Abraham.
CHRISTIAN: I know you; Gehazi was your
great-grandfather, and Judas your father, and you have trod in
their steps; it is but a devilish prank that thou usest: thy
father was hanged for a traitor, and thou deservest no better
reward. Assure thyself, that when we come to the King, we will
tell him of this thy behavior. Thus they went their way.
By this time By-ends and his companions
were come again within sight, and they at the first beck went
over to Demas. Now, whether they fell into the pit by looking
over the brink thereof, or whether they went down to dig, or
whether they were smothered in the bottom by the damps that
commonly arise, of these things I am not certain; but this I
observed, that they were never seen again in the way. Then sang
Christian,
"By-ends and silver Demas both agree;
One calls, the other runs, that he may
be
A sharer in his lucre: so these two
Take up in this world, and no farther
go."
[121] Now I saw that, just on the other
side of this plain, the pilgrims came to a place where stood an
old monument, hard by the highway-side, at the sight of which
they were both concerned, because of the strangeness of the form
thereof; for it seemed to them as if it had been a woman
transformed into the shape of a pillar. Here, therefore, they
stood looking and looking upon it, but could not for a time tell
what they should make thereof. At last Hopeful espied, written
above upon the head thereof, a writing in an unusual hand; but
he being no scholar, called to Christian (for he was learned) to
see if he could pick out the meaning: so he came, and after a
little laying of letters together, he found the same to be this,
"Remember Lot's wife." So he read it to his fellow; after which
they both concluded that that was the pillar of salt into which
Lot's wife was turned, for her looking back with a covetous
heart when she was going from Sodom for safety. Which sudden and
amazing sight gave them occasion for this discourse.
THEY BOTH
CONCLUDED THAT THAT WAS THE PILLAR OF SALT INTO WHICH LOT'S WIFE
WAS TURNED, FOR HER LOOKING BACK WITH A COVETOUS HEART.
CHRISTIAN: Ah, my brother, this is a
seasonable sight: it came opportunely to us after the invitation
which Demas gave us to come over to view the hill Lucre; and had
we gone over, as he desired us, and as thou wast inclined to do,
my brother, we had, for aught I know, been made, like this
woman, a spectacle for those that shall come after to behold.
HOPEFUL: I am sorry that I was so
foolish, and am made to wonder that I am not now as Lot's wife;
for wherein was the difference betwixt her sin and mine? She
only looked back, and I had a desire to go see. Let grace be
adored; and let me be ashamed that ever such a thing should be
in mine heart.
CHRISTIAN: Let us take notice of what
we see here, for our help from time to come. This woman escaped
one judgment, for she fell not by the destruction of Sodom; yet
she was destroyed by another, as we see: she is turned into a
pillar of salt.
HOPEFUL: True, and she may be to us
both caution and example; caution, that we should shun her sin;
or a sign of what judgment will overtake such as shall not be
prevented by this caution: so Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with
the two hundred and fifty men that perished in their sin, did
also become a sign or example to others to beware. But above
all, I muse at one thing, to wit, how Demas and his [123]
fellows can stand so confidently yonder to look for that
treasure, which this woman but for looking behind her after,
(for we read not that she stepped one foot out of the way,) was
turned into a pillar of salt; especially since the judgment
which overtook her did make her an example within sight of where
they are; for they cannot choose but see her, did they but lift
up their eyes.
CHRISTIAN: It is a thing to be wondered
at, and it argueth that their hearts are grown desperate in the
case; and I cannot tell who to compare them to so fitly, as to
them that pick pockets in the presence of the judge, or that
will cut purses under the gallows. It is said of the men of
Sodom, that they were "sinners exceedingly," because they were
sinners "before the Lord," that is, in his eyesight, and
notwithstanding the kindnesses that he had shown them; for the
land of Sodom was now like the garden of Eden as heretofore.
This, therefore, provoked him the more to jealousy, and made
their plague as hot as the fire of the Lord out of heaven could
make it. And it is most rationally to be concluded, that such,
even such as these are, that shall sin in the sight, yea, and
that too in despite of such examples that are set continually
before them, to caution them to the contrary, must be partakers
of severest judgments.
HOPEFUL: Doubtless thou hast said the
truth; but what a mercy is it, that neither thou, but especially
I, am not made myself this example! This ministereth occasion to
us to thank God, to fear before him, and always to remember
Lot's wife.
I saw then that they went on their way
to a pleasant river, which David the king called "the river of
God;" but John, "the river of the water of life." Now their way
lay just upon the bank of this river: here, therefore, Christian
and his companion walked with great delight; they drank also of
the water of the river, which was pleasant and enlivening to
their weary spirits. Besides, on the banks of this river, on
either side, were green trees with all manner of fruit; and the
leaves they ate to prevent surfeits, and other diseases that are
incident to those that heat their blood by travel. On either
side of the river was also a meadow, curiously beautified with
lilies; and it was green all the year long. In this meadow they
lay down and slept, for here they [124] might lie down safely.
When they awoke they gathered again of the fruit of the trees,
and drank again of the water of the river, and then lay down
again to sleep. Thus they did several days and nights. Then they
sang;
THEY WENT ON THEIR WAY TO A
PLEASANT RIVER, WHICH DAVID THE KING CALLED "THE RIVER OF GOD;"
BUT JOHN, THE RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE."
"Behold ye, how these Crystal Streams
do glide,
To comfort pilgrims by the
highway-side.
The meadows green, besides their
fragrant smell,
Yield dainties for them; And he that
can tell
What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves these
trees do yield,
Will soon sell all, that he may buy
this field."
So when they were disposed to go on,
(for they were not as yet at their journey's end,) they ate, and
drank, and departed.
Now I beheld in my dream, that they had
not journeyed far, but the river and the way for a time parted,
at which they were not a little sorry; yet they durst not go out
of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and their feet
tender by reason of their travels; so the souls of the pilgrims
were much discouraged because of the way. Wherefore, still as
they went on, they wished for a better way. Now, a little before
them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and a
stile to go over into it, and that meadow is called By-path
meadow. Then said Christian to his fellow, If this meadow lieth
along by our wayside, let's go over into it. Then he went to the
stile to see, and behold a path lay along by the way on the
other side of the fence. It is according to my wish, said
Christian; here is the easiest going; come, good Hopeful, and
let us go over.
HOPEFUL: But how if this path should
lead us out of the way?
CHRISTIAN: That is not likely, said the
other. Look, doth it not go along by the wayside? So Hopeful,
being persuaded by his fellow, went after him over the stile.
When they were gone over, and were got into the path, they found
it very easy for their feet; and withal, they, looking before
them, espied a man walking as they did, and his name was
Vain-Confidence: so they called after him, and asked him whither
that way led. He said, To the Celestial Gate. Look, said
Christian, did not I tell you so? by this you may see we are
right. So they followed, and he went before them. But behold the
night came on, and [126] it grew very dark; so that they that
went behind lost the sight of him that went before.
He therefore that went before,
(Vain-Confidence by name,) not seeing the way before him, fell
into a deep pit, which was on purpose there made, by the prince
of those grounds, to catch vain-glorious fools withal, and was
dashed in pieces with his fall.
Now, Christian and his fellow heard him
fall. So they called to know the matter, but there was none to
answer, only they heard a groaning. Then said Hopeful, Where are
we now? Then was his fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had
led him out of the way; and now it began to rain, and thunder,
and lighten in a most dreadful manner, and the water rose amain.
Then Hopeful groaned in himself,
saying, Oh that I had kept on my way!
CHRISTIAN: Who could have thought that
this path should have led us out of the way?
HOPEFUL: I was afraid on't at the very
first, and therefore gave you that gentle caution. I would have
spoke plainer, but that you are older than I.
CHRISTIAN: Good brother, be not
offended; I am sorry I have brought thee out of the way, and
that I have put thee into such imminent danger. Pray, my
brother, forgive me; I did not do it of an evil intent.
HOPEFUL: Be comforted, my brother, for
I forgive thee; and believe, too, that this shall be for our
good.
CHRISTIAN: I am glad I have with [127]
me a merciful brother: but we must not stand here; let us try to
go back again.
HOPEFUL: But, good brother, let me go
before.
CHRISTIAN: No, if you please, let me go
first, that if there be any danger, I may be first therein,
because by my means we are both gone out of the way.
HOPEFUL: No, said Hopeful, you shall
not go first, for your mind being troubled may lead you out of
the way again. Then for their encouragement they heard the voice
of one saying, "Let thine heart be toward the highway, even the
way that thou wentest: turn again." Jer. 31:21. But by this time
the waters were greatly risen, by reason of which the way of
going back was very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is easier
going out of the way when we are in, than going in when we are
out.) Yet they adventured to go back; but it was so dark, and
the flood was so high, that in their going back they had like to
have been drowned nine or ten times.
Neither could they, with all the skill
they had, get again to the stile that night. Wherefore at last,
lighting under a little shelter, they sat down there till the
day brake; but being weary, they fell asleep. Now there was, not
far from the place where they lay, a castle, called Doubting
Castle, the owner whereof was Giant Despair, and it was in his
grounds they now were sleeping: wherefore he, getting up in the
morning early, and walking up and down in his fields, caught
Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds. Then with a grim
and surly voice, he bid them awake, and asked them whence they
were, and what they did in his grounds. They told him they were
pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then said the giant,
You have this night trespassed on me by trampling in and lying
on my grounds, and therefore you must go along with me. So they
were forced to go, because he was stronger than they. They also
had but little to say, for they knew themselves in a fault. The
giant, therefore, drove them before him, and put them into his
castle, into a very dark dungeon, nasty and stinking to the
spirits of these two men. Here, then, they lay from Wednesday
morning till Saturday night, without one bit of bread, or drop
of drink, or light, or any to ask how they did; they were,
therefore, here in evil case, and were far from friends and
acquaintance. Now in this place Christian had double sorrow,
[128] because it was through his unadvised counsel that they
were brought into this distress.
GIANT DESPAIR
Now Giant Despair had a wife, and her
name was Diffidence: so when he was gone to bed he told his wife
what he had done, to wit, that he had taken a couple of
prisoners, and cast them into his dungeon for trespassing on his
grounds. Then he asked her also what he had best do further to
them. So she asked him what they were, whence they came, and
whither they were bound, and he told her. Then she counseled
him, that when he arose in the morning he should beat them
without mercy. So when he arose, he getteth him a grievous
crab-tree cudgel, and goes down into the dungeon to them, and
there first falls to rating of them as if they were dogs,
although they gave him never a word of distaste. Then he falls
upon them, and beats them fearfully, in such sort that they were
not able to help themselves, or to turn them upon the floor.
This done, he withdraws and leaves them there to condole their
misery, and to mourn under their distress: so all that day they
spent the time in nothing but sighs and bitter lamentations. The
next night, she, talking with her husband further about them,
and understanding that they were yet alive, did advise him to
counsel them to make away with themselves. So when morning was
come, he goes to them in a surly manner, as before, and
perceiving them to be very sore with the stripes that he had
given them the day before, he told them, that since they were
never like to come out of that place, their only way would be
forthwith to make an end of themselves, either with knife,
halter, or poison; for why, said he, should you choose to live,
seeing it is attended with so much bitterness? But they desired
him to let them go. With that he looked ugly upon them, and
rushing to them, had doubtless made an end of them himself, but
that he fell into one of his fits, (for he sometimes in sunshiny
weather fell into fits,) and lost for a time the use of his
hands; wherefore he withdrew, and left them as before to
consider what to do. Then did the prisoners consult between
themselves whether it was best to take his counsel or no; and
thus they began to discourse:
CHRISTIAN: Brother, said Christian,
what shall we do? The life that we now live is miserable. For my
part, I know not whether it is best to live [130] thus, or to
die out of hand. My soul chooseth strangling rather than life,
and the grave is more easy for me than this dungeon. Shall we be
ruled by the giant?
HOPEFUL: Indeed our present condition
is dreadful, and death would be far more welcome to me than thus
for ever to abide; but yet, let us consider, the Lord of the
country to which we are going hath said, "Thou shalt do no
murder," no, not to another man's person; much more, then, are
we forbidden to take his counsel to kill ourselves. Besides, he
that kills another, can but commit murder upon his body; but for
one to kill himself, is to kill body and soul at once. And
moreover, my brother, thou talkest of ease in the grave; but
hast thou forgotten the hell whither for certain the murderers
go? for "no murderer hath eternal life," etc. And let us
consider again, that all the law is not in the hand of Giant
Despair: others, so far as I can understand, have been taken by
him as well as we, and yet have escaped out of his hands. Who
knows but that God, who made the world, may cause that Giant
Despair may die; or that, at some time or other, he may forget
to lock us in; or that he may, in a short time, have another of
his fits before [131] us, and may lose the use of his limbs? And
if ever that should come to pass again, for my part, I am
resolved to pluck up the heart of a man, and to try my utmost to
get from under his hand. I was a fool that I did not try to do
it before. But, however, my brother, let us be patient, and
endure a while: the time may come that may give us a happy
release; but let us not be our own murderers. With these words
Hopeful at present did moderate the mind of his brother; so they
continued together in the dark that day, in their sad and
doleful condition.
Well, towards evening the giant goes
down into the dungeon again, to see if his prisoners had taken
his counsel. But when he came there he found them alive; and
truly, alive was all; for now, what for want of bread and water,
and by reason of the wounds they received when he beat them,
they could do little but breathe. But I say, he found them
alive; at which he fell into a grievous rage, and told them,
that seeing they had disobeyed his counsel, it should be worse
with them than if they had never been born.
At this they trembled greatly, and I
think that Christian fell into a swoon; but coming a little to
himself again, they renewed their discourse about the giant's
counsel, and whether yet they had best take it or no. Now
Christian again seemed for doing it; but Hopeful made his second
reply as followeth:
HOPEFUL: My brother, said he,
rememberest thou not how valiant thou hast been heretofore?
Apollyon could not crush thee, nor could all that thou didst
hear, or see, or feel, in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
What hardship, terror, and amazement hast thou already gone
[132] through; and art thou now nothing but fears! Thou seest
that I am in the dungeon with thee, a far weaker man by nature
than thou art. Also this giant hath wounded me as well as thee,
and hath also cut off the bread and water from my mouth, and
with thee I mourn without the light. But let us exercise a
little more patience. Remember how thou playedst the man at
Vanity Fair, and wast neither afraid of the chain nor cage, nor
yet of bloody death: wherefore let us (at least to avoid the
shame that it becomes not a Christian to be found in) bear up
with patience as well as we can.
Now night being come again, and the
giant and his wife being in bed, she asked him concerning the
prisoners, and if they had taken his counsel: to which he
replied, They are sturdy rogues; they choose rather to bear all
hardships than to make away with themselves. Then said she, Take
them into the castle-yard to-morrow, and show them the bones and
skulls of those that thou hast already dispatched, and make them
believe, ere a week comes to an end, thou wilt tear them in
pieces, as thou hast done their fellows before them.
So when the morning was come, the giant
goes to them again, and takes them into the castle-yard, and
shows them as his wife had bidden him. These, said he, were
pilgrims, as you are, once, and they trespassed on my grounds,
as you have done; and when I thought fit I tore them in pieces;
and so within ten days I will do you: get you down to your den
again. And with that he beat them all the way thither. They lay,
therefore, all day on Saturday in a lamentable case, as before.
Now, when night was come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her
husband the giant was got to bed, they began to renew their
discourse of their prisoners; and withal, the old giant wondered
that he could neither by his blows nor counsel bring them to an
end. And with that his wife replied, I fear, said she, that they
live in hopes that some will come to relieve them; or that they
have picklocks about them, by the means of which they hope to
escape. And sayest thou so, my dear? said the giant; I will
therefore search them in the morning.
Well, on Saturday, about midnight they
began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day.
Now, a little before it was day, good
Christian, as one half amazed, brake out into this passionate
speech: What a fool, quoth he, am I, thus [134] to lie in a
stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a
key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open
any lock in Doubting Castle. Then said Hopeful, That is good
news; good brother, pluck it out of thy bosom, and try.
Then Christian pulled it out of his
bosom, and began to try at the dungeon-door, whose bolt, as he
turned the key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and
Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he went to the outward
door that leads into the castle-yard, and with his key opened
that door also. After he went to the iron gate, for that must be
opened too; but that lock went desperately hard, yet the key did
open it. They then thrust open the gate to make their escape
with speed; but that gate, as it opened, made such a creaking,
that it waked Giant Despair, who hastily rising to pursue his
prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his fits took him again,
so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on,
and came to the King's highway, and so were safe, because they
were out of his jurisdiction.
THAT GATE, AS IT
OPENED, MADE SUCH A CREAKING, THAT IT WAKED GIANT DESPAIR, WHO
HASTILY RISING TO PURSUE HIS PRISONERS, FELT HIS LIMBS TO FAIL.
Now, when they were gone over the
stile, they began to contrive with themselves what they should
do at that stile, to prevent those that shall come after from
falling into the hands of Giant Despair. So they consented to
erect there a pillar, and to engrave upon the side thereof this
sentence: "Over this stile is the way to Doubting Castle, which
is kept by Giant Despair, who despiseth the King of' the
Celestial country, and seeks to destroy his holy pilgrims."
Many, therefore, that followed after, read what was written, and
escaped the danger. This done, they sang as follows:
"Out of the way we went, and then we
found
What 'twas to tread upon forbidden
ground:
And let them that come after have a
care,
Lest heedlessness makes them as we to
fare;
Lest they, for trespassing, his
prisoners are,
Whose castle's Doubting, and whose
name's Despair."
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THE EIGHTH STAGE
THEY went then till they came to the Delectable Mountains, which
mountains belong to the Lord of that hill of which we have
spoken before. So they went up to the mountains, to behold the
gardens and orchards, the vineyards and fountains of water;
where also they drank and washed themselves, and did freely eat
of the vineyards. [135] Now, there were on the tops of these
mountains shepherds feeding their flocks, and they stood by the
highway-side. The pilgrims, therefore, went to them, and leaning
upon their staffs, (as is common with weary pilgrims when they
stand to talk with any by the way,) they asked, Whose Delectable
Mountains are these; and whose be the sheep that feed upon them?
THE SHEPHERDS: These mountains are
Emmanuel's land, and they are within sight of his city; and the
sheep also are his, and he laid down his life for them.
CHRISTIAN: Is this the way to the
Celestial City?
THE SHEPHERDS: You are just in your
way.
CHRISTIAN: How far is it thither?
THE SHEPHERDS: Too far for any but
those who shall get thither indeed.
CHRISTIAN: Is the way safe or
dangerous?
THE SHEPHERDS: Safe for those for whom
it is to be safe; but transgressors shall fall therein.
CHRISTIAN: Is there in this place any
relief for pilgrims that are weary and faint in the way?
THE SHEPHERDS: The Lord of these
mountains hath given us a charge not to be forgetful to
entertain strangers, therefore the good of the place is before
you .
I saw also in my dream, that when the
shepherds perceived that they were wayfaring men, they also put
questions to them, (to which they made answer as in other
places,) as, Whence came you? and, How got you into the way?
and, By what means have you so persevered therein? For but few
[136] of them that begin to come hither, do show their face on
these mountains. But when the shepherds heard their answers,
being pleased therewith, they looked very lovingly upon them,
and said, Welcome to the Delectable Mountains.
The shepherds, I say, whose names were
Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, took them by the
hand, and had them to their tents, and made them partake of that
which was ready at present. They said moreover, We would that
you should stay here a while, to be acquainted with us, and yet
more to solace yourselves with the good of these Delectable
Mountains. Then they told them that they were content to stay.
So they went to their rest that night, because it was very late.
Then I saw in my dream, that in the
morning the shepherds called up Christian and Hopeful to walk
with them upon the mountains. So they went forth with them, and
walked a while, having a pleasant prospect on every side. Then
said the shepherds one to another, Shall we show these pilgrims
some wonders? So when they had concluded to do it, they had them
first to the top of a hill called Error, which was very steep on
the farthest side, and bid them look down to the bottom. So
Christian and Hopeful looked down, and saw at the bottom several
men dashed all to pieces by a fall that they had had from [137]
the top. Then said Christian, What meaneth this? The shepherds
answered, Have you not heard of them that were made to err, by
hearkening to Hymenius and Philetus, as concerning the faith of
the resurrection of the body? They answered, Yes. Then said the
shepherds, Those that you see lie dashed in pieces at the bottom
of this mountain are they; and they have continued to this day
unburied, as you see, for an example to others to take heed how
they clamber too high, or how they come too near the brink of
this mountain.
Then I saw that they had them to the
top of another mountain, and the name of that is Caution, and
bid them look afar off; which, when they did, they perceived, as
they thought, several men walking up and down among the tombs
that were there; and they perceived that the men were blind,
because they stumbled sometimes upon the tombs, and because they
could not get out from among them. Then said Christian, What
means this?
The shepherds then answered, Did you
not see, a little below these mountains, a stile that led into a
meadow, on the left hand of this way? They answered, Yes. Then
said the shepherds, From that stile there goes a path that leads
directly to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair; and
these men (pointing to them among the tombs) came once on
pilgrimage, as you do now, even until they came to that same
stile. And because the right way was rough in that place, they
chose to go out of it into that meadow, and there were taken by
Giant Despair, and cast into Doubting Castle; where after they
had a while been kept in the dungeon, he at last did put out
their eyes, and led them among those tombs, where he has left
them to wander to this very day, that the saying of the wise man
might be fulfilled, "He that wandereth out of the way of
understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead."
Then Christian and Hopeful looked upon one another, with tears
gushing out, but yet said nothing to the shepherds.
Then I saw in my dream, that the
shepherds had them to another place in a bottom, where was a
door on the side of a hill; and they opened the door, and bid
them look in. They looked in, therefore, and saw that within it
was very dark and smoky; they [139] also thought that they heard
there a rumbling noise, as of fire, and a cry of some tormented,
and that they smelt the scent of brimstone. Then said Christian,
What means this? The shepherds told them, This is a by-way to
hell, a way that hypocrites go in at; namely, such as sell their
birthright, with Esau; such as sell their Master, with Judas;
such as blaspheme the Gospel, with Alexander; and that lie and
dissemble, with Ananias and Sapphira his wife.
Then said Hopeful to the shepherds, I
perceive that these had on them, even every one, a show of
pilgrimage, as we have now; had they not?
THE SHEPHERDS: Yes, and held it a long
time, too.
HOPEFUL: How far might they go on in
pilgrimage in their day, since they, notwithstanding, were
miserably cast away?
THE SHEPHERDS: Some farther, and some
not so far as these mountains.
Then said the pilgrims one to the
other, We had need to cry to the Strong for strength.
THE SHEPHERDS: Aye, and you will have
need to use it, when you have it, too.
By this time the pilgrims had a desire
to go forward, and the shepherds a desire they should; so they
walked together towards the end of the mountains. Then said the
shepherds one to another, Let us here show the pilgrims the
gates of the Celestial City, if they have skill to look through
our perspective glass. The pilgrims lovingly accepted the
motion: so they had them to the top of a high hill, called
Clear, and gave them the glass to look.
Then they tried to look; but the
remembrance of that last thing that the shepherds had shown them
made their hands shake, by means of which impediment they could
not look steadily through the glass; yet they thought they saw
something like the gate, and also some of the glory of the
place. Then they went away, and sang,
"Thus by the shepherds secrets are
reveal'd,
Which from all other men are kept
concealed:
Come to the shepherds then, if you
would see
Things deep, things hid, and that
mysterious be."
When they were about to depart, one of
the shepherds gave them a note of the way. Another of them bid
them beware of the Flatterer. The third bid them take heed that
they slept not upon Enchanted [140] Ground. And the fourth bid
them God speed. So I awoke from my dream.
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